Milestone for Brereton

Press, 16 May 1979, Page 14

Milestone for Brereton

Mocky Brereton, the former New Zealand rugby league wing, will equal the record for the most appearances for Canterbury when he plays against Waikato at the Show Grounds on Saturday. A formidable figure to opposing defences, Brereton could hardly have had a more productive final preparation for his first home representative appearance of the season than when he scored five tries for Marist-Westem

Suburbs against a hapless Halswell side last weekend. While Brereton’s scoring feats at all rugby league levels occupy a proud place in the code’s history in this country, his fellow outside backs have also benefited from his. vast experience. In 50 matches for New Zealand between 1969 and 1975 Brereton contributed 25 tries, and his 24 consecutive tests in that period constituted a nat-

ional record until exceeded by his former Kiwi teammate, Dennis Williams. Canterbury made its most notable rugby league acquisition when Brereton transferred in the police force to Christchurch in 1970 after having claimed 17 tries in 20 fixtures for West Coast. His 40 tries for his adopted province is easily a record. So, too, is his remarkable total of 144 tries for Marist-Westem Suburbs in the premier grade; only T

Phil Brown (106). Bruce Dickison (105) and Eddie Kerrigan (104) have also exceeded a personal century. Brereton will join the former Canterbury loose forward and captain, Rod Walker, as the most frequent provincial representative on Saturday, and a week later he will move ahead of Walker when he makes his fifty-first appearance, against Wellington at the Show Grounds. _____