Rugby youth

Press, 14 May 1985, Page 26

Rugby youth

Many absorbing matches took place last Saturday and one of interest was between an unbeaten High School Old Boys team and a successful Sydenham side in the tenth grade. The first half was closely contested with Old Boys leading 10-8 at the interval, but the second spell was dominated by Old Boys and they scored three excellent tries in winning, 22-8. Among the Old Boys players to show considerable promise were Scott Godfrey, at No. 8, and Angus Gardener, on the flank. Scott has been a leading points scorer for his team and Angus has given tigerish performances in loose play. Craig Greaves, at first five-eighths, has shown steady improvement, running, and passing with precision. Karl Fox has maintained a high standard of tackling. For Sydenham, Stephen Turnock, at lock, and Aaron Walker, at No. 8, showed that they were steady performers with an improved effort coming in each game. In the backs, David Hawley and Stuart McKenzie, both in their first year of rugby, proved a useful combination.

With the advent of the May school holidays, some junior rugby teams may not be at full strength for the next two weeks. That may give teams which have not been too successful in the early rounds the chance to improve their placings. Another tenth grade game, between Belfast and Linwood, showed that this grade possessed players with high levels of rugby skill. For Linwood, Casey Uri and Stephen Vincent always gave their best, with Dean Collett, at flanker, and the smallest member of the team, keeping well up with play. z Darvl MacDonald, in his first year of rugby, showed his passing skills at half-back, while Scott Murray ran with determination and always looked for work. The Belfast side-row pairing

of Curtis Trillo and Terry Delaney showed that they have the talent to progress in rugby, in particular Terry who was resuming after an early injury. Logan Fowler ana Greg Crowe, in the backs, exhibited impressive speed and sound rugby thinking. The eighteenth grade open game between Sydenham and Burnside proved to be interesting, with both sides showing improved skills. Steven Herman, at first five-eighths for Sydenham, exhibited sound handling skills and Wiremu Gray, at half-back, served his backs with good quality ball. The prop pairing of Stuart Bryson and Corey Rogers proved to be very effective in tight play. The Burnside effort was ably supported by some very aggressive play by Patrick Gallaher, at lock, and Richard Bon, at hooker. Haden Beswick, at first five-eighths, and Ben Sharpe outside him used the ball efficiently with some fast-moving manoeuvres. Haden has revealed goal-kick-ing prowess, being successful with 14 out of his last 15 attempts.

Merivale-Papanui and Belfast came up against each other in the sixteenth grade. This encounter produced a number of very creditable performances. Aaron Jagger, on the wing for Merivale-Papanui, showed that he was improving with each game. Daryl Bremner, at first five-eighths proved an effective passer of the ball and good tackler. In the forwards, James Fitzgerald was effective with ball in hand and Paul Smith, at lock, made good use of his opportunities with a steady allround game.

The Belfast effort was characterised by a complete team performance. The forward struggle was lead by Brendon Blick and Daniel Wellean, with, back support coming from Shelley Mac Natty and Tony Ellen, who has overcome some medical problems to be playing this year. Suburbs and St Bede’s, in the seventeenth grade, were both prepared to play sound interesting rugby. David Hughes, a St Bede’s flanker, showed improved tackling skills and David Byrne, the hooker, hunted the ball throughout. Hamish Ellis, at half-back, served his back cleanly, ana John Prentice, on the wing, ran hard and tackled with vigour. The Suburbs charge was lead by Dean Hobson and Simon Greenhale. Together they proved to be a solid combination, even tbough they lacked the same in size. Ryan Harper and Matthew Eddy gave of their best with some hard, straight running in the backs.

In the tenth grade, Burnside came up against Xavier College. This encounter developed into an interesting game with sound efforts coming from both sides. The Burnside halfback, Ricky Tipa, showed his passing skills and was an intelligent player. Brendan Calder ran strongly and purposefully at first five-eighths. Craig Humphreys and Darren Reynolds were the outstanding performers in the forwards for Bumside. ;

Xavier’s Brendan Ryan andStuart O’Farrell provided 1 sound cover for their backs, with Brendan Cunneen skil-: fully directing play from the base of the scrum.