KIWIS CLASH IN MAIN LEAGUE

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31658, 19 April 1968, Page 15

KIWIS CLASH IN MAIN LEAGUE

The clash of the former New Zealand stand-off halves, J. M. Bray (Hornby) and J. A. Bend (Papanui), should provide a highlight when the 1967 premiership winner, Hornby, meets one of its strongest challengers in the first Rugby league club championship round at the Show Grounds tomorrow.

Bond, who will captain the Southern Zane in its match against Northern Zone at Huntly on April 28, was replaced by Bray in the last two tests against France. Since then, university studies have kept Bray out of representative football and he was able to play only one club game last season. His return will be welcomed by a Hornby team that has lost I. T. Drayton, R. O. Moffat and D. A. Conddck. The nippy Bond will be a vital tactician in a Papanui back-line that also includes

the 1967 representatives, G. H. Clarke, J. M. Toki, S. Dunn and C. R. Schwass, and which could provide Hornby with many problems on defence. Injury will keep M. R. Napier on the side-line. The second match on the main ground, between Addington and Eastern Suburbs,

will also be a repetition of the semi-finals of last season.

Each team will Introduce a player of some promise to senior football, the former schoolboy Kiwis, F. M. Endicott (Addington) and M. J. Perreau (Eastern Suburbs). However, the mobility ot the Addington forwards could prove decisive, for Eastern Suburbs will be without R. H. Turton and R. Franklin for the first time for some seasons.

Sydenham and Marist, which have already played a draw in a pre-season game, could provide a close result but Linwood is expected to beat Kaiapoi convincingly. The Sydenham-Marist match will provide the former Kiwi L. P. J. Brown, with his first club match in Christchurch.