Linwood Wins Rugby League Title

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31767, 26 August 1968, Page 10

Linwood Wins Rugby League Title

Linwood, its players combining most effectively on defence to stifle Papanui’s attacking resources, won the 1968 Canterbury Rugby league major championship, 9-7, after 10 minutes of extra time in one of the most thrilling club games seen at the Show Grounds for some years.

Excitement and tension, which had built up throughout the second half as Linwood held a slender lead, reached its peak when A. W. Thompson scored an outstanding individual try for Papanui after 72 minutes.

In the next few minutes each team threw everything into attack, attempting to work upfield to set up field goal opportunities. Twice Papanui came close to scoring in the corner, but neither team was able to break the other’s stubborn defence. In the 10 minutes of extra time the field goal fever increased; 14 attempts were made during the SO minutes, none of them successful. J. G. Hales, who had put Linwood in the grand final with three field goals against Addington in the preliminary final, had eight attempts, but mostly he was standing too close to the approaching defence; three of his kicks were charged down and the others were hurried as he was bustled. Then, after 87 minutes, J. G. Clarke was penalised for obstructing G. J. Rosanowski. Rosanowski, after much concentration, was successful with the 30-yard kick, delighting the 2000 spectators. Lin-

wood, led by its captaincoach, J. A. Flanagan, was able to celebrate its first title win since 1963 and its first success against Papanui for two seasons. FINE DEFENCE The Linwood defence was responsible for the team’s climb from fourth in the minor premiership to victory in the grand final. In the preliminary final and grand final Linwood scored only one try but its more favoured opponents, Addington and Papanui were able only to match this as their players were knocked to the ground before possession could be put to good use.

Although the hookers, K. R. Blackler (Papanui)., and W. P. Noonan, shared the scrums, 24-24—Blackler led 23-20, before extra time—Linwood used the ball to greater purpose and had more possession because of its eagerness to drop on the loose ball when Papanui lost It in tackles.

The two tries were very simL. lar. L. Bone crossed for Linwood after 28 minutes when he dashed through a gap and ran 30 yards when Linwood attacked on the blind side from a play-the-ball. Rosanowski kicked two goals from five attempts. Thompson, who had been restrained throughout the game, also ran 30 yards after surging through a gap in the Linwood three-quarters. C. R. Schwass, also from five attempts, kicked one goal. Gallant Fack

The result was a triumph for Flanagan and his gallant forward pack. Possession was distributed by Flanagan and W. P. Noonan, B. V. Williams and E. D. Williams invariably made ground from the rucks, driving into Papanui to take play upfield.

Rosanowski made one brilliant break of nearly 50 yards, and he and R. A. Ward tackled diligently. Papanui tried to move the ball round from the rucks.

but its moves were chopped off as Flanagan led his players forward to smother the ball-car-rier.

Thompson, marked by the most effective defence he has encountered this season, was kept in check until his fine try near the end of regular time. D. J. Alsop ran well from the rucks before suffering an injury which forced him to retire during the second half. K. G. Walker and M. Chapman had their moments but most of their attempts to take play into Linwood territory ended in a hard tackle by two or more Linwood forwards. Blackler, the smallest forward on , the field, matched the bigger players with his courageous, consistent tackling and gave his backs an equal share of the ball.

The Papanui loose forward, R. S. Walker, tried io clear the rucks—and the Linwood defence —with long passes but was frustrated in his efforts to send away the three-quarters by the strength of the cover-defence and Linwood’s refusal to give Papanui any room in which to mount attacks.

Good Tackling The small scrum-halves, Bone and B. Allen, had an interesting tussle and even they were caught up in the tense atmosphere that led to a few brief skirmishes. Allen made one or two breaks from the scrum-base and both players tackled well. R. K. Haffenden, W. Taylor, and R. Auld had outstanding games in the Linwood backline, Haffenden’s fine taking of Papanui kicks, his ability to evade approaching attackers, and a fine tackle of Clarke after the Papanui stand-off half had intercepted a pass and a try had appeared certain, won him the “player of the week’’ award. Auld impressed most in the centres although, of the > four, he was the only player without representative* experience. Taylor, the wing, beat K. Graske several times and one run of more than 50 yards was stopped only a few yards from the try-line. Sound Games Hales and W. J. Godfrey had sound games but J. Watts had quite a few problems against M. R. Napier, the only Papanui player to make ground whenever he received the ball and who could have turned the match in Papanui’s favour with more opportunities. The Papanui backs were restrained and unable to combine efficiently, having to be content with keeping their opponents in check. The referee (Mr P. Yaxley) awarded Papanui 10 penalties and Linwood nine.