Papanui strong for match against Marist

Press, 16 June 1979, Page 56

Papanui strong for match against Marist

Papanui will have its very experienced loose forward, Rod Walker, and scrum-half, Ken Tait, back in its ranks for the important premier rugby league fixture with Marist-Westem Suburbs at the Show Grounds tomorrow.

The leadership of Walker and Tait’s elusiveness were sorely missed when Papanui was unexpectedly beaten by Addington last week-end. That result dropped Papanui to third equal, one point behind the joint leaders, Marist and Linwood.

On the other hand, three of Marist’s most prominent players, Mark Broadhurst, Mocky Brereton and Michael O’Donnell, have the problem of recovering quickly from today’s game between South

Island and Northern Dis tricts.

Papanui has won all of its last 16 meetings with Marist, a record which extends back to 1973. It will be conscious, though, that five or fewer points separated the sides in their last three matches last winter. Linwood has a similar worry to that of Marist on the eve of its fixture with Sydenham. It has provided Paul Truscott, Lewis Hudson and Cliff Leney, as well as both reserves, Wally Wilson and Rex Dalzell, to the South Island team and they face an arduous week-end. In the other matches Eastern should be too powerful for Halswell, and Addington will be seeking to continue its advance against the improved Hornby XIII.