Hogg gains place in league second row

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33534, 15 May 1974, Page 26

Hogg gains place in league second row

(By

J. O. COFFEY)

The sudden rise to Rugby league prominence of the Sydenham forward, S. J. Hogg, continued yesterday when he was included in the Canterbury team to meet West Coast at the Show Grounds on Saturday.

Hogg, in his first season with Sydenham since transferring from Wellington, was added to the representative training squad on Monday after a series of fine performances for his club. He will partner S. N. Hatipov (Marist-West-ern Suburbs) in the second row against West Coast.

The advance made by Sydenham — it has been unbeaten in the last six weeks — is reflected in the team named by the Canterbury selectors, Messrs J. A. Flanagan and J. G. Clarke.

In addition to Hogg, R. Auimatagi — Sydenham’s

most thrustful three-quarters for some seasons — will make his debut on Saturday. The team’s captain-coach, B. A. Bigwood, was also approached, but he is still unavailable for first-class football. The third newcomer to the Canterbury side is the Addington full-back and goal-kicker,, G. Te Aho, while Hatipov and G. R. Cooksley (Christchurch-East-ern Suburbs) have been reinstated in the representative side.

M. P. Brereton (Marist) returns to the wing — and retains the captaincy — and B. I. Dickison (Eastern) has been moved to the other flank to fill the vacancy left by the injured E. S. Kerrigan (Papanui). The experienced Brereton has been paired with Auimatagi in one centre-wing combination, with the Eastern

team-mates, L. Paskell and Dickison, forming the other.

The West Coast side has two new forwards, M. G. Biddington and R. F. Baxendale. The hooker, Biddington, was chosen at the expense of the promising A. Gardner, while Baxendale gets an opportunity to develop the potential which earned him national selection in junior and intermediate grades. The teams are:-—

Canterbury: Te Aho; Brereton (captain), Auimatagi, Paskell, Dickison; Cooksley, W. A. Wilson (Linwood); J. Greengrass (Linwood), D. P Brown (Kaiapoi), A. P. Rushton (Eastern); Hatipov, Hogg; R. S. Walker (Papanui. vice-captain). Reserves: P. R. Brown (Marist), G. R. Findlay (Marist).

West Coast: G. C. Ladner; P. J. MacDonald, W. • K. Johnsen (vice-captain), B. J. Donaldson, J. Birchfield; K. R. Murcott, D. J. Monk; J. D. Hibbs (captain), Biddington, G. V. Moore; A. P. Coll, L. A. Grant; Baxendale. Reserves: G. Smith, D. R. Wakefield.