Blow to squad’s strength

Press, 27 June 1987, Page 84

Blow to squad’s strength

Auckland’s ■ “walking wounded” won’t possess their normal strength when they compete with Canterbury at the Y.M.C.A. stadium in Auckland this evening, in a basketball league match. According to Auckland coach, Alan Slack, speaking from Auckland last evening, his team will be lucky to have eight or nine players on the bench. Still, it is a typical Slack ploy and Canterbury is aware of it.

“Half my squad has in-

juries,” said Mr Slack, relating to his team’s “problems.” Included in this group are Keith Curbert (he is unwell); Richard Ruddick (surgery on a knee); Mark Clark (infected knee); Stu Huges (tom muscle); Haydon Pot (broken ankle) and Alan Ovens (rib cage problem). Canterbury will stick to its normal ten. It would attempt to employ the same tactics as it did against the Saints two weeks ago, said Canterbury coach, Gary Pettis. “Canterbury has a hard task. At the top of the competition they have to impress not only their rivals but their competitors. The squad has not been changed. This squad has ten members to play for Canterbury.” The squad is: Clyde Huntley (captain), Angelo Hill, John Hill, Bert Knops, lan Webb, John Rademakers, Terry Brunel, Bill Duggan, Andy Bennett, Graham Timms.