McKechnie top scorer

Press, 5 October 1977, Page 39

McKechnie top scorer

PA Wellington New Zealand's newest double All Black, Southland's Brian McKechnie. has scored the most points in Radio New Zealand’s second national rugby first division competition. McKechnie compiled 89 points In the series by scoring four tries and lucking five conversions, 16 penalties and five dropped goals. Two full-backs, Stephen Davidson iTaranakii with 87 and Bevan Wilson (Otago) with 79, finished in second and third positions respectively. The dynamic Wellington flanker, Paul Quinn, scored the most tries with seven, just one ahead of the wings, Bryan Williams Warwick Procter (Wellington) and the excit-

i ing young Counties prospect, Robert Kururangi. i Altogether there were 231 i tries scored, 112 of which were t converted and 165 penalties and s 30 dropped goals kicked, for a - total of 1733 points. Bay of Plenty’s goal-kickers, s Greg Rowlands and John Brake, ’ kicked 15 conversions from the ■ 18 tries scored by their pros vince. This was the most successful conversions kicked to - tries scored ratio for the 11 I teams. , Marlborough once again suf--1 fered from the lack of a reliable kicker and could manage only 1 three conversions from 12 tries. 3 Counties, with its running style 5 of play, scored the most tries - in the competition with 42, 12 - more than the outright winner. - Canterbury.

The 10 top points-scorers were, under headings of tries, conversions, penalties, dropped goals and total:—

T. C. P. D.G. Ttl Brian McKechnie 'Southland) 4 R 16 5 89 Stephen Davidson i Taranaki i 1 10 21 87 Bevan Wilson 'Otagoi 1 6 21 79 Steve Watt (Auckland) 6 20 72 Mark Codlin 'Counties i 3 12 10 1 69 Richard Wilson (Canterburv) *> 14 8 66 Richard Cox (Hawke’s Bars 1 8 13 1 62 Greg Rowlands (Bay of Plenty) 1 11 12 62 Mike Banks (Manawatui 8 34 Doug Rollerson (Manawatui — 2 7 2 31