Selwyn Times: June 20, 2018

SELWYN TIMES Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Wednesday June 20 2018 23
above their weight in UC Champs
“While we haven’t had a full
70min performance yet, I can’t
deny the squad has a great
ability to work hard to the final
whistle and that’s seen us get
wins in games we would have
lost in previous years,” Wilson
said.
“Players like Cam Jordan,
who has made the transition
from hooker to loose forward,
or Cameron Murdoch, who was
a lock last year and is now a
winger making huge progress.
That’s the sort of thing that
pleases me.
“The results come from the
hard work that those on the
outside don’t necessarily see.”
Ellesmere coach Alex
Robertson said having the team
performing so well, showed the
strength of rugby in the region.
“This is exciting for the future
of rugby in this region,” he said.
“With seven of our Ellesmere
colts players making the senior
team this season, there’s definitely
a pathway for rugby talent
here.”
Five Ellesmere players have
also made the 2018 Canterbury
provincial team named last
week.
Wilson said the opportunities
have never been so good for his
players.
“The aim is to show that you
can have a decent rugby future
ON THE BALL: Blair Ryall completes some passing drills at a
Lincoln Combined training session.
in Ellesmere without having to
go to town,” he said.
Lincoln Combined
results to date this season
•v Rangiora High, lost
13-12
•v Shirley Boys’ High, won
20-18
•v Aoraki Combined, won
26-13
•v Christ’s College, lost
29-5
•v Mid Canterbury
Combined, won 34-7
•v St Thomas of
Canterbury, won 25-24
v Timaru Boys’ High, won
11-8
Coach Wilson’s way
LINCOLN COMBINED coach
Mike Wilson (right) is not
someone who’s ever obsessed
with the scoreboard.
For him, it’s the effort of his
players and the work they put in
on their own individual responsibilities
that takes care of the
points on the board.
“That’s one of the big changes
this year; there’s competition for
playing minutes and even players
who aren’t likely to get many
are really pushing the starting
players and making our training
fun,” he said.
Wilson’s move to coaching
came when his playing days
with the Banks Peninsula division
two team came to an end.
“My uncle was coaching out
there and he needed players in
2003 and I ended up playing
there until about 2010,” he said.
He then had two seasons
coaching the Ellesmere colts
before the allure of coaching the
UC Championship came calling
last season.
“When I got there, I was
happy with the individual skills
of each player, it was just about
getting the most out of them,”
he said. Wilson said there
is a good atmosphere in the
team at training and that is
helping with the overall
performances.
“The guys work hard and we
offer them the chance every
week for individual feedback
because they’re at an age where
that can be valuable in their
progression.”
He said he doesn’t get as
much satisfaction out of winning
as he does seeing players
improve their skills and grow
as people. “Hopefully the kids
see a pathway to their rugby
ambitions here in the Ellesmere
district,” he said.
•More sport, page 24
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