NEW BRIGHTON EASY WINNER

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32287, 4 May 1970, Page 19

NEW BRIGHTON EASY WINNER

NEW BRIGHTON 23: B. Hobson, G. Tanner, R. King, tries: L. Legge, conversion and four penalty goals. MERIVALE-PAPANUI M. Mene, penalty goal. After a very scrappy and ragged first half, notable only for the number of ill-directed kicks and dropped passes. New Brighi ton asserted itself in the second ‘half to run out a comfortable (winner. , The Merivale-Papanui forwards held the strong New Brighton pack until well into the second I half but in the last 15 minutes they tired noticeably, and New Brighton dominated the scrums and rucks from then on. Both back-lines ran with little purpose, too often they placed; the man outside them in a hopeless position with a kick ( for touch being the only solution. More use could have been made of the grubber kick to touch fur the nigh punts regularly went out on the full. The New Brighton loose forwards, I. Penrose, G. Tanner and J. Wilkins, were the outstanding players of the game. Tanner nounded the ball throughout the game and narrowly missed two tries. His efforts were finally rewarded when he fell on the ball over the Merivale-Papanui line aftqr the New Brighton pack had gone for a push-over try. Penrose was everywhere, he would be one of the first to the loose ball, yet still manage to join in back-line movements or be back in defence when the situation demanded it. Wilkins was little inferior to either Pen* rose or Tanner. P. Nixon won a lot of line-out ball for New

Brighton and. with E. Leask. made several bruising runs. D. Wynne stood out in the Merivale-Papanui pack. he jumped high to win a good ball from the lineouts and chased the loose ball vigorously. The rest of the forwards were mainly concerned with holding the New Brighton eight, a task they did successfully until the latter stages of the match Lack of speed to the loose ball was a major problem that Merivale-Papanui will have to overcome if it wants to have an equal share of possession. B. Hobson was the best of the New Brighton backs. He beat two defenders In a 30yd run to score New Brighton's first try and when he replaced C. Smith |at full back, he proved to be I very safe. L. Dickson at half!back. and his first tive-eighth, L. Legge, did not have happy games. Dickson’s passes were of a mixed quality while Legge's hands let him down on more than one occasion. R. Pierce was inclined to run Into trouble as was T. White, although White’s pursuing of the kick ahead was commendable. The Merivale-Papanui backs failed to capitalise on what little clean ball they received. Their half-back, R. Griffiths, was sound as was B. Hobson outside him. M. Mene was a most enterprising winger, he was unfortunate not to be awarded one try when he took the corner flag with him in a dive for the line. The full-back R. Pirie, had the misfortune to receive several nasty bounces but appeared at times to be very lethargic in his handling and kicking of the ball.

Referee: Mr T. F. Doocey