Four new faces in Country fifteen

Press, 14 May 1979, Page 30

Four new faces in Country fifteen

The Country rugby selector, Alister Hopkinson, has named four new players in the Sub-unions team to meet Nelson Bays at Rangiora on Wednesday. All are young players: the Rangiora mid-field back, Layman Hohuia, who has been placed on the wing; another wing, Ross Saunders (Darfield): David Carter (Southbridge), a first five-eighth Of some promise; and John Fowler (Rangiora), a strapping No. 8. Andrew Munro has been chosen at centre but is in some doubt because of a thigh injury. If he cannot play Hohuia will move to centre and another youngster, lan Burton (Rangiora), will fill the vacancy on the wing. Mr Hopkinson said that he was giving some of the younger backs a game while he had full strength in the forwards. He will be differently placed next week when the Sub-unions play their second game, against MidCanterbury at Rakaia, on the same day that Canterbury will meet Marlborough. The team for Wednesday is: Denis Smolenski: Hohuia, Andrew Monro, Saunders; Bruce Dunbar, Carter; John Munro; Rowler; Don Hayes, Alan Martin, Graeme Higginson, Barney Henderson; Barry Thompson (captain), Hugh Taylor, John Ashworth. Reserves: Burton, Chris Rhodes, Brian Grant; Graeme Sanderson, Matt Wilson. Ross Loffhagen. Wayne Pearce.