SIDELINES

Press, 24 July 1987, Page 24

SIDELINES

THE SIGNING of Mark Brooke-Cowden was a shrewd move by the British rugby league club, Leeds. The All Black flanker, whose father was born in London, parries a British passport Although riot eligible to represent Britain, Brooke-Cowden does not count as an overseas player and does not need a work permit Leeds had already attained its overseas limit of three players by attracting the Kangaroo prop, Peter Tunks, and two Sydney first grade backs, Peter Jackson and Marty Gurr. It also paid a record £172,090 transfer fee to Hull for the British test prop and goal-kicker, Lee Crooks. Last northern winter Leeds avoided relegation from the first division only on scoring percentages and is determined to regain its former high standing.

CANTERBURY’S SOCCER fraternity is obviously proud of toppling Auckland earlier this year. Two months after Canterbury beat Auckland, 3-2, at English Park the scoreboard still displays the scoreline, a gentle rebuttal to any Auckland visitors who advance the theory that their side is the top dog in provincial soccer.

THE CHRISTCHURCH national league soccer team hardly had an ideal build-up to its match against Papatoetoe last Sunday. After enduring a five hour wait at Christchurch Airport because of fog, the team finally took the field 30min after arriving at the ground. In addition two of the players took ill after a lunchtime snack so it was hardly a surprise that the coach, lan Marshall, thought a point from the 2-2 draw was a satisfactory result, especially considering Papatoetoe led, 2-0, after 20 minutes of the match.