Linwood favoured

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33917, 9 August 1975, Page 48

Linwood favoured

Suburbs and Linwood will both be at full strength when they meet at Lancaster Park this afternoon in the pre’iminary final of the Canterbury senior Rugby competition. The winner will meetChristchurch, the playing- • through champion, lor the Canterbury Savings Bank Trophy tomorrow week. Although unexpectedly beaten by Christchurch in the semi-finals two weeks ago. Linwood wili go into today’s match a firm favour- ■ ite. It was only four weeks ago that Linwood heat Suburbs 18-6 in the round-robin The Hke ;h <xi of a soft

round will also be in Linwood’s favour, for although Suburbs's strength this, vear has often been its forwards, they might find possession hard to win against a Linwood pack which on its good days is regarded as one of the best club units in the country. If Suburbs could secure a fair share of possession then its prospects would soar. Apart from the wings, Terry Mitchel and Dave McGuigan, the Linwood barks have not been impressive ’his year, and it was instability in this area that cost the ; side the game against Christchurch. Suburbs, on the other hand, has a potentially match-winning inside combinat:on of Lyn Davis, John Fleming. Ricky Allan, and Graham Sims — the latter two back in the side after being out for some weeks i ith injuries DIFFERENT Both captains yesterday anticipated a hard game, with Linwood’s Tane Norton predicting that Suburbs would be a totally different side to that which narrowly beat Marist in the semifinals “People are saying they were lucky to beat Marist. Perhaps they were, but with a place in the final at stake this time they will be giving all they have got.”

■ Norton said that while i! Linwood might seem to have ■ an advantage in the for,i wards, it would be looking i! to its backs to get the ■ i points on the board. ; The Suburbs captain, Lyn • Davis, echoed the sentiments ■ ! of his coach (Mr R. de Malmanche), when he said the i side faced an uphill struggle. i “Still, we surprised most . people by beating University ; A a few weeks ago, and if .[we can play as well again e the decision could be close,” s said Davis.