RUGBY Canterbury Beats Counties In Fast, Attacking Game

Press, Volume C, Issue 29621, 18 September 1961, Page 14

RUGBY Canterbury Beats Counties In Fast, Attacking Game

Those who like to see plenty of scoring had full value for their money at Lancaster Park on Saturday when the Canterbury Rugby team beat the touring Counties side by 26 points to 18.

It was a fast and furious exhibition of attacking Rugby, not always highly skilful, but played in a spirit and with a will which made the game easily the most attractive of the season.

The game turned a wild somersault in the first 10 minutes when three spectacular tries were scored, one by Canterbury and two by Counties, and at intervals thereafter five more tries were scored in the most satisfying ways.

The whole operation was carried out by both teams with a combination of verve and stamina. At times things had a positively Barbarian look about them, especially in the first spell, and though audacity brought from time to time a crop of mistakes it was none the less, for all that, a pleasing display of sustained offensive purpose. The game began so explosively that Canterbury was five points ahead in as many minutes and the wise heads at the park were already visualising another easy victory for Canterbury. But with their forwards and backs making it a combined operation Counties carried out such a blitz in the next 20 minutes as would have broken the morale of a less resilient team than Canterbury. In that period Counties scored two outstanding tries and their skilful full-back. Whatarau, kicked a brilliant field goal from the half-way mark. It was an impressive display of attacking football and Canterbury appeared to offer little or nothing in its own defence. Indeed the score could have been greater, for Counties again scored a try which had the defence completely beaten but a pass, which was only just forward, brought play back for a scrum and in the resulting melee Canterbury cleared upfield and so kept the score to reasonable proportions. Whatarau Injured

Then it was Canterbury’s turn and first Henderson and then Tremain scored tries which matched those of Counties for enterprise. When the scores were level at 13 points each Counties had the misfortune to lose Whatarau, who injured his shoulder in a gallant attempt to prevent Tremain from scoring in the comer. There is no doubt that Whatarau, fast, elusive and with the ability above most to create dangerous attacking opportunities, injected penetrative bite into the Counties line and it was noticeable that, when he left the field, some of the punch in the backs went with him.

The teams were:— Counties.—E. Whatarau; R. R. Cossey, M. Cossey, K. Hori; O. Nepia, L. Learning; A. A. T. Edgar; G. Hayes; R. Randall. R. Brewer, "S. F. Hill, O. Campbell; I. Rasmussen, D. O’Shea, W. Joyce. Canterbury.—W. F. McCormick; P. J. Morrissey, S. K. Henderson, B. Weenink; ». Arnold, B. A. Watt; M. F. Whitta; T. D. Moynihan; D. J. Graham. A. .1. Stewart, R. S. Abel, K. R. Tremain; K. J. O’Shannessy, D. Young, J. M. Le Llevre. The first half ended with the score still level at 13 points each and although there was enough back plav to satisfy those proponents of the attacking game the second spell was largely an affair of forwards slugging away with barely diminished vigour, with the battle up front swinging in Canterbury’s favour. Canterbury won because of its forwards. Tactically they had a sounder sense of covering and marking and it was their concernted efforts in both ttie line-outs and loose which turned the game in their favour. By their efforts in the rucks and scrums they assisted their backs, also. In the second half Counties found they needed every ounce of weight and their loose forwards had to keep their heads down.

All of the Canterbury pack played well, but what a fine d splay it was of Tremain’s. His two tries called for great strength and his second, which was awarded under the posts, was scored with three defenders clinging desperately to him. In the lineouts. too, he proved most valuable and his position towards the end of the line suited his catching and breaking. Stewart, who has improved greatly in the last few matches, matched wits with Hill in the line-out’ and he did remarkably well against such a wily opponent. In the second spell Stewart burst through the Counties line without ceremony and his charges sometimes meant a gain of some 10 or 20 yards for his side. Refnsed to be Bustled Graham, the Canterbury captain. refused to be bustled and, as expected, covered with his usual skill. O’Shannessy. this time at prop, showed how versatile he is and Abel, a lock scored a glorious try. ending in a dive which would surelv have won him a place at the last Olympics. Unfortunately, play was called back to a scrurr some 3o yards back for an early infringement. The Canterbury backs had their moment of glory when Henderson scored a try after the five-eighths. Watt and Arnold. had caught the defence on the wrong foot with a delightful scissors movement. It was easily Canterbury’s best back movement of the game, for although the players contributed to the speed of the game they never looked like breaching the defence, try as they did. Arnold, at second five-eighths, was adequate, but nothing more, and the three-quarters found themselves opposed by plavers who were just as tenacious. Henderson was in grand kicking form and scored 14 points from a try. a penalty goal, and four conversions His total this season is 45 points. McCormick at full-back, again gave an engaging display of the craft his position demands. His line kicking, which

has often lacked length, was both long and accurate, and his tackling was, of course, beyond reproach. The Counties pack, under the redoubtable leadership of Hill, a Canterbury representative of many years, performed with great distinction, especially in the first spell, and it was the efforts of HUI. Campbell. Hayes, and others which inspired the Canterbury pack to such noble efforts. Counties gave away some weight in the forwards, but made up for this with some nicely controlled fury and at times even shoved the Canterbury eight in the tight. Counties' young hooker, O'Dea, gave nothing away in the scrums, and until the last few minutes of the game led Young by two tight heads to one. But Young managed to even the score with a tight head just before time. Campbell was very sprightly off the side of the scrum and gave Whitta. the Canterbury half-back a difficult time in the first spell. Counties' right wing, R. R. Cossey. was most impressive. His hard, thrusting runs set the defence many problems, and it was fortunate for Canterbury that Cossey's chances were more limited in the second spell. Generally, the Counties' backs looked more formidable than their opponents, with Edgar, the half-back, giving his outside backs a stream of long, swift passes.

The Play Three minutes after the start Morrissey made an excellent pick-up of a rolling ball after a clearing kick and, after drawing Whatarau, flicked a pass in to Watt, who scored. Henderson converted from close to the touchline.

Counties replied with two of the best tries seen at Lancaster Park this season. Whatarau came in to a back movement and this gave R. R. Cossey room in which to gather speed, swixtly changed direction, and confound the Canterbury defence. Whatarau converted. Then Whatarau ran with his backs again, and made a clean break down the right flank. He sent a pass infield, and when the ball came back to him he went over for a fine try. which he converted.

Henderson hit an upright with a good attempt at a penalty goal, but soon Canterbury was defending desperately. and Counties almost scored when McCormick's kick under pressure bounced off the posts infield. From a little inside halfway. Whatarau calmly dropkicked a penalty goal, so that after 16 minutes Counties led 13-3.

Counties attacked vigorously, and a forward pass cost a certain try. When Canterbury took play down-field, Graham came away from a line-out. but his pass to Morrissey went astray. Another Canterbury forward movement almost succeeded. Then the backs moved well. Arnold and Watt bringing off a scissors pass which put the defence on the wrong foot. Henderson turned infield and cut past several defenders to score a spectacular try, which he converted Just before half-time, Tremain scared after a determined 30-yard dash from a lineout. Whatarau was Injured in'

the tackle, and was replaced by D. Jones. The half-time score was 13-13. Tremain scored again five minutes after the interval. Counties had been under severe pressure, and when the Canterbury forwards bustled the defence. Tremain thrust through tackles to score near the posts. Henderson converted. . . Only flve minutes later, Counties drew level. After Hill had made much ground. Kandell went over in a flurry on the line. Jones converted. After 18 minutes Henderson kicked a good penalty goal. Several field goals were attempted by both sides, but a dropped pass after Counties had taken a tap kick in their own twenty-five brought Canterbury its final points. Watt was on the loose bail swiftly and was too quick for the defence to close on him. Henderson converted beautifully from the touchline. _ _ The referee was Mr R. O. McDowell.