DRIVE WAS MISSING

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31120, 25 July 1966, Page 3

DRIVE WAS MISSING

The Canterbury forwards played well but the sturdy Lions never allowed them to generate the fire and drive which they produced against Wellington.

The Canterbury backs had some good moments. Cottrell ran very determinedly, McCormick often chugged into the back-line but twice when he ■seemed to have created an opening, Arnold dropped the .ball.

Davis proved that he Is the 'second best half-back in New Zealand with another fine display. His passing was long and accurate, he ran well and his kicking, if at times too often aimed at the touch-line, saved his forwards some weary moments. SPEED WASTED

Birtwistle made one sidestepping run after McCormick had gone on the blind-side but otherwise had few chances on attack. Probably he is still wondering why fate chose him to be the medium through which the Lions try was scored, after he has so often scored winning tries for CanterburyOn the other wing. Steel, also, had no chances on attack. It was odd that with all the kicking that was done why the ball was very seldom kicked ahead, for Steel or

Birtwistle to use their great speed. Arnold was alert on defence

but dropped vital passes. However, inside him Cottrell was most impressive. In his first run he charged straight at D. Watkins and bumped him so hard that Watkins needed medical attention. In loose play Cottrell often made sharp breaks but he was never able to escape the covering loose forwards to widen the gap. SUPERB COVERING Davis and Watt combined well, but although Watt did many things well, he could be charged with kicking too much. McCormick had some falls from grace when he failed to find touch but otherwise he gave his usual reliable display. He marked courageously, kicked quite well, guided two penalties from two attempts and was dangerous on attack. The unobtrusively efficient Cornelius played exceptionally well on the side of the scrum. He covered superbly, was quick to the loose ball and was a very good leader. Wyllie and Penrose, the other loose forwards, followed Cornelius faithfully and zealously but, like Cornelius, they were never able to upset Weston or Watkins. Banks and Francis performed well in the line-outs: they outjumped Price and Mc-

: Bride and locked a very solid scrum. > Hopkinson provided some

of the most interesting moments of the match with his 78minute feud with Norris. The first scrum saw them clash and they continued their private war throughout the rest of the game. Most of the troubles in the scrum stemmed from these two and the referee was continually remonstrating with them.

Apart from that issue, Hopkinson played well. He was rugged in the loose and his line-out play materially helped Banks and Francis. Tanner was another volatile prop and he and Price earned the first roar from the crowd when they clashed physically in the opening minute of the game. Creighton hooked quickly and did much valuable work in the loose. The Lions played 10-man Rugby, with the halves, Weston and Young being an elongnated adjunct of the scrum and line-out. Both kicked regularly, usually to gain ground, for it was rarely that any tactical kicking was used. It was a pity that the ball hardly ever reached little Watkins. Twice in broken play he made exciting runs, but a heavy bump did seem to unsettle him. When he moved

into first five-eighths 13 minutes before the end of the match, the Lions suddenly looked a far better team. The forwards became rejuvenated and Watkins probing angled kicks upset Canterbury’s defensive pattern. Comparing Watkins and Weston at fly-half was like comparing the professional with the amateur.

McFadyean, tackled well but made one mistake on attack when he passed the ball too early to S. J. Watkins when he had broken through. However, a broken nose caused by a stiff-arm tackle may have upset his confidence. S. J. Watkins and Bebb defended well, with Watkins in particular doing fine work on cover defence. The full-back, Wilson, was in superb form. He misjudged high kicks twice but otherwise his play was nearly faultless. He tackled well, his line kicking was long and he only missed touch once. His goal kicking, however, was below standard. The pack gave a grand exhibition; Telfer was a good leader and he got support from the other seven forwards. Mcßride made some punishing runs in the loose and Price jumped high in the line-outs and showed some speed in the loose.