Christchurch Boys’ prepared for Australian tour

Press, 24 August 1988, Page 49

Christchurch Boys’ prepared for Australian tour

A team of 24 Christchurch Boys’ High School rugby players leaves Christchurch on August 28 for a 16-day tour of Australia. It is the first overseas rugby trip the school has had since a Taiwan tour in 1984. Initially the idea was proposed to this year’s probable first XV members last year and when received with a favourable response, fund raising began. Because the idea was presented so early, the touring team had little trouble finding ways of raising money. A preChristmas hamper started the ball rolling and this year several activities have been organised to raise money.

A $lOO raffle with $5OOO in prizes, the hiring out of the Court Theatre to sell seats, and an evening with Richard Hadlee as a guest speaker were some of the ways the team reached the target required. Initially a target of $lOOO per member of the team was set and this has been met, so the tour is financially secure. Mr Barry Thomas, a mathematics teacher, and Mr Richard Harrison, a geography teacher at Christchurch Boys’, are the only two officials travelling with the team and have been coaching the tour side since it was named.

Initially only 14 members were named in the squad, but as this rugby season got under way the squad grew to 24. Nine-

teen of those are in the school’s first XV. The other five are in the second XV. Fourteen of the boys are in their final year at the school. The other ten have a year remaining. On Sunday, August 28, the team flies to Brisbane where it stays in the Southport Surf Club for three nights. On Wednesday, August 31, the team plays Brisbane Grammar School. On September 5 the side plays a combined under-19 side, the Gold Coast Eagles. On September 6 and 7 the boys will be billeted by the Brisbane State High School and play its first XV on the. seventh.

On September 8 the side flies to Sydney and is

billeted on September 9, 10, 11 by Trinity Grammar School which it plays on September 12. The side flies back to Christchurch on Tuesday, September 13. This year has been relatively successful for Christchurch Boys’ in rugby terms. It lost only two games in the secondary schools competition — to Christ’s College and St Andrew’s College. Several players in - the team have played for representative sides this season, reinforcing the touring team’s strength. Glenn Davis, Michael McKnight and Angus Gardiner were all in the Canterbury under-18 side, and Blair Davis, Daryl Hansen and Aaron Orangi all represented the province in the under-16 side.

McKnight was in the New Zealand under-17 side which toured Australia in May. One member of the team, Craig Rogers, is unable to travel because of illness. Aaron Orangi has stepped in at the last minute. The team is: Daryl Aitken, Wayne Allport, Cameron Anderson, Rhys Bateman; Blair Davis, Glenn Davis, Phillip Dickson, Angus Gardiner, Scott Godfrey, Stephen Green, Daryl Hansen, Paul Hawkins, Nick Hay, Richard Hegan, lan Holt (captain), Glenn Judson, Kennedy Christiaan, Tim McBride, Michael McKnight, David Morrison, David Pierson, Michael Teear, Glen Young, Aaron Orangi.