Birtwistle Try Inspiration

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31054, 9 May 1966, Page 18

Birtwistle Try Inspiration

CHRISTCHURCH IT: W. M. Birtwistle, N. Kearns, G. Walkinshaw .tries; G. Waterreus kicked two penalties and a conversion.

UNIVERSITY A 9: R. Mahan a try; D. C. Leary kicked a penalty and B. R. Prestldge kicked a field goal.

A bright start by Christchurch promised some high scoring when it ran quickly to a 6-0 lead but for 40 minutes, which covered most of the first half and 10 minutes of the second, Christchurch rarely looked a championship winner. Its backline was disjointed: its pack was buffeted by the University eight. And when University took a 9-6 lead it seemed that Christchurch would suffer its first loss of the season.

But, as so often has happened, Birtwistle swung the game back to Christchurch with a superb try. Given the ball lust outside his own twentyfive, Birtwistle left Leary standing with a gigantic side-step, darted inside two of the Cover defenders, just managed to shrug himself out of a clutching tackle and then raced away to score underneath the posts. The conversion by Waterreus,

which gave Christchurch an 11-9 lead, was all that was needed to provide some Inspiration for a rather jaded Christchurch pack. R. Walnohu, N. Kearns and S. Olsen began to show some purpose and the Christchurch backs to show some of the ability expected from them. Quick switches of play bemused the University defence and a penalty to Waterreus and a good try by Walklnshaw was reward for some intelligent Rugby by Christchurch. But undoubtedly Biirtwlette’s try led the Christchurch resurgence: one wonders what will happen to Christchurch when he Is taken away by representative commitments for his brilliance has won Christchurch its last two games. HAD POOR DAYS The All Blacks, B. A. Watt and D. A. Arnold, had poor days. Watt, even though suffering from a poor service from J. King, was overshadowed by B. R. Prestldge whose neat kicking and incisive running made him the best back of the match Arnold had some poor moments and was lucky that some of his indiscretions were overlooked bv the referee. Leary played his usual polished game but his kicking was astray. He missed an easy penalty when a Christchurch player was penalised for tackling P. Black, the University wing, as Black was racing for a kick by Prestldge with the Christchurch line wide open. The question of a penalty try exercised the minds of most spectators. The score was then 14-9.

R. Mahan was a vigorous loose forward for University and 3. N. Creighton, R. Field and D. Booker played well. R. Wainohu played capably for Christchurch and received good support from Olsen, Kearns and B Francis. Prestldge played superbly In the backs for University, but his efforts met with little response from the University midfield backs. Referee: Mr M. R. Barnett.