High-flying Harvey to head north

Press, 16 June 1979, Page 56

High-flying Harvey to head north

By

JOHN BROOKS

The High School Old Boys senior rugby captain, Alwyn Harvey, is likely to be lost to Canterbury in mid-Aug-ust. All that night flying which the fair-haired flanker has been carrying out recently gives a clue to the reason.

As well as his rugby commitments, Harvey is also tackling a wings course in the Air Force. If he gets through the present stage, he will be transferred to Ohakea air base, near Bulls, in another 10 weeks. The course lasts a further four months, and if he comes through successfully he will become Flying Officer A. R. Harvey, all set to learn to fly “the big ones.” This means, of course, that Old Boys and Canterbury will have to wave goodbye to the high-flying flanker about the time that the main senior competition ends. But Harvey, who has played 17 times for Canterbury A and was a surprise choice for the South Island side in 1977, does not want to cut his ties with rugby. “I will take next season as it comes,” he said yesterday. “I will definitely play rugby, but I don’t know how much time I’ll be able to devote to it.”

Harvey was hurt playing for Canterbury against West Coast in Greymouth earlier

this winter, and the damaged ankle kept him out of the All Black trials.

“I was disappointed at missing the trials, as there are good chances for young players to break in this year,” he said. “But if you are not fully fit, its not wise to take the, risk of playing, hoping you’ll come through without too much bother.” A swift forward, good at hounding down the ball or the ball carrier, Harvey made his debut for Canterbury against Sotuhland towards the end of the 1976 season. In the first match of the next winter, against Queensland, his tackling of the visiting inside backs and big loose forwards was a highlight of the match. He was a non-stop defensive machine that day. Although Harvey played for the winning South Island team that year he was unable to command a regular place in Canterbury’s first line-up last season, and he was again passed ov.er for selection against Queensland last Saturday. But his energetic display for Old Boys in the sevens the next day showed that he will be a force in the remaining senior competition matches. With the prospect of winning a place in the top four for the championship play-offs, Old Boys will hope that Harvey goes out on a high note.