Rugby youth Season nears end

Press, 26 July 1979, Page 29

Rugby youth Season nears end

With the end of the T 9.9 season not far away, time is tunning out lor the fulfilment of players' earlvseason hope-, and aims. For those who wish simply to have a good run or make a vita! tackle and for those who hope to impress the grade selectors, only a few weeks remain

A side to have a particulary good win on Saturday was the Manst under-11 team. which showed plenty of maturity and ball handling skills The 24-0 win on Saturday takes it to second place in the competition.

Johnny Baralay is a flanker with plenty of allround ability, while Phil Wildermoff has sufficient speed to be a dangerous wing. Closer to the scrum, the first five-eighths lan Mckendry showed fine ball handling attributes. A player who has developed into a fine team worker and who seems to play a better game each week is the full-back Kieran McCartin.

Although New Brighton lost heavily to Marist on Saturday, it has not been going too bady this season. The side has many new’ players; seven in fact, had not played rugby before. Brent Trotter is one who never spates effort for his side, while the captain and lock, Charles Muagalatia leads by example.

Dean Parker at second five-eighths is a player also willing to listen to advice and always tries his hardest. At half-back Stephen Parsons is learning to throw out long and accurate passes. In the fourteenth grade the Burnside B team had an excellent 26-0 win over Christchurch. As it has had only three wns this season, the result on Saturday was extremely gratifying. John Boyd is a strong, versatile lock who uses his strength to good bailwinning advantage. Anthany Johnson is the captain of the side and play* on the flank. He is a player never far from the ball, while at hooker a player known by one and all as “Snow” is a tenacious tackler, in the backs Hamish Johnson is both a ball handier and kicker of note.

Down in the seventeenth grade a side to go down on Saturday was the Sydenham B team, losing 22-14 to Christchurch. The team has a policy of giving each player a different position each week, surely a good idea at this level. Bruce Milner looked to be very fast on the wing, while Michael Kennedy is a promising back. Another in the backs to impress was Guy Tocker whose energy paid dividends.

Also in the seventeenth grade a side that has been performing well is the Christchurch C team. It has won most of the games and .owes much, according to their coach, to the loyalty and enthusiasm of the parents. Michael Blair is a much-improved centre while Gerald McKenzie at lock is enthusiastic and resourceful.