Counties’ dream

Press, 20 September 1982, Page 32

Counties’ dream

PA Auckland A fortnight ago Pat Walsh, the Counties rugby coach, talked about a fairytale — Counties playing Canterbury for the Ranfurly Shield and the national championship at Lancaster Park next Saturday'.

And. with Canterbury, Counties, Auckland and Manawatu sharing the national championship lead, the Counties-Canterbury match may also be the decisive championship game. “Boy, the pressure is really on us now,” said Mr Walsh yesterday.

“We will have a starter’s chance, in the shield match, but first we have to beat Otago, in Dunedin on Wednesday. All our squad players are fit, and they will want to. play in the shield match. We’ll be training tomorrow, and work out our 21 for the South Island tour then.” Mr Walsh, said that the Counties squad would not make any new or special plans for the shield challenge: “We have been building up bit by bit this season, and will just carry on that build-up.”

The Counties chairman, Vic Hinton, said: “We must have a 50-50 chance of winning the shield. Counties supporters are now rushing about trying to arrange charter flights. We already had a supporters’ party going to the South Island, but this could built up to 200 or 300 now that the shield challenge is on.” “We have a chance, but with so many games so close this season our players have been under very heavy pressure — and I wonder howmuch pressure our players can stand,” Mr Hinton said.

Mr Walsh found the pressure started yesterday: “My phone has been going all the time. People are even asking me if I can arrange plane seats for therm "Next Saturday will be all or nothing for Counties — and I hope we don’t come away with nothing.”.