Maoris’ prospects receive a blow

Press, 1 June 1977, Page 34

Maoris’ prospects receive a blow

The hopes of the Canterbury Maoris rugby team of ending a 10-year losing streak against Canterbury Sub-unions at Rangiora this [afternoon were set back yesterday when the All Black lock, Vance Stewart, withIdrew from the side. Stewart has a back injury, which he received during Canterbury’s match against Marlborough last week. It appears to be a pinched nerve, and Stewart is hopeful that with treatment he will be fit to play for Canterbury against New Zealand Universities next week. According to the Maoris coach (Mr T. Bunker), the standard of Maori rugby in Canterbury is higher than it has been for several years, and before Stewart’s withdrawal he was optimistic that this year the Maoris would beat Sub-unions. “We usually have the backs to match Country, but possession has always been a problem. We have had to settle for about 30 per cent, and with Vance playing I had hoped we might get closer to 50 per cent,” he said.

However, even without ■ Stewart, who would have \ been expected to dominate ’ the line-outs, Mr Bunker is r confident that his team will > get more ball than in the ■ past. The presence of Tane : Norton and Billy Bush in the ■ scrum should help in this direction, and there will be , a third All Black, Terry ; Mitchell, on the wing. t Yet even with these t strengths, the Maoris will be I hard pressed to contain a ■ Country side which bears s more than a passing resemb- ■ lance to a full Canterbury • side. Sub-unions beat Mid- . Canterbury, 25-12, last week, > and this was without seven s .of its provincial representai tives—all of whom will play t today. , For different reasons, to- ■ day’s game will be important : to both sides. The Maoris > hope to enlarge their programme this season with i matches against Marlt borough and Taranaki i Maoris, and a good perform- > ance today could help this , cause. 1 In addition, a top display t by any of the Maoris, outs side of the three All Blacks, could be rewarded with a

place in the New Zealand Maoris side to play the Lions at Auckland next month. One of the national selectors. Mr Solomon Heperi, is coming specially from Wellington to watch the game. For Country, the game : will provide a preparation for its annual fixture against Town, to be played at Lan- : caster Park next Monday. • Country will be trying for . its third successive win over ; Town, and its even spread of strength through all positions might be enough to carry it to victory today. The teams are: Canterbury Maoris: Nick Tichboume Terry Mitchell, Peter Sheehan, Norm Chase, Shane Gibbons, Mike Dolan, Bruce Bennett, John Te Amo, ; Mark Hammond, Leigh Tay- : lor, Harry Tawera, John Karatea, Billy Bush, Tane i Norton, Denis Skipper. Sub-unions: Denis Smoleni ski, Stewart Bray, Don Stew- ■ art, Ralph Ogg. Andy Jef- : ferd, Doug Bruce, John Munro, Alex Wyllie, Don ■ Hayes, Graeme Higginson, Alan Martin Phil Seymour, , John Ashworth Mike Ryan, , Barry Thompson.