Auckland pair in match

Press, 13 July 1985, Page 80

Auckland pair in match

Two of this country’s most promising young rugby league backs, Darrell Williams and Paddy Tuimavave, will travel from Auckland for the special benefit match at the Addington Show Grounds tomorrow. Williams and Tuimavave have been paired in the centres for the Burnham Invitation XIII to meet the Canterbury Kiwis in a match to assist Mr Tumanako Houkamau, a soldier now confined to a wheelchair because of an injury suffered last season. Both former New Zealand schoolboy representatives, Williams and Tuimavave

are team-mates at Mount Albert, the reigning national club champion. Williams, aged 21, was Auckland’s full-back in every match last year, including the defeat of Great Britain. Since the return of the former Kiwi, Nick Wright, this winter, Williams has been filling his alternative role of wing. The captain of the Junior Kiwis in Western Australia 12 months ago, Tuimavave was promoted to the Auckland side this year. At the age of 20, he was a replacement in the thrilling 22-22 draw with Canterbury, at the Show Grounds in May.

The Aucklanders join with players from all nine premier clubs in Canterbury and others from Burnham Camp to oppose the Canterbury Kiwis, a squad comprised of former internationals. Between the curtainraiser — a game between the Canterbury senior third grade team and North Canterbury — and the main fixture there will be a display by the New Zealand Army Band and a mock battle performed by the sixth platoon, Brave Company, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.