Rugby League Former rival now coaching top team

Press, 5 November 1984, Page 35

Rugby League Former rival now coaching top team

By

JOHN COFFEY

The champion Hornby rugby league team will next season be coached by Frank Endacott, who, little more than two years ago, was scheming Hornby’s downfall in a Canterbury grand final.

Mr Endacott was then coach of Addington, which nudged Hornby out by one point for the 1982 provincial club title. Since then Hornby, guided by Kevin Woodham, has comfortably won the 1983 and 1984 championships. But Mr Woodham made it clear before Hornby’s participation in the national Tusk Cup tournament that he would riot be seeking reappointment. It was perhaps no great surprise that Mr Endacott

should be his successor, in spite of past rivalries. Mr Endacott lives in the Hornby district and he has spent his Saturday mornings for the last three winters as coach of the Hornby junior teams in which his son, Shane, has played. He said yesterday that he intends to continue his association with the Hornby 14-years side next season — as a sort of coaching “cur-tain-raiser” before premier football each week-end.

Mr Endacott briefly held three positions last week. He was also chosen, along with Ray Haffenden, as a, Canterbury selector, but was required to withdraw because of the conflict of club and representative in-

terests. The Canterbury board of control will seek new nominations to fill the vacancy. “I am hoping to be able to remain as coach of Can-

terbury B,” said Mr Endacott. “That would not clash with my club responsibilities.” Hornby next year will be bidding to become the most successful club in Canterbury rugby league history. Its grand final victory last September enabled it to draw level with Sydenham as the winner of 16 championships (plus a share of another during wartime amalgamations). “Everyone is keen to beat the top side, but Hornby should not be too hard a team to coach. The players have the right attitude and there is great depth in the club,” said Mr Endacott. Both the Addington and Eastern Suburbs clubs have welcomed back well-per-formed old boys to coach

their top teams. John Tapiata, who captained Addington to its 1982 title triumph, has returned to rugby league after one season of rugby union with Sydenham. Eastern has its former Kiwi outside back, Bruce Dickison, as its coach, probably in a non-playing capacity. One of the finest attacking footballers of the last decade, Dickison’s return is being regarded by Eastern officials as a considerable boost to the club’s fortunes. The Halswell and MaristWestern Suburbs clubs have reappointed their present coaches, Kevin Williams and Norm Geddes, respectively, after having improved considerably on their 1983 placings.