First-round matches promise open play in senior rugby

Press, 19 April 1982, Page 21

First-round matches promise open play in senior rugby

The senior rugby competition for the C.S.B. Cup could be the most open for many years, judging by performances in the first round on Saturday. Three of the stronger sides, Christchurch, Marist, and University A, all recovered from first-half deficits to win their matches; in the case of the University team victory was not achieved until the final four minutes.

Lincoln College, winner of all the trophies — C.S.B. Cup, C.S.B. Trophy, and “The Press” Cup — last season, made a promising start with a basically new side. The two clubs celebrating their centennials this season, Merivale-Papanui and Sydenham, both started their campaigns in positive manner. Merivale-Papanui had a good win against University B; Sydenham led for almost all the match before succumbing to University A. In the main matches, Marist overcame Old Boys, Christchurch beat New Brighton. and Linwood downed Belfast, with two newcomers to Christchurch rugby, Steve Baker (Marist half-back) and John Mills (Linwood hooker) winning the Cellar Ghost "Player of the Day” awards at Lancaster Park and Rugby Park, respectively. They were not the only newcomers to shine on a day of mellow autumn sunshine and well grassed pitches. Fergie McCormick, the now legendary Canterbury fullback, marked his debut as a senior coach by piloting Albion to victory, and Meri-

vale-Papanui’s John Johannson began his senior career by scoring tries and kicking goals to the tune of 13 points. In the same team, Tony Te Amo, a brother of the New Brighton captain, John Te Amo, celebrated his appointment as successor to the former All Black. Richard Wilson, by running threequarters of the length of the field for a try. Linwood’s woes at losing Rod Latham to Scottish cricket were allayed by the positive performance of his replacement, Mark Cantwell. This 17-year-old first fiveeighths has much in common with Latham; both are products of Linwood High School, both are sound handlers, and both are assured kickers. But Cantwell is also very quick off the mark, and he made two scintillating breaks against Belfast, cutting past his marker, the former All Black Kieran Keane, among others, on each occasion.

The Belfast coach, Mr Bill Haase, showed scant regard for convention by fielding Keane at first five-eighths and Wayne Smith at second. The experiment was inconclusive but it was an extraordinary one because Smith, the star of the Canterbury trials at Kaiapoi earlier this month, is a strong candidate for the inside position in the tests between New Zealand and Australia this winter. Among the day’s prominent players were Bernie Stewart, who exercised a fatherly hand over Marist’s

fortunes; Garry Hooper, the russet-haired Marist wing, who again displayed his uncanny ability at scoring tries, and Robbie Deans, the Canterbury full-back, who kicked 17 points for Christchurch in its 21-13 win against New Brighton. Paul Karena cut merry capers for Merivale-Papanui, and Mark Young, a son of the Shirley coach and former All Black hooker. Dennis Young, made a bold showing at flanker for his old side on

his return to Christchurch rugby. However, not everything in the rugby garden was lovely. The clock on the Lancaster Park scoreboard did not move, and its counterpart at Rugby Park was frequently hysterical. Team names were posted at headquarters, but scores were not. And as a final touch. Marist introduced crazy numbering, with its half-back to jersey number 16, first five-eighths in 21, a wing in 20, and a loose forward in 17. Things can only get better.