New half-back chosen

Press, 4 August 1981, Page 30

New half-back chosen

By

JOHN COFFEY

South Island will have a new half-back pairing for its crucial national rugby league championship match against Northern Districts at the Show Grounds next Saturday. Injuries forced the regular representatives. Wally Wilson (Canterbury) and Chris Menzies (West Coast), out of contention and their places have been taken by Murray French and David Field (both Canterbury). The changes should not weaken the effectiveness of the South side, which must beat Northern by more than six points to win the interdistrict title for the first time and qualify for the 1982 Tooth Cup tournament in Australia.

The usual South captain, Tony Coll (West Coast)), has still not recovered from his hamstring injury, and, with Wilson also absent, the reins of leadership have been passed to Ray Baxendale (Canterbury). Although he left the field during the last club round, Baxendale is expected to play, and he will have his Marist-Western Suburbs team-mate. Michael

O'Donnell, as his vice-cap-tain. Somewhat surprisingly. Northern is without Danny Campbell, David Bristow and Brendon Power, three players who were prominent when Northland almost relieved Canterbury of the Rugby League Cup in May. The Northern team is to assemble at Hamilton on Friday, and will be coached

by a former Kiwi scrum-half. Graham Farrar. The teams are:— South: M. W. J. O'Donnell (Canterbury); D. A. Campbell (Canterbury), D. A. Perkins (Canterbury), B. J. Green (West Coast). S. Low (West Coast); D. C. Field (Canterbury). M. R. French (Canterbury); T. J. Gillman (Canterbury), P- W. Truscott (Canterbury), R. F. Baxendale (Canterbury); W. P. Dwyer (West Coast). B. R. Edkins (Canterbury): W. J. Wallace (Canter-

bury). Reserves: M. Bennett. J. C. Griffin (both West Coast). Northern: D. Hogan (Northland); C. Wetere (Hamilton). W. Kells (Waikato). G. Huruwai (Bay of Plenty). D. Goodhue (Midlands); J. Smith (Bay of Plenty). R. Katting (Bay of Plenty); R. Tiananga (Bay of Plenty), P. Ravlich (Waikato). P. Matthews (Northland): S. Matenga (Waikato). T. Murray (Northland): W. Ashurst (Waikato). Reserves: A. Murray (Northland). D. Tupaea (Hamilton).