Rugby youth Junior teams show improvement

Press, 2 July 1985, Page 29

Rugby youth Junior teams show improvement

Once again conditions were perfect for Saturday’s round of the junior rugby competition. The air was fresh and crisp and so was the rugby.

The real success stories in these junior grades are surely those of teams that improve markedly during the season. The New Brighton fourteenth grade side was characterised by the efforts of Todd Preast and David Adams in its forward pack. Its . efforts were ably supported by Craig Renalds and Troy Carlaw who showed much improved skills in the backs.

New Brighton’s opposition on Saturday was Cathedral Grammar, this team also could claim a number of much improved players. Such players as Graheme Campbell, its captain, and Hamish Crampton, proved their worth in the forward exchanges.

In the backs, Miles Edwards and Charles Simpson showed that they had come a long way since the beginning of the season.

The eleventh grade showed that it too could improve during the season, two such teams are St Andrews and St Bedes.

For St Andrews, Ben Neval on the flank did well in loose play and Tim Patterson led well in the tight. In the backs Sefton Render-

son and David Allen proved to be useful with the ball in hand. The St Bedes effort was led up front by John Connell and Harvey Stoker, while the back charge was spear-headed by Kerry Wells and Andrew Farris. Another eleventh grade game that indicated improved skills was between St Thomas’ College and Sydenham. Both sides produced fine rugby with a number of players standing out with their skills in individual positions. For St Thomas’ College, Paul McDonald and Patrick McKendry showed their lineout and driving skills, while Shane McGill and Glen Muir ran hard in the backs.

Sydenham was well served by Lome Howell and Mark Jennings in the forwards with Rewai Haereroa and Keith Campbell making efficient use of the ball in the backs.

The ninth grade game between St Bedes and Belfast was notable for sportsmanship and enthusiasm, with both sides showing that they possessed skills beyond their years.

In the St Bedes lineup Kieran O’Connell, at No. 8, and Sean Farrell on the side of the scrum were the pick of the forward effort, while Bryne McGirr and Brent Day indi-

cated promise in the backline. For Belfast, Richard Wallace and Andrew Hale showed sound ball skills and tackling. This effort was ably supported by Andrew Ellis and Bruce McDonald in the forwards. In the sixteenth grade, Belfast came up against Cathedral Grammar in a good game for the spectators. Rory Kennett and James Ward did well in the pack for Belfast. In the backs, Tony Brown with his tackling and Mark Inwood with his teams support showed improved skills. For Grammar it was Tom Belcher and Simon Blunt who could take the honours for the backs. In the forwards, David Jonkers and Simon Maling indicated how the ball could be used to gain advantage. .The 18th grade game between Linwood A and Linwood B saw both teams giving their best.

The A side effort was ably supported by the performances of Enoka Manoe and Douglas Young in a power-packed forward display while David Lene and Matthew Ockwell finished off the moves in the backs. For the Bs Craig Faass and Andrew Weastal were the pick of the forwards while Justin Stokes and Stephen Deardon were impressive in the backs.