Murphy makes welcome return to league team

Press, 11 July 1979, Page 34

Murphy makes welcome return to league team

By

JOHN COFFEY

The aggressive Eastern Suburbs-Hertz three-quar-ters, Bruce Murphy, will make a welcome return to first-class rugby league when Canterbury meets West Coast in their Rothmans zone fixture at Greymouth on Sunday.

Murphy has had a long spell in the comparative wilderness. He appeared for the province five times between 1972 and 1974, and was a replacement for a South Island selection against Britain in the latter year. But from the start of the present season it was quite obvious that Murphy, now a much more mature and skilful club centre, would be extending a strong challenge

to those who have succeeded him in the Canterbury backline.

A series of Outstanding efforts for the Canterbury B team was rewarded by his

inclusion, if a little belatedly, in the Rest of South Island side which caused Canterbury’s only loss so far this winter. On that occasion he had originally been a reserve, but he grasped his chance when Tim Teen (West Coast) withdrew from the Rest. Now Murphy has taken another step up the rugby league ladder because of the unfortunate shoulder injury suffered by Cliff Leney (Linwood). Murphy will be on the wing of a particularly formidable outside back unit at Greymouth. The centres, Lewis Hudson (Linwood) and Michael O’Donnell (Mar-ist-Westem Suburbs), have impressed the Canterbury

coach (Trevor Bisman) with their combination at training, and the prolific scoring Mockey Brereton (Marist) is back in his old test role on the cither flank. The team is: Robin Alfeld (Hornby), Mockey Brereton (Marist), Michael O’Donnell (Marist), Lewis Hudson (Linwood), Bruce Murphy (Eastern), Mark Vincent (Sydenham), Wally Wilson (Linwood), Terry Gillman (Marist), Alan Rushton (Eastern), Rex Dalzell (Linwood), Mark Broadhurst (Marist), Paul Truscott (Linwood), Barry Edkins (Eastern). Reserve: Kevin Franklin (Marist), Wayne Wallace (Hornby).