HORNBY SHOULD HOLD LEAD

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31107, 9 July 1966, Page 17

HORNBY SHOULD HOLD LEAD

Hornby is expected to encounter little difficulty in defeating Christchurch today, to retain its six-point lead in the Canterbury Rugby League championship with only five matches to play.

Throughout the season Hornby has suffered very few major injuries and, when compared with recent seasons, has not been over-burdened with representative calls. Its team-work has been far superior to any other club and its superiority has only occasionally been challenged. Papanui will need to defeat Addington in the main game if it is to reach the top four. Three points behind Marist and Addington, Papanui has progressed after a slow start. Last Saturday, Addington produced its best form for sometime against Marist but Papanui has a fast back-line that will require close attention by the Addington defence.

Injuries have forced Marist to play the promising young loose forward, D. Baird, at full-back, and the veteran forward. L. Mulcare, at scrumhalf against Sydenham, but the return of M. H. Mohi and W. A. Flavell should give Marist sufficient forward 'momentum to win.

Kaiapoi is not expected to repeat its early season upset of Linwood but it will be interesting to compare the scrum figures Of the hookers, W. P. Noonan (Linwood) and J. E. Bond.