Canterbury well represented

Press, 9 May 1978, Page 44

Canterbury well represented

Dean Harris and Danny Millward, who between them have made only one firstclass appearance, are among a number of surprise inclusions in the four teams named yesterday for the first series of New Zealand rugby league trials at Auckland on May 17. Their unexipected selections boosted the Canterbury contingent to 11 players, the others being Michael O’Donnell, Robin Alfeld, Eddie Kerrigan, Alan Rushton, Paul Truscott, Barry Edkins, Mark Broadhurst, David Field and Mike Godinet.

Canterbury has certainly done well from the five hours of deliberations by the national panel (Messrs Ron Ackland, Bill Sorenson and Harry Walker). The provinces which have beaten Canterbury this season, Wellington and West Coast, have six and two trialists, respectively. Supporters of the code on the West Coast will undoubtedly, and understandably, be critical that only Tony Coll (as captain) and Ray Baxendale (the forward reserve) were named in the Southern Zone side to meet its northern counterpart. Don Ladner, who kick-

ed eight goals from nine attempts in West Coast’s 2212 win over Canterbury, is among those excluded. However, Mr Walker said yesterday that West Coast’s representation would have been slightly larger but for the dislocated shoulder suffered by its scrum-half, Gerard Harcourt, which will keep him on the side-lines for several weeks. Harris, at stand-off half for the zone XIII, and MillWard, a prop in the curtainraiser, now have the opportunity to impress in posi-

By

JOHN COFFEY

tions which have troubled the selectors because of a lack of depth throughout the country. Although Harris made a creditable debut for Canterbury at centre on Sunday, his club form suggests that stand-off is his most effective role. In gaining zone honours he was preferred ahead of Field (the back reserve) and the Wellington captain-coach and former Kiwi utility back, John O’Sullivan.

An aggressive prop, Millward has prospered since he transferred from Kaiapoi

to Papanui earlier this year and he was chosen at the expense of two members of the provincial squad, Steve Brewster and Rex Dalzell. In addition to O’Sullivan, two other former internationals from Wellington, Don Munro and Warren Collicoat, have dropped out of contention for the tour to Australia. John Whittaker, Wellington’s most seasoned test player, has been returned to his old position of centre after having switched to loose forward for the match with Canterbury.

The chances of Broadhurst forcing his way into the 24man touring party have lessened by his relegation from the zone pack to the early trial. He has been rated behind Truscott, who is enjoying a memorable first representative season, but at least will be familiar with the style of his hooker, Godinet, a former club-mate for Papanui. Northern Zone has a particularly powerful line-up. Ken Stirling, the former Kiwi captain, returns at scrum-half, and only Gary

■ Kemble (Auckland), lan Bell * (Auckland), Mike Smith and , the substitute forward, ’ Benny Greenlees (Taranaki), , have not represented their ’ country. ; Of the 1977 World Cup f squad, Collicoat has been ig- > nored, the Sorensen brothers ■ — Dane and Kurt — are in Australia, and Dane O’Hara • (Auckland), Jordan, and i Whare Henry (Wellington) ‘ are in the curtain-raiser ' combinations. John Smith (Auckland) has been moved ' from scrum-half to stand-off. Auckland, with 35, has by far the most trialists. " Canterbury (11) is clearly t next, ahead of Wellington ■ (six), Taranaki (three), West . Coast (two), and Hamilton, Waikato, and Manawatu (one each). ’ The final trials, also at ■ Auckland, will be on May > 20. ; The teams (players from 1 Auckland unless otherwise 1 stated) are.— , North: G. Kemble; F. Ah , Kuoi, O. O. Filipaina, D. A. ' Williams (captain), K. L. Fisher (Waikato); J. D. Smith, K. L. - Stirling; L. J. Proctor, T. H. Conrov, M. Smith; I. Bell, M. K. ’ Graham; M. K. Eade (vicef captain). Reserves: D. A. Sorsent sen, B. Greenlees (Taranaki). f South: M. W. J. O’Donnell (Canterbury, vice-captain); R. L. ' Alfeld (Canterbury), J. Jacobsen (Wellington), J. A. WhitI taker (Wellington), E. S. Kerrigan (Canterbury); D. V. Harris (Canterbury), H. Love (Wellington): Whetu Henrv (Wellington), A. P. Rushton 'Canterbury). B. Jolley (Wellington): A. P Coll (West Coast, captain). P. W. Truscott (Canterbury): B. R. Ed- ; kins (Canterbury). Reserves: D. . C. Field (Canterbury), R. F. . Baxendale (West Coast). Red XIII- N. Wright: D. O’Hara, ,T. Leuluai. K. Anders- . son. R. Uluave (Manawatu): P. 1 Christensen (Taranaki), Si Varley (captain); L. D. Millward . (Canterbury-), G. Taylor (vicecaptain), R. Tiananga (Hamilton): G. Prohm, A. McCarthy; Whare Henry (Wellington), Reserves: M. Gillespie, E. A. S. McEwen. Gold XIII: W. Winter; W. Tonga Tama, C. M. Jordan, S. McGregor, T. Fepuleai; S. Craike, R. Allen (captain): W. J. Wright, M. H. F. Godinet (Canterbury), M. Isaacs (Taranaki); M. E. Broadhurst (Canterbury), G. Hooker; L. Toloa (vicecaptain). Reserves: T. Whittle, R. Rota.