Rugby youth Good performance by Linwood

Press, 4 August 1983, Page 25

Rugby youth Good performance by Linwood

Linwood C heads-its section in the seventeenth grade of junior rugby by one point from Hornby and New Brighton, but it struck some trouble from a willing Christchurch side on Saturday. The scores were tied at 8-8 into the second half, and it was not until the dying stages that Linwood was able to break the deadlock, and forge ahead of its plucky rival. Nick Walton, a hard, grafting lock and Glen Corson, the hooker, had good games in the Christchurch pack, while the five-eighths pairing of Derek Lough and Adam Reed contributed much to the side’s showing.

All of the Christchurch players have shown a marked improvement in recent games, none more so than Matthew O’Brien and the half-back, Bruce Taylor. For Linwood, Jamie Scott has served the side well from half-back, while other backs to impress have been Warren Peters and Owen Mackley. Glen Dobson and Matthew Kininmonth are strong forces in the forwards. On an adjacent field at North Hagley Park, there was another Christchurch-Linwood clash, this time in the twelfth grade.

Linwood has had mixed tortunes this season, but there has been a good commitment from most of the players. Dale Boswell has improved on one wing, through good service from the inside backs, Glen Lees and Vili Mata. William

Jarden has played well on the other wing. Jamie Mita, the No. 8, and Gordon Caddie, the hooker, contribute effectively in the pack, while Gene Hocking makes an imposing full-back. Christchurch B in the fourteenth grade struck problems earlier in the season against bigger opposition in the second section. The side has been regraded to the third section, and has had a couple of wins to boost morale.

Blair Franklin, a prop, and Andrew Bayliss, a lock, are playing well and Aaron Nixon is effective off the side of the scrum. Hugh Jones and Andrew Kitson form a good inside back combination.

Christchurch’s opponent on Saturday, Belfast, features a speedy wing in Jodie Tucker and a solid first five-eighths in Darren Kerr. The latter impresses with his tackling. Lee Palmer and Wayne Mayo are working well in the forwards.

Old Boys’ tenth grade side has shown a great improvement in the latter part of the season, and has belatedly gained some satisfying wins.

The locks, Andrew Gardiner and Michael Fox, have shown sound form, while Glen Russell, a flanker, has also impressed in the pack. In the backs, the first five-eighths, Craig Goldsmith, and the centre, Jeremy Tod, show promise.

In the fourteenth grade, Belfast has made a solid showing, and lies just behind Merivale-

Papanui and New Brighton in the rankings. Todd Blackadder and Rhy Austin, both loose forwards, have performed convincingly. Craig Clifton, a good half-back, combines well with Gregory Crowe, while Des Radford has looked good further out.

The schools First XV championship approaches its climax, with St Bede’s winning its penultimate game, 34-0, against Cashmere High School last Saturday. The strength and experience of St Bede’s was obviously too much for Cashmere although the St Bede’s coach, Mr Gary Lennon, was impressed with Cashmere’s tenacity in Saturday’s game.

After its debut season, Cashmere will be better for the experience, although it will lose several current players; Its presence in the 1983 championship, along with that of Xavier College, has been welcomed by all concerned; indeed, some coaches have expressed interest in an allschools grade at this top level, which would allow for the introduction of sides like Lincoln High School and Papanui High School. Standings in the present championships, with six matches still to be played over the next two Saturdays are:— Christchurch Boys,’ 14 points from seven matches; St Bede’s 14 (8); Burnside High 12 (8); Christ’s College, 12 (9); St Andrew’s 6 (8); Shirley Boys’ 6 (8); Xavier 6 (8); St Thomas’s 4 (7); Linwood High 4 (8); Cashmere High 0 (7).