Seaward’s century

Press, 13 August 1980, Page 20

Seaward’s century

Russell Seaward (right), who this season has reverted to full-back after eight years as a wing, reached a notable rugby league milestone during Papanui’s decisive win over Kaiapoi at the Show Grounds on Sunday. The fourth try scored by Seaward was also his one hundredth in premier football, a total that has been exceeded by only five other players, Mocky Brereton, Bruce Dickison, Terry Gillman, Phil Brown and Eddie Kerrigan. A former New Zealand 19-years and Canterbury representative, Seaward will have another chance of closing on Kerrigan’s Papanui record of 104 tries when Papanui meets Sydenham in the minor semi-final of the N.Z.I.G.

championship next Sunday. In that match Seaward will be opposed by the only two players to have exceeded his total of 10 tries in the premiership, Tai Mene (14) and Dickison (11).

Only Phil Ashton (Hornby).'with six tries and 56 goals (130 points), reached a personal century in the competition. Michael O’Donnell (Marist, 98) would have joined him had the referee, Mr Ken Blackler, noticed that three Addington players were up to 20m off-side at a goal-line drop-out just before full-time in the main game last Sunday. Third equal were Michael Yule .(Halswell) and Lewis Hudson (Linwood), with 83 points each, ahead of Papa Peters (Addington, 80).