Linwood deserved its league title

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31769, 28 August 1968, Page 15

Linwood deserved its league title

T INWOOD’S greater appreelation of the basic fundamentals of Rugby league—sure handling and passing, better positional play and team-work, and determination on defence—earned it the 1968 Canterbury major championship after it had been overshadowed by Papanul and Addington during the minor premiership. It was not until Linwood beat Marist-Western Sub-

urbs In the minor semi-final that It came into consideration as a possible challenger for the title. But even then was expected to give Addington only ‘token resistance in the preliminary final as a prelude to an

Addington-Papanui climax to the season.

During the minor premiership Linwood lost five of its 14 games and drew two others to finish fourth. Three losses in the last four minor premiership games did not enhance its prospects but the captain-coach, J. A. Flanagan, was able to bring the team to its peak for the series, of finals. W. P. Noonan provided Linwood with an overwhelming advantage in the scrums and J. G. Hales was a tremendous success with field goals and penalties against Addington. In the grand final the position was reversed, with Noonan and K. R. Blackler sharing possession and Hales missing with eight attempted field goals. It was left to Flanagan to lead his players on defence to stifle Papanui’s attacking resources. The young Linwood backs, J. Watts, R. K. Haffenden, L. Bone, W. Taylor, Hales and R. Auld, developed tremendously during the season and obviously benefited from the guidance of the experienced W. J. Godfrey and Flanagan’s coaching. Noonan, G. J. Rosanowski whose consistent goal-kick-ing made him the leading scorer in club football, and Flanagan had successful seasons in the Linwood pack and E. D. Williams, B. V. Williams and R. A. Ward responded to their example

to bustle Papanui into defeat in the grand final. Throughout the season Papanui played most attractive football and it provided the leading try-scorer, J. M Toki (21), and the leading forward scorer, A. W. Thompson (13). However, it could not break Linwood’s defence in , the vital game and had to be content with the runner-up position. Addington could well feel that circumstances have not been in its favour since the new championship system was introduced last season. It raced away with the minor premiership in 1967 and shared the title with Papanui this year, only to falter during the play-offs.

Marist-Western Suburbs, Hornby, and Eastern Suburbs scored victories over Linwood during the season but none was consistent. Hornby’s fall from power after four successive title wins could be attributed to retirements and the reluctance of some players to rise above senior second division. Hornby and Linwood changed positions on last season's major championship placings, Hornby moving from first to sixth to replace Linwood. Sydenham, which was matched only by Eastern Suburbs in the number of injuries received by its players, struggled along, beating only Kaiapoi in the minor premiership. Kaiapoi improved sharply towards the end of the season and scored its only win when it beat Sydenham in the Gore Cup minor semi-final.