Opportune time for Canty to move up ladder

Press, 22 August 1987, Page 88

Opportune time for Canty to move up ladder

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

Although it is still early days in the National Mutual first division rugby championship, Canterbury and Wairarapa-Bush must be feeling a little apprehensive every time they glance at the points table.

They find themselves together with a point each and only one step from the bottom of the 11-rung ladder. Below them is Taranaki, badly beaten in four matches.

Both Canterbury and Wairarapa-Bush would like to put more distance between themselves and the possible relegation zone and, for that reason alone, the contest at Masterton this afternoon should be physically demanding with probably a fine line between them at the finish.

Canterbury has never found Wairarapa-Bush an easy opponent and its last visit to Masterton in 1985 ended in defeat, 13-9. Although Canterbury avenged that loss at Lancaster Park last year, it was only two late tries which had it comfortably clear at the final whistle, 31-7.

Both teams have had their share of defections and, although Canterbury has suffered most for this match through four firstchoice players having to withdraw because of injury, Wairarapa-Bush has been hardest hit in the long term. Marty Berry, whose fleeting appearance in the last seconds of the final test between New Zealand

and Australia for the Bledisloe Cup last year won him his only All Black test cap, has cried off for the season after hurting a knee against Hawke’s Bay and a similar fate has befallen the forceful wing, Charlie Kaka.

The injuries to Robbie Deans, Joe Leota, Warwick Taylor and Murray Davie have allowed some of the Canterbury squad members chances they might not otherwise have received.

The champion tryscorer in Christchurch club rugby, Mark Vincent, and David Ellis have the chance to impress on the wings and Brent Harvey will get his third full game at prop. Shayne Philpott, very much the utility of the Canterbury backline, will have his second game this season at fullback, and his robust running could inject the penetration sorely needed wide. out. It is in the forwards that Wairarapa-Bush will be wanting to gain a fair measure of control as the backs have proved disappointing this year. Brent Anderson will have a point to prove if marking his namesake, Albert, in the lineouts. The Canterbury Anderson got the selectors’ nod for

the vacant position at lock in the All Blacks World Cup squad, the man discarded at his expense being the Anderson from Wairarapa-Bush. Brent Anderson’s fellow lock, the New Zealand Colt, Craig Sims, is well regarded and the captain, Brett Harvey, a flanker with more than 50 matches behind him for his union, has worn the All Black jersey and has been perhaps unfortunate not to have donned it more than once.

Canterbury, though, can take some comfort from the valiant performance by its forwards against Auckland last Saturday. It was equal to Auckland in the lineouts and loose play, and the pack will not be forced on the back foot in scrums today. The teams are:—

Canterbury: Shayne Philpott; Mark Vincent, Victor Simpson, David Ellis; Wayne Burleigh, Stephen Bachop; Bruce Deans; Dale Atkins; Grant Mickeli, Albert .Anderson, Andy Earl, Stephen Dods; Brent Harvey, John Buchan (captain), Chris Earl. Wairarapa-Bush: Mark Benton; Greg Karaitiana, Ivan Karaitiana; Mike Foster; Stu Cruden, Philip Rutene; Bernie Lett; Tom Hullena; Peter Sargent, Brent Anderson, Craig Sims, Brett Harvey (captain); Robbie McLean, Motu Tua, Brian Styles.