SIDELINES

Press, 31 May 1985, Page 21

SIDELINES

A FORMER WALLABY, Michael O’Connor, advanced his claims for national rugby league recognition when he scored all of the points for New South Wales in its 18-2 victory over Queensland at Brisbane this week. O'Connor scored two tries and kicked five goals to give the southern state a valuable lead in the best-of-three State of Origin series. O’Connor was regarded as Australian rugby union's most incisive midfield back when he left Brisbane to join the St George Rugby League Club in Sydney and it seems his apprenticeship is all but completed. MARTIN MAUNSELL. a successful and highlyrespected boxing trainer for more than 30 years, died in Christchurch recently. Mr Maunsell taught scores of youngsters how to acquit themselves in the ring, and many went on to win titles. Boxing in Canterbury lias never had a more successful era than when Dion Murphy, guided by Mr Maunsell, was compiling an outstanding professional record and drawing capacity crowds to Canterbury Court. Another outstanding pupil of Mr Maunsell was his own son, Brian, a multiple national amateur light welterweight champion, Jameson Belt holder and New Zealand representative at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.

TEN MEMBERS of the Christchurch Kart Club are to compete in the New Zealand road championships at the Teretonga circuit, Invercargill, starting tomorrow. The defending 250 cc class champion, John Hamilton, of Christchurch, is expected to find his toughest opposition in a team-mate, Jim Rouse, who recently won the North Island championship. The defending champion in the 125 cc class, lan Bias of Auckland, might find Christchurch’s Graham Stevens a real handful as Stevens has dominated the class for over a year. Murray Davies will be racing in two classes, but, although he has dominated the lOOcc class for two years or so, the Christchurch driver feels this time he is only racing to make up numbers. The championships will end on Sunday with the annual inter-island event.

NORTH CANTERBURY CRICKET has received a boost with a sponsorship obtained from C. S. Stevens, Ltd, for the next three seasons. The sponsorship is for $lO,OOO spread over the three summers, and is likely to be used to help the escalating costs of the association’s representative programme. It is also intended to expand the coaching programme, particularly at schoolboy level, with the association.