Two Enterprising Teams

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30794, 5 July 1965, Page 16

Two Enterprising Teams

CHRISTCHURCH U: B A. Watt (2) and W. M Birtwistle tries; K. Nicholas a conver. sion.

BELFAST 8: K. Morgan, 0. Ross tries; R. Inwood a conver sion.

A sparkling rally by Belfast to score its eight points in the last six minutes fittingly capped a game full of enterprise and wholehearted endeavour. The bail was greasy and much of the ground was sticky but neither side neglected an oppor tunity to attack.

When the mud made passing movements ineffective the ball was put to the ground and pro gross was maintained with clever footwork. It was a game

that d:d not deserve to be a curtain-raiser. Chrisichurch had more polish than its opponents and the good work of its backs was sup piemented by some effective thrusts launched from the back of the line out by R. M. Wai nohu. But Belfast lost nothing n comparison with Christchurch on the score of enterprise; this was the chief ingredient in both its tries The impetus of the attacks depended largely on the first fiveeighths, Watt, and G. Simpkin, and both did their work admit ably. Watt was remarkably quick and precise in everything he did and Simpkin crowned a good display with a brilliant run which led to Morgan’s try. Birtwistle and D. A. Arnold were of very good value tn broken play and the Belfast three-quarters. K. Price and Morgan played constructively

But the best all-round display came from R. Morris, the Christchurch left-wing, whose speed on attack was matched, by his soundness on defence. Wainohu was at his robust best in the Christchurch forwards and D. Quested was a valuable lieutenant. A. Leslie,' B. Francis and N. ; Kearns moved the ball ahead effectively, but, as often as not, Inwood, Ross and I. Meredith saw that it was moved back again, - a It was a' tribute to Christchurch’s defence that it should hold its eager opponent scoreless until the last six minutes Belfast, too, did well to yield only three tries to Christ, church’s strong double-barrelled attack. But it was the spirit in which the game was played-that enabled the teams to surmount the difficult playing conditions Referee;. Mr J. M. WoM.