Injury tally high

Press, 22 August 1984, Page 68

Injury tally high

By

PAT TAYLOR

in Greymouth

A heavy injury list is worrying the West Coast Rugby Union’s selectorcoach, Mr Wayne Hawkins, as he prepares for the Ranfurly Shield challenge against Canterbury on Saturday. West Coast will hold its last training run tonight. The run on Monday night was marred by the absence of several players who have yet to recover from injuries. The side’s two tight-head props, John Walton and Ross Dixon, were unable to

train. Walton is suffering from a back injury which he has had for some time and Dixon pulled a neck muscle in the match against Bay of Plenty on Saturday. Another prop, Peter Whitehead, is still out with a knee injury. And Mr Hawkins said: “There is not a great number available for the front row.” The loose forward, Jake Tamepo, received a shoulder injury in a local forestry match recently, and Troy Forsyth, who can play at No. 8 or lock, is unlikely to be available. The only bright light on

Mr Hawkin’s horizon yesterday was that his inside back combination of Bob Bird, at half-back and Gavin Cook, at first five-eighths, were able to train on Monday night. Both were forced from the field with injury in the match against Bay of Plenty. Cook’s elbow was still sore, but Bird appeared to have recovered from head knocks. The replacement halfback, Colin Stewart, who was also on the receiving end of a number of knocks on Saturday, appeared to be “coming right.”