Debbie Chase is a true all-rounder

Press, 10 July 1987, Page 22

Debbie Chase is a true all-rounder

By

DIANNA LESLIE

The physical nature of the sport first attracted Debbie Chase to the ranks of women’s rugby players. “It is physical, but there is a lot more to it than just contact. You have to communicate with the team, and work as a team, although sometimes a player can break through with her own physical strength or skill,” said Chase. Chase was selected for the Canterbury team which competed against the New Orleans women’s side recently. Canterbury was pleasantly surprised to notch up a convincing 18-3 win. Playing at first fiveeighths, Chase was a dominant force in the Canterbury team, but she singled out the Canterbury defence as the downfall of New Orleans. “Our defence was really tight. They (America) spun the ball, but they could not break through us. “We were too powerful and aggressive, and we really got into the game — we showed them,” she said.

Although Chase, ‘ged 20, is a fierce competitor, she was reluctant to take the credit for the two tries she scored during the match.

“Everyone played one of their best games. Just because I scored doesn’t meant anything because I had to have the ball to score. The forwards did their work and gave me the ball. I just finished it off,” Chase emphasised. Chase has had a successful season for Shirley in the Sunday women’s

competition, but her sporting commitments do not stop at rugby. She is heavily involved in several other sports at either an A grade or representative level. Not only does she confidently charge down the rugby field, decisively dribble the ball for Checkers in A grade basketball, is capable of hurling a discus vast distances, takes rugby league in her stride “when there is an important game,” and plays softball in the summer, Chase is also part of a band — for fun. Chase is an enthusiastic rugby league competitor and quickly identified the differences between league and union. “League is a lot harder, it is a fast running game,” she said. In 1984, as a pupil at Christchurch Girls’ High School, Chase broke a national record by

throwing the discus 42 metres.

“I remember that I did not train for the nationals, because I was so heavily involved in other sports, and none of the other competitors were very impressed when I won,” Chase laughed.

But Chase has abandoned athletics in favour of softball, because of the extensive costs. “There was limited sponsorship in athletics, and a lot of solo training. I prefer team sports so I decided to make the switch,” said the talented out-fielder. Chase’s training schedule is hectic. She trains once a week for rugby, once a week for league, and finishes off with two practices for basketball, as well as personal training in her own time. The difference between men’s and women’s rugby are considerable, said Chase. “There is quite a gap. Men have better coaches and rugby is their No. 1 sport. Women play rugby on a Sunday, and it is often not their main sport. We have to compromise a night of training from our other sports to make the team practice for rugby,” she said. Chase has set herself positive pinnacles in her main sports. “I would like to be tactically more aware in rugby, and I want to reach my full potential in basketball,” she asserted.