Canterbury Beats Otago In Universities’ Match

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29250, 7 July 1960, Page 16

Canterbury Beats Otago In Universities’ Match

Canterbury University beat Otago University by 30 points to 8 in the annual match for the Straker-Smith Shield at • Christchurch yesterday. Although both teams were without some players, the match was full of entertainment. Both sets of backs threw the ball about ft every opportunity, and it was Canterbury’s better penetration .which led to most of its tries. More speed in the backs and power in the forwards enabled Canterbury to dictate play for most of the match, but in the last 15 minutes Otago pressed consistently without reward. The teams were:—

Otago University.—L. Williams; K. Eglington, W. R. Sparkes, C. Knox; R. G. Pirrett, W. W. Hikaka; S. Thompson; R. A. Holloway; B. Parkes, M. C. Meikle, D. N. x Campbell, E. Berghan; J. C. Lindsay, B. S. Cooke, D. Mauger. Canterbury University.—B. M. J. Dineen; J. D. Pask, D. C. Leary, B. M. Weenink; B. J. Conradson. R. D. Hoskin; M. R. Taiaroa; T. H. Moynihan; R. S. Wells, C. R. Hockley, M. L. Walker, W. R. Strang;, K. G. Doig, J. N. Creighton, N. A. Hobbs.

At full-back for Otago, Williams played a fine game, and his linekicking was excellent. Early in the match he missed the Canterbury wing, Pask, when the latter made

one of his crashing runs, but on later occasions he lowered Pask without error. Knox was the better of the visiting wings, but he did not play in the second half. Hikaka's Initiative Spakers was adequate at centre for Otago, and scored his side’s only try after a good movement. He beat Leary several times. Hikaka, at first five-eighths, was the spearhead of the Otago attack, and, although he was inclined to run across the field, he showed plenty of Initiative in his play. Thompson sent out excellent passes at halfback, without varying his play enough to cause Canterbury serious trouble. Parkes was the best of the Otago forwards in the loose, but here they were outplayed by Strang and Wells, of the Canterbury team. Campbell played well in the lineouts, and the team made good use of a dummy-half in getting the ball back to Thompson, and giving him plenty of protection. Lindsay and Mauger played well in the tight. Berghan, playing on the wing in the second half, defended well. Dineen was not as good as his opposing full-back, although he showed up on attack on accasions. Pask was better on attack than on defence, and his two tries came after typical barging runs to the comer. Weenink was at his best in movements on the blind side. Basis of Attacks Conradson was a good link at second five-eighths, and Hoskin closer in was the basis of most of his side’s attacking movements. Moving at full speed when he took the ball, he was always a threat On one occasion he and Weenink gave a pretty display on the blind side, Hoskin, running 20 yards with the ball, transferring to Weenink, and taking the ball back again at the twenty-five yard line to score. All this was accomplished within two yards of the side-line. Taiaroa varied his play brilliantly. Moynihan played well on attack and defence for Canterbury, but Strang was the best loose forward in the match. Always up with the play, he took part in many good pasing rushes, and was always in position to fall on the ball when Otago broke through. Wells was also good in the loose, and did a good job in the line-outs. Hockley. Hobbs and Doig were hard toilers in the tight play, and Creighton had th© edge on his opposite number in the hooking. Tries for Canterbury University were scored by Pask (two), Weenink, Hoskin, Taiaroa, Strang e and Doig. Dineen converted three and kicked a penalty goal. For Otago University Parkes scored a try and Hikaka converted this and kicked a penalty goal, this being a fine effort from inside his own half.