Southern View: July 24, 2018

10 Tuesday July 24 2018
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
SPORTS
SOUTHERN VIEW
Local
News
Now
Fire rages, homes at risk
From halfback to starring at fullback
• By Gordon Findlater
FORMER Christchurch South
Intermediate rugby player Max
Hughes is emerging as a talented
fullback – and it’s not even his
preferred position.
It was a spur of the moment
decision that led the 16-year-old
to sign up for the Christchurch
Boys’ High School rugby trials
in year 9. The move has seen him
show off his talents in the No 15
jersey in the UC Championship.
But when filling out his paper
work for the trials, he was asked
to write down what his second
position was. He had only ever
played halfback, so Hughes
wrote down fullback thinking
nothing of it.
“They ended up playing me at
fullback during my first trial and
I scored a hat-trick so I ended up
playing fullback all of year 9,” he
said.
“It wasn’t until year 10 when
I had a chat with one of my
coaches and explained I’m
actually a halfback.”
The 16-year-old spent last
season as back-up to highlytouted
halfback Louie Chapman.
With another season as the
understudy on the horizon,
Hughes has managed to gain
THEN AND NOW: Max Hughes playing halfback at Christchurch
South Intermediate and now fullback for CBHS ​
more game time at fullback,
which is now comfortably his
second position.
“It’s tough obviously with
Louie at nine. He’s been great to
learn from and is always happy
to help . . . it’s good that the team
have found a second role for me.”
The year 12 student’s ability
in the No 15 jersey was on full
display in May when he was
named man of the match by Sky
TV in CBHS’s 32-16 win over
Christ’s College. Performances
like that saw Hughes selected in
the Crusaders Junior Knights
team that lost to the Chief’s
under-18 side in Hamilton
recently. He came on for the final
15min at halfback.
However, Hughes’ talents
aren’t only being recognised in
the 15-man game. A decision
to play touch rugby over the
summer five years ago because
cricket was becoming “too
boring” appears to be reaping
rewards.
Next month Hughes will travel
to Malaysia to play for the New
Zealand under-18 touch team
against eight other nations,
including Australia, South
Africa and the United States, at
the Youth World Cup.
After playing rugby union
since the age of eight, he took
up touch at age 11 and quickly
found his feet in
the sport, going
on to represent
Canterbury at
under-15, 16, and
more recently at
open level, where
he helped the
men’s team to
third at nationals.
Hughes says his
recent success in
the 15-man code
has been helped
by the level of
footwork and
decision-making
that has come
with playing
touch at a high
level.
Hughes plans
for next year are to make the
No 9 jersey his own. Following
secondary school, he hopes to
be involved in the Crusaders
academy and work his way
through club and representative
rugby.
But if his All Blacks dream
doesn’t come to fruition, he also
has a back-up plan.
“My mum is Japanese, so if
it doesn’t work out here then
playing for Japan could be an
option.”
UC Championship table
P W L D BP Pts
CBHS 10 10 0 0 8 48
Christ’s College 9 8 1 0 7 39
Lincoln Combined 10 8 2 0 5 37
St Bede’s College 10 7 3 0 7 35
Nelson College 9 6 3 0 8 32
St Andrew’s College 10 5 5 0 8 28
Rangiora High 10 6 4 0 4 28
Marlborough Boys 10 5 5 0 6 26
SBHS 10 5 5 0 6 26
St Thomas 10 4 6 0 10 26
TBHS 10 2 8 0 7 15
Waimea Combined 10 2 8 0 3 11
Aoraki Combined 10 1 9 0 1 5
Mid-Canterbury 10 0 10 0 2 2
JOIN US NOW!
See website for details
BONDS OUTLET
Jockey Men’s Dressing Gowns, RRP $99.99,
NOW $20 (sizes small – x large).
SWANNDRI
Hillside Hoodies were $129.95, NOW $50.
Coral Bay Fleece Jackets were $139.95, Now $50.
CONVERSE
50% Off the 2nd Item on Almost Everything
Conditions apply, ends 30 July.
STYLES MAY DIFFER TO IMAGE SHOWN
ITALIA SPORTSWEAR
Take An Extra 30% Off All Fila Clothing
Ends 30 July
BENDON OUTLET
Half Price Sale (exclusions apply).
UNDER ARMOUR
Buy 1 Get 1 Half Price on All Footwear
(conditions apply).
Sign up to Smart Deals & be in the monthly draw for a $100 Dress-Smart gift card!
Be one of the first to hear about the latest deals, sent straight to your inbox each week!
CHRISTCHURCH 409 Main South Road, Hornby
www.dress-smart.co.nz
Open 10am-5pm, 7 Days 03 349 5750