University A Wins Dull Match

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30764, 31 May 1965, Page 16

University A Wins Dull Match

UNIVERSITY A 15: D. C. Leary, five penalty goals. NEW BRIGHTON 12: G. A. Stanley, three penalty goals: D. Beardsley, a dropped goal. The All Blacks of 1960 were criticised for a brand of play in which the principle was not to commit errors inside halfway. Play in the University ANew Brighton game at Rugby Park represented an extension of this policy by 50yds. The essence of both teams' I tactics was safety first. It was a close-to-the-chest. dour struggle, with the spoils going I to the team making the least j number of mistakes and possessI ing the best goal-kicker. Uni-

versity A won on both counts. It was penalised 13 times to New Brighton’s 15 and Leary kicked five goals from eight attempts (one a drop-kick). Stanley’s percentage was slightly lower: three goals from seven attempts. The game consisted mainly of wary skirmishing by the forwards: the backs were used as support elements in the dreary scheme of things. The number of concerted back movements in the 80 minutes could be counted on the fingers of one hand. The gifted try-scorer R. J. Vivian, on University’s right wing, had to wait until the 58th minute before he received the ball. By then his joints must have been a little stiff; he took a few stuttering steps, threw a wretched pass to Leary, who dropped the ball, and the movement ground to a halt.

The University forwards obtained 60 per cent of possession from all sources but B. R. Prestidge, the first five-eighths, did not persist in passing after the centre. P. A. Hutchinson, had been heavily tackled two or three times. Instead he challenged and beat his marker four times but his solo bursts were nullified by an encircling cover defence.

New Brighton made some efforts to use its backs as an attacking force but they lacked penetration in set play. There were two or three good runs after rucks but the superior pace of the defending University backs was decisive.

After each isolated instance of enterprise the game fell back into drabness. The players became so used to waiting for the other side to infringe the rules that when a genuine attacking opportunity appeared it was treated with suspicion. Three minutes from the end Prestidge was still dropping for goal with his backs poised, forlornly, outside him.

Leary's punting and potting lacked Its usual gloss but his place kicking was all that his side could have desired. M. R. Dunne and G. G. Loveridge were chiefly responsible for University’s spectacular success in the line-outs and Creighton won the game’s only two tight heads. R Mahan in the loose and D. Brooker in the tight were diligent forwards.

As so often happens. Stanley and Penrose were New Brighton’s most prominent players although Penrose, who was playing as a flanker, lacked his usual mobility. R. Claxton was good va.lue in the tight, B. March defended well and Beardsley looked promising the few times he ran with the bail. He marred his performance with persistent head-high tackling. New Brighton led 9-3 at halftime and 9-6 with 20 minutes of play remaining. Then Leary kicked three goals in eight minutes to put University comfortably in front. Stanley goaled again six minutes from time but missed twice from long distances in the last two minutes Referee: Mr J. D. McKeown.