RUGBY Canterbury Makes Late Burst To Beat Buller

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29907, 22 August 1962, Page 19

RUGBY Canterbury Makes Late Burst To Beat Buller

I he Canterbury Rugby team, playing its fifth game in less than two weeks, beat Buller by 11 points to nil at Rugby Park yesterday. The match seldom rose above average, and it was not until the last 15 minutes that Canterbury, after holding a tenuous three-point lead for most of the game, showed anything like its real form. L ntil then, the forwards, in spite of some strenuous efforts, were not able to achieve much and the backs, with one or two exceptions, were stopped short time and again by a determined defence.

The teams:— Canterbury: W. F. McCormick; W. Birtwistle, R. C. Moreton, P. J. Morrissey; B. A. Watt, A. F. Orme; B. A. Coulter; T. H. Moynihan; M. J. Murtagh, J. A. Francis, R. S. Abel, D. J. Graham; J. M. be Lievre, D. Young, M. W. Allen. Buller: R. Dawe; B. Stack, R. Nelson, J. McArthur; W. Forsyth, L. Halsall; M. Geddes; J. Halsall. B. Caldwell, O. Nahr, W. Duncan, P. Hawes. J. Shaw, B. Roche W Boswell. Mr L. West was the referee The Canterbury eight at times seemed afflicted by a strange lassitude and the Buller pack was often able to call the tune. The loose trio of Murtagh, Graham and Moynihan, who have been formidable in recent games, possessed about half of their usual striking power in attack although their defensive qualities could not be faulted. Backs Well Fed The forwards certainly gave their backs enough of the ball from the scrums and rucks, end in the last quarter from the lineouts, but perhaps they could have been a little more selfish. The backs, harassed by opponents who stood at fiat as possible without incurring penalties, ran and passed with little design. An anxiety to feed the wings played into the hands of the Buller backs who nipped attacks in the bud, sometimes behind the advantage line. It was a game. too. when nothing seemed to go right for Canterbury, while the Buller players could do little wrong But the Buller side, which has h d a string of defeats thia season, must be given credit for a sterling performance. The Canterbury team was the best which could be fielded, but the reputation of six All Blacks merely inspired the visitors to greater efforts The Builer pack was a hard dour unit with some lively payers and the backs, if lacking in maturity and polish.

tackled like demons and ran as if their lives depended on

Canterburv was at its best when the forwards were driving through, but this did not happen often enough. There was an occasional attempt to burst through from the line-outs, but the catching for much of the game was too untidy for success and the rucks achieved little e'se than tiresome heavin’ and shoving It was not until the last quarter. when things were desperate. that the pack tore through.

setting Buller back on its heels. Buller had no answer to the thrusts of Graham. Abel and company, and the Canterbury backs had the time and the opportunity to go for the gaps. Graham at this stage stepped up his performance, often catchng the Buller half-back and five-eighths in possession, and from the ensuing rucks the Canterbury backs were able to show some of their paces.

Two of the best movements of the game came at this stage. The first was when Birtwistle scored in the corner after all the backs, including McCormick, had handled. Soon after Orme made a lovely break at halfway. and when Moreton innassed to him again on the twenty-five. Orme beat the defence in a series of side-steps which seemed ridiculously easy Difficult to Step Birtwistle showed that given that extra yard he is very difficult to stop on the outside gap. His first try was the result of his impressive pace, which Involved a straight run to the corner. His side-step sometimes got him into trouble, as he had a tendency to slow down after his second step infield.

Morrissey, the new All Black, had few chances, and Moreton, it centre, never impressed until the last 15 minutes when he ran strongly. Watt, inside him. never looked happy, but O me showed penetration at first fiveeighths. McCormick missed (our fairly easy shots at goal, but was as competent as ever on defence

Abel played one of his best games for Canterbury, especially in the second half, when he made several determined bursts Graham, too, was another who shone when the side was on top at the end. Young secured at least a dozen tight heads, and did some yeoman work in the tight. The Buller lock, Duncan, was the best of his pack, and Shaw and Caldwell, a lively flanker, were often prominent. Geddes, the Buller half-back. twice showed the Canterbury backs a clean pair of heels, and once he was unlucky to miss scoring after a 40-vard run. The whole Buller backline tackled stoutly, although there was too much of a tendency to stand flat in Canterbury territory. Birtwistle (2) and Orme scored tries for Canterbury. McCormick converted a try.