Two All Blacks only in N.Z. sevens rugby side

Press, 14 March 1983, Page 21

Two All Blacks only in N.Z. sevens rugby side

PA Palmerston North Only two. All Blacks were named in the first New Zealand seven rugby team, which was announced after Auckland won the national Fresh-Up final at Feilding on Saturday.

Hika Reid and Andrew Donald .were both absent from the final as their teams had been eliminated the previous week. However, they had obviously shown enough to impress the national selectors.

Donald, without any great experience at. sevens rugby, was no more than a moderate player in the regional playoffs, yet finds himself in the team at the expense of players like Dave Loveridge, Mark Donaldson and Richard Dunn, all of whom show ability at the game.

The team contains other surprises. The former Bay of Plenty loose forward, Gordon Teitjens, who was only added to the Waikato side on Friday morning after Miah Melson withdrew, is one.

Tietjens did not take the field until Waikato’s second game and was so impressive that he made the national side.

The team, to play in the Hong Kong Pacific tournament on March 26 and 27 is: Allan Dawson (Counties, captain), Hika Reid (Bay of

Plenty), Glenn Rich (Auckland), Gordon Tietjens (Waikato), Allan Lindsay (Canterbury), Richard Fry (Auckland), Joe ' Stanley (Auckland), Ken Granger (Manawatu), ‘ Bruce Smith (Waikato). Fry and Stanley were outstanding in the Auckland backline which won the final against Waikato, 14-13, with a last minute try to Gary Brunsden, who looked very good when, he took the field as a replacement. Auckland headed Canterbury in its first pool game, 10-6, and their only moment of doubt after that was in the final, several hours later, when Waikato twice led and still held the advantage with a minute remaining. However, Brunsden latched on to a kick ahead by Stan-

ley and outran the Waikato winger, Bruce Smith, a man who had a disappointing tournament, but still gained selection.

The standard of play at the tournament was a little better than last year, but there was far too much kicking and needless giving away of possession, and this is something team coach, Bryce Rope, will have to rectify if New Zealand is tc do well at the tournament. There could be a shortage of forwards prepared to commit themselves on. the ground seeking the ball. Results of Saturday’s national sevens rugby tournament: Pool one Auckland 10 (M Treweek, R. Dunn, tries; R. Fry, conversion); Canterbury 6, (A. Lindsay, try; R. Deans, conversion). Manawatu Green 14 (J. Tawharu, P. Mcillwhiney, M. Finlay, tries; Finlay, conversion); Marlborough 10 (P. Phillips, 2 tries; P. Murray, conversion).

Auckland 22 (J. Stanley 3, R. Fry, tries; Fry, 3 conversions); Manawatu Green 0.

Canterbury 34 (A. McMaster, A. Munro 2, Lindsay, D. Atkins, T. Thorpe, tries; McMaster, 5 conversions); Marlborough 4 (B. Ford, try). Auckland 36 (G. Brunsdon 3, Fry 3, Dunn, tries; Fry 3, Dunn,

conversions); Marlborough 6 (S. Brown, try, Phillips conversion). Canterbury 42 (C. Green 2, R. Deans 2, Lindsay, T. Dalzell, Atkins, tries; Deans 6, Lindsay, conversions); Manwatau Green 4 (Mcillwhiney, try). Pool two Manawatu White 10 (K. Granger, M. Love, tries, Love, conversion); Counties 6 (A. Dawson, try, M Moore, conversion). Waikato 12 (C. Ellis, ■ B. Smith, tries; Smith 2 conversions); Southland 3 (S. Pokere, penalty). Counties 28 (I. Waterson 2, R. Kururangi 2, T. Clarke tries; Dawson 3, Kururangi, conversions); Southland 6 (D. Kelly, try, Pokere, conversion). Waikato 12 (Smith 2, W. Bullot tries); Manawatu White 4 (Love, try). Waikato 20 (Smith, G. Tietjens, Ellis, G. Holmes, tries; Smith, G. Stone, conversions); Counties 16 (S. Lineen, Waterson, B. Breen, tries; Dawson 2 conversions).

Manawatu White 24 (Granger 2, T. Clare, M. Donaldson, T. Coppiestone, tries; Love, 2 conversions); Southland 14 (S. O’Brien 3 tries; Pokere conversions). Final: Auckland 14 (Dunn, Stanley, Brunsdon, tries; Fry conversion); Waikato 13 (Holmes, Tietjens, tries; Smith penalty, conversion).