STRONG FINISH BY SHIRLEY

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32015, 16 June 1969, Page 15

STRONG FINISH BY SHIRLEY

SHIRLEY 12: B. Gearry and G. Ormandy tries: M. Wilson and C. Johnstone penalty goalsSUBURBS *: W. Mason a try; W. Paulin a penalty goal. Four minutes from full-time the score was 6-6, but before the anal whistle, Johnstone, with a SO-yard penalty goal, and Ormandy, with a fine try in the corner, enabled Shirley to double Its score. It was Suburbs's first defeat of the season, and though a draw might have been a fair Indication of the play, better form could have been expected from a side leading the competition at this stage of tlje season. Shirley’s standard was not a great deal higher, but It finished more strongly. Play for the most part was scrappy and provided little to distract the spectators from their Eden Park-tuned transis-

tors. Both sides possessed forwards of spirit and drive, but because of their equality neither pack was able to take charge. In the second spell. Shirley tried to employ its back-line, but It lacked both the skill and the guile to breach the defences.

Suburbs was handicapped by the loss through injuries of two men in the first half and a third In the second spell. The half-back, M. Moore, who was standing in for All Black reserve L. J. Davis, left the field mid-way through the first half and P. Carlson moved from second five-eighths to half-back. In broken play Carlson was adequate, but Jiis service from the base of the scrum lacked direction.

Shirley did well in the lineouts. Johnstone and G. Huston both made many clean takes, and in the final quarter the Suburbs wings were throwing the ball to the very back of the line-outs in an effort to secure possession. A surprising feature of Suburbs's play was the number of times members of the side kicked the ball too hard and into the Shirley dead-ball area. At least three times possible scoring chances were lost. For Shirley, C. Read was consistently in the vanguard of forward drives, and M. Tober played with customary vigour and mobility. In the tight, L. Adam was an honest toiler, and he managed a number of. good takes near the front of the lineout.

Gearry used judgment In running from the scrum, and though his passes were at times too slow they were generally

R. Waters, on the right wing, brought' oft some copybook tackles, and showed determination when in possession. Ormandy’s try came after he displayed superior speed in a race for the ball.

Wilson was safe at full-baek, but possibly inferior to Paulin, who as well as kicking with

accuracy and length made even fewer mistakes. None of the Suburbs threequarters made any worth-while contribution on attack, though the fault was not altogether theirs. At first five-eighths, W. D. Cottrell tried hard to get movements started, but poor service and close marking were severe restrictions. S. Cron and V. Baker were Capable loose forwards for Suburbs, though both have had better games this season. The dedication and intensity of purpose shown by all the Suburbs forwards against Linwood the previous week appeared to have lost some of its potency. Referee: Mr G. J. Bolton.