Injury-hit rugby team

Press, 12 May 1981, Page 30

Injury-hit rugby team

Injuries in practice rather than those which occur in competition matches have become a big concern for the coach of the New Brighton senior rugby team, Mr Ceddie Smith. Last season, New Brighton won the C.S.B. Cup and lost a close final for the C.S.A. Trophy, but this season it has . a fight on its hands to qualify among the top four for the trophy, let alone retain its cup. It has lost two of its five matches. The New Brighton cause has not been helped in recent weeks by the loss of two

Canterbury representatives, Peter McLaren and Ross Gibson. McLaren, the Canterbury No. 8 last season, was a member of the provincial side that made a short tour to Australia. He suffered no injury on that tour, but on bis return, he cracked two ribs in training and has not played for his club since. McLaren’s rib injury was unfortunate. The lights at the club’s training ground had blown and the strapping Maori forward was injured in the darkness. Gibson, a former New Zea-

land colt and Canterbury three-quarter last season, became another casualty in training last week. He felt a twinge in a hamstring and no risk was taken with him last Saturday when New Brighton lost to Christchurch. Mr Smith believes that “it is up to the player to inform me whether he can endure 80 minutes of senior football” and he is reluctant to expose them unless they deem themselves fully fit. Both McLaren and Gibson took part in training last Sunday and Gibson’s injury is

unlikely to keep him from the field for much longer. However, McLaren’s injury is more worrying and it might be another fortnight before he can take his place at the back of the New Brighton scrum. On its way to winning the C.S.B. Cup last winter, New Brighton suffered just the one loss. With two losses to date and the competition only at the one-third mark, New Brighton is facing an uphill struggle, but one which would be easier with the return to fitness of key personnel.