Top marks for Papanui

Press, 13 April 1989, Page 44

Top marks for Papanui

By

JOHN COFFEY

Papanui gained a muchneeded confidence boost for the remainder of the Canterbury rugby league season when it beat Hornby, 28-21, at the Addington Show Grounds last evening. The positive leadership of Mark Broadhurst and Andrew Vincent’s finishing skills were mainly responsible for proving that Papanui might have more in store than a nervous struggle to avoid the relegation round. It was Vincent who provided the tries which restored Papanui to the lead midway through the first spell and then put paid to a brief Hornby revival 20 minutes from the finish. But it was Broadhurst’s

strength, his skilled distri- . bution and withering glare which got Papdnui going. Once under way the Papanui players; discovered a young Hornby defence was devoid of .venom. Broadhurst .Was given wholehearted support in the pack by Tony Blazey and Barry 1 Goldsmith. Craig Feutz was enterprising at stand-off, Kerry PearCe effective at fullback, and Mike Black, the left wing, Jis to score a more}spectacular try than Ms; 60m effort from a Horjiby kick-off. Hornby was briefly in front on two occasions in the first half, but could neither consolidate its temporary periods of ascendancy or put sufficient force into its tack-

ling to deter its opponents. The , Sydenham \ resistance lasted < i for 24 minutes of the late game before Halswell skipped away to :a ; 31 ; 12 win. , Syndenham’s cover, hajd no counter tothe penetration of Gordon Smith, Chris White ahd Aaron Whittaker, or the pace of the outside backs. By* Halswell; had a 12-pbirifr cushion and though Sydenham lifted its effort in the third quarter it was never within range. Each Sydenham scorings move was repaid, with liberal interest, by Halswell. Halswell leads the Radio Avon premiership, but Marist-Western Suburbs and Addington will join it if successful

against Linwood ; and Kaiapoi, respectively, on Saturday. Details:— Papanui 28 (Andrew Vincent two, Craig Feutz, Jason Cameron, Mike : Black tries; Kerry Pearce four goals) beat Hornby 21 (Blair Harding, Gary McLauchlan, i George Apalu, Simon Angel S tries; Stuart Ward two goals; Handing field goal). Half- ’• time, 16-7. Referee, Mr Norm Taylor. Halswell 31 (Paul Dunn, Darren Twist, Gordon Smith, ; Aaron Whittaker, Whetu Taewa, Neil Sinclair tries; Dunn three goals, field goal) beat Sydenham 12 (Frank Endacott jun., Peter Kaisa tries; Mike Gibbons two goals). Half-time, 12-0. Referee, Mr Jim Stokes. Man of the match, Sinclair.