RUGBY LEAGUE Narrow Win By Canterbury Keeps League Cup Intact

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30231, 9 September 1963, Page 10

RUGBY LEAGUE Narrow Win By Canterbury Keeps League Cup Intact

(From Our Own Reporter) GREYMOUTH, September 8. Canterbury retained the Northern Union Cup, symbol of provincial Rugby League supremacy, by defeating West Coast, 7-5, at Wingham Park, Greymouth, today. West Coast showed a great improvement on its showing in the first match against Canterbury.

In spite of the wet condikicms and showers, both teams attempted to throw the ball about and few passes were dropped. The greasy bell did mot help the kickers, however.

The match, as a spectacle, was not brilliant but because of the closeness at the scoring it was always interesting. Each team had its opportunities to score, but the conditions acted as an extra defence.

West Coast gained a 19-11 majority in the scrums, and the penalities favoured Canterbury, 8-7. West Coast held a territorial advantage throughout the game, but

Canterbury had the stronger defence.

The tackling of the local team was suspect and too often the Canterbury forwards, particularly M. Mohi and T. L. Bisman, ware able to run through unhindered. The teams were:— Canterbury.—K. Harding: P White. B. Langton. C. Preece; J. Bray; J. A. Bond, G. Clarke; M. L. Cooke: M. Mohi. R. H. Turton, T. L. Bisman, J. H. Fisher, G. Cooper. West Coast.— B. Mann; A. Tibbles, G. Fletcher. C. A. Hibbs, N. Naim; M. Casserley. G. Ware; C. Clark; T. T. Killelly, K. Dixon; C. L. McMaster. F. Kennedy. J. R. Butterfield. The West Coast backs played better than the Canterbury set, with Hibbs and Fletcher show-

ing out on attack. Casserley, at fly-half, was inclined to hold

on too long and Mann tended to be caught out of position at times.

The best of the Canterbury backs was Clarke, the halfback. He was tidy around the scrum and safe on defence. Clarke was also the only inside back on either side to show any penetration, and he made several deceptive runs. Of the outside backs. Preece and White made the best of their few opportunities.

Forwards Evenly Matched The forward packs were very evently matched, with Kilkelly and Butterfield (West Coast) and Bisman, Mohi and Cooper (Canterbury) the most dangerous. Kilkelly made many good breaks from around the rucks and showed, in his last match for West Coast, before going to Australia, that he still possesses a good turn of speed. Butterfield directed play well and distributed the ball with skill.

Mohi was the best; forward on the field and gained much ground with penetrating runs up the centre of the field. His combination with Bisman was very impressive and often worried the suspect defence. Of the other forwards, Cooke proved a good general and Cooper did nothing wrong.

Preece scored for Canterbury following a break by Turton. Mohi kicked two penalties. Clark scored a try for West Coast after McMaster had broken through. Hibbs kicked a conversion. Australian Bovs Beat Auckland (N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, September 8. The touring New South Wales Rugby Lieague schoolboy team defeated Auckland, 13-10, in a bright, open match at Carlaw Park on Saturday. New South Wales made the most of its forward strength in the second half after Auckland had led 10-3 in the first 25 minutes.