Message surprises Mark Hudson

Press, 23 September 1987, Page 80

Message surprises Mark Hudson

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

An unexpected message was awaiting the New Zealand Maoris flanker, Mark Hudson, on his arrival at work early yesterday morning. Loosely translated it said that Doug Bruce and the Canterbury rugby team required his services in Pukekohe the next day.

A few hours later Hudson was heading north, probably to take the No. 8 position for Canterbury in its National Mutual first division championship match against Counties at Pukekohe this afternoon. Rib injuries have forced Dale Atkins to return to Christchurch.

tune that has befallen Canterbury. Canterbury is in danger of setting a record which it does not particularly want. Its least number of wins since the introduction of the championship in 1976 was four; at present it has managed three from eight, with just the matches against Counties and Waikato to come.

last away to Counties two years ago. There has been an extraordinary turnover in personnel in both teams since they met exactly a year ago at Lancaster Park. Counties has retained six players, Canterbury only three — Shayne Philpott, Wayne Burleigh and Grant Mickell. As with Canterbury, Counties has won three matches this year, but it succumbed to North Auckland by only one point and held Wellington to six points. It has an outstanding leader in its No. 8, Alan Dawson, whose career in the A team started in 1976 and has taken in over 180 matches, a record for the province. Other accomplished players in the team include the hard-running fullback, Lindsay Raki, a New Zealand Maoris representative, and the under-rated halfback, Mark Moore, an All Black trialist last year.

Hudson, who played in the last eight matches for Wellington last season, joined Sydenham on his arrival in Christchurch this year. He could hardly have anticipated a recall to the Canterbury team after falling from favour after appearing twice in the early season South Pacific championship.

Counties has always been a bothersome side for Canterbury. In fact it is the only first division province which has recorded more wins than losses against Canterbury in the championship. From 1976 to 1982, Canterbury has just one win, although there was that famous draw in 1982 when Robbie Deans kicked a last-minute angled panalty goal to keep the just-claimed Ranfurly Shield in Christchurch.

flankers, John McCaw and Stephen Dods, as he did against Wellington, it seems that he is intent on picking players in specialist roles. It has been lean pickings for Canterbury in the national championship and the late loss to Bay of Plenty last Saturday was indicative of the misfor-

He came on as a replacement at No. 8 against Fiji and was on the flank against Auckland on May 10.

Although Mr Bruce could have switched Grant Mickell to lock and played Andy Earl at No. 8 behind the two openside

Canterbury had won the last three matches, although it took a late try to Joe Leota to give Canterbury victory when it was