Club’s double target

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33779, 27 February 1975, Page 28

Club’s double target

The Christchurch senior side is one of several Rugby clubs making overseas tours next month.

But its 10-day visit to Australia. beginning next week, will also serve as a build-up to an important engagement the club has at Easter. As winner of the Harewood Trophy last season, Christchurch will represent Canterbury in the annual cham-pion-of-champions tournament staged by the Wellington club, Petone. The team’s coach (Mi Gerald Wilson) said yesterday that with both the trip to Australia and the Petone fixture in mind, the side had been stepping up its training. The team will play three matches in Australia and two should prove particularly testing — against the Brisbane side, Brothers Old Boys, which is reputed to be the top club side in Australia, arid the first division Sydney club. Parramatta. Last winter Parramatta, which is coached by the former Wallaby utility back, Rod Phelps, won the Sydney minor premiership. Between these two matches Christchurch might have j some relief when it plays a

Gold Coast XV at Surfers’ Paradise.

The trip is costing the club about $lO,OOO and this money was raised in less than seven months. With wives and supporters, the party will total 31.

Mr Wilson has lost the services of three players from last year’s squad. They are the forwards, lan Kirton. who is in Wellington, John Strawbridge, who is going to England', and Tony Porter, who is in England. On the credit side, Christchurch has gained the Wel-

lington lock, Dennis Waller, and two former senior players. "Scotty” McLennan and Hugh Cottrell, a former captain, have returned and both intend playing again. The back-line is unchanged, and in addition to a surplus of top wings, Mr Wilson might also find himself this year embarrassed by his store of locks..

The former Canterbury representative. Wayne Risman, is playing again, and there are two promising youngsters. Peter Coleman and Lindsay Sturt.