Wellington ‘beatable’

Press, 29 July 1989, Page 84

Wellington ‘beatable’

By

JOHN COFFEY

Frank Endacott, the Canterbury rugby, league coach, is confident his side will complete its first division season with a flourish against a “beatable” Wellington team at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, tomorrow. A win to Canterbury would enable it to finish its first-class programme with a 4-4 win-loss record, put it level with Wellington in equal second position in the championship, and have an impact on the five national selectors. Wellington is without the slippery Tangira brothers, Willie and Geoffrey, the big centre, Charlie McAlister, and its Papua New Guinea prop forward, Daroa Ben Moide. Newcomers to this level of football are Brendon Tetania, noted for his strong defence in the centres, and a secondrower, Dave O’Sullivan.

Darryl Rolleston has been recalled at stand-off half after being dropped earlier this winter. “That team is beatable,” said Mr Endacott on being informed of the Wellington side. “We are basing our game around speed and mobility. This is probably the smallest Canterbury team for a long time, perhaps ever, but we have gone for speed and have revolved our game plan around it,” he said. Canterbury will concede recent match practice. It has not played since its encouraging win over Southern Provinces at Greymouth on July 2, while Wellington did moderately well against the Australian tourists on July 19. But if Mr Endacott wants another motivating ploy he need only seek out a match programme from Wellington’s encounter with Australia.

A full page is taken up with photographs of Wellington representatives “who should tour Europe later this year” — Dave Ewe, Morvin Edwards, Mike Kuiti and Barry Harvey. “They might talk about Morvin Edwards. But what if Carl Hall gets on top of him and completely outplays him?” asked Mr Endacott. “That applies right through to Kuiti at loose forward. How will he look if Logan Edwards has the better of him in Wellington? “If Wayne Wallace wanted any more revving up then Barry Harvey’s escape from suspension is more than enough, and Russell Tuuta is still a top tour chance,” he said. Additional interest has. been injected into the game by the presence of Jason Williams in the. Canterbury centres.

Williams could prove a match-winner with his background in Sydney first grade football. Mr Endacott said the result was all-important — “if we don’t beat them we can’t moan afterwards that Canterbury hasn’t enough players in the Kiwi touring team.” Teams. — Canterbury: Carl Hall; Glen Moore, Mike Dorreen, Jason Williams, Darryl Henare; Mark Nixon, Neville Woodham; Russell Tuuta, Michael Crawford, Stuart Simcott; Gary Leek, Wayne Wallace (captain); Logan Edwards. Reserves: Phil Smith, Vince McCue, Ron Simau, Barry. Goldsmith. Wellington: Morvin Edwards; Dave Ewe, George Lajpold, Brendon Tetania, Victor Aramoana; Darryl Rolleston, Sibi Raika; Arnold Lomax, Barry Harvey (captain), Kelly Makaore; Sonny Whakarau, Dave O’Sullivan; Mike Kuiti. Reserves: Duane Gwiazdzinski, Alan Jackson, Mark Woods.