Rugby youth Good form by youngsters

Press, 13 May 1981, Page 24

Rugby youth Good form by youngsters

The balmy autumn weather on Saturday had junior rugby supporters out in force at Hagley Park, and they were treated to some fine displays. Two 12th grade (under 13 open) matches caught the eye through the intensity of effort put in by all the players. There was no need here for the perennial sideline cry of “get stuck in!” because the tackling and rucking were of a very high standard and the set pieces were strongly contested. The lighter Merivale-Pa-panui side put on a tigerish display up front and did well to hold a powerful Suburbs combination to 8-4. Suburbs has already racked up scores of 38-0 and 42-8 this season. Shane King, a flanker, and Michael Walton, a wing, scored the tries for Suburbs and Andrew Martin burst through a line-out to score Merivale’s points. King is perhaps the star of a Suburbs side which is described by its coach as being full of talent and of even strength. In the Merivale side, Kirk Ramsay, a prop, stood out with the strength of his scrummaging work and the f&nkers, Geoff Kirk and lan Pollock, were rated “dynamite” and “explosive” by en-

thusiastic supporters. The first five-eighths, John Collins, is rapidly improving. In the New Brighton-Old Boys match, there was a long break in play while an ambulance arrived to take away Old Boys’ Alistair Hooke, who injured his neck in scoring a fine try. Hooke barged his way over through four or five defenders. He seemed in better heart by ,the time the ambulance arrived and concerned parents were hopeful that the injury was not serious. At the time of the injury, Brighton was ahead 8-7, but after the break Old Boys came back strongly and gained a handy lead. The Old Boys side is of

varying strength and includes some boys who have not played rugby before this season, but they are fast improving and creating more chances for the experienced lads. Haydon Scott is a talented, skilful five-eighths and Nick Elsmore a solid worker and a good pack leader. Duncan Stevenson is a relentless prop and Stephen Loveridge runs very hard at centre. In the Brighton side, one player who really stood out was the flanker, Roger Hemingway. He is small for his

position but he is fast and vigorous in the tearaway mould of a Leicester Rutledge. Daryn Ranger is a great tackler at full-back and he brings out his best ones when they count most. The halfback, Daryn Rogal. is also noted for his tackling while the great triers in the forwards are Michael Grieve, a prop or lock, and Lee Madden, the hooker. In the 11th grade (under 14, under 50 kg), the classy Linwood side had an 18-4 win over Old Boys. Old Boys, however, was by no means disgraced and it produced a grand, try through a cunning tap penalty move which was executed perfectly.

The core of the Linwood side has been together for four seasons and these boys have not known defeat in that time. The team is excellently drilled and combined at one stage to produce a classic try. Good, clean scrum ball was provided for a set of backs who passed crisply and used an extra man to create the overlap. Then, there was timely backing up inside for the try to be scored. The loose forward, Gary Johnson was always close to the ball, so close at one point

that he snatched the ball off the boot of the opposing halfback, who was in the act of clearing his line, and dotted down.

Other players who stand out in this team are Gary Watson, a half or first five, Philip Smith, a centre, and Craig Skilton, a loose forward, who was away on holiday on Saturday. Another player absent on Saturday was one of the great characters of the side, the normal full-back, "Mini” McDonald. He is a tiny player with a huge heart. Craig Isherwood and Brent Albertson make a great lock pairing. Both are hard-work-ing, improving players. In the Old Boys side, Hamish Gow is a lock who wins a lot of line-out ball and he leads the forwards’ charges. Richard McGuire is a good, mobile prop — he scored the try from the tap penalty move. Richard Wilson is a strong lad who runs hard and straight at second fiveeighths. Jeremy Young and Garv Stalker are both former backs who have moved into the forwards and adapted well, and Chris Elliot, at fullback on Saturday but usually a five-eighths, tackles very well.