Rugby career taking off?

Press, 11 July 1980, Page 24

Rugby career taking off?

By

JOHN BROOKS

The rugby career of Victor Simpson appears to be taking off. After only a handful of appearances for University A in the Christchurch senior competition, the young Maori centre has leapfrogged into the Canterbury squad for the game against Mid-Canterbury in Ashburton on July 19. Simpson’s selection is at the expense of John Collinson, Canterbury’s centre in its first two matches and a regular representative last season. A Gisborne Boys’ High

School product, and a Poverty Bay senior wing last season, Simpson is a first-year student at the University of Canterbury. Although only 20, he has shown unusual flair on attack and reliability on the tackle for his club team. He has already scored eight tries for the team and helped set up many others. This has not gone unnoticed by the Canterbury selectors (Messrs Gerald Wilson and Neil Cornelius) who have been watching, his displays with interest in the last few weeks. ability also gained him a place in the New Zealand Colts side

for its short trip to Australia. Another member of that team, Robbie Deans, has also been brought back into the Canterbury squad, as full-back. He replaces Darryl Campbell, who was far too tense in the match against Marlborough this week, and did not do himself justice as a result. Deans was Canterbury’s full-back in the first match of the season, against West Coast in Greymouth. The two Canterbury frontrow forwards injured in the Marlborough match, Mick Powley and Richard Loe, are both in the squad, on the assumption that they will both

soon return to full fitness. Powley received a kick in the small of the back, and Loe suffered a hard blow to a shin. The Canterbury squad 's. Backs. — Deans, Darryl Park, lan Mather, Randal Scott, Simpson, Kieran Keane, Paul Mol.oy, Rod Latham, Gary Barkle, Graeme Ellis. Forwards. — Peter McLaren, Don Hayes, Barney Henderson, Jock Hobbs, Jock Ross, Bruce Farmer. David White, Loe, Pat O’Byrne, Neil Porter, Powley and Murray Hall.