Rugby youth Players, supporters brave conditions

Press, 17 July 1980, Page 17

Rugby youth

Players, supporters brave conditions

Cold weather and muddy, sloppy grounds, made rugby herd work for players, coaches, referees and spectators alike on Saturday. Although the St Anthirteenth grade scored only four points to its opponents 26, it deserved credit for being the first side to score against Linwood. Linwood is a fine combination, and has not lost a game to date. Gary Watson is a good half-back, with all the necessary skills, while Andrew Norton is a robust prop. Murray Spence is a talent-, ed centre, and Craig Isherwood a grand ball-winner in the line outs.

Lyttelton is a club with few teams, and it is pleasing to see one of them doing particularly well. On Saturday its eighteenth grade A team went like an express train, winning 32-12. Travis Lester, as captain and halfback, had a fine game, scoring 16 points. Two others in try-scoring moods were Jeremy Wilson and Kevin Bennett. In the*

front row, none could match the energy and determination of Dean Forsyth. Another eighteenth grade side, New Brighton, lost its first game of thf -season, going down to Marist, 10-6. Dwayne Smith was a hard-running second fiveeighths, while the passing of Michael Hethrington from half-back was Jong and straight. Outside him at first five-eighths, Mathew French was a consistent player. Kent Lawrence was a prop who gave 100 per cent effort for the team, especially in the tight,. Burnside met the Christchurch B team in the under--12 open grade, and emerged as an 11-0 winner. Justin Ford scored a fine try from half-back, while Geoffry Calder was always in position at full-back. Robert Polle was a mature No. 8, while Philip Woodhouse ran hard and straight, also scoring, from centre.

For Christchurch, the tackling of its first fiveeighths, Dean Young, was a feature of the game, as was the fine defensive work

the full-back, Brent Morrison. Michael Clarke and Toni -Harrison worked in a solid and earnest fashion as loose forwards, while Philip ;de Lambert was a stouti hearted prop. I The Christchurch A side fared a little better, drawing 6-6 against Suburbs. Paddy Quinlivan is one of the smallest in the team, but his tackling is outstanding. Chris Percy is such a versatile player that he can play in any position, and has been in several this season. Chris Whiting at second five-eighths is one who improved with every game, as has Craig Lamie. The Linwood sixteenth grade side continued its unbeaten record for the season, beating Suburbs, 8-0, on Saturday. Anthony Clark is a centre forever hungry for work, while Wayne Johnson, although playing only the second half, played extremely well. Mark Herbert was a reliable half-back, while John Norton was a thorn in the opposition’s side, giving a bursting display from prop.