Edkins star of Eastern

Press, 13 April 1978, Page 32

Edkins star of Eastern

By

JOHN COFFEY

By upsetting the illustrious line-up fielded by Sydenham, Eastern went one step further than the other underdog of the night, Addington, which fully extended Hornby before having to concede the two competition points, 11-4. It was certainly an evening for the loose forwards. Edkins and Mutu Stone (Addington) were deserved recipients of the’ Mennen awards as the respective “players of the match.” But not too far behind them were Bruce Dickison, who

A magnificent individual, performance by the loose forward, Barry Edkins, lifted a much depleted Eastern Suburbs rugby league team to a 17-13 victory over Sydenham when the second round of the premiership was completed at the Show Grounds last evening. Edkins, although limping noticeably in the last quarter, inspired Eastern with his generalship and complete dedication on attack and defence. As an additional bonus, it was a weaving run by Edkins which produced the winning try and he added four goals for good measure.

was transferred from the| outside backs in a surprise : move by the Sydenham coach, Gary Clarke, and young Wayne Wallace (Hornby). Eastern, buffeted in its pre-match preparation by a spate of injuries which forced it to field an inexperienced pack, responded earnestly to Edkins’s urgings. It shocked Sydenham with two quick tries, one the result of quick passing and the other the product of fine mid-field play by John Wesley. For all of its advantages in size, individual skills, and experience, Sydenham was most disappointing. Only Dickison, who contributed the first 10 points for the team, and the elusive centre, Barry Bigwood, attained a standard to match their reputations.

All four sides had difficulty handling the new white balls ' with any confidence and. it was only Eastern’s failings in this phase of the football which threatened to cost it victory.

Sydenham drew up to 8-7 by the interval, when Dickison scored a try after a chip kick and chase that only he could mastermind.

His field goal IBmin from the end levelled the totals at 10-10.

However, it was to be Edkins who quite appropriately had the final say with a penalty and then a try and subsequent conversion. In a late, desperate measure, Sydenham sent the former Canterbury B rugby union prop, Bryan Mustchin, on to the field for his first rugby league game in many years and Mustchin backed up astutely for the try that only served to shave the deficit.

Edkins found an able assistant in the promising Derek McLaughlin in leading the Eastern pack, their fellow forwards also relishing the hard work. Wesley and the full-back, Trevor Phih pott, stood out among the backs.

The former Marlborough forward, Stephen Bazeley, had a short introduction to the code in Canterbury when he was sent from the field 23min after making his debut as a half-time substitute for Homby. Bazeley appeared to clip a tackled Addington player with his boot and was dismissed by Trevor Houston.

But Hornby survived with 12 men against a spirited Addington challenge that was led by Stone, David Wilks, Robert Lanauze, Grant Stocker, and Barry Brown. Murray Wright’s 2212 scrummaging advantage was a great boost for Hornby, even though his teammates frittered away much of that possession. Wallace, the hard-running Mel Tehore, Merv Manson, and Robin Alfeld were the most effective members of a Hornby XIII that is still seeking to realise its true potential. D.W.O.J.—The people of South Scorers: Eastern Suburbs 17 (C. Cameron, J. Drongoll, B. R. Edkins tries; Edkins four goals) beat Sydenham 13 (B. I. Dickison, B. M. Mustchin tries; Dickison three goals, field goa]). Half-time: Eastern, 8-7. Referee: W. J. Menzies. Hornby 11 (D. Taylor, M. T. P. Wright, M. A. Manson tries; T. Williams goal) beat Addington 4 (G. H. Stocker two goals). Halftime: Hornby. 6-2. Referee: T. C. Houston. PREMIERSHIP TABLE

W D L F A Pts Papanut .. 2 0 0, 61 15 4 Marist .. 2 0 0 60 27 4 Hornby .. 1 1 0 23 16 3 Linwood .. 1 0 1 37 42 2 Eastern .. 1 0 1 26 36 2 Sydenham .. 0 1 1 25 29 1 Addington .. 0 0 2 18 44 0 Kaiapoi .. 0 0 2 21 60 0