GALLANT WANGANUI PACK Canterbury Flattered By Its 19-3 Win

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31770, 29 August 1968, Page 14

GALLANT WANGANUI PACK Canterbury Flattered By Its 19-3 Win

The Press’* Special Service

WANGANUI.

Canterbury was rather flattered by its 19-3 win over Wanganui in a representative Rugby match at Wanganui yesterday.

Wanganui fielded a makeshift team after the withdrawal of five key Waiouru Army players, and Canterbury was expected to win by a greater margin.

A light but extremely vigorous Wanganui pack rose magnificently to the occasion to contain the powerful Canterbury eight for two-thirds of the match and hinder the tourists at every turn.

Leading only 5-0 at halftime, and 8-0 17 minutes into the second half, Canterbury recovered in the final 20 minutes to score two more tries and win by a comfortable if unconvincing 16-point margin.

The Canterbury full-back, W. F. McCormick, missed only two shots at goal all afternoon.

Wanganui’s goal-kicker had equal opportunities, but R. B. Barrell was sufficiently astray with his long-range shots to prevent Wanganui closing the gap. The Canterbury pack excelled in the loose. Held by Wanganui in the tight, it turned to the open to make its mark. I. A. Kirkpatrick’s charging runs often opened huge gaps in the defence, but a back-line which displayed little real enterprise tailed to take full advantage of the breaks.

A lively A. McLellan was given superb protection from the line-outs and scrums, and L. J. Davis produced some wonderfully crisp passing. The first five-eighth, B. A. Watt, returning to the province which first gained him first-class honours 11 years ago, played heady Rugby and his elusiveness was justly rewarded with a stunning solo try in the final 10 minutes. A tight rein was kept on W. D. Cottrell at second five-

eighth, but the centre, H. J. Joseph, made full use of his only break of the day in a swift run to the corner flag right on half-time. The best of the Wanganui players were its forwards, A. O'Connell and S. Chase, and the half-back, N. Stewart.

Canterbury's points came from tries by Joseph, K. Tanner, and Watt McCormick kicked two penalty goals and two conversions.

Wanganui’s sole points came from a penalty goal by R. B. Barrell.