FROM THE TOUCH-LINES

Press, Volume C, Issue 29515, 17 May 1961, Page 13

FROM THE TOUCH-LINES

D. C. Leary, the University full-back, gave an almost flawless display against Linwood. His handling of a wet ball in the air or on the ground was first-class, so was his positional play, and he kicked accurately under pressure. Moreover, he contributed 13 points to University's total with his goal-kicking. * * * Two three-sister combinations are playing in the Canterbury women's hockey association senior competition games this season. In the Harewood team are the Turners and Aranui has the McCaws. The eldest Turner, Beres, is centre-forward; Yvonne, the youngest, is left-back; and Heather is left-inside. Heather went to Australia last year with a New Zealand team but did not finish the tour because of injury. She played strongly against Digby's on Saturday. The other group of sisters include two married players— Mrs T. Prestige (lefthalf) and Mrs Shirley Cowles (left-inside). E. McCaw, most recently promoted to senior play and in the right-back position, is the only one carrying the family name. « st ft

The Christchurch player R. Bertini, who played most of his football in Australia, is one of the most consistent half-backs in the senior Rugby League competition. He suffers from the lack of a good first five-eighths and having to play behind an often beaten pack. * • « The fine tackling of Hornby’s centre three-three-quarters. A. Woodham, was a feature of the main Rugby League game last Saturday. A comparatively small player, Woodham lacks nothing in courage and his clean, low tackling puts a sudden end to even the biggest opponent's progress. Although his defence is his strongest point, he frequently catches the eye ■with his ability to sense a gap, flash through it, and give his wings scoring opportunities. ft * »

If the Canterbury Women's Hockey Association ever seeks public interest or support for its games, the first move should be to see that players can be identified. With the eight top teams in the province playing on two grounds over a period of three hours each Saturday. the atmosphere among players and officials is chummy, to say the least. “We all know each other," as one team captain remarked. But numbers on the players’ uniforms, the practice in practically every other team sport barring cricket and darts, would help.

The Marist lock, J. F. Borns, gave a great display of jumping in the line-outs against Albion. He took the ball at will and quickly gave it to his half-back.

With M. Cook ataHßt with the representative side, the leadership of the Hornby Rugby League team’s forwards was in the very capable hands ot D. Neiman in the game against Sydenham. Originally a very solid .fiveeighths, Neiman's good handling and ability to beat opponents with good footwork makes him an ideal link between the pack and the back-line. In last Saturday's game he was the outstanding forward on the ground and a constant menace to the opposition. ft ft ft Another of the many promising Papanui backs is a promoted third grade player, M. J. Higgs. Usually a five-eighths, Higgs has been playing on the wing and in only his second senior game he showed a good turn of speed to score two fine tries. * ft * The Poverty Bay and Eastern Union captain D. Waugh made a most successful debut in Christchurch soccer last Saturday. Deputising for the injured E. Charlton in the Technical centre-forward position. Waugh scored a goal with his first kick of the ball, and followed this with three more later in the match. He could be a valuable player, either as a forward or as a halfback. in Canterbury’s team for later matches this season.

In his first game since injuring a shoulder against Lincoln College, the High School Old Boys’ and Canterbury representative, P. J. Morrissey, looked every inch a rep-

resentative wing threequarter in the game against Belfast. He touched the ball on only two occasions in the first 25 minutes but each time he scored a perfect try in the corner. ft * ft A young player who is showing some promise in the High School Old Boys senior hockey team is A. Paterson, the right half-back. His positional play is good, and he appears to possess a sound concept of what is required in feeding his forwards. His control of the ball is adequate, and if he develops his stick-work further this aspect o? his game should become most effective. At times he has a tendency to play the ball from a position which is rather too upright, and it is important to eliminate this fault before it becomes an ingrained habit. His displays so far this season have made him the most prominent member of his team’s half-line, and with further improvement and experience during the next two seasons he could reach a sound provincial standard.

The Technical-Shirley • No. 8, W. Ftavell. played ' an excellent game against Christchurch on Saturday. He was very quick to get up on the Christchurch backs, completely subduing B. A. Watt (first five-eighths) for practically the whole match. His tackling was also quite effective. ft ft ft With a rearrangement in the Sydenham Rugby League’s back line last Saturday, R. Raistrick was brought in from the wing to fill the second fiveeighths position. He made a fine showing in a new position where his clever footwork frequently took him through the defence. Had his supports bandied better some of his efforts must have brought results. ft ft ft The Albion first fiveeighths against Marist, J. R. Adams, gave great thrust to his backs on Saturday. Adams usually

plays at second five-eighths but he seemed completely at ease closer to the scrum, and ran hard into the ball. The Albion backs always looked formidable, and Adams could claim a great deal of the credit for this. ft ft ft In two senior games the Marist full-back, K. F. Doyle, has scored 23 points. In a senior reserve game a few weeks ago Doyle scored 22 points against Merivale. ft ft ft It would be surprising if there is a better left-back in Canterbury soccer than University’s A. W. Ross. Again on Saturday he had plenty of work to do against Technical, and did it well. He is one of the few defenders who has the power in his boot to put the ball back over the half-way line and get his goal out of danger. ft ft ft

W. Flewellyn, who played at half-back in place of E. Conder for Christchurch on Saturday, showed himself to be a player of good potential. Although young in years, he toiled hard and with considerable success, proving quite capable of hold’’ing his own with the more seasoned players. His fine performance was capped off with a good try in the closing stages of the match. ft ft ft With one senior Rugby team this season, the numbering of jerseys seems to have presented a major problem. On Saturday, two players wore number 7 jersey, two wore number 10, two wore number 11, and two wore number 12. In addition, four other players wore different numbers from those listed in the programme. This was an improvement on the previous Saturday, when 10 players shared five numbers.

Contrary to the belief of a rather vociferous section of Linwood supporters at Lancaster Park Oval on Saturday, University did not have too large a share of the penalties. Linwood was awarded 12 during the game, University IL Some of the Linwood supporters were clearly upset at the try awarded to R. D. Hoskin of University, and expressed their disbelief vigorously. The demonstration was brief, but so noisy that one of Linwood’s most popular players, R. Tabb, turned to the stand and waved for silence. ft ft ft D. Stephens, a former Rugby League player who has been showing good form for the Linwood senior Rugby team, on the wing, should be available on Saturday. He has been suffering from a knee injury. ft ft ft Western's two leading goal-scorers in the local soccer competition, K. Olley and C. Whitehead, each scored once in Saturday’s Hurley Shield matches to retain their position at the head of the list with eight goals each. They are followed by A. van Rooyen (Nomads) and E. Charlton (Technical) with seven each, and W. Yates (Shamrock) with six. Scorers of five goals are A. Verham (Technical), I. McCallum (Nomads), B. Fergus (University), and H. Scholten (Neerlandia-United). ft ft ft

N. B. Ullrich, the young High School Old Boys side-row forward, was unable to play against Belfast on Saturday because he was in hospital with an eye injury. Ullrich, who has been playing some promising Rugby this season—his first in senior—did not receive this injury on the Rugby field, but while playing squash. « ft ft The former Otago Rugby League player, N. Smith, had a good game for Papanui against Marist on Saturday. Using his considerable speed, he scored two tries. ft ft ft Standing out in Marist’s Rugby League back - line against Papanui on Saturday was the half-back, J. Walsh. His handling and tackling were first-class, and he sent out good passes for his five-eighths.

In its early matches of the season the Woolston senior hoekey team has handicapped itself by its extremely limited use of the talents of its promising right-wing, Bruce Judge. Judge has already represented Canterbury, and for such a young' player his form was very satisfactory. He possesses ample speed and much determination, he controls the ball well when making a fast break, and he is most constructive in

the placing of his centre passes. His approach to the game is thoughtful and conscientious, and the extent to which he has been neglected is poor reward for the training and preparation in which he indulges. It is to be hoped that he will be given better opportunities for development, because there is a dearth of good right-wings throughout New Zealand, and Judge is easily the most promising prospect as far as local hockey is concerned. # ft ft After five rounds of the senior Rugby League competition, the leading points scorers are: A. Smith (Linwood), 35; K. Pearce (Papanui), 22; G. Bond (Papanui), 19; and P. Tounge (Hornby), 19. G. Abercrombie (Sydenham), P. Skirton (Hornby) and Tounge have each scored five tries. ft ft ft University has now scored 50 points more than any other team in the senior grade, and has the smallest total scored against it One of the most polished performers in the match between Christchurch and Technical - Shirley was the Christchurch second five-eighths, D. Arnold. He has a good turn of speed and used it to the full to make several penetrating runs. He was instrumental in the scoring of nearly all his side's points, scoring a good try and kicking a field goal as well.

Full marks for perseverance must go to the Shamrock soccer half-baek H. Taylor. In club and representative, matches in the last two Seasons Taylor has always given an energetic display and, when beaten, has pursued his opponent and sometimes worried him out of possession. ft ft ft In the game against High School Old Boys on Saturday, the Belfast back who stood out was R. Holt, the centre threequarters. Holt not only scored a good try, but time after time gave an impeccable demonstration of how to scoop up a wet and greasy ball while on the run. » ft ft Linwood’s backs, who gave a good display against Old Boys, were cramped by University’s splendid forward play on Saturday. R. Stubberfteld, the half-back, was under persistent pressure, but the three-quarters all distinguished themselves at times, in broken play.