Team breaking new ground

Press, 15 January 1982, Page 22

Team breaking new ground

Another sports team leaves New Zealand for an overseas trip today but this one. the “Linwood Ladies" rugby team, is a little unusual.

According to the coach, Mr Cyril Le Lievre. the women w'ill be the first women’s rugbv team from any country to go to the United States.

Back in August, 1980, the Linwood girls made their first appearance on the Lancaster Park Oval when they met the Californian Kiwis (all actually Americans, though they did perform the haka) in the curtain-raiser to the Canterbury—Fiji game. This visit will reciprocate the 1980 tour and on Sunday revenge will be sought for the 10-0 defeat handed out by

the Kiwis 17 months ago. However, the highlight of the four-match itinerary for California should be the clash against the powerful Rio Grande Surfers on January 23.

■ Enthusiastic supporters have swelled the New Zealand contingent to a sizeable 34, but the actual number of players has been reduced to a bare minimum of 16 because of the late withdrawal through injury of the vicecaptain, Yvonne Fenton. “Were a bit light on the ground, but the girls are pretty fit," said Mr Le Lievre. the Linwood coach since 1967.

Women apparently have their own rugby union in the United States and more than 150 teams. So, Mr Le Lievre expects the competition to be

tough, especially because it will be the off-season for his players. The New Zealand girls won seven games and lost one match last season with 136 points for and 24 against. And they have shown their keeness and dedication by remaining in training for the last three months.

Mr Le Lievre says that the American woman go for a more physical game. “Their game is more like gridiron and they scrummage and maul well.”

The strength of the Linwood ladies should lie with running the ball. “There is plenty of pace in the fullback (Susie Reardon) and the three-quarters and we’ll be trying to play to them all the time.”

Captaining the side is Gay

Johns, aged 21, who is expected to be a formidable leader of the forwards. Like her brother, Robert, a 1979 Canterbury representative, she locks the scrum. Three team members are teenagers, including the 18-year-old student, Linda O’Cain, a most talented sportswoman. O’Cain made the New Zealand under-18 softball team last year and a week ago was in the Canterbury senior side which won the national title for the first time in 17 years. She was also a Canterbury under-21 hockey representative last season.

Money for the 18-day trip has been raised through raffles and entertainment. However, the girls will still be paying out about $2OOO a head.