CANTERBURY B WINS BALL, LOSES MATCH

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31761, 19 August 1968, Page 20

CANTERBURY B WINS BALL, LOSES MATCH

Seldom has a Canterbury Rugby team achieved so little with m much pesMtelan at Ite command a, the provincial ■ team In Its sama against Mid-Canterbury at Lancaster Park Oval on Saturday. Although the Canterbury forwards won twice as much ball as their opponents, Mid-Canter-bury won the match, 11-8, after loading M at half-time. Too much individnlism by the Canterbury backs and the dogged defence of Mid-Canter-bury sealed the home side's fate. When the Canterbury backs tried a combined movement their lack of understanding was patently obvious snd the outcome was inevitable. It was surprising that the Canterbury forwards did not seise the Initiative and try some thrusts of their own; they had plenty of opportunities to develop the drive from the lineout. Instead, they chose to feed the ball conscientiously to their backs—and then race across field to the ruck which invariably followed. Mid-Canterbury had good cause to rejoice, for it was the team's first win of the season. But it was not a very convincing performance. The forwards showed little of the seal they bad ■ displayed against Canterbury A earlier in the season, and the backs missed the inspiring presence of O. D. Bruce at first five-eighths. For Mid-Canterbury, W. 3. Whelan and M. 3. Hanham scored tries, and J. A. Sampson kicked a penalty goal and

a conversion. S. Bowater scored a try for Canterbury B and S. C. M. Murray kicked a penalty goal and a conversion. The teams wore:— MID - J. Whelan; 3. W. Greenslade, 4. C. Goodwin, B. V. Sampson; 3. A. Sampson. R. Scott; B. J. Molloy; M. J. Hanham (captain); J. Prendergast, L. S. Smith, L. D. Neutze. L. W. Newbigan; R. D. Sloper. G. Prendergast, G. W. R. Harrison. R. S. Gawons replaced Newbigan in the twentyeighth minute of the first half. CAHTRRgURY S. C. M. Murray; J. W. Redward, F. A. Fowler, R. D. Pierce; S. Bowater, T. L. Mehrtens; M. T. Brown; G. Rennie; N. G. Cornelius (captain), H. H. McDonald. D. Wynne, S. G. Cron; E. R. Leask, M. 3. Sheehan, D. W. G. Scott. The small crowd of about SM people had little to enthuse over. There were a few angry cries when the Canterbury inside backs kicked the ball ahead hopefully; there should have been more whan the same players ran into the dense forest of Mid-Canterbury defenders. Brown, Mehrtens and Bowater are all able and attractive players, but although each of thorn made several penetrating solo runs they failed as a unit to provide a springboard for successful beet attacks.

Slew Service The Sampson brothers, Greenslade and A. Goodwin wore capable attacking backs for MidCanterbury, but they suffered from a slow service and. consequently, their opportunities were limited.

unexpectedly, the Mid-Canter-bury forwards were eoundly beaten in the llne-oute. Splendid jumping by McDonald and Wynne enabled Canterbury to win the ball 31 timea to MidCanterbury’s two in the first half, and although the vlaltlng forwards did better in the «econd half Canterbury maintained its clear superiority In possession by winning a greater supply of ball from scrums and rucks.

Mid-Canterbury put its meagre possession to better use than

ite rival. Hanham acored a good try from a melee after a lineout and Whelan proved too bo his sldd’s "secret weapon” when, having failed lamentably as a goal-kicker, he ran strongly on the blind aide of a scrum to bump off Redward and sprint past Brown and Murray for a spectacular try. It was not until seven minutes from the end that the considerable Individual talents of Brown, Mehrtens and Bowater were combined in their side’s best Interests. A swift pass by Brown after a ruck, an inside break by Mehrtens and a swerving run by Bowater brought Canterbury its only try.

Mopes Raised Murray raised the hopes of the home team when be kicked a penalty goal from 50yd in the first halt, but he was unsuccessful on two occasions from shorter distances in the second half.

The Mid-Canterbury forwards had an excellent leader in Hanham, but although he received devoted support, principally from Neutze and Sloper. the pack's lack of success at winning the ball was disturbing. A good deal of the team's efforts of necessity was devoted to defence and this was a rolo the side filled with credit. The covering of the loose forwards was commendable and Greenslade, the right wing, accomplished several copybook tackles of bis opposite, Fierce. As well as their good play In the line-outs, Wynne and McDonald were also prominent in broken play. Cornelius was proficient at winning the ball tn racks and mauls, and Rennie and Seett supported him steadfastly. Sheehan took the only tight head of the game. canterbury's three-quarters did not distinguish themselves, but this was partly due to the capers cut by the men inside them. Mehrtens and Bowater broke past the first line of defence a number of times, but the concentrated nature of the covering usually prevented them passing the ball to a supporting player. The referee was Mr A. R. Taylor, who awarded eight penalties to Canterbury and six to Mid-Canterbury.