Young backs chosen

Press, 16 April 1981, Page 38

Young backs chosen

The rugby league season is only a few weeks advanced, but already a number of young Canterbury backs have caught the attention of the South Island selectors, Messrs Harry Walker, Gary Clarke and Ces Clark. Bob Bozhinoff (MaristWestern Suburbs), David Campbell (Linwood), Greg Roberts (Papanui) and David Perkins (Linwood) 'have all been included among the squad of 34 players to attend the South Island coaching school and trial at Greymouth between April 23 and 26. The other trio has a more established background in the premier grade, but Per-

kins has suddenly come into prominence as a try-scorer. In five games for Linwood he has touched down on seven occasions. Because of the absence of three players who represented South Island as threequarters last winter, Bruce Dickison, Paul McCone and Bruce Murphy, the youngsters have chosen an opportune time to make' their marks. South Island has three matches in the annual inter-districts series and another, probably without its 1981 Kiwis, against the French tourists.

There are no surprises in the squad. Twenty-four of the

players are from Canterbury clubs — although the former Kiwi centre. Lewis Hudson (Linwood), is still on the outer with the selection panel — and the other 10 are from the West Coast The players are:— M. W. J. (TDonnell. T. J. Gillman, R. F. Baxendale, C. E. W. Charlton, R. Bozhinoff (Marist), D. A. Campbell, D. A. Perkins, P. W. Truscott, R. W. Dalzell, W. A. Wilson (Linwood), M. J. Williams, D. M. Thompson, G. C. Roberts, J. P. Cole (Papanui). B. R. Edkins, M. RFrench, K. J. Murphy, D. J. Carson, D. R. McLaughlan (Eastern), A. P. Rushton, W. J. Wallace (Hornby), P. G. Klink (Addington). M. J. Smith, D. C. Field (Sydenham), C. B. Menzies, B. J. Green, J. C. Griffin, P. Harris, G. J. Smith; K. Calder, M. McEwen, W. Dwyer, A. P. Coll, M. Bennett (West Coast).