Sporting highlights

Press, 6 May 1983, Page 7 (Supplement)

Sporting highlights

The arrival of the Lions for their rugby tour of New Zealand is a major highlight of the school holidays’ sporting programme, and while they do not appear in Canterbury until May 31 for the game against Mid Canterbury, they will occupy much attention. So, too, will the All Black trial at Wellington tomorrow, and Canterbury has six players seeking a black jersey: Robbie Deans, now a front-runner as fullback, Warwick Taylor, Wayne Smith, Jock Hobbs, Kerry Mitchell and Murray Davie. There is no shortage of top-class sporting entertainment in Christchurch itself, however. Tomorrow, the South Island — liberally studded with Canterbury players — meets Auckland in the Sony Super League inter-districts rugby league championship, and a win for South would virtually give it the title. On Sunday, Christchurch Mogal United will seek to retain its place at the head of the Rothmans Soccer League, but faces stiff opposition at Queen Elizabeth II Park from Wellington Diamond United, one of the big group only a point behind The Canterbury junior squash championships start at the Christchurch club courts this evening, and finish on Sunday; while the South Island secondary schools’ fencing championships are on tomorrow and Sunday at Avonside Girls’ High School. Tomorrow, there will be

the unual full round of club rugby, Hertz southern league and club soccer, men’s and women’s hockey, netball, basketball, badminton and rugby league, though premier games in the latter sport are not until Sunday.

Also, senior basketball matches will be played on Saturday morning, because of the first round of the national leagues in the evening. The 3ZM Canterbury men’s team plays St Pat’s of Wellington in the Countrywide league, while the women start off against Otago.

The women’s hockey programme also includes an under-21 area tournament at Ashburton tomorrow, while on Sunday, the strong Canterbury Country rugby team plays Canterbury Maoris at Linfield Park; the Canterbury Colts’ hockey team has a final work-out, with a Canterbury XI at Porritt Park; and the Canterbury husband and wife pairs’ darts championships are at the association’s hall in Balfour Terrace.

Also on Sunday is the junior inter-club golf competition, these two rounds being played at Weedons.

Volleyball is one sport which has regular southern league play, and this is held each Saturday and Sunday, men and women, at Christchurch and Dunedin venues.

Fencing follows up its schools’ championships with a coaching clinic at Avonside, starting on Monday and concluding Thursday. For those already with an eye to' next summer, the appointment of the Canterbury cricket selectors on Tuesday evening will hold

On Wednesday, Canterbury Maoris play Mid Canterbury at Rakaia, while rugby enthusiasts will also be able to stop off at Denton Park on their way home for two floodlit matches.

A little closer to the city, two premier rugby league matches will be on display at the Showgrounds, always good entertainment, and the English Cup soccer competition will continue at English Park.

Next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the South Island boys’ golf championships are being played at

Ha'rewood, and this is the tournament from which budding champions appear. Greg Turner, who won the title in three successive years, soon afterwards became a full New Zealand representative. Friday, May 13, will be unlucky for some in the national junior judo championships at Pioneer Stadium, those title events continuing until the Sunday. Next Saturday, May 14, is a big day: the start of the Lions tour at Wanganui; the first round proper of the Adidas Chatham Cup is played, with the national league sides entering the draw; and New Zealand plays Australia in indoor bowls internationals over the entire week-end at Kearneys Road.

There is again a full round of club sport bn the Saturday, while on Sunday, May 15, the South Island rugby league team is again in action, playing New South Wales Country at the Showgrounds. The Canterbury rugby team will be at Brisbane, playing its annual match against Queensland; North Canterbury plays Marlborough in golf at Rangiora; and the second round of the national club hockey championship for the H. W. Smith Trophy commences, with Christchurch clubs involved. The week starting Monday, May 16, also provides hockey every day, with the national colts’ tournament mainly at Nunweek Park though semi-finals and finals will be played at Porritt Park.

On Wednesday, May 18,

tackling Auckland, Canterbury Country plays Marlborough at Rangiora.

The H. 5.0.8. squash open starts on Friday, May 20, finishing on the Sunday, but there is a quiet representative on Saturday at the end of the holidays. There is only the usual round of club sport in Christchurch, though there is a national professional judo tournament in Nelson, and the Lions play Bay of Plenty.

All amateur cycling clubs in Christchurch hold their time trial championships at

Halswell, while on Sunday, May 22, the open cycling season starts with the Amanda Wilks open for the Canterbury open 80km championship, at Rangiora. The same day, Queens Park Rangers, the London soccer club newly promoted to the first division, plays Canterbury at Queen Elizabeth II Park.

Details of all sporting fixtures are published on Friday mornings in “The Press” on the sports feature page.