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WEST COAST RFU – 1979

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Acknowledgments to the NZ Rugby Almanack Franchise:

1979 Season

WEST COAST COLOURS: RED AND WHITE HOOPS
(Founded, 1890; Affiliated, 1893)
Selector: Messrs S.R.Pittaway, D.J.Kelly and D.McLean

It was 24 years – in 1955 in fact – since West Coast had failed to win a single representative match.

Nine matches were engaged in and only 61 points registered with four players doing all the scoring. Ken Thomson the only player to appear in all nine matches totaled 26 points, and with limited opportunities scored two tries, his main work being on defence. “Tony” Kissick contributed 24 points from his boot and was an industrious first five-eighths – he missed the last two games through injury. Gerald Davidson who had eight games was sound on defence. Three forwards Bernie and Winston Monk and newcomer McGurk played eight games each.

Altogether 33 players were called on, of whom 14 played two games or less. Of these Teen who broke his leg and Bromley injured played in only the first two matches. ln all 12 players were in their first season, and of these, Glass was a courageous half-back, Winston Monk a lively loose forward, and Gary Paterson a useful front-ranker. Ken Thompson was the strong man of the pack with Graham Crawford the most improved forward. Mitchell again proved an efficient hooker. The team developed good spirit and the forwards particularly strove mightily in scrum and the tight, but lacked height and weight.

Of the players not already mentioned, Cropper, who was always a trier, Mitchell and Aitken had last represented in 1977, Gerald Davidson in 1976, Lucas in 1975, Mahuika in 1974 and Knox as far back as 1972. No players from this Union were called on by the National Selectors.

W. H. Monk, 20-year-old flanker and McGurk, 6 ft 3 in, 19-year-old No.8 were nominated for New Zealand Colts selection.

1979 Squad

S.C.P.Boon (Hokitika Excelsior)
W.F.Gugich (Hokitika St.Mary`s)
P.T.”Ru” Curtain (Hokitika St.Mary`s)
A.R.Messenger (Blaketown)
M.G.Fitzgerald (Greymouth Star-United)
B.J.Knox (Greymouth Star-United)
P.A.Teen (Hokitika St.Mary‘s)
K.R.Wilson (Hokitika Excelsior)
K.W.Thomson (Blaketown)
D.M.Cooper (Hokitika St.Mary‘s)
B.G.Davidson (Hokitika St.Mary‘s)
G.A.McBride (Harihari)
M.G.Davidson (Hokitika St.Mary‘s)
A.F.”Tony” Kissick (Greymouth Star-United)
R.Johnston (Cobden)
T.W.Bromley (Blaketown)
K.J.Glass (Greymouth Star-United)
G.D.Ferguson (Harihari)
W.H.Monk (Blaketown)
John Davies (Harihari)
G.J.Bennett (Hokitika St.Mary’s)
K.L.Thompson (Cobden)
A.H.Bruhn (Blaketown)
B.H.Monk (Blaketown)
R.J.Mitchell (Hokitika St.Mary`s)
B.J.Aitken (Harihari)
R.F.Dixon (Greymouth Star-United)
P.A.Lucas (Hokitika St.Mary’s)
J.D.Sullivan (Harihari)
J.G.McGurk (Hokitika St.Mary‘s)
G.J.Crawford (Greymouth Star-United)
G.A.J.Paterson Greymouth Star-United)
K.J.Mahuika (Hokitika Excelsior)

MATCH RECORD

Played 9 ; Lost 9 ; Points: For 61 ; Against 210

SECOND DIVISION (South Island)
P
W
D
L
Pts
Marlborough
5
5
10
Mid-Canterbury
5
4
1
8
Buller
5
3
2
6
Nelson-Bays
5
2
3
4
North Otago
5
1
4
2
West Coast
5
5
Marlborough played a promotion-relegation match against Otago, but lost 13 – 15

May 9 v Canterbury at Rugby Park, Greymouth Lost 7 to 37
K.W.Thomson try
A.F.Kissick penalty goal
Referee: Mr.S.J.McKnight (West Coast)

* June 23 v Buller at Westport Lost 6 to 17
K.W.Thomson 2 penalty goals

* July 21 v North Otago at Rugby Park, Greymouth Lost 6 to 20
S.C.P.Boon dropped goal
K.W.Thomson penalty goal
Referee: Mr.A.W.Lilley (Mid-Canterbury)

July 28 v New Zealand Colts at Rugby Park, Greymouth Lost 0 to 17
Referee: Mr.R.W.Morgan (Marlborough)

August 11 v Marlborough (Seddon Shield) at Blenheim Lost 12 to 19
A.F.Kissick dropped goal and 3 penalty goals

August 15 v Auckland at Rugby Park, Greymouth Lost 3 to 44
A.F.Kissick penalty goal
Referee: Mr.G.King (West Coast)

* August 18 v Nelson-Bays at Rugby Park, Greymouth Lost 6 to 10
A.F.Kissick 2 penalty goals
Referee: Mr.R.W.Morgan (Marlborough)

* September 8 v Marlborough at Cass Square, Hokitika Lost 11 to 31
G.McGurk 2 tries
K.W.Thomson penalty goal
Referee: Mr.A.Bateman (Canterbury)

* September 15 v Mid-Canterbury at Ashburton Lost 10 to 15
K.W.Thomson try and 2 penalty goals