East-west final likely

Press, 26 May 1979, Page 56

East-west final likely

A random poll of rugby league supporters in Canterbury would almost certainly favour a meeting between east (Eastern Suburbs-Hertz) and west (Marist-Westem Suburbs) in the 1979 club championship grand final in September. These two very capable combinations have been touted as the most likely to succeed Papanui as the holder of the Pat Smith Challenge Trophy, and their clash at the Show Grounds tomorrow should decide which assumes outright favouritism.

While Papanui, in spite of its youthful squad, and Linwood cannot bq regarded as anything other than very strong challengers, Marist and Eastern — in that order — have dominated early-sea-son predictions. It is generally agreed that only Papanui has the potential to match either Eastern or Marist in the forwards, and Marist, as if by tradition, still appears to have

the most formidable backline in the competition. But Marist has to overcome the psychological barrier of never having won a major provincial title. On the other hand, Eastern triumphed under the old championship system in 1948 (when known as Christchurch) and the present format in 1975, interrupting what would otherwise have been an eight-year domination by Papanui. If they: hail from opposite boundaries of the city, east and west should meet in some phases of tomorrow’s game. Marist, with Terry Gillman, John McCue and Russell Clifford in its ranks, is capable of fielding a front-row composed of former Eastern players, and the Eastern player-coach. Grant Findlay, previously wore Marist’s colours.

Some of the participants face a busy week-end. Michael O’Donnell, Mocky Brereton, Kevin Franklin

and Mark Broadhurst, of Marist, and the Eastern forwards, Aian Rushton and Barry Edkins, have a prior commitment for Canterbury against Wellington at the Show Grounds this afternoon.

The opposing clubs have similar strengths. There is no obvious weak link in either pack; the rival scrumhalves, Graeme Frew (Marist) and Murray French, have been in sparkling form in recent weeks; and the tussle between the centres, Brereton and Franklin and Eastern’s Murphy brothers, Bruce and Kevin, should be enthralling. Marist at present holds a one-point advantage over Eastern and Papanui on the premiership table, the latter two having drawn their second round encounter. To add additional spice to the match tomorrow, Marist will be attempting to relieve Eastern of the weekly challenge trophy, the Desmond-Rogers Memorial.