RUGBY YOUTH Encouragement, advice from senior players

Press, 7 May 1980, Page 21

RUGBY YOUTH Encouragement, advice from senior players

Rugby has a reputation for strong loyalties, especially within clubs, and this is nowhere better demonstrated than with a club’s involvement in the junior grades.' All clubs try to encourage the. participation of their senior players in the coaching of ' junior sides, and at Haeley -Park on Saturday morning were two prominent senior players from the Christchurch club, Mick Powley and Graham Gordon. Not . only does this system benefit the boys who are helped by senior players’ experience, but in the long . term the clubs must gain by getting the boys more interested in the senior side and their particular “stars.” £ In the seventeenth grade on Saturday, Linwood made a late run but could not manage to beat Marist in an interesting game. Marist stage was up by 16 points to 4, but Linwood

came back with two late tries, bringing its score to within two points of its opponent. In the Marist side Scott Mayer at first five-eighths had a good game, while inside him at half-back, Ben Cowan was a fine tackler. In the forwards John Baylis was a reliable and hard-working prop. In the Linwood side Glenn Leys hooked well, while either side of him, John Hokking and Brian Palmer always gave their best. * sis * In the eighteenth grade, Shirley and Medbury were involved in a tough and even match. Although the Shirley side is a light one it played extremely well, with the back combination of Shaun Craig at second five-eighths. Tony Prendergast at half-back and Glen Smith at first five-eighths holding the side together. The Medbury team also gave an encouraging display, with two brothers, Gareth and Bryan Davies,

tackling ’ with vigour. Hamish Pringle looks to be a speedy first five-eighths. An important clash took place between Burnside and Linwood in the eleventh grade. Both sides were previously unbeaten, and the game’s progress indicated that neither side wished to lose this honour. . For Linwood Russell Wright was an able leader and talented lock. Supporting him well tip in the forwards was lan Aldridge, a hooker with determination and vigour. In the backs Gavin McKay tackled extremely well at second five-eighths. the Burnside camp, its two flankers, Craig Patterson and Mike Robertson, shon® as fast and ball-hungry players. In the backs, Alister Mayston was a mature first five-eighths, while on the wing the team is fortunate t > have the services of Lindsay Clark, a player who last season notched up 100 points. Another hard - fought game was in the thirteenth grade, where Linwood met Christchurch. For Linwood Douglas Haenga won valuable tightheads at hooker, while Adam Kerr looked to be a strong No. 8. At full-back Darren Murtha was an admirable last line of defence, tackling with reliability. For Christchurch Gary Martin was full of determination and hard-running in midfield, while David Hudson adapted well to his new role in the forwards. In the front row David Bodger contributed a great deal to his side’s performance. ❖ & . St Bede’s College and Papanui High School met in the tenth grade competition and both . sides played in an entertaining style. St Bede’s suffered al the hands of its bigger opposition, but once it ■ gets things together wins will certainly come its way. Noel" Chambers worked well at. half-back, while James Moran and Wayne Pidgeon were fast forwards. For Papanui, Paul Sullivan sent out long accurate passes from half-back, while Arron Dyer led his team well. Wayne Fraser was a tireless hooker, and in the backs Martin Davison ran strongly.