Injured Schofield could miss remainder of tour

Press, 17 June 1988, Page 24

Injured Schofield could miss remainder of tour

NZPA-AAP Brisbane Great Britain rugby league centre, Garry Schofield, is

almost certain to be sent home after he undergoes surgery for a depressed fracture

of the cheekbone. Schofield was injured during the tourists’ hard-fought 28-14 win over Brisbane at Lang Park on Wednesday night. Fears that Schofield may miss the rest of the six week Great Britain tour of Australia and New Zealand were confirmed after X-ray examinations. Schofield will visit a Brisbane specialist and seems certain to undergo surgery here before heading home. Also facing a possible return home is a scrum-half, Mike Ford, who suffered a suspected broken hand in the match. Ford will also see a specialist. Great Britain officials were last night planning a crisis meeting and will send an S.O.S. home for a replacement for Schofield. Schofield, one of Great Britain’s most experienced test players, collected a knee to the face in a tackle in the twentieth minute. “It was a costly match,” said the coach, Malcolm Reilly, contemplating the prospect of going into Tuesday week’s Second Test at Lang Park without the attacking brilliance of Schofield. Great Britain led 20-4 at halftime, with replacement winger Martin Offiah scoring two tries when he came on for the injured Schofield. Offiah showed his blistering speed on several occasions. A diplomatic Reilly later refused to comment on the performance of referee David Manson who hammered the tourists 13-3 in the penalties. Great Britain 28 (Martin Offiah two, Karl Fairbank, Mike Ford, Garry Schofield tries; David Stephenson four goals) beat Brisbane 14 (Brett McCarthy, Kelly Egan, Gordon Barwick tries, Peter Coyne goal).