Canty looks for ideal N.I. tour rehearsal

Press, 14 August 1982, Page 60

Canty looks for ideal N.I. tour rehearsal

Nelson Bays does not appear on Lancaster Park often. The last time was in 1971 and that day Canterbury beat them, 46-3. Today, in the test curtainraiser, Canterbury should post another big win, although the weakened state of the side might,' to some extent, keep the points down. The match, however, does have some importance. Canterbury has a tough fourmatch North Island tour

coming up and while the first two national championship games were clearly won there is still room for improvement. The selector, Mr Alex Wyllie, is clearly taking the opportunity to try out some of his second-string players and he should have a better idea after today’s game of those he wants to include in the party of 21 for the northern tour. There will be particular interest in Warwick Taylor,

who must be pushing Craig Green very hard as the firstchoice second five-eighths. Nelson Bays started the season with three wins, but it has . lost its last four games, all against stronger opponents, and its chances of measuring up to Canterbury in the forwards appear slim. One forward who will hold interest is the No. 8, Willie Dempster. He was a .surprise selection for the South Island this year, but made a notable contribution to the South 'lsland’s upset win over the North. The teams are:—.. Canterbury—Robbie Deans; Garry Hooper, Andrew Munro. Bill Anderson; Warwick Taylor, Kieran Keane; Bruce Deans; John Masefield; Don Hayes or Jock Hobbs, Kerry Mitchell, Tony Thorpe, Kerry 'Flood, Murray Davie, Gwyn Williams. Bill Bush or Ru Koha. Nelson Bays.—Paddy Calleson or Nigel Kotua; Bill McCallum, Stewart Robertson, Adrian Boyd; Bob Neighbours. Tony Woodall; Marty Dawson; Willie Dempster; Kerry Kotua, Murray West, Steve Phipps, Alan Dobson; Joe Baryluk, Paul McKay, Charlie Gunn.