Cookson leading rugby scorer

Press, 29 August 1979, Page 26

Cookson leading rugby scorer

Gary Cookson, of the champion High School Old Boys team, was the top scorer in the senior club rugby season, which ended with the D.C.L. Shield final last week. Cookson amassed 139 points, one fewer than Dave Bo wick (New Brighton) topped the list with last year. Cookson’s points came from one try, 12 conversions, 31 penalty goals and six dropped goals. Bernie Stewart (Marist) was second with 136 points (20 conversions, 29 penalty goals -and three dropped goals) and Richard Wilson third with 131 points (three- tries, 16 conversions, 25 penalty goals and four dropped goals). Four others reached a century — Gary Shearer (Shirley), 124, Ken Taylor (Sydenham), 119, John Neilson (Suburbs), 105, and Robert Johns (Linwood) 102. Neilson’s total included 39 points from 13 dropped goals, a new Christchurch senior record. Bowick, who was th# top scorer in the two previous seasons, did well to reach 98 after missing seven games early in the season through injury. Others with more than 50 were Doug Heffernan (University A), 84, Alan Rushton (Albion), 81, Brett Codlin (Lincoln College), 82, Wayne Hemapo (Belfast), 80, Fred Hale (Hornby). 70, Graham Church (Burnside), 55, and Wayne Smith (Belfast) 54. Tony Murdoch (Christchurch) was the leafing try scorer. He got 12 and equal second, with 10, were Randal Scott (Unf-

versify A), Garry Hooper (Marist) and Geoff Brain (Suburbs). Scott Cartwright (Christchurch) led the rest with nine.