Hobbs out to bury Canterbury’s away bogy

Press, 2 September 1986, Page 42

Hobbs out to bury Canterbury’s away bogy

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

in Whangarei

The Canterbury captain for the day, Jock Hobbs, has no doubts about the importance of the side’s National Mutual championship ■ match against North Auckland at Okara Park this afternoon. “If we lose this one we can forget about winning the championship,” said Hobbs yesterday. “After only drawing with Manawatu we simply cannot afford another defeat; Wellington and Auckland have the drop on us, even if we were lucky enough to beat them both.”

This will be the third time that Hobbs has captained Canterbury and he does have a winning record to protect. The two previous games were also in the North Island and Hobbs is well aware of the difficulties Canterbury does have in winning away from Lancaster “I don’t think it has anything to do with the venues or the attitude of the players. Most of our home games in the last three years have been Ranfurly Shield ones and shield games really can’t be compared with any others,” he said.

“But because of our shield record the North Island sides are so much keener to beat us, and they invariably lift their performances when they have us on their patch.” Hobbs said the Manawatu game last Saturday was a good example of this. “We certainly did not play very well, but Manawatu played way above its previous form and this is sometimes we have just got to expect. They all want to beat Canterbury,” he said.

While Canterbury was battling to get a draw with Manawatu on Saturday,

North Auckland was copping a hiding from the first division newcomer, Taranaki. The North Auckland coach, Ken Going, gives his side a chance today. “I am sure we are a better team than what we showed at New Plymouth and if we can get back to our traditional running and backing-up style we might show Canterbury a thing or two,” said Mr Going.

He has made some changes to the team which lost to Taranaki and one of them is Tony Abel at half-back, who is related by marriage to the

Going clan. This makes three members of . the family in the team, the full-back, Darrell Going being a son of the coach. Michael Speight, a quick-order All Black a few weeks ago and strong candidate for the tour to France next month, is the forward Canterbury will fear most. If nothing else he will offer a lot of opposition in the line-outs. The flankers, Neil Ruddell and Frank Lambourn, are also players Canterbury must, from experience, respect. Percy Cooper, who is rated the .best back in Northland, missed the

Taranaki game because of a groin injury and there is uncertainty about whether he will be fit to play today. If he does then the running game Mr Going is looking for will become more likely, and more threatening. The Canterbury coach, Alex Wyllie, has taken something of a gamble with his policy of giving all the players on tour a game. The pack Should not suffer, and, as always, the return of Dale Atkins gives cause for encouragement

But it could be a big day for the young full-

back, Shayne Philpott The North Auckland first five-eighths, Warren Johnston, has a reputation for being able to pump a ball high in the air and Philpott, in his first game for Canterbury, is obviously going to be his target.

There was some rain in Whangarei yesterday, but not enough to ; affect Okara Park, which has become almost ah allweather ground since it was liberally covered with sand.

“We would love to bury this bogey that Lancaster Park is the only place

that we are any good on," Hobbs said. The teams are.— Canterbury: Shayne Phile Robbie Deans, Victor _>son, Craig Green, Warwick Taylor, Stephen Bachop, Bruce Deans, Dale Atkins, John McCaw, Albert Anderson, Andy Earl, Jock Hobbs (captain), Tala Kele, John Mills, Murray Davie.

North Auckland: Darrell Going, Edwin Hills, Charles Going, Fred Woodman, Percy Cooper or Mark Seymour, Warren Johnston, Tony Abel, Don Stevenson (captain), Neil Ruddell, Michael Speight, Mike Budd or John Wilkinson, Frank Lambourn, Craig Jepson, Wayne Phillips, Bill Le Gere.