Combined side an unknown quantity

Press, 5 July 1977, Page 32

Combined side an unknown quantity

From KEVIN McMENAMIN in Blenheim

“It will be close, and we could win," says a Nelson Bays man. “The Lions will bolt in.” confides a Marlborough resident.

With this son of ambivalent thinking, it is difficult to know what the Lions can expect when they play the last of their South Island provincial matches against these combined unions at Blenheim today.

The optimism on the part of the Nelson Bays man might have something to do with the inclusion of six players from that union in the side. A few seasons back, when Marlborough was riding high on the wave oi its Ranfurly. Shield successes, about ail Nelson Bays could have expected to contribute to a combined side was the assistant manager.

However, things have changed in the last year or two. Retirements, injuries, and transfers have ended Marlborough’s golden era, and Nelson Bays has lifted its standard to such an extent that it no longer suffers the indignity of being the poor neighbour. The combined team takes the field today after just two training runs, although most of the essential partnerships are established ones. The major exception is the pairing of Marlborough’s experienced Peter Baker at half-back, and Jim Speedy of Nelson Bays at first fiveeighths. Speedy is said to be true to his name. He is a former Wellington colt, and last year he went to England to further his rugby career, which he did by playing for Leicester.

On the basis of individual talent, the combined team could well test the Lions; it contains five players who have represented New Zealand Juniors or New Zealand Colts — Steve Marfell, Brian Ford, David Neal, Kevin Sutherland (a cousin of the brothers, Alan and Ray, who played against both the 1966 and 1971 Lions), and Mark Best.

Best, a flanker, who toured with the New Zea-

land Juniors last season,) was brought into the sidel yesterday when yet another hero of .Marlborough's recent past, Brian Dwyer, withdrew [because of a leg injury. A Marlborough team without Jim Joseph in the front row is hard to accept, but (although he is still playing, I the 39-year-o!d former Maori All Black has been unable to give the time to training that would justify his holding a place. The pack will still boast a Maori All Black. The Nelson I Bays lock, Murray West, will meet the Lions again I when they play New Zealand Maoris at Auckland next week. West’s locking partner is Terry Julian, who was not far away from i being an All Black a few years ago and who is still as one of the best two-handed takers of linelout bail in the country. JuIlian, who will captain the [side, has been unavailable [for top rugby over the last two seasons.

i Tackling will be the essential requirement if the combined side is to have any hope of giving the unions at the top of the South Island their first-ever win over the British Isles, and even if the tackling is safe it is questionable whether Combined will manage to score many points. However, as the French discovered in 1968, Marlborough can never be taken lightly, and even Blenheim [people admit that this year lit needs a little help from jits neighbour. I The Lions finally arrived in Blenheim yesterday, after a 24-hour delay because of the Wellington weather. They travelled by bus to Palmerston North and flew from there.

On the way to Palmerston North the team’s bus was in an accident at the intersection of the Manakau subway and the State highway, reports the Press Association.

The bus was reported to have been in collision with a Icar, causing extensive dam-

I age to the vehicle, but only [slight damage to the bus. The Lions side chosen tor today does have a “B” look about it, but it is only to be expected at this stage of the tour that there should be some division, and the backs would only have to pick up where they left off against West Coast-Buller last week to extend today’s opposition The Lions on the field this afternoon have the responsibility of not only maintain- 1 ing ' the unbeaten provincial record but also of scoring a win that will put the entire team in the best possible spirits before the return to Christchurch tomorrow for the allimportant second test.

It was hard to believe in Blenheim either yesterday or on Sunday that Wellington was being lashed by wind and Christchurch by rain. The weather was calm and fine, and a firm ground is expected at Lansdowne Park this afternoon.

Marlborough officials were even making tentative offers to “rescue” Canterbury by staging the second test next Saturday, if Lancaster Park is still fit only for ducks. The teams are:

British Isles: B. H. Hay, P. J. Squires, C. M. H. Gibson, D. H. Butcher, H. E. Rees, J. D. Bevan, D. W. Morgan, J. Squire, T. P. Evans (captain), W. B. Beaumont, G. L. Brown, D. L. Quinnell, G. Price, R. W. Windsor, C. Williams. Reserves: Backs, D. B. Williams, P. Bennett, G. L. Evans. Forwards, P. A. Orr, |A. J. Neary, P. J. Wheeler. Marlborough-Nelson Bays: R. E. Gordon, B. W. Hunter, S. W. P. Marfell, B. R. Ford, G. Rogers, J. Speedy, P. J. Baker, B. A. Kenny, B. P. Dwyer, M. G. West, T. Julian (captain), D. W. Neal, J. W. Baryluk, K. G. Sutherland, G. R. Paki Paki. Reserves: Backs, R. J. Neighbours, G Walsh. Forwards, M. J. Best,. G. A. Harrison. The referee for the match will be Mr I. B. Whitaker (Manawatu). The game starts at 2.30 p.m.