BULLER BEATEN IN BRIGHT GAME

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31773, 2 September 1968, Page 15

BULLER BEATEN IN BRIGHT GAME

Greater speed and polish carried Canterbury B to a 20-6 victory against Buller in a bright, enterprising game at Lancaster Park oval on Saturday.

There could not have been a better curtain-raiser to the inter-island game. Both teams played with whole-heated zest and’ the flowing movements contributed to a lively game. The Canterbury forwards gained a clear advantage in possession and the backs turned it to good advantage with fast and clever movements. Supplementary movements by the forwards added a further burden to Buller’s defensive task. The visiting side replied in kind, and the team s veteran second five-eighths and captain, W. N. Forsythe, was an inspiration to his fellow players with his constructive attacking play. Buller defended exceptionally well, but Canterbury’s use of the extra man in the back-line and its shrewd switches of play ultimately outflanked BuiH McDonald and D. Wynne gained a good deal of line-out ball for Canterbury and the

speed of the forwards to breakdowns enabled Canterbury to produce several good movements from secondary play. M. T. Brown, the captain and halfback, gave a quick and accurate service, and the other backs —particularly T. L. Mehrtens—ran purposefully. OUTSTANDING GAME The back-row forward. G. J. Rennie, played an outstanding game on attack for Canterbury, and S. G. Cron often showed up when play was going forward. The props, L. Adam and D. W. G. Scott, were of great value in the rucks and mauls, and Adam, a former Otago representative, displayed impressive mobility. Mehrtens was a most thrustful first five-eighths and S. Bowater and L. Jones, outside him, showed speed and enterprise in all they did. The Buller forwards applied themselves conscientiously to winning the ball, and the backs, without showing the expertise of their opposites, attacked with a willingness which deserved a greater reward than one try. Forsythe, who has played for Buller for a decade, was as alert as ever and a brilliant movement he shared

with D. Stevenson was one of the highlights of the game. O. H. Nahr, another seasoned Buller representative, was a solid figure in the tight, and Stevenson was often prominent in the broken play. For Canterbury. F. A. Fowler (2). D. W. Mcßae and J. W. Redward scored tries and McRae converted all four. R. Nahr scored a try for Buller and B. Stewart potted a goal. The teams were:

Canterbury B.—D. W. Mcßae; J. W. Redward, L. Jones, F. A. Fowler; S. Bowater, T. L. Mehrtens: M. T. Brown (captain); G. J. Rennie. S. G. Cron, D. Wynne, H. McDonald. G. D. Tanner; L. Adam, M. J. Sheehan. D. W. G. Scott.

Buller.—C. Tinetti; B. Renwick. A. Moseley, D. Cumming; W. N. Forsythe (captain). B. Stewart; R. Murray; D. Stevenson; A. Fussell, 0. H. Nahr, K. Pratt, R. Nahr: J. Syron, B. Roche, B. Shaw. B. Murray replaced Cumming in the second

Referee: Mr A. G. Duckmanton.