Perseverance rewarded

Press, 21 July 1982, Page 28

Perseverance rewarded

Supporters of Merivale-Papa-nui’s 12th grade rugby team had good reason to be jubilant on Saturday morning, for the side played with tenacity and purpose to hold Medbury to a 4-4 draw and thus gain its first competition point for the .Reason. Frequently outweighed and outgunned. Merivale has yet to win a game in 1982. But the boys have stuck to their, task throughout the season and Saturday’s results was richly deserved.

The side may how look to even higher things in the few weeks remaining, with boys like Tim Capstick. Shane Vickery, Hamish Lewis, and Wayne Currey to show the way. Another 12th grade side to have rallied recently is Lyttelton.

Lyttelton had some problems earlier in the season, but these have now been sorted out and the boys are putting in a. good effort.

Tristan Williams, at first fiveeighths. and Rhys Baker, off the side of the scrum, stand out in this team. Darryl Thomas, a lock, and Paul Massie always give of their best while Tony Jackson is improving steadily on the wing.

Last Saturday Lyttelton played Hornby which features a small, lively half-back in Adam Rutene. Peter Halford and Philip Prater, the five-eighths, are improving with every game. Todd Coker. Hamish Watkins, Dean Irie and Michael Howse stand out for their application and the quality of their play. Burnside D in the 17th grade

has been performing well. The inside back combination of Glen Escott, Carl Pringle and Blair Milne is looking good, while Brent Woolhouse, Rhys Williams, for his tackling and running, Christopher Keys and Matthew Kelleher stand out in the forwards.

Shane Faulkner has improved markedly and Martin Coyle and Shaun John, the smallest boy in the team, are always involved in the play. In another 17th grade match played last Saturday. Christchurch C came up against Belfast.

Christchurch has lost only two games this season and has players of much promise in Matthew Doocey, Nick Percy,’ the first five-eighths, and Ben Winters, a tall, rangy forward. Through constistent application, Hamish Austin has improved markedly and Michael Stokes is playing well. Belfast features a winger who has scored 112 points this season through scoring tries and kicking conversions, albeit from in front of the posts. This player, Athol Eden, has twice scored 40 points in a match.

Lee Palmer has proved to be a good, hard toward and he is wellsupported by the improving Michael Johnston. Michael Power. Aaron Richards, Grant Samuels and Neil Cornyns. In a 14th grade match, Marist met St Andrew’s College. In Andrew Methven, a flanker, and Andrew Meates, a lock, Marist has towards of high quality. Brendan McMenamin and

Kynan McGregor also stand Out in the pack. The half-back, Ben Cowan, is playing well, serving a cool first five-eighths in David McCarthy, who kicks equally well with either foot/ Scott Mayer is a strong-running midfield back, Scott Ryall shows pace on the wing, arid Simon Doig is improving through application. . Philip Neville, the hooker, is the most improved player in the St Andrew's side, although Ross Trowsdale, the No. 8, is not far behind him in that regard. The captain, Chris Mcßreen. is a top player while Simon Cathcart, a fast first five-eighths with a good boot, is looking good in the backs.

Players to show signs of grit are Simon Gunns, in the front row, and Gerard Moore, in the backs.

Christchurch in the 14th grade has a very good No. 8 in Aridrew Bates arid a good five-eighth pairing of Jeremy Young and Frasey McLisky. Shaun Harpur, a lock, has shown a great improvement while Ben Nicholl, Mark Nicholls, and Brendan Whitley always give their all. Naylor Dray has been a very good-leader and Justin Sullivan is the most improved tackler in the side.

In a 12th grade match played on Saturday, Albion clashed with Cathedral Grammer.

Glen Russell is a good, honest lock in the Albion side and July Taylor, a newcomer from Porirua, has proved an asset to the side with his hard tackling at second five-eighths. Gavin Fibbes

has scored seven tries this season from his prop position while Jason Kennedy has improved immensely. Another player in that category is the half-back, Bryan Easton, who withstands a remarkable amount of punishment for such a small player. In the Grammer side, Simon Johnson, the No. 8, Andrew Terris, a lock, and Chris Weaver, the captain, are showing promise along with the Clapp twins. Michael and Geoffrey. Edward Huata is a very determined little runner while Piers Cumming, who has come from soccer, has been of great value with his ability to kick for goal. Earlier in the season, mention was made in “Rugby Youth" of a side including four-year-old players Sydenham in Section E of the 18th grade can top that in the form of Stacy Styles, who is only three. He looked hardly big enough' to drag his boots around but he, enjoys himself immensely. Sydenham also has a girl Sin Krishna Carroll. Chris 'orth scored 34 points in one game and the promising Rangi Kerr has scored 10 tries in two games.

The coaches in this “kindergarten" grade have understandably low expectations, so are never disappointed, and often surprisingly pleased by some of the efforts of these youngsters. The Parklands “kindergarten" side includes Cameron Alfeld who has recently gone into halfback and is starting to play well, and Jaron Denny, a newcomer who is showing promise.