LEAGUE Canterbury Outplayed By West Coast Team

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29205, 16 May 1960, Page 9

LEAGUE Canterbury Outplayed By West Coast Team

The great advantage gained by winning possession of the ball from the scrums was fully demonstrated in the first representative Rugby League game of the season played at the Show Grounds on Saturday. From the opening stages of the game West Coast proved its superiority in this respect. The teams were.—

West Coast: C. Waters; N. Tiller, R. Griffiths, A. Mooney; G. Kennedy, G. Menzies; G. Skinner; B. Gardiner, T. Kilkelly, C. McMasters, W. McLennan, A. Walton, J. Butterfield. Waters and McMasters were replaced during the game by L. McNichol and R. Hart. Canterbury: A. Smith; P. White, R. Turton, D. Stephens; W. Jones. P. Smith; K. Roberts; M. Cooke, R. Lewis, M. Mohi, K. Pearce, K. Peters, and D. Kerr. The first half was very evenly contested and Canterbury led at half-time by five points to three, mainly through ability to take advantage of the many mistakes of the Coast side. Coast’s mistakes of the first half were almost completely missing in the second, and enjoying a big share of the ball, it turned on power football which at times had the Canterbury defence completely rattled. All the Coast backs handled well and ran with a real purpose in the second spell, and they had the opposition confused in attempts to cut off scoring movements. The Coast pack was a very efficient unit with a very experienced front row giving the side great service by winning such a big share of the ball. A. Walton proved himself a class hooker, but no doubt the great experience of J. Butterfield and W. McLennan, the props, was 'of considerable help to him. Butterfield was the general of the pack and directed the attack with fine judgment. His well-judged breaks were always supported by T. Kilkelly and B. Gardiner, both of whom were in fine form. Tried Hard

Canterbury's forwards tried hard throughout. but they definitely lacked finish. They defended strongly, but breaks into the open lacked proper support. This was most noticeable when M. Cooke, the star of the Canterbury side, made several breaks only to find himself completely unsupported. Cooke was the outstanding forward on the ground and gave a magnificent all-round display. K Pearce and M.. Mohi were in all the tightest of play and were the most impressive of the rest of the pack. With a feast of the ball the Coast half-back, G. Skinner, was able to dictate the run of the play and he did this in a very efficient manner. His passing was always crisp and sure and his well judged breaks from the base of the s rum gained big stretches of ground. At first five-eighths, G. Menzies again showed all his undoubted ability. His immaculate handling and great acceleration put real snap into the attack. With such a fine service from Inside G. Kennedy, at second five-eighths, and R. Griffiths, at centre, received every opportunity to produce their speed and hard running. Kennedy showed a big improvement on previous appearances in Christchurch and now looks a plaver of real class. A replacement at half-time, the full-back, L. McNichol, showed fine judgment when he joined the backline and was rewarded with two excellent tries.

The wingers, G. Tiller and A. Mooney did not receive a great many opportunities through the play being generally switched back infield, but both ran strongly when given the chance. Not Up to Form

The Canterbury backline was very disappointing and few of the players played anywhere up to club form. Exceptions were K. Roberts, the half-back, and’P. Smith, at first five-eighths. On the few occasions when their forwards did win possession these two combined splendidly and worked hard to get the rest of the line in motion. Smith in particular had a successful first appearance in representative football. He several times found a gap, but his breaks failed through lack of support. Tries for West Coast were scored by Kennedy (2), Menzies, Skinner, and McNichol (3). Kennedy kicked a conversion and a penalty goal. Tiller kicked a conversion. Cooke scored a try for Canterbury. Smith converted the try and kicked a penalty goal. The referee was Mr G. Pilcher (Wellington).