Sydenham, Hornby back in league’s spotlight

Press, 26 March 1980, Page 22

Sydenham, Hornby back in league’s spotlight

By

JOHN COFFEY

The loyal supporters of Canterbury’s two most successful rugby league clubs, Sydenham and Hornby, have good reason to believe that the period of long, cold and largely unproductive winters they have been enduring are at last coming to an end. Sydenham impressed as a strong contender for championship honours later in the season when it eliminated Eastern Sub-urbs-Hertz from the Qantas-Radio Avon knockout tournament on Sunday, and Hornby was even more impressive in achieving a long-awaited triumph at the expense of Papanui.

But the sequence of success must come to an end for one of them under the Show Grounds floodlights this evening. They will oppose each other in one semi-final, with the victor advancing to meet either Linwood or Marist-West j ern Suburbs in the final a week later. While Eastern and Papanui dominated club competitions in the 19705, Hornby and Sydenham were often among the

more lowly-ranked combinations. Sydenham did pres-s Papanui close in the 1978 championship and Hornby, emerging from the shadows of relegation, enjoyed a brief revival under the guidance of the former Kiwi forward, Wayne Robertson. The two clubs have con-

trasting circumstances. Hornby has a traditionally strong suburban nursery and a wealth of schoolboy and under-age talent. When its senior resources dried up, it sent its scouts to Auckland. But now its concentration on building up its junior ranks is paying dividends. Sydenham, situated in a largely industrial area, has been criticised in recent years for recruiting players from other clubs. But the development of Centennial Park has persuaded Sydenham to direct its activities further afield. They share equally proud pasts, though. Sydenham won 16 titles between 1913 and 1956 and

shared another in wartime with Rakaia; Hornby has 14 championships (and one when combined with Rakaia and Riccarton) to its credit, the most recent when it nudged out Marist in the 1969 grand final. It might be coincidence, but both Sydenham and Hornby set out this season

with new coaches. Bruce Dickison. who probably still has the skills and initiative to represent his country. is an inspirational on-field leader of Sydenham, while the former New’ Zealand Maoris prop. Hoppy Baker, could hardly have wished for a more memorable start to his coaching . term with Hornby.

The captaincy' and sheer presence of such a formidable character as Alan Rushton in the Hornby front-row has given a useful pack an obvious sense of purpose. Wayne Wallace is now free to display his various talents at loose forward; Murray Wright and Mel Tihore

have responded to Rushton's urgings; and the youngsters, Dean Taylor, Steve Bazeley and lan Gear, are making pleasing advances.

Merv Manson is an astute director of operations behind the scrummage and his partner in the halves, Brent Ringdahl, combines with Manson to ensure that the three-quarters, Grant Hallett, Kelvin Kelly, Wayne Munday and Michael Kelly, and the full-back. Robin Alfeld, were given plenty of rein to show their flair. Sydenham has a more seasoned side, one which eagerly extends the attacks directed by Dickison. David Vincent is quickly fashioning an imposing centre pairing with his brother, Mark, and David Field and Bob Grant have strength and experience in the halves. Behind them all, the fullback, Blair Corkran, has been of immense value as a goal-kicker.

Apart from the highscoring abilities of Dickison and Wayne Jeffs, Sydenham’s forward manoeuvres have few frills. Ron Grossi, a forthright former rugby union prop, Kerry Corkran and Ben Afitu have size and mobility and are well qualified to run onto Dickison’s distribution.