Determined Canterbury side

Press, 29 May 1981, Page 32

Determined Canterbury side

Gary Clarke, the Canterbury rugby league coach, expects that Northland will adopt a hard and fast style of football at the Show Grounds tomorrow and has pledged that his team will be equally positive. “We will be at something of a disadvantage. This is our first game together, and Northland has already had two matches for two wins,” Mr Clarke said. “Obviously, Northland is not outlaying air that much money and coming this far for a social encounter. The

northerners have made it known they are out to win the Rugby League Cup and we have to make sure that it does not happen,” Mr Clarke said. Although somewhat in the dark .about the .quality of his opposition, Mr Clarke is wary that two Northland . players. Anthony Murray arid David Bristow, have experience in British club football, that Brendon Power was a New Zealand Maoris reserve and Paddy Matthews a national trialist. “I expect Nortiuand to

throw the ball around, and we intend to use the ball in similar fashion,” Mr Clarke said. “There has been too much lost possession at club level this season, but Canterbury has to attack at speed, back up at speed, and concentrate fully, when defending.” / The outside backs, David Campbell and David Perkins, and the second-row pair, Raj' Baxendale and Danny Carson, will be having their first appearances for Canterbury. Baxendale, however, is a seasoned international, Camp-

bell has played for South Island and Perkins was brought into the Kiwi trial last week-end. “The newcomers will not let us down, I am quite sure of that,” Mr Clarke said. “The team has trained very well — one goes away with a satisfied feeling after a good run.” Canterbury has considerable potential in its revamped three-quarters. Peter Klink and Mike Williams share the attacking instincts of Campbell and Perkins, and they should be

given plenty of opportunities by David Field’s incisiveness at stand-off half and Michael O’Donnells well-judged’ entrances from full-back. If the Canterbury players need any further incentive, the inevitable comparisons between their performances and those of the provincial B and colts sides should spur them on. Canterbury B and Canterbury Colts will oppose each other in the first round of the South Island second division championship, with West Coast B and Otago-Southland meeting in the other match.