University confirms its reputation

Press, 11 August 1980, Page 17

University confirms its reputation

The University club has confirmed its ranking as the most successful in the history of the Christchurch senior rugby championship. University A’s win in the C.S.B. Trophy grand final on Saturday marked the fifteenth occasion on which the club has carried off the title. This places it two ahead of Christchurch and Linwood, both of which have won 13 titles, High School Old Boys, 12, and Marist, nine. University’s first championshp win was in 1928, and it had three other wins just before

World War 11. The greatest period of dominance occurred between 1956 and 1965; in these 10 years University teams won the senior title eight times. Later wins came in 1970, and 1977. Members of this year’s side who also shared in the 1977 success were Doug Heffernan, Randal Scott, John black, lan Stewart, Kieran Keane, Gary Barkle, John Edmondson and Kevin Jennings. The new champion side is prepared to try conclusions with the leading country club team, Glenmark, if, in the words of the University coach, Mr

Laurie O’Reilly, “our guys are free to play.” Some players would have to be released for studies, he said, but his dub had told the Canterbury union that its attitude towards the TownCountry fixture was favourable. University did not look upon it as a Canterbury championship but rather as a game from which players could derive enjoyment, Mr O’Reilly said.