RUGBY CANTERBURY BEATS SOUTHLAND

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29911, 27 August 1962, Page 12

RUGBY CANTERBURY BEATS SOUTHLAND

22-3 Score In Mediocre Match

Canterbury improved its moderate record this season when it beat Southland by 22 points to 3 at Lancaster Park on Saturday, but it was a far from satisfying performance. Canterbury scored two goals from tries, a dropped goal, and three penalty goals, to a penalty goal.

The provinces have been rivals for more than 70 years, and only on three occasions has Canterbury won by more than 19 points. But comparisons with some of the great games of the past must be merely arithmetical, for both sides gave indifferent displays, and the 8000 spectators had little to enjoy save the hint of pageantry about a game played in brave sunshine on a firm, green field.

Canterbury certainly did not deserve the nine-point lead it held just after the interval, but the home team redeemed itself to some extent in this second spell. Canterbury scored 11 points in as many minutes at the start of the second half, and that resolved any doubts about the result of a match which had promised much but which, in the first half at least, had only the merit of being closely contested. In the closing stages Canterbury’s forwards were playing constructively. yet without the dash and drive expected of a good provincial pack. But it must certainly be conceded that they played well enough to win.

When the game began, there were firm indications that both sides wanted to keep the game moving and to use their backs. But a combination of circumstances converted the match into about 70 minutes of frustration and 10 of delight at individual skills. There were, in all, 95 line-outs, a figure which points to the untidy course of the game.

Line-out Success Southland had some early line-out successes, but when Canterbury settled down, A. J. Stewart, in particular, began to win possession and the Southland wings threw the ball in flat and fast more often than not; this led, very often, to another line-out. Even on attack, the Southland backs usually stood fairly shallow, possibly with the tactical kicking ability of W. R. Archer in mind. But Archer's display was undistinguished. and with Canterbury’s swift covering being the best feature of its game. Southland seldom looked like scoring a try. Another peculiarity about Southland's performance was the inability or unwillingness of one or two of the forwards to seek the ball in the rucks. Their vigorous kicking might have been designed to give Canterbury bruises, or the ball, or both.

The teams were:— SOUTHLAND: B. J. Cullen; J. G. Allison. W. J. Archer. G. Townsend; W. J. Lloyd. W. R. Archer; R. D. Hampton: A. J. Soper; R. A. Holloway. G. Coughlan. E. J. Hazlett, B. R. Hamilton; G. G. Spencer, J. Smeaton. R. J. Spencer. CANTERBURY: W. F. McCormick; D. C. Leary, Q. T. Tapsell, W. Birtwistle; D. A Arnold, B. A. Watt; B. A. Coulter; A. J. Stewart: T. H. Moynihan. M. W. Allen, R. S. Abel. M. J. Murtagh: C. R. Hockley. J. N. Creighton. J. M. Le Lievre. At half-time. J. R. Adams replaced Tapsell. Half-way through the second spell K. J. Borland replaced Hamilton. Errors by Both Mechanical errors by both teams, generally sound defence, and close marking all contributed to the lack of sparkle, but a particularly disquieting feature. from Canterbury's point of view, was the loss of excellent scoring chances. At least three times, after a break had been made and players on the outside were unmarked, the man in possession chose to turn infield, and the movements were smothered.

Canterbury has its Ranfurly Shield challenge in three weeks as its main target for the season; the exploitation of every opening will be vital. Auckland is unlikely to present as many as Southland did on Saturday. and Southland defended stubbornly. The Southland forwards had to give away half a stone a man, and they were neither as strong nor as proficient as the Canterbury pack. They tried hard enough, but they lacked vital drive, and they were without the impetus that Stewart gave some fine Canterbury forward rushes. Coughlan won some line-outs early in the game. Holloway, for a comparatively inexperienced player, was an effective flanker, and until he was injured. Hamilton kept a close hold on ■Watt Soper, the former All Black, covered efficiently and persistently. G. G. Spencer, one of the props, played with tremenedous vigour, but in the closing stages was involved in a succession of unseemly incidents with Canterbury players. The Southland backs had few opportunities but one who really distinguished himself was Townsend. In the inter-island match a few weeks ago Townsend, playing at centre, performed very indifferently, but on the right wing he gave a grand d.sp'.ay on Saturday. His speed and strength made him a distinct danser whenever he had the ball, which was not o*ten enough for the impartial spectator. He beat Leary badly more than once.

and from broken play made a couple of very strong bursts which threatened Canterbury. Stewart at No. 8 In the Canterbury pack, Stewart was almost larger than life. In his new position at No. 8. he was able to make some typically vigorous, crashing runs, he backed up eagerly, and he won important successes in the lineouts. Allen, after a very moderate first spell, found his best form and always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. At No. 7 in the line-out, his catching was more than useful. The others played soundly enough, but there was a suggestion of the mechanical about the Canterbury pack. Of the backs, only Arnold really distinguished himself. His perfect tackling twice saved tries when Townsend was in full flight, and his swift eye for an opening presented Canterbury with more chances than, perhaps, the team deserved. Arnold, at second five-eighths and then in the second spell at centre, made some strong thrusts, more of which should have produced positive rewards. Coulter's passes were usually good ones, but he was often rather fumbling and hesitant in getting the line moving. Watt, who suffered another leg injury in the first spell, carried on. but he was well watched and he never looked capable of sparking off anything exciting. Birtwistle on the right wing had no chances and Leary was

not a success, although his goal-kicking was distinctly useful. He had some comparatively easy positions, but his six goals in eight attempts gave Canterbury an impressive score.

McCormick, as ever, was willing to accept any sort of challenge, and he enjoyed another good day. Run Of Play Two strong bids for the corner by Townsend and drop-kicks by McCormick and W. R. Archer which narrowly missed the posts provided the only excite- 1 ment in the game’s drab opening exchanges. Few promising attacks were mounted in the first half and the first of Leary's three penalty goals and a finelyexecuted dropped goal by Watt —both scored in the last seven minutes of the half—were the only points on the board at toe interval.

Canterbury scored 11 points in as many minutes when play resumed. Leary kicked a penalty goal after three minutes; Arnold scored a smart try after a quick heel from a ruck by the Canterbury forwards three minutes later and Leary converted this and. after 11 minutes, kicked his third penalty goal to give Canterbury a 17-polnt lead. A dropped goal kicked from a penalty by the visiting fullback, Cullen, brought Southland its only points after 16 minutes. From 55yds out. the ball followed a low trajectory, hit the posts and bounced over. Six minutes from the end Canterbury set the seal on its win with a try beside the posts by Stewart. W. R. Archer dropped toe ball and Coulter cleverlycapitalised on toe error to send Stewart across the line. Learyconverted to make the final scores: Canterbury 22, Southland 3. Mr R. W. Phizacklea was the referee.