Dour, Even Oval Game

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31084, 13 June 1966, Page 16

Dour, Even Oval Game

CHRISTCHURCH 14: B. A. Watt a try; D. A. Arnold a goal from a mark; G. Waterreus two penalty goals, and a conversion.

UNIVERSITY B 6: P. Gaffikin two penalty goals.

This main match on Lancaster Park Oval was a disappointment, although the weather was perfect, and the ground in particularly good order. Christchurch has long been a very attractive team, but on Saturday it looked rather raddled and weary. There were flashes of form, but some promising movements faltered and failed unexpectedly, and the energetic clash between the packs, srrtllrlng over into determined efforts to stifle opposing inside backs, led to many duN periods, and to the award of no fewer than 28 penalties. Only one try was scored, and it came in the

final seconds of the match. However, it was a very even struggle, with the result in doubt until Watt scored his try. But as a spectacle it fell well below expectations. The swift seizure of chances by D. Arnold, some strong runs, by D. Tindill outside him, and the brilliance of the University B left wing, N. O’Brien, gave the game its brighter colours. It was a pity, for University B and for the spectators, that O’Brien’s chances were sc limited. He was given the bailJ with room to move only once, but went round his man al tremendous speed, stepped inside two more tackles and getting the ball back to his forwards very nearly gave his side a try. Once, in a moment of desperate defence, he came in very fast from the far wing and saved spectacularly. Arnold played a vital role in Christchurch’s attacks. He ran hard, looked for chances, tackled well, and In general looked like a form player. The Christchurch half-back, K. King, played a very useful and very plucky game. R. Barber, after throwing away a try with a bad pass in the early minutes, was often prominent with his eagerness to get to the ball, and R Tuhuru made some fine line-out takes.

The University B backs did not often look dangerous, but the forwards, with Gaffikin and G. Meredith doing well in the liine-outs, had P. Duncan and G. Sinclair making effective use of their speed and W. Blair was a rugged prop. The referee was Mr A. R. Taylor.