Challenge for Sub-unions

Press, 15 June 1979, Page 20

Challenge for Sub-unions

From

BOB SCHUMACHER

“You were adequate against Southland but you are not world-beaters.” Those words were uttered by the coach of the Canterbury Subunions rugby team (Alister Hopkinson) as he put his team through the paces in a solid training run near Winton yesterday.

No one was spared from the aftermath of the celebration victory against Southland Sub-unions the previous day and even the manager, Russell Croft, joined in an arduous training run which cleared a few

cobwebs from the Jungs of the Canterbury team. t

Mr Hopkinsoi: was pleased with Canterbury's 16-13 victory against Southland, and especially with the performances of several young players, Les Roberts, Neil Burton and Chris Rhodes.

But, he said, the winning margin should have been greater, and several of the more established players in the team received some harsh words.

“I know their individual ability and some did not produce it.” Mr Hopkinson expects that the second and final match of the team’s tour — against Otago Subunions at Alexandra tomorrow — will be even tougher.

He is an uncompromising but popular taskmaster and

his intentions are to ensure that the Canterbury team is both physically and mentally prepared for the Otago fixture. The most pleasing feature of Canterbury’s win as far

as Mr Hopkinson was concerned was the attitude of his players. “They had a long and tiring trip down to Winton the day before the match but

they went on to the field with determination and a feeling that they were here to enjoy and play a winning brand of rugby,” he said. That spirit was very apparent in a hard but cleanly contested match.

Mr Hopkinson has yet to announce the team to play Otago Sub-unions tomorrow. The strong Maori wing, Layman Hohaia, and Matt Wilson, a hooker, are expected along with Graeme Sanderson today. Both Hohaia and Wilson were required by the Southern Maoris at its annual match against the Northern Maoris on Wednesday. Wilson will definitely play, as Hugh Taylor, who hooked against Southland, returned home yesterday. It was hard to predict what conditions might prevail for the Otago match because when the team arrived early last evening, Alexandra was covered in fog.