Tough rugby assignment

Press, 9 April 1977, Page 48

Tough rugby assignment

Christchurch will need toi strike form immediately if it is to improve this year on its placings at the last two national champion-of-cham-i pions rugby tournaments in 1 Wellington. Christchurch was third in 1975 and last year it drew, 10-10, in the final with the' Wellington team, Poneke. In the first semi-final today, Christchurch will meet the champion Auckland side, Ponsonby, and in the: second semi-final Otago University will play the host tlub, Petone. It is not known how the< draw was made, but either! by accident or design the organisers would, no doubt, be very happv with a PetonePonsonby final. The Ponsonby side, on paper, certainly appears the most formidable. It includes the All Biacks, Bryan Williams, Lyn Colling, Andy < Haden, Peter Whiting and ferry Morrison, plus the ]

'Auckland representatives, Basil Gascoigne, Alan Hathaway and Joe Whiu. Christchurch, by comparison, will have only one 'All Black, Richard Wilson, and one other provincial representative, Murray McEwan. The only regular members of the side not available for selection are Scott Cartwright, whose start to the season has been delayed by a cartilage operation, and fellow wing, Bruce Cochrane. who has an injury. However, Christchurch can take much encouragement from its decisive 'win over Belfast in the first round of the C.S.B. Cup competition last Saturday and the team has had a solid preparation for the tournament. In addition, there is Christchurch’s deserved rep-j utation of being able to lift! its play to meet the big occasion. Petone will have its ex-1 perienced trio of Andy Les-!

:, lie. Richard Cleland and -! John Dougan, plus the representative wing, George Skip--Iper. Otago University is ; fairly light on big-name , players, although it will 11 have the services of Paul - Oliver, who moved north -! during the summer and is - now with Canterbury Unit versity. Kieran Keane and Mark 11 Romans, two other players i in the same category, were - also invited to rejoin the ; Otago side in Wellington, it but both declined. Romans, -' in fact, is taking the oppore tunity this week-end to rest t a shoulder injury he has had 3 for some weeks. The national tournament, i instituted by Petone about - five years ago, is now firmly s established as a major event -lon the inter-club rugby 11 scene and while Christ- : church may be battling against the odds this year it ■I is in such circumstances •Ithat it usually excels.