Chch team wins Marist tourney

Press, 20 April 1981, Page 4

Chch team wins Marist tourney

For the first time in'' nine years Christchurch won the South Island Marist rugby tournament at Greymouth yesterday. Led by All Black lock Vance Stewart, the Christchurch side scrambled to a 4-0 success against Dunedin Marist in the tournament final, capturing the title it last held in 1972.

■ The final, played before a big crowd, showed the toll two days of non-stop football -had had on the two teams.

Both were scoreless at half-time and Christchurch Marist had to call on the pace of former Hornby singer, Bill Anderson, for its solitary scoring movement. Without two qf its first choice players, Christchurch was a popular pre-tourna-ment pick for . But the Canterburyzside had to battle all the \Vay against a lighter but willing rival.The Cantabrians were quickly shaken out of any complacency which may have set in after Saturday’s 68-0 joyride against Gore St Mary’s. The key to success was

the ball-winning skills of Stewart and the deft kickirig of first five eighth, Berjiie Stewart.- Stewart, and Dune* din’s number eight, Pjtil Olsen, were selected as play* ers of the day.The full tournament re*, suits were: . Tf

First round: Dunedin Mar< ist, 4, Ashburton Celtic! t); Westport' White !-.Star HL Gore St Mary’s 9;' Hokitika St Mary’s. 0, Nelson Celtic' 0;j Timaru Celtic.. 15, Invercargill Marist 0; Christ-' church Marist 7, Greymouth'' Marist 3. . Seconround: Nelson Celtic. 6, White Star 4; Hokitika StMary’s 14, Ashburton Celtic 3; Dunedin Marist 3, Timaru! Celtic 0; Greymouth Marist 14, Invercargill Marist . -3; Christchurch Marist 68, Gore St Mary’s 0. Third round: Christchurch Marist 12, St Mary’s Hdkftika 3; Dunedin Marist w/ Nelson 0; Greymouth Ma?fe,t'' 0, Ashburton Celtic 0; Tj< maru Celtic 8, Westport, White Star 3; Gore* St Mary’s 22, Invercargill' Marist 3.- U f

Final: Christchurch Marist 4, Dunedin Marist 0.