Sad day for Canty

Press, 8 September 1980, Page 32

Sad day for Canty

If was a sad day for the Canterbury rugby team yesterday. Waikato’s Ranfurly Shield win removed the team’s final incentive for the season, and three players had to be flown home, two with injuries. If that was not enough the Canterbury selectors (Gerald Wilson and Neil Cornelius) have omitted the All Blacks lock, Graeme Higginson, from the team fo play Hawkes Bay at McLean Park, Napier, tomorrow. The rangy lock played listlessly against Manawatu and with his commitment to the New Zealand . XV at Eden Park next Saturday the selectors feel the break will do him “the world of good.’’

Richard Wilson/ who has a strained hamstring, Paul Molloy, who is severely bruised in the groin and a shoulder, and John Ashworth, who is urgently required for lambing at his Sefton property, returned to Christchurch yesterday, . Replacements flown north were Steve Hansen and Rod Latham, and Hansen will make his debut for Canterbury A at centre in the Napier match. The team is: R. Deans, I, Mather, Hansen, R. Scott, K. Keane, W. Smith, G. Barkle, P. McLaren, B. Henderson, J, Ross, D. White, D. Hayes, M. Davie, M. Hall, P, O’Byrne. Reserves: Latham, S. Scott, R. Gibson, M, Powley, Higginson.