RUGBY PUNTS

Press, 4 June 1988, Page 88

RUGBY PUNTS

Canterbury has never been short of ardent rugby supporters and none have been more zealous than Vai Hern, a committee member of the Canterbury Rugby Supporters’ Club and, in 1977, the first woman to be on an organising committee of the Canterbury R.F.U. Mrs Hern, wife of a strong, robust Canterbury prop throughout the 19505, Ewan, is the first woman to try her hand at selecting the winners of the senior club matches in “The Press” rugby punts column. She said she considered it an honour. In the main match at Lancaster Park today, Mrs Hern, herself a Linwood supporter, naturally picked that team to down Sydenham, the conqueror of University last week. “Linwood is coached by lan Mallard who was one of Ewan’s colts so the boys should be well coached.”

Burnside’s speedy backs

swayed Mrs Hern to take that team against Albion, and she selected University to bounce back against Marist in the feature game at Rugby Park. “If University can’t win by brawn they can win by brains,” she joked.

Mrs Hern decided on High School Old Boys over a Suburbs side which she felt sometimes gave away points through over-eager-ness and “now that lan Burdon is with Lincoln College I’ll go with them against Belfast.” The games which gave her least trouble were: Christchurch to beat Hornby, Shirley to down Merivale and New Brighton to win against Lyttelton.

After nine rounds nobody has correctly predicted all eight results. Last week’s guest selector, the former All Black full back, Fergie' McCormick, struck a particularly tough draw and could do no better than three.