Coast looking for rugby league double

Press, 17 June 1983, Page 24

Coast looking for rugby league double

By JOHN COFFEY West Coast will be assured of at least sharing the southern zone first division rugby league championship if it beats Canterbury at the Show Grounds tomorrow. Home victories over Canterbury and Wellington have left West Coast with a clear advantage in the triangular competition. Canterbury, on the other hand, lost both of its away matches, and its performance at Greymouth last month was particularly disappointing. Canterbury’s 8-28 defeat at Wingham Park was its most decisive to West Coast since 1948. But the Coasters will have to turn the trend of recent results at the Show Grounds if they are to succeed again. It is 12 years since West Coast won in Christchurch, and even then its victory was achieved in extra time in a national knock-out tournament. Not since 1966 have the Coasters completed an unbeaten season against Canterbury. However, the decisive manner with which the present West Coast team overcame Canterbury at Greymouth entitles it to favouritism.

West Coast is still without its former Kiwi centre, Bernie Green, but the side is almost unchanged from that which dominated Canterbury at Greymouth. The Junior Kiwis captain, Terry Jenkins, is the only newcomer, with Peter Harris having been switched to hooker to replace the injured Stephen Jacobs. It will be a vastly revised

Canterbury combination which seeks to restore the province’s pride. Robin Alfeld (full-back), Mike Williams (centre) and David Field (stand-off half) have reverted to their specialist club roles, and the youthful Marty Crequer and Pomare Connell are to make their debuts on the flanks of the back-line.

Barry Edkins returns as loose forward, and Russell Tuuta is to have his first inter-provincial game in the second-row. Tuuta is no tyro in first-class football, having played three matches for South Island and another for New Zealand Maoris against Auckland. Traditionally, West Coast is not as effective on firm playing surfaces. But its comparatively inexperienced three-quarters, Mark Brown, Boyd Kilkelly and Glen Dey, have responded admirably to the leadership of Gordon Smith and the consistent efforts of their forwards.

Canterbury has at least had an injury-free preparation for the game, and it would be surprising if it does not go much of the way towards producing the vastly improved form expected of it by its coach, Keith Roberts. In the curtain-raiser Canterbury B will be seeking to preserve its perfect record in South Island second division fixtures when it defends its title against West Coast B. Last season the Canterbury second XIII was fully extended before winning the corresponding match, 13-10, at Greymouth.