Rollicking End To Rugby Season

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30557, 28 September 1964, Page 16

Rollicking End To Rugby Season

The curtain came down on the Rugby season at Lancaster Park on Saturday with a small but appreciative audience wanting more. Canterbury B and Buller, if perhaps the equivalent of a stock company, put on a gay and rollicking performance. Canterbury B scored seven of the 10 tries and won by 36 points to 13.

It was vastly entertaining and by and large it was good football. There was a rather ready acceptance of the dummy on occasions by both sides, and in patches the tackling was distinctly sketchy, but some lovely tries were scored, because both sets of backs, but particularly the Canterbury players, had speed, handled well, and produced constructive ideas.

This Buller team, on a very wet ground at New Plymouth, distinguished itself in its Ranfurly Shield challenge against Taranaki earlier in the season. But on Saturday, with the ground hard and fast, it was not really a match for Canterbury B, which included many young players of particular promise. Both sides tried to run the ball at every opportunity, and there were many attractive movements as well as much honest endeavour in the forwards. O. Nahr, T. Hawes and J. Halsall gave Buller some advantage in the line-outs, but Canterbury B’s backs made better use of the ball when they had it. Fine Passing Movements

But there were many occasions when one side or the other switched play prettily, using backs and forwards in fine passing movements. The teams were:— Buller: R. Dawe; P. Vaughan, W Forsyth, G. Allan; J. Corby, L.' Halsall: M. Geddes; J. Halsall: T. Hawes, J. Cockfield, O. Nahr, J. Burt; J. Smith, W. Boswell, F. Rogers. Canterbury: B. G. Waterreus: N. O’Brien, R. J. Vivian, A. G. Steele; K. Gimblett, T. Mehrtens; L. Taiaroa; G. Cron; F. Meyer, K. McDonald, M. Perkins, P. W. Lee; J. S. Baird, D. Hill, B. Mason.

Speed And Quick Eye The outstanding individual was the Canterbury B half-back, Taiaroa, whose service was quick and sure, and whose running was quite sensationally, successful. A former All Black watching the game said Taiaroa ran like P. B. Vincent. There was certainly the same deceptive speed, the same quick eye for an opening. Outside him Mehrtens moved extremely well, and his defeat of an opponent set up some fine opportunities further out. Nearly all the other backs played well, with Steele showing speed and a good swerve occasionally. McDonald and Perkins were Canterbury B’s best line-out forwards, and the captain. Hill, again showed excellent form in every phase of the forward play. Cron was also prominent often.

Buller, seizing oh opponent’s errors, scored three tries and they were all well worth watching. Corby, if not the most graceful of runners, was decidedly effective, and ail the backs showed remarkable eagerness to back up. Nahr Two Tries Buller’s backs were without one of Canterbury B’s failings —inability or unwillingness to get swiftly back into position

after a break down. In the forwards, J. Halsall played solidly and Nahr was exceptionally good. He seemed to be everywhere, and his speed and resource, as well as good handling, brought him two tries. Playing against a strong northerly wind, Canterbury B led, 15-10, at half-time, and never looked likely to be beaten. For the winning team, tries were scored by Taiaroa (2), Gimblett (2), Mehrtens, McDonald and Vivian. G. Waterreus converted six and kicked a penalty goal. Nahr (2) and Forsyth scored tries for Buller, Dawe converting two.

the referee of a match of very few penalties was Mr A. R. Taylor.