Freak rugby injury

Press, 24 April 1979, Page 44

Freak rugby injury

Last year’s Canterbury Savings Bank Trophy winner, New Brighton, has had a bad start to the 1979 senior rugby championship with two losses from as many matches, and its problems have been added to with the temporary loss of Dave Bowick.

In a freak accident during training last week, Bowick broke a bone in the thumb of his left hand. His hand is likely to be in plaster for another month. It will be at

least six weeks before the reliable full-back can resume his custodian’s role. The accurate boot of Bow* lek has been largely responsible for many of New Brighton’s wins and he could have been a match-winner last Saturday when the seasiders were narrowly beaten by Suburbs. It was little consolation to him exhorting his team-mates from the sideline.

Bowick’s injury was suf* fered when he launched himself into a tackling bag

being held by the senior coach, Ceddie Smith. As his arms enveloped the bag. his hand made hard contact with Smith’s knee. Bowick has never been a spectacular full-back on attack, but his defence is sound and his line-kicking and goal-kicking has been an invaluable asset.

He has topped the century mark far the last four years, scoring 119 points in 1975, 106 the next year, 134 in 1977, and 140 last year.