RUGBY Shield Holder Beaten 19-6, By Canterbury

Press, Volume C, Issue 29609, 4 September 1961, Page 16

RUGBY Shield Holder Beaten 19-6, By Canterbury

. The Canterbury Rugby team retained its unbeaten record this season when it defeated Auckland, the Ranfurly Shield holder, by 19 points to 6 in a hard and often dour game at Lancaster Park on Saturday. Play was in the forwards for much of the game, and although there was some good open play by the backs, it did not stand comparison with the tremendous struggle up front.

Although the score was against it at half-time Auckland had slightly the better of the first spell, but after the change-over Canterbury dominated the game for all but the last 10 minutes when Auckland came back violently, but unsuccessfully, in an attempt to score.

Canterbury scored three tries, two penalty goals and two conversions to two penalty goals and while Canterbury deserved its win the score did not do justice to Auckland’s very good performance.

The teams were:— Canterbury: W. F. McCormick: P. J. Morrissey, S. K. Henderson, B Weenink; B. A. Watt, A. T. Orme; M. F. WhiSa; T. Moynihan; D. J. Graham, R. Abed, A. J. Stewart, K. R. Tremaine; J. Le lievre, D. Young, M. W. Alien.

Auckland.—M. C. Cormack; J. H. Sibun, P. F. Little, D. W. McKay; M. H. Herewini, A. H. Clarke; R. Doige; L. W Fell; W. J. Nathan. B. Thomas, K. E. Barry. R. H. Graham; BL L. White, J. Murphy, W. J. Whineray. With both packs art tempting to subdue the other there was a great dead of hectic and untidy mauling at times, but both sets of forwards played with such unrelenting vigour that this was hardily surprising. The Canterbury forwards who overtopped the Auckland men by inches in the line-out play, a strong feature of Canterbury's game in recent matches, were surprisingly unsuccessful in securing possession and Auoktand's territorial advantage in the first spell was brought about by its success -in this department. Here the Auckland players, notably Barry and Thomas, were very astute and ths half-back, Doidige, a replacement for D. M. Connor, who did not play because of injury, was able to give his outside backs a clean and fast service. The Auckland backs seemed to have great scoring potential, and although they did their best to cash in on the labours of their forwards they were never able to score a try. Side-steps, reverse passes and other weapons of attack came into their schemes of things, especially in the first spell and though they seldom promised fulfilment because of the excellent defence, the willingness and enterprise were there. Formidable Defence

The Canterbury backs, with less of tihe ball, were more pedestrian, but at times they were very formidable. They found the Auckland defence quite a problem, for the opposing backs and the loose forwards gave them very close attention.

The Auckland captain, Graham, lost no time in moving from the side of the scrum and until he left the field with a back injury he was quite the best of the Auckfend trio. A vigorous, yet cool p'ayer, he gave Whrtta, the Canterbury halfback, some bad moments and this was reflected in the often hasty passing and kicking of the five-eign>th«.

The Canterbury backs certainly knew how to tackle, with Wartit and Henderson proving a disrupting force in the centre. Watt was opposed by Herewini, a nimble-footed player with a reputation for brilliance, but Herewini, although he tried hard enough was never allowed to break in set movements and this robbed the Auckland three-quarters of the scope they have enjoyed in .recent games. Connor Missed

Though academic speculation, it is permissible to suggest that Auckland suffered Its maj.'c bow before the teams took the field. It was announced that Connor, who p’ayed so well for the All Blacks in the three tes*s against France recently, had a deep bniire and would not play. His replacement. Doidge, threw out a very goto! pass and was quick as well, but he did not have the attacking ability of Connor who would have revelled in the favourable conditions made by the Auckland pack in the first spell The Canterbury flankers. Trermto and Graham, had much to do with curbin® Cisrke and Herewini and core the spectators were treated to the sight of Graham bowling the Auckland centre. Little, over after the full-back bad made the owrotap

Whether attacking or covering always d ; d the right *#r:ng and sWtoueh not even his greatest admirers wouM ever oanefder him for toe role of full-back It most be said that he save spetoators and bis team every confidence ''hen be moved back for 10 mtootes when McCormick, the full-back left the field to have several e*itches inserted in a cut above his eye. Effective Short-passing

Tremain was at his best in the hand-to-hand rushes which the Canterbury for. wards used so effectively in the second spell. The defence found this manoeuvre a difficult one to counter and Tremain. in particular, a muscular handful It was Tre-

main Who paved the way for Weenink‘s tjy and although he was injured in the process he was soon back in the game, as vigorous and as hard as ever.

When the Canterbury forwards were going forward they were a treat to watch. They improved their catching in the line-outs in the second half, but they still trailed their opponents. But, at times, after Auckland secured possession, the Auckland backs would be subdued .and Stewart, Abel, Le bievre and Allen would charge upfield in a body. Whether it was the support of a tightly-welded pack, or his own skill, or perhaps a combination of both. Young secured 11 tight heads. Young’s opponent, Murphy, has never been beaten in his shield encounters this year, so Young’s feat is all the more creditable.

Stewart was not so successful in the department where he was expected to be at his best—the line-cuts—but this could easily be forgotten after his very good all-round display. In the first few minutes of the . game he showed up at the head of a foot rush which nearly succeeded in breaching the line. And thereafter, on a number ■of occasions, especially in the second spell, he would burst through his opponents in dashes which called for the stoutest of tackles. Abel, too, was ferocious, although not as nimble as Stewart, and when he was tackled he seemed to take a long time to topple. Once, when he was thrusting for the line he was taken low, but he must have covered about 10 yards before he finally crashed. But, by then, he had passed and a try nearly resulted. Stewart and Abel were, indeed, a valuable pair at lock. Spectacular Backs

Of the Canterbury backs, Whdtta, after a mediocre start, played with some skill. Orme, outside him, made two enterprising dashes late in the second spell and Watt and Henderson, in addition to defending with determination, were tricky on attack. For once in his colourful career McCormick came off second best when while making uofield with the ball

he shouldered an opponent. •It is McCormick’s would-be tackler who usually falls by the wayside, but this time McCormick needed attention. But this made no difference to the full-‘back’s play, and later he scored another of his spectacular tries which left in his wake a number of surprised and hurt defenders. Mention must be made of the startling speed of McKay, the Auckland and All Black left wing. When he received the ball at the end of a movement he made off as if the rest of the backs had been running at half pace. His acceleration was remarkable and but for the cover defence of Moynihan and Graham he would have scored at least one try. Towards the end of the game, Nathan, the Auckland flanker, showed something of his class in two or three runs. It was he who mainly inspired the Auckland forwards in their do-or-die effort in the closing stages. THE PLAY Auckland was penalised twice in the first few minutes, but Henderson missed with both kicks. Canterbury held the initiative, until McKay ran round Weenink. made ground down the right wing, and centrekicked. McCormick made a remarkable save. Sibun also missed twice with penalty kicks and the standard of the tackling prevented the back movements from getting far. McCormick had to leave the field to have an eyebrow stitched and a few minutes later the Auckland captain, R. Graham, was injured, and retired. Halfway through the spell Sibun kicked a penalty goal from in front, and Henderson kicked a good one for Canterbury. When Canterbury attacked again, Abel burst through, Whitta made ground on the left, and returned the ball to a swarm of Canterbury forwards, Le Llevre scoring a try. Henderson converted from well out.

McKay again showed exceptional speed in a sharp dash, and Clarke made a beautiful, straight run through the defence. He was checked just short of the line, but Canterbury was penalised for a late tackle and Sibun kicked another easy goal. At half-time Canterbury led by 8 points to 6.

Canterbury again found it bard to win many line-outs in the second spell, but the forwards otherwise began to exert a definite superiority. After eight minutes, Graham started a movement. Tremain made ground, Moynihan took it further, and Weenink, only inches inside the touch-line, stepped infield to complete a good rush with a try. Henderson converted from just Inside the touchline.

Orme made a pretty break, and sent the ball back to his forwards, but a forward pass spoiled the move. The tempo of the forward struggle stepped up sharply, and McCormick was required to make some difficult saves. Just before the end, Auckland was penalised, and apparently an Auckland player said something untoward, for the penalty was taken 10 yards further upfieM, and Henderson had the easiest of kicks.

Auckland was attacking strongly in the late stages of the match, but there was no further scoring.

The referee was Mr R. W Pbizack'ea. '