Canty reps boost Country

Press, 2 June 1989, Page 40

Canty reps boost Country

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

Apart from John Buchan, who was unavailable, Country will have the services of its five other Canterbury rugby representatives as it strives for its sixth win in the last seven years against Town in their annual contest for the Craw Shield at Lancaster Park on Monday. The Deans brothers, Robbie and Bruce, both of whom have appeared for Canterbury Country this season, the Earl brothers, Andy and Chris, and the All Black, Albert Anderson, will lend their considerable experience and talent to the Country cause.

Although the Sub-Union team has won its five representative games leading up to Monday’s fixture, the new coach, Bob Kerr, has not been impressed with tne winning per-

formances in the last two matches, against Nelson Bays and Mid-Can-terbury.

“We missed at least four tries against Nelson Bays (won 35-3) and I was disappointed with our play against Mid-Canterbury (won 8-3) on Tuesday. “It was a bummer, it was not a good dress rehearsal for the game against Town and I would think we would need to show drastic improvement,” Mr Kerr said yesterday.

Mr Kerr, however, did have kind words for the players who have given way to the Canterbury contingent. “The guys showed great commitment and their attitude was tremendous, but it would be a brave man who would leave put the Earls and Anderson. The tight five is very

important and I think it is vital to play the best available. Those players have had other commitments when we have played our earlier games,” he said.

The Country teams are.— Senior: Robbie Deans; Greg Jones, Greg Lewis, Bryan Hayton; Grant Wright, Peter Fitzpatrick; Bruce Deans; Richard Ewins; Mark Nevin, Andy Earl, Albert Anderson, Anthony Dalzell; Chris Earl, David Burrows, Kevin Hill (captain). Reserves. —Backs: Malcolm Campbell, Kevin Allen, John McAllister. Forwards: John Abrahams, lan Fleming.

Colts: Stuart Gold; Adrian Tukaki, Chris Hart, Grant Chivers; Tim Watkins, Robbie Haughton; Grant Keenan; Brydon Hughes; Ross McDonald, John Holland, Andrew McConchie, Brian Hutchinson; Brett Holland, Hamish Murray (captain), Nick Thackwell. Reserves.—Backs: Paul Taylor, Peter Morrissey, Simon Woods, Graeme Hogg. Forwards: Tim Stokes, Robbie Skerton, George Shane Fletcher.