Grand Display By Merivale Forwards

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31991, 19 May 1969, Page 16

Grand Display By Merivale Forwards

UNIVERSITY A 20: Y. Sakata (2), S. Bowater and L. Jones tries; W. Lewis two penalty goals and a conversion. MERiVALE>PAPANUI 14: B. Ramsay and J. Maze tries; B. W. Marshall two penalties and L. McCaughan a conversion.

A grand second-half display by the Merivale-Papanui forwards did everything but cause an upset result against University A in a senior Rugby fixture at St James Park on Saturday.

It appeared that the University backs would run riot in the second half, but starved of possession for large periods, their potential was blunted. Had the Merivale-Papanui backs used the feast of ball to better effect it would have won but too often sluggish movements enabled a harassed defence to recover.

University had a commanding 14-3 lead at half-time but with about 10 minutes remaining the revitalised Merivale-Papanui levelled the score at 14-all and its forwards continued to dominate all phases. However, a I successful 47-yard penalty by Lewis after his team-mate, Bowater, had been stiff-armed by !H. Emerson (Merivale-Papanui) i put University back in front with less than three minutes remaining, and a try in injury time by Bowater finally clinched I victory. The lighter University for--1 wards were able to feed their eager backs with a good share of ball for most of the first half but when Merivale-Papanui lorded over the set pieces in the second. University had to rely for the most part on winning the ball from secondary play. Even when University was able to win the ball in the

second spell its scrum-half, M. Brown, was under considerable pressure. The combined forwards rose to the occasion magnificently. D. Wynne and M. Culnane often showed that the two-handed catch in the line-out is not a lost art and the hooker, D. Pirie, was able to secure almost an embarrassing amount of possession from the scrums. Emerson was a lively and generally intelligent forward but spoilt his performance with at least two stiff-arm tackles and a late tackle of Lewis, seemed likely to send Lewis from the field. Lewis was far from well but continued to play with spirit. He was peppered with high kicks by the Merivale-Papanui, first five-eighth, McCaughan, particularly in the first half, but never faltered. His solidity meant a great deal to University. On the University left-wing the new Canterbury representative, Sakata, seized his greater opportunities with relish. His determination and ability to beat a man were admirable but he might have made use of the high centre kick. Bowater’s handling was not as good as usual and H. T. Joseph will have to tighten his defence. A. Matheson was a fiery individual in the University pack. Although not a big forward he had the strength to burst upfield from secondary play and he continually disrupted the combined backs. B. Ramsay, at second fiveeighth for Merivale-Papanui, scored a good try but his slow movement took the sting out of the back-line. He seemed preoccupied with propping and breaking inside his marker, Joseph. Referee; Mr G. J. Bolton.