Rugby colts develop

Press, 16 July 1986, Page 41

Rugby colts develop

There are signs that the rural rugby youth of the province might be more generously represented in the Canterbury Colts team this season.

The Country side has built up for its annual game against Town Colts with four straight wins. But, more to the point, it has departed from the traditional 10-rnan game often embraced by subunion sides and is moving the ball wide, and at speed. Directing the change in emphasis is the new coach, Darcy Palmer, the former Old Boys, Country, and Canterbury three-quarter, who now farms at Waikari. He has tried to develop attacking

flair among the backs, with a fair measure df success. The side is playing attractively, and scoring tries in the backs. So far the team has beaten Canterbury Maoris, an Ellesmere XV, and the colts sides of Nelson-Bays and Marlborough. The game against Town will be the curtainraiser to Canterbury’s national championship match against Wairarapa-Bush, at Lancaster Park on July 23. A willing country pack contains two members of the present New Zealand Colts side, Grant White (No. 8) and Stuart Loe (prop), as well as Dean Wilson, a flanker, who has been In the Country senior squad.

Others who have played particularly well recently are John Skurr (wing), Paul Schuler (centre) and Gavin Moriarty (hooker). The team to play Town is:— D. Anderson, Skurr, Schuler, D. Stevens, G. Lewis (viceoptain), G. Wright, J. Graham; White, R. Smith (captain), R. Whitelock, R. Flannery, Wilson. Loe, Moriarty, J. Abraham. Reserves. — Backs: M. Power, M. Happer, D. Nicholls, R. Goldie. Forwards: I. Bechuls, L Inch, G. Barnes. Players to assemble, Lancaster Park, 12.30 p.m., July 24. Training, July 21, 7 p.m., Prebbleton. — Advt