RUGBY Canterbury Wins First Match Of Season

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28909, 1 June 1959, Page 12

RUGBY Canterbury Wins First Match Of Season

(From Out Own Reporter)

WESTPORT, May 31. Tenacious tackling by the Buller backs and the first-class display of K. Clayworth at full-back prevented Canterbury from scoring one of its biggest wins against Buller in post-war years at Westport yesterday. Canterbury won by 19 points (two goals from tries, a try, a field goal and a penalty goal) to nil, but its superiority, particularly in the forwards, was much greater than the 19-point margin would indicate.

Canterbury’s first half effort was not very convincing. The forwards, although dominating all phases of play, appeared sluggish in comparison with their play late in the second half.

The backs ran across field, and more often tnan not were caught well behind the advantage line. There was a surfeit of line kicking and because of a greasy ball, some uncertain handling. At half-time, Canterbury held an 8-0 lead, and although in the second half the forwards again were right on top, and the backs ran with more purpose, this score was not improved until 12 minutes before full-time.

In this last 12 minutes.' backs and forwards played superb football. Especially delightful was the hand-to-hand passing of the forwards, all of whom backed up splendidly. The heavy intermittent showers experienced in Westport in the last week continued until 11 p.m. on Friday, but the players awoke yesterday to find a gloriously fine morning. An inspection of the ground proved that earlier fears of slush were unfounded. Apart from one or two soft patches, it was quite firm. Just before the game it started to rain lightly, but before half-time the sun broke through and the rain ceased. The teams were:—

Canterbury.—K Brown; R. M. Smith. C. A. McDonald. G. McCone hie; S. K. Henderson, R. D Hoskin; M. F. Whitta; H. C. Burry; K Tremaine, S. F. Hill, R. Cochrane, D J. Graham; R. Hockley. D. Young.

Henderson suffered a slight leg injury half-way through the first spell, and Hill sent him from the field Hoskin moved out to second five-eighths, and B. Watt came into first five-eighths. In the second half. Tremain had to leave the field with a shoulder injury, and was replaced on the side of the scrum by E. Hem. Buller.—K. Clayworth; G. Allan. M White. M. Geddes; B. Wood. J HalsaU: R. Vaile; G. Anderson; O. Nahr, W. Duncan. J. Cockfield, G Hendrickson: C. Alley. R. Pratt. J Shaw. Mr J. B. Hughes gave a particularly fine exhibition of refereeing Line-outs Dominated Against the Canterbury pack. Buller had little in the way of an answer. Cochrane, Tremain and Hill dominated the line-outs and Hill, on a roving commission, was particularly effective at No. 7. He and Cochrane combined splendidly, with Hill acting as dummy half, and with all jumping and binding effectively, Whitta was fed constantly and well. The hand-to-hand passing by the Canterbury forwards was a feature of the play. Together they drove through, using this method, and once out in the open linked up with shert passes. The rucking also was first-class, particularly in the second spell. Burry, at No. 8, played a very tight game, and he was concerned in many of the short passing rushes. He and Graham each had a turn at No 8 in the line-out. Having his first game for Canterbury, Tremain achieved profininence with his speed off the side of the scrum and his fast following up. Hockley. Le Lievre. Cochrane. Young. Hill and Hem were buried tn the tight play when this was demanded, and they were a dynamic force in the short passing rushes. Young won several tight heads, one of which allowed Watt to kick a leisurely field goal. Lacked Experience The Buller forwards, although lacking the Canterbury pack's experience and weight, fought on doggedly. Cockfield and Duncan jumped well in the and they had some small measure of success. Both were also prominent in the tight. Anderson, a veteran in Buller football, has slowed down considerably. and although he covered quite a lot of ground on defence, he was ineffectual at No. 8 in the line-outs. Nahr. Pratt, and Shaw did not let up until the final whistle. The Canterbury backs, given untold opportunities, only occasionally looked a formidable attacking force in the first half. Part of the trouble steemed from the floating passes of Whitta, and much to cross-field running. This was particularly so after Henderson left the field. There were occasions, also, when Watt took Wbitta’s passes practically at a standstill. Hoskin Outstanding All the line moved much better In the second spell. Whitta’s passes

had more speed through the air. Watt ran resolutely, and Hoskin, at second five-eighths, was as outstanding there as he was at first fiveeighths His determined running allowed him to break through several times, and his backing up was first class.

McDonald suffered quite a lot at the hands of White, who tackled really well. but. given a little more room, he exploited gaps to the limit. Smith, also, was well marked by Geddes, and was not impressive in the first half He outwitted Geddes several times in the second spell however, by coming in to make the extra man in the line. This stratagem worked particularly well when Smith took a reverse pass from Watt and side-stepped his wav through the opposition to link up with his forwards.

McConchie had few chances, but could not be faulted, and Brown was safe at full-back. His goal kicking was excellent.

The outstanding Buller back was undoubtedly Clay worth. He had a very difficult time, but not once did he falter or put a foot wrong. His efforts cost Canterbury many points. Other Buller backs to impress were the half-back, Vaile, a very competent exponent of the dive pass, and Allan, an enterprising wing. The Play

Allan nearly scored when he kicked the ball through over the Canterbury line, but in diving for it he knocked it on. Clayworth and Henderson missed shots at goal After 18 minutes. Henderson broke through nicely and McConchie scored by the posts. Henderson converted.

Just before half-time, Brown kicked a penalty goal from close to the sideline. There was no further score until 28 minutes had passed in

From near their ow)i twenty-five, the Canterbury backs began a passing movement after Smith had come into the line. Hoskin broke through and sent McDonald on a 50-yard run to the line.

Two minutes later. Smith again came into the line and took a reverse pass from Watt. He linked up with the forwards, and after a splendid passing rush Hockley scored well out. Brown converted. With four minutes left. Young won a ti ? ht head under the posts, and Watt took his time about kicking a field goal.

Lower Grades Senior Reserve.—Christchurch 17, Linwood 6; Marist S. University B 5; Technical Old Boys 17, University A 6; High School Old. Boys 3, Kaiapoi 3. i . Junior A.—Merivale A 9, Sunny-side-Spreydon 3; Christchurch 11. New Brighton S; High School Old Boys beat University B by default. Junior B.—Marist 10. University C 0; Lyttelton 9. Albion 8; Sydenham 17. Merivale 3. Under 20.—St. Bede’s 37. Sydenham 3; Sunnyside-Spreydon 15, Christs College 0; St. Andrew's 17, University B 0; Boys’ High School 6. University A 0; Marist 6, Christchurch 0; Christ’s College beat University B by default.

Third Grade.—Marist 6, Christchurch 3; Teachers' College 13, High School Old Boys 8; R.N.Z.A.F. beat University C by default; University A beat University by default; Technical Old Boys beat University C by default.

Fourth Grade.—Burnside 12, Lyttelton 3; Sumner 11, Teachers’ College 9; Teachers’ College beat Christchurch by default.

Secondary Schools.—Boys' High School A 8, Rangiora High School 0; St. Bede's 19. Cashmere High School 0; Linwood High School 14, Xavier 5; West High School 14. Papanui Hign School 9; Technical College 8, Boys’ Hioh T3Q ’ J

Under 18.—Merivale 25, High School Old Boys 3; Marist 10, Linwood 6; Sydenham 12, New Brighton 6; Christchurch A beat Christchurch Maoris by default.

Under 17.—High School Old Boys A 5, Linwood 0; Merivale 19, Marist 0; High School Old Boys B 17. Papanui High School Old Boys 3. Under 16A.—High School Ola Boys, A 9, Linwood A 8; Merivale 9, Sunny-side-Spreydon 3; Christchurch 11, Shirley Boys’ High School A 3; Sunnyside-Spreydon beat Marist B by default.

Under 16B.—Technical College a, Lyttelton 0; Papanui High School Old Boys 3, Riccarton High School 0; Bell as t 25, Marist B 0; Shirley Boys’ High School B 6, Linwood B 3. Under Bst 71b.—Marist A 16, Albion 8; Sunnyside-Spreydon 6, Sydenham 0; Merivale 11, Shirley Boys’ High School B 3; Linwood 22, Marist B 3.

Under 7st 71b A.—Marist A 24, Merivale A 0; Linwood A 3, New Brighton 0; Shirley Boys’ High School A 3, Kaiapoi 3. Under 7st 71b B.—Burnside A 25, Sydenham 3; Sunnyside-Spreydon 22. Christchurch B 6; Shirley Boys’ High School B 25, Merivale B 0; Linwood B beat Technical Old BOys by default

Under 6st 71b A.—Marist 11. Albion 9; Hornby 8, Linwood 8; Shirley Boys’ High School 15, Sydenham 0: Belfast 19, Msri.'aie 0.

UndA- fet 71b B.— Technical Old Boys 25, Cathedral Grammar 0; Lyttelton 20, Merivale B 0; Linwood B 3, Marist B 0; Sunnyside-Spreydon 9. Christchurch 0.

Under 6st A.—Christchurch A 17, Shirley Boys High School 0; Marist A 3, New Brighton 0; Sydenham A 25, Sydenham B 0; Sunnyside-Sprey-don A 6. Merivale A 6; Tecnnicai Old Boys 13. Linwood A 11.

Under 6st B.—Kaiapoi 25, Marist B 0; Hornby 14, Burnside 3; Merivale B 6. Bryndwr Marist 3; SunnysideSpreydon B 8. Christchurch B 8; Linwood B 12, DaUington Marist 0

Under sst 71b A.—Sydenham A 24. Merivale A 0; Albion A 14. Riccarton Marist 0; Marist 5. New Brighton 3. Christchurch A 18, Linwood A 6; Hornby 9, Sunnyside-Spreydon 5 Under sst 71b B.—Belfast 18. Bryndwr Marist 0; Technical Old Boys 23, Sydenham B 0; DaUington Marist 9, St. Mary’s 0; Bumside A 6. Linwood B 3.

Under sst 71b C.—Addington Maiist 21. Burnside C 0; Merivale B 17 Burnside B 0; Sumner 9, Christchurch B 0; Sockburn Marist beat Cathedral Grammar by default. Under sst A.—Albion A 3, Sydenham A 0; Technical Old Boys A 0, Marist A 0; Riccarton Marist 3, Linwood A 3; Merivale A 3, Kaiapoi 0 New Brighton A 18, Christchurch A 0; Sunnyside-Spreydon A 6, Burnside A 3.

Under sst B.—Lyttelton A 21. Sumner 0; Hornby A 12. Sunnyside-Sprey-don 80. .

Under sst C-—Albion B 3. Linwood U Cathedral Grammar 21. New Brighton C 0; Burnside B is, Merivale C 0: Burnside C 12, Addington Marist 0; Christchurch B 6 Lytteiton B 0: Sydenham C 25, Hornby B u 5 S *.. D ~Burnside D 12. Honiby C 0: Merivale D 21. St. Mary s 3; Linwood C 12. Cathedral Grammar °“* Boys c 91 Christ -