Rugby youth

Press, 7 June 1983, Page 30

Rugby youth

Christchurch Boys’ High School’s 15-7 win over Bumside High School in the cur-tain-raiser to Saturday’s test has placed it in a strong position at an early, but critical, stage of the schools First XV championship. The two previously unbeaten teams, each with six points from three matches, met in the first big shake-down of the season on Saturday. Coming from behind in the second half, Boys’ High won by two tries to one.

The blue-and-blacks now have 74 points in their four games, conceding only 14. Burnside High has scored 81 points, its .tally boosted by big wins over Cashmere High and Xavier College, and conceded 44.

In the last couple of years, the battle for top school honours has come down to two teams. Boys’ High and St Bede’s College, the latter being last season’s champion. St Bede’s faltered in the first round, losing to St Thomas’s, but has since beaten Linwood High, 18-0, and Xavier College, last Wednesday, 24-0. This year, the big clash between Boys’ High and St Bede’s takes place in the last round of the sixth grade competition, on August 13. School rugby enthusiasts may have to

wait until then to know the outcome of this season’s championship. . With no other grade rugby m Christchurch on Saturday, other junior teams have had the chance to assess the relative merits of the All Blacks and the Lions, and to reflect on their own form so far this season. In the twelfth grade, Sydenham has enjoyed a strong start to the season. Kelly Niven, the hooker, Padi Hunt, a lock or prop, and Brian Heslip, an outstanding No. 8, form the core of a good pack. Paul Winder has shown much improvement at first five-eighths, while Joseph Malanga has looked good at centre.

In section I of the twelfth grade, Christchurch and St Bede’s College met in a close contest in the last competition round. Christchurch was ahead, 10-4, with ten minutes to go. Andrew Bates is a tigerish No. 8 for Christchurch and Richard Graham is playing well off the side of the scrum, winning plaudits for his tackling. Christopher Gorlie is a strong-running lock. In the backs, Brett Thomson is improving with every game on one wing, while Justin Sullivan is developing well as a half-back. Anthony Stevens is the smallest lad in the team,

but is doing well in the demanding position of full-back. At first five-eighths, Jeremy Young has worked on his kicking to good effect. For St Bede’s, Chris Borcoskie is the side’s best tackler while Andrew Methven is a sound flanker who chases hard throughout a game. Matthew Lange always gives his best in the heart of the pack.

Behind these players. Shane Smith shows pace from fullback, and John Weir is a nippy half-back with a good sidestep. Quite a few of the St Bede’s lads have not played rugby before this season, and there has been a good team improvement. Marist and Linwood B met in section II of the seventeenth grade in the last competition round. Marist had lost only one game previously, but was under strength for its encounter with Linwood owing to several regular players being out with influenza. Linwood, so far unbeaten, led 26-4 at one stage. For Marist, John Bruce shows promise at first fiveeighths, while Christopher Jelly is tackling well further out. Richie Johnston has a very high work rate. Kerry North is making an impression in the Linwood side, which has featured before in “Rugby Youth.”