Chance for young

Press, 4 June 1988, Page 88

Chance for young

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

Both the Town and Country rugby coaches, Ceddie Smith and Tom McLay, would beg to differ on the outcome of the annual match for the Craw Shield at Lancaster Park on Monday, but both firmly share one view. They regard the fixture, which has become something of a Country benefit in the last five years, as vitally important for the Canterbury aspirations of several emerging young players in both teams.

Mr Smith has deliberately steered away from the more established players who formed the Canterbury squad for the South Pacific championship earlier this season. He has chosen players who are striving to gain, or retain, places in the new provincial squad to be named within the next fortnight. “Years ago this game was the final trial for Canterbury selection but now with the South Pacific series some players already have had four or five hard matches. I feel the opportunity is there

for the guys who play well enough to go on to Canterbury A. I think there might be more motivation for the players I’ve chosen and maybe we will get a good crowd along to see these newer fellows."

Apart from the introduction of Kerry Pauling, a stalwart of previous Country front rows, at prop ahead of Simon Foley, the Town team is the same as the Canterbury XV which beat the New Zealand R.N.Z.A.F. team, 86-3, last Saturday. Mr McLay expressed similar sentiments as to the significance of the match.

The presence of Bruce Deans at training on Wednesday was marvellous from the team’s point of view, according to Mr McLay. “He was under no pressure to play and it was tremendous that he arrived. ' Team spirit is tops. We’re playing for a cause (Canterbury Country rugby) and we’re not too worried who we play. I rate us as the underdog but our last win against Mid-Canterbury was a good morale-booster.” To many town folk,

however, Country will be favoured to score its fifth win in the last six years. In the pack are the All Black locks, Andy Earl and Albert Anderson, and the Deans brothers, Bruce and Robbie, form the inside combination. As Ceddie Smith remarked: “You only have to go from hooker to first five-eighths and you have four All Blacks.” The team are:

Town: Kieran Jones; Roger Kilpatrick, Kieran Flynn, Andrew Simcock; Andrew McCormick, Colin Williamson; Jon Preston; Rob Penney (captain); Mark Hudson, Craig Philpott, Mark Thompson, Dallas Seymour; Tala Kele, Andrew Owen, Kerry Pauling.

Reserves: Backs: Graeme Bachop, Greg Coffey, Rose Seinafo. Forwards: Simon Foley, Murray Henderson, Phil Cropper. Country: John McAllister; J. J. Lloyd, Greg Lewis, Greg Jones; Grant Wright, Robbie Deans; Bruce Deans; Don Rennie (captain); Anthony Dalzell, Andy Earl, Albert Anderson, Grant White; Chris Earl, Jeff Rogers, Kevin Hill.

Reserves: Backs: Malcolm Campbell, Andrew Cooper, Kevin Allan. Forwards: John Abrahams, Andy Jones, Kevin Smith.