Six Canterbury Maoris picked

Press, 2 August 1977, Page 6

Six Canterbury Maoris picked

Six Canterbury players—all present members of the provincial squad— have been nominated for the New Zealand Maoris rugby league team to take part in the Pacific Cup tournament next month.

They are Wayne Dunn (Hornby), Mutu Slone (Addington) and the Papanui quartet of Peter Tairi, Gary Taie, Eddie Kerrigan and Mike Godinet.

However, the Canterbury Rugby League board of control is banking on some, if not all, of the players being chosen without appearing in the national trial at Ngaruawahia on August 14. Canterbury is scheduled to meet West Coast in the southern semi-final of the Rothmans interprovincial tournament at Greymouth that day, and the convener of the representative selection panel (Mr Mel Clinton) said that the players preferred to honour that commitment.

It was decided to inform the New Zealand Rugby League of the position. The Pacific Cup, which was won in 1975 by the Maoris, is to be held at North Island venues between September 12 and 28 and will involve sides from Papua-New Guinea, Victoria. Western Australia, and Northern Territory.

Maori-Pakeha supremacy in Canterbury will be decided at Kaiapoi next Sunday in the annual fixture for the Bob Pomare Cup. The Pakeha team, announced last night, is:—

K. P. J. Williams (Papanui), F. A. Lawrence (Sydenham), W. M Wright (Hornby), M. W. J. O’Don-

nell (Marist), R Alfeld < Hornby), P. W. O’Donnell (Maristt, K. W. Tait • Papanui*, J. Greengrass (Kaiapoi), A. F’ Rushton 'Eastern). P. Truscott (Linwood*. B. R. Edkins (Eastern), T. J. Gillman (Easterni. P. G. Atkinson (Sydenham*, K, J Murphy (Eastern*, P. A. Sturgeon (Sydenhami. Coach: Mr T. L. Bisman. Manager: Mr J G. Clarke. Other teams named last night were:— Pakeha 19 years to play Maoris at Kaiapoi on Sundav: I) Perkins, D. Campbell, P Barker. A. J. Kerr (Linwood*, C. E. C harlton. J. McGougan (Marist), O. Williams, T. Stanley, R. Bell (Kaiapoi), B. Hines, G. Roberts, J Stokes, D. Thompson. J. Coles, M. Pfeifer (Papanui). S. Wells. W. Wallace * Hornby). Team to assemble at Kaiapoi, 12 noon, Sundax

Canterbury 17 years tnalists to play at Kaiapoi, 12.30 p.m., Sunday: R. Hollett. V. Lowe, B. Cooper, Benjamin, I. Gear, M Willis, Lancaster, G. Larson. K. Robinson (Hornby'. A Chivers, S. Wernham, G. Lightfoot. B. Radonovich. S. L. Blanchard iLinwood), R Brown, G. Pomare, V. Watson, Youngman iWoolston), B. Samson, M. Clarkson, M. Williams, G. Tinning. Watson, A. Piper, G. Cooper, M. Lynn, B. Nayejl G. Haines. P. Reihana, G. Cox (Papanui), I. Baird. J. Whittaker, K. Wilson (Hals well), M. Harris (Kaiapoi), Moira (University).