McCORMICK KICKS 19 POINTS 12 Min. Scoring Rush By Canterbury

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31764, 22 August 1968, Page 17

McCORMICK KICKS 19 POINTS 12 Min. Scoring Rush By Canterbury

“The Press" Special Service

HAMILTON. An inspired burst which brought 16 points in 12 minutes in the early stages of the second half set Canterbury on the path to a splendid, 31-12, victory against Waikato in the first match of the team’s northern tour, at Rugby Park, Hamilton, yesterday.

On the ground where D. B. Clarke made his mark as a goal-kicker of great renown, W. F. McCormick showed himself to be a worthy successor by kicking 19 points for Canterbury—five penalty goals and two conversions.

It was Canterbury’s biggest win at Hamilton, and the heaviest defeat the Waikato side has suffered for some time.

Waikato is in the throes of team-build-ing, and has yet to win a match this season.

The home side, however, held Canterbury reasonably well in the first half. The score was 9-9 at half-time and Waikato had gained the only try. For the rest of the match, however. Canterbury called the tune. The forwards lifted

their game appreciably, forcing Waikato into errors. Canterbury was quick to exploit these opportunities, and the excellent backing-up by both backs and forwards forced Waikato into a defensive role from which there was little relief.

For Canterbury, B. A. Watt, I. A. Kirkpatrick, P. K. Hatchwell and A McLellan scored tries, McCormick converting two and kicking five penalties. G. R. Skudder scored Waikato’s try, and A. Bell kicked three penalty goals. The match was played on a dry ground in fine weather before a crowd of about 5700. Example Showed Canterbury’s four current All Blacks, McCormick, Kirkpatrick, A. E. Hopkinson and W. D. Cottrell showed outstanding form and their fellow players followed their example with wholehearted zest

Waikato, a competent but unspectacular side, stuck to its task commendably, but was overcome by the greater polish and drive of the visiting team. In the first half Canterbury distressingly showed its old failing—a lack of cohesiveness in the rueks and mauls. Too much was left to Kirkpatrick when the ball was loose, and Waikato profited from this lack of concerted endeavour by Canterbury in broken play. This image was quickly dispelled when the second half began. The Canterbury forwards tore into the rucks with such determination that the ball was raked back with a speed and consistency which spelt the beginning of the end for Waikato.

The business-like Canterbury backs put this possession to good use and Waikato’s defence was stretched to the limit in a desperate attempt to stop the determined assaults on its line.

Kirkpatrick was a towering figure for Canterbury in all phases of play, and Hopkinson was a mighty man in the rucks and when the forwards drove from the Une-out J. F. Burns won a good deal of ball with his well-timed jumping in the line-outs, while Kirkpatrick controlled possession at No. 7.

L. Dickson, the 19-year-old half-back, made his first game for Canterbury this season a memorable one. Always alert, and often enterprising, Dickson gave his backs a flying start with his splendid, long passes.

Cottrell, a sharp runner and smooth handler, was the best of the backs, and H. Joseph, the young centre, made a good impression with bis strong running. He made two fine breaks and emulated Cottrell with his backing-up McCormick’s 19 points earned him a special place in the game, but his all-round play was just as worthy of praise. As expected, his defensive play was of a high order, and it was a heartening sign for his side that he kicked several goals from near the side-line. In his three previous games for Canterbury this season be had scored only 10 points.

Waikato made a worthwhile contribution to an entertaining game, and in the first half its backs looked distinctly dangerous. Skudder, a wing, scored a good try after a concerted attack by eluding Watt and wriggling out of a tackle by McCormick. But in the second half the Waikato forwards could not match the rampaging Canterbury pack and the threat posed by the home team’s backs quickly subsided.