Lack Of Finish

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31117, 21 July 1966, Page 17

Lack Of Finish

A penalty by Rutherford after five minutes capped some good work by the forwards but it was another 13 minutes before the Lions scored again evert though they had looked most dangerous. A loose pass by Lewis bobbled out to Weston who kicked ahead. Savage seized on the ball and after breaking through a tackle passed to Bresnihan who scored near the corner. Dixon, given the kick after Dawe had missed an easy penalty, kicked a 30-yard goal to narrow the margin to three points. There was then some strong running by Mcßride, Camp-bell-Lamerton and Lamont, and the backs, too, were spritely, but lack of finish cost the Lions much-needed points. BEGAN NEAT TRY

Gibson, who had faced some awkward moments when taking Lewis’s passes, started a neat try when he darted back in-field from a tap penalty. Campbell - Lamerton loomed up next to him and passed to Bresnihan, who went over for his second try, to make the score 9-3. Two tries within five minutes just after half-time suggested that the Lions were going to romp through the combined team. Gibson sped through on the blindside and then Lamont completed the best movement of the day. Weston caught the ball near his own twenty-five and raced across field. Drawing two defenders, he passed to Watkins who easily beat Gray, outpaced the cover defence, and then passed in to Lamont

when challenged by Dawe. Away went Lamont and scored near the comer. Eight minutes later Lamont scored again after selling an unusual dummy to Dawe. He had Watkins just behind him and turned in to pass to him. But seeing Dawe immediately move over to cover the wing, Lamont ducked in field and ran another 40 yards for a try, which Rutherford converted. Combined retaliated immediately. McCrae ran through a seemingly lackadaisical defence, Forsyth widened the gap and Gray scored. For 15 minutes Combined hammered away in the loose and Stack and McAra nearly scored tries. But the Lions had the final word when Gibson scored near the posts after Lamont had made a break. Rutherford’s conversion made the final score, 25-6. The referee, Mr L. C. Walker (South Canterbury), awarded 11 penalties to the Lions and eight to Combined.