SIDELINES

Press, 3 June 1981, Page 28

SIDELINES

KEVIN bIMBLETT. the resolute second five-eighths who served Linwood and Canterbury rugby teams so well for many seasons, is on the move again. He has been transferred to Auckland, where, no doubt, his involvement with football will continue. After leaving Christchurch he was a player and coach for Old Boys in Palmerston North and more recently he has been the coaching co-ordinator for the notable old Wellington club, Poneke.. Before shifting to Auckland he will take part in the second international Golden Oldies rugby festival at Long Beach. California, next month.

IT WAS JUST as well that Mr Peter Robinson armed himself with the W. 0. Blair Memorial Cup before he managed the Canterbury rugby side to Greymouth last. week. There has been the odd terse comment on the Coast in the past when Canterbury, which has not lost to West Coast since 1956. has not. bothered to bring the cup. presented for competition between the two provinces, with it on its trips across the Alps. The late Mr Blair was a notable West Coast rugby identity. But last week the cup was on display al Greymouth’s Rugby'Park and the 9-9 result means that it will be shared for the next year. West Coast being in possession for the first six months. IT WAS VERY appropriate that Mutu Stone should score one of Addington’s tries in its unexpected rugby league victory over Eastern Suburbs at the Show Grounds last week . That was Addington's first defeat of Eastern since 1974 — when the dedicated Stone contributed two tries towards a 21-3 win for his club. RUGBY IS GAINING rapidly in popularity in Russia. According to a recent issue of "Soviet News,’’ the number of players has doubled in the last five years to 20,000. They belong to about 280 clubs. In the last month. Russia has played internationals against Spain. Rumania and Poland.