Hard To Keep Up With Changes

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31097, 28 June 1966, Page 19

Hard To Keep Up With Changes

(By Our Rugby League Reporter.)

In any other Rugby League season the alterations that nave been made to the Canterbury team to play Wellington at « ellington on Saturday could be described as remarkable.

But 1966 will be remembered in Canterbury’ as the year that the selectors (Messrs R. K. Andrews, D. L. Blanchard and E. Butts) just could not make up their minds, particularly in reference to players’ positions.

Generally when a player withdraws another is selected to fill the position left open. The withdrawal of P. V. Smith (Marist) from the Canterbury team to play Wellington has resulted in a forward going to full-back, a wing replacing the forward, and a centre replacing Smith as the reserve back. The movement of I. T. Brayton (Hornby) back to full-back, his normal club position, is reasonable because he plays best in that position. ‘ Back And Forth The shifting of E. Kereopa (Linwood) to replace Drayton in the second row is rather astounding. Kereopa began

the season as a centre for Linwood before moving to prop with his club. While playing prop he was named as a utility reserve and then a ■wing for Canterbury. On

Saturday he reverted to centre for Linwood, played quite well in the backs, and was immediately placed in the second row for Canterbury. G. J. Abercrombie, the reserve back, has come into the team in Kereopa’s wing position and J. C. Hawthorne (Papanui) will be the reserve back. He becomes the twenty-fifth player to have his name on a Canterbury teamsheet this season.

The revised Canterbury team is:—

Drayton; A N. Amer (Papanui), B. W. Langton (Hornby), B. Williams (Kaiapoi), Abercrombie: R. A. Neiman (Hornby), G. H. Clarke (Papanui); J. L. White (Addington): M. H. Mohi (Marist), Kereopa; D. W. Moore (Hornby). W. P. Noonan (Linwood), J. H. Fisher (Addington, captain).

The reserves are G. J. Rosanowski (Linwood) and Hawthorne.