Canterbury faces tight programme

Press, 28 July 1976, Page 34

Canterbury faces tight programme

Canterbury will use its annual tigby match against Mid-Canterbun it the Ashburton Show Grounds this afternoon to prepare for a hean schedule of national competition games next month.

Alex Wyllie and his men will be faced with five first division matches in 18 days during August, and they [badly need today’s run to jclear away the cobwebs. The team’s last outing was against Queensland in Brisbane three weeks and a half ago; that came five weeks [after the previous fixture, [against Ireland. | Faced with the necessity Ito rebuild the team because of the loss of six players to the All Blacks, the Canterbury selectors have added several new men to the squad. Three of them, John Edmondson (loose-head prop), Geoff Brain (left wing) and John Munro (half-back), will make their first appearances for Canterbury A today. The side should win comfortably, but Mid-Canterbury’ is expected to be a much tougher proposition this season because it has seven matches under its belt. Unlike other years, the home team

Ihas had time to develop ? [worthwhile combination. However, it will be w.thou* its regular centre. Alar Grieve, who received a bruised cheekbone against Nelson-Bays, and failed to gain a medical clearance His place will be filled by Mid-Canterbury's "Mr Versatile.” Alan Edge. He has formerly played for the union at half-back, first and second five-eighths, and full-back. The teams are:— Canterbury. — M. D. Heffernan: Brain. A. C. R Jefferd, D. J. McGuigan: M. R. McEwan, K. R. Jennings; Munro: Wyllie (captain); Cron, D. M. Thompson. B. L. Higginson. Phillips: B. A. Thompson, M. W. Hall, Edmondson. Mid-Canterbury. — I. McLenaghen: M. H. L. Tapley, Edge, G. R. Bryant; P. N. Keenan (captain), M. B. Rculston; P. C. Williams: Ludeman: Walsh, J. C. Ross, P. MacGregor, R. G. Perry, N. G. Crozier. G. Prendergast, D. Grant