Buller Celebrates, Canterbury Wins

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31785, 16 September 1968, Page 18

Buller Celebrates, Canterbury Wins

Throwing the ball about in true anniversary spirit, Canterbury beat Buller, 34-3, in a representative Rugby match at Westport on Saturday.

The match was played as part of the seventy-fifth anniversary celebrations of the Buller Rugby Union.

Canterbury, favoured by a strong wind, led 24-0 at half-time but did not appear to play to capacity in the second spell. Some brilliant moves

brought the visitdrs close to scoring oh several occasions and the astute A. J. Wyllie was ruled out twice in quick succession by the referee, Mr P. Reynolds. It was a good day f6r the All Slack, W. F. McCormick, wbd missed Only one attempt at gdal, scoring 16 points in all. He had ah easy day, relieved by occasional moves into the attacking line. Only three tinte* did Buller 100 k likely to scope arid there was little life in its play, the badks especially being more content to tty to contain the storing than to attempt anything venturesome. Canterbury became a little casual in the second spell but such kindness did nothing to contribute to the game as a spectacle: the players went too far On their own or placed too much faith in badly-placed associates.

The Buller pack, well outweighted, did wen at times, however, and in the loose D. Stevenson excelled, often breaking through on the visiting inside backs. The veteran O. H. Nahr, like the Canterbury hooker, J. N. Creighton, playing his ninty-eighth firstclass game for the province, was often to the fore as were K. Pratt and A. Fussell. COURAGEOUS GAME '

The Buller back-line functioned on attack only in spasms. C. Tinetti played a courageous game at full-back, taking the ball well and tackling with determination. He scored Buller's only points from a penalty goal. The best of the others was the first fiveeighths, B. Stewart, who handled and kicked precisely

and almost scored from one quick run In the second spell. B. J. Renwick, although starved for opportunities at second five-eighths, almost scored a try for Buller with a brilliant dash in the later stages of the game.

The left wing for Canterbury, R. Woolhouse, made some brilliant runs. B. A. Watt was lively, scoring two good tries in the first half. He handled well but did not have t 6 do much tactical kicking, but when he did so it was very accurate.

L. J. Davis had a fairly good game at half-back and W. D. Cottrell made penetrating moves at second five-eighths, although watched closely by Buller. The other backs frolicked and scampered in a beneficent manner, giving the Impression that a more determined opposition would have brought forth better deeds.

The Canterbury pack was never extended but the captain, I. H. Penrose, gave a splendid loose forward display, fielding the ball and kicking like a back. Wyllie wag often to the fore, and possibly the most sincere worker was the hooker, J. N. Creighton.

J. F. Burns and A. E. Hopkinson played well in the line-outs.

For Canterbury, Watt (2), Davis, Woolhouse, Wyllie and R. Cocks scored tries, McCormick converting five and kicking two goals from penalties. Cocks replaced P. K. Hatchwell at half-time. The teams were:— Canterbury.—w. F. McCormick: P. K. Hatchwell. H. J. Joseph. R. J. Woolhouse: w. D. Cottreii. B. A. Watt; L. J. Davis: I. H. Penrose; C. Cochrane, J. F. Burn*. M. R. Perkins, A. J. Wyllie; A. E. Hopklnson, J. N. Creighton. K. J. Tanner. Reaerves: R. F. Cock*, L. Dlck■on, L. G. Legge, A. McLellan, W. J. Risman, C. F. Cochrane.

Buller.—C. C. Tinetti; A. R. Moseley, G. W. Hart, F. E. Neighbour*; B. J. Renwick, B. Stewart; B. J. Murray; D. M. Stevenson; A. C. Fussell, O. H. NSbr. K. J. Pratt, W. B. Nahr; M. J, Syron, B. P. Roche, B. Shaw.