INJURIES SIDELINE RUGBY STARS

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 12, 13 August 1985, Page 28

INJURIES SIDELINE RUGBY STARS

Ohakune-Karioi need only win one of their last two games to assure themselves of the Wanganui 1st division cham-

pionship for the second successive year. In a game marred by off-the-ball activity Ohakune defeated Marist 25-16 at Rochfort Park on Saturday while the nearest challenger, Kaierau, could only manage a 7-7 draw against Taihape. They remain a couple of points behind Ohakune with only one game to play. Local stars Lachlan Harding and Bruce Cranston will miss next week's crucial clash against Wanganui High School Old Boys at Spriggens Park. Harding spent Saturday and Sunday nights in Waimarino Hospital with suspected concussion after he was knocked out by a retaliatory punch from a Marist player mid-way through the second spell. Harding automatically serves a 2-week layoff under Rugby Union rules. Bruce Cranston was viciously kicked in the face by a Marist player and received eight stitches in the nose and eye region. The wound could take

anything up to three weeks to heal meaning that he,. along with Harding, are ruled out of at least three crucial Wanganui representative matches including this Saturday's game against arch-rivals King Country. Tuesday 's training seSsion at Rochfort, Park should prove an interesting one as the Ohakune players view the video-tape action from Saturday's hard-fought match. Many spectators were so incensed at the Marist players' brutality that they had to be restrained after the match. To make matters worse both incidents went unseen by the referee. It is not yet known whether the Ohakune-Karioi Rugby Club will themselves be taking any further action either by official complaint to the management committee or indeed to the Wanganui Union. Rugby Supporter Ruapehu College Old Boys look destined to return to Division 3 unless they win one of their two remaining matches. The team who has, in two seasons, battled their way up from Division 5 to Division 2 posted the first points of the round when they drew 3-3 with Waverley at the Raetihi Showgrounds on Saturday.