Suburbs Forwards Excel In Loose

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31660, 22 April 1968, Page 14

Suburbs Forwards Excel In Loose

SUBURBS 12: M. Blackwell a try; i W. D. Cottrell two dropped ’ goals and D. Biddick a penalty. LINWOOD 4: W. F. McCormick j three penalty goals. Far removed from the smooth and efficient combination which won the senior championship last season, Linwood lost to Suburbs when Biddick kicked a penalty for off-side a minute before full time. Although Linwood did not display the form of last season it certainly was no less tenacious and determined, and seemed to have gained an honourable draw when McCormick kicked a penalty a few minutes before full time to make the score 9-9. Suburbs played splendidly. Its forwards were livelier than those of Linwood and more vigorous in the loose, driving rushes. Its backs also functioned more smoothly. L. J. Davies gave a superb service to D. Moore, but the All Black, W. D. Cottrell, at second five-eighths, was the key man in the Suburbs backs. His cool efficiency, rugged tackling and quickness to seize opportunities made him a constant threat to Linwood. His two dropped goals, one while still in a tackle, were admirably executed. Linwood lost the match because its backs made too many handling mistakes. As soon as the ball went to ground there were eager Suburbs players to toe it ahead, and with McCormick far too often standing in

the back-line there was some scrambling by Linwood to cover mistakes. Linwood suffered from lack of height in the line-outs and this ; caused players to tap the ball back. Often the half-back, C. R. Tasker, was overwhelmed by Suburbs forwards as he tried to control some ill-directed possession from the line-out. The Suburbs pack gave a first class display in the loose. W. Moultrie and V. Baker, perhaps, were the most conspicuous in the loose, but generally they were not much ahead of the other six forwards. M. Moran, a lot burlier this season, played particularly well in the tight and the line-outs. Late in the second half, the Linwood forwards dominated the match with some telling bursts in the loose but they could not sustain the pressure and mistakes by the backs 'allowed Suburbs, mainly through Davis’s adroit kicking, to take play back into the Linwood twenty-five. McCormick was a steady fullback and his goal kicking was very good. However, he failed to find touch on a few occasions and had a frustrating time trying to enter the back-line. R. Cocks played well on the left wing but Linwood sadly missed the first five-eighths, N. J. Stokes, whose cool skill was a vital factor in their play last season. I. Mallard was a lively loose forward for Linwood and G. Storey did some good driving work. Referee: Mr A. Guernsey.