Valiant effort by young New Brighton team

Press, 28 July 1982, Page 28

Valiant effort by young New Brighton team

New Brighton's IQfh grade rugby team earned plaudits from supporters and opposition alike for a valiant effort against Old Boys at North Hagiey Park last Saturday morning

Brighton lost the game. 14-28. but not through being outweighed or outgunned: it was simply outnumbered.

Eleven players took the field for Brighton at the start of the match, and they managed to hold Old Boys to 12 points in the early period. Incredibly, they scored 10 points of their own in that time. When a twelfth player arrived. Brighton managed to score a further try. but the side eventually succumbed to Old Boys who managed to penetrate or outflank the thin defensive screen. The valiant twelve from Brighton all played with the utmost spirit to make up for the shortfall in personnel. Mark Boswell led the side splendidly. Michael Wilkinson inspired' it with his non-stop tackling, and Roger Hemingway rallied it in times of despair with his fine allround play. Old Boys were a little disappointed in their showing, but they were quick to pay tribute to their courageous opponents. Wade Pilkington stands out in the Old Boys side for his play at No. 8. supported by Wayne Reid off the side of the scrum. Alistair Hooke is an improving lock while Chris Percy continues to show promise at first fiveeighths. In 18th grade play at North Hagiey Park on Saturday. Burnside B met Belfast A in Section 11. New Brighton met Linwood, and Lyttelton also featured. Burnside B has two locks. Ivan Waterous and Bradley Cochrane, who are binding well together. The half-back. Aaron Chaney, and Duane Hitchen, on the wing, are playing well while James

Williams, the hooker, is always fearlessly involved at the heart of the forward confrontations. Tony Burke has been scoring heavilv for Belfast A. and Justin Wells has also performed usefully in the backs. Scott Finlay, the'hooker, and Tony Brown, a "tremendous little tackler" stand out in the forwards. Duane Wall and Anthony Croton apply themselves consistently and conscientiously. Improving forwards in the New " Brighton side are Shane Barnes. Jason Hotere and Liam Tranter, while Michael Murphy is showing promise in the backs. The coach is pleased to see firstyear boys coming along so well. Jamie Scott and Shane Dickinson have shown a heartening, recent development in the Linwood side. For Lyttelton. Clinton Williams. Matthew Woods. Tristan Ornsby and Richard May are showing promise and improvement while Andrew Massie and Shane McLaughlin are always in the thick of things. In Section II of the 10th grade, Burnside B met Xavier College. For Burnside. Geoff Buddy is looking good, as is Jason Grice, the half-back, and Morgan Coleman. a flanker and the smallest boy in the team. Greg Brush, a very fast wing, scored a runawaytry on Saturday. Hamish Lamont. Alistair Sims and Ricky Hutton, the hooker, never give in and turn in solid performances every week. For Xavier College. David Crichton is proving a very good loose forward while Dion Kerr is half-back. Geoffrey Swain is very small for this grade, but he never holds back and his brother, Philip, has shown a remarkable improvement this year. Paul Brennan, a heady player, is the mainstay of the backline while Michael’Fi-

dow. a lock, stands out at times with his strong running. Brent Stanton is a sound fullback. and Brent Woodham and Philip Greenlees are fine little tacklers, never afraid to take on boys much bigger than themselves. In another 10th grade match, Merivale-Papanui. which has had a mixed season, clashed with Hornby, also in the middle of the grade. Andrew Martin. Andrew Sherwood. Geoff Kirk and lan Pollock are all showing promise for Merivale while Vivian Goodman and James Keenan stand out for their application, along with Aaron Mills. Paul Cheat, Roger Bremner and Paul Fuller are promising players in the backs for Hornby, with Bill Suapopo. Michael Kingi-Hazell and Kerr Davidson in the same category in the forwards. Nigel Radovonich. Shaun Colenso, John Clifford and Shane Prendergast always give of their best. In a 12th grade match. NewBrighton and Christ's College clashed. Brighton’s centre. Tim Baker, has scored eight tries in the last two matches, Shaun Noonan is playing well at No. 8. and Chris Evans uses an educated boot to good effect at second fiveeighths. Stephen Jones is a tireless prop, always in the thick of it and Wayne Pickard is a verysound full-back, solid on defence and a good runner, too. The side is leading the grade by two points with three games left to play. For Christ’s College, Alistair Grigg and Tim Ballantyne are promising forwards, with Tim Chater looking good at first fiveeighths. Andy Trolove and James Wright, a lock, are hard-working players.