Edge to Mid-Canty for shield clash

Press, 28 August 1985, Page 64

Edge to Mid-Canty for shield clash

A man who played senior club rugby for Sydenham earlier this season will be in the opposite camp when Mid-Canterbury challenges Canterbury for the Ranfurly Shield at Lancaster Park on Saturday. This Scarlet Pimpernel of rugby is Allan Edge, a MidCanterbury product who, as well as appearing 55 times for his home union, has twice sallied north across

the boundary to play for Christchurch clubs as a utility back. It is at full-back that he will appear in the shield game. He played for High School Old Boys in 1979-80, and this season and last turned out for Sydenham, returning to Rakaia only lyIn fact, the Mid-Canter-bury Rugby Union cleared him to play only on Monday

evening after receiving evidence that he qualified residentially. He will be the fifth full-back used this year. He replaces Stephen Stratford, who broke a leg in the club final last weekend. Two of the other three have also lost their places through injury, though Murray Holmes has returned to the reserves. Opting for Edge indicates

that the selectors, Peter Hayward and Lyell Neutze, will adopt the attacking game. Another pointer is the return of the loose forward, Paul Cunneen, for the tighter flanker, Alistair Morrison. The team is:— Edge: Geoff Frew, Murray McLeod, Ross Poison; Murray Young, Murray Roulston; Brian McCormack; Paul Renton; Cunneen, John Ross,

Allan Hill, Warren Frew (captain); Huia Gordon, Lee McDonald and Maurice Wotton. Reserve backs: Paul Wallis, John Moore, Murray Holmes; forwards: Robin Thomas, Peter Baker and Alistair Morrison. The Canterbury side to defend the shield will be named after training this evening.