Canterbury Overcomes Toughest Challenge

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32395, 7 September 1970, Page 16

Canterbury Overcomes Toughest Challenge

(From

J. K. BROOKS)

Winning Rugby, as Mr C. K. Saxton has so aptly observed is based on the three Ps—position, possesion and pace—but the Canterbury team appears to be able to get by with only two of these requirements.

On Saturday at Lancaster Park oval the side was decisively beaten in the battle for possession by an outstanding Taranaki pack, but it improvised so well with the scraps left by the visiting side that it retained the Ranfurly Shield by as much as 13-3.

to score two splendid tries in the space of four minutes during the last quarter—and victory was assured., L. J. Davis, A. C. Matheson and S. E. Cron were the tryscorers for Canterbury, and W. J. Lewis kicked two conversions. T. Heppell kicked a penalty goal for Taranaki. Inter-provincial results from the North Island suggested that Taranaki’s challenge would not be as formidable as Waikato’s. But, in fact, it was 100 per cent tougher, as the Canterbury forwards will readily testify TOUCH FORWARDS The visiting forwards piled Into the rucks like enraged buSaloea, and the thrust they were able to achieve by their admirable body positioning provided a lesson for Canterbury. The Taranaki forwards did not have aa great a .weight advantage over Canterbury as did Waikato, blit they were much more effective In the tight, pushing Canterbury back In several scrums.

the high ball in the stiff wind was reliable, and Davis, who firoduced yet another outstandng game at half-back, eavetf his side several times in perilous circumstances. Ranking with Davis in effectiveness was the Canterbury captain, 1. H, Penrose, whosei quickness to the loose ball or to the Taranaki man In possession was the brightest part of a notable all-round perform* ance. The most heartening advance In form was achieved by L. W_ Jones, who played on the left, wing tn the second half after M. s. Moore had retired with a wrenched ankle and R. J. Knight had taken up Jones* place at centre. tPRCTACULAR TRY Some sharp chances came Jones's way in the second halt and, to bls credit, ho did not miss one of them. He handled twice in a spectacular movement, started by Davis, and. with Matheson lending ready assistance, Cron scored a try. Jones almost scored himself on another occasion when his speed

ifthe van. and the linking of for- , wards wltlS backs after rucks was a reminder of the team's f greatest attacking strength. • The ny) which made the (Shield ear*, in the sixty-ninth -iminute. ws an excellent exlample of this play. After a 1 I<mg rude, H. H. McDonald's ' diligent rafleing brought the ball ■ bad to Davis and K. J. Gimblett f hoodwinked five defenders by < breaking first to the right and than to ttae left, before passing tto Q, D. ((Bruce. The reliable . Matheson steamed up In sup- ; port and j! crashed through the f remaining defenders to score i. by the posts. Cron pkeyed another game of > great worth, attacking spiritedly and, with Davis and Bruce, performing well on cover defence. L. D. Adam, R. J. Lock- ■ wood and McDonald struggled I hard ttw possession in the i depths «4 the rucks: McDonald I made one lightning charge of ■ BByd after breaking through the , liaewut; and. Norton continued > Ms great run of hooking sue- . cesses by taking two tight heads i from Harris. DEW CHANCES

The game, played on a hard, dusty ground before a crowd of about 20,000, might easily have been turned into a triumph for Taranaki. The challenger’s forwards outjumped and outrucked their rivals; the inside backs dispatched the ball competently: and the team's place-kickers and drop-kickers peppered the Canterbury posts with as many as 11 shots—only one of which was successful. In addition, Taranaki’s hooker, F. W. Harris, spoilt many chances for Canterbury by his winging play from the front of the line-out and his penchant for packing into the rucks from the wrong side. But in spite of these almost Insurmountable obstacles. Canterbury scored the tries by virtue of a fourth P—purpose. Bristling with determination, the backs and forwards capitalised on the close understanding they have built up during the season

and anticipation carried him clear of all the defenders except K. P. Hurley, who caught his arm and halted the move. The veteran Hurley, who played three-quarters of the match at full-back, fielded the ball with certainty and defended ably. On attack. Taranaki had none better than A. I. Scown, a 21-year-old flanker, whose backing-up and strong running stamped him as a for* ward with a future. At half-time. Canterbury apfieared to be In danger of losng the shield. Penrose won the toss and gave the challenging side first use of the nor'wester—an advantage which was not wasted by Taranaki. The dominance of the forwards. Irving's kicking, and two strong bursts which almost brought tries to Harris and C. R. O'Neill, placed Taranaki securely In the box seat. Canterbury, forced into errors by the harrying of D. J. Wards and Harris, was fortunate to be only three points down at halftime. In the second half, the strength of the wind dropped considerably, and Canterbury had to win on its merits alone. But If this was bad luck for

rtw VHAHVUS 1 Lewis stood unflinchingly un- ! der Irvtng’s high kicks and both ' he and Bruce punted well un- , der pressure. The three- ’ quarters had few chances, but ’ R. F. Cocfcs aroused enthusiasm ' when he Fended off D. A. Vestey ' in one strong run. Knight was seldom in the pic- ■ tore, apd he might have been ; bemoaning the absence of a - number on his jersey. Perhaps ' the four girls, in No. 3 stand who wotge numbered Canterbury ijereeya. had exhausted the supply. This was Canterbury's third successtkil defence of the shield, but in the afterglow of the victory fit must not forget the lessons of Saturday's game. Although -forwards of Taranaki's calibre might not be encountered until, perhaps, the Otago match Canterbury must take steps to improve Its control of the ball in rucks and mauls. On several occasions on Saturday, Canterbury players took the ball into rucks, only to lose possession to Taranaki. And on two occasions, Canterbury feet actually kicked the ball through the ruck to the opposing side. The coaches have enough on their plates without having to stamp out these eccentricities. I

And the decisive line-outs, once again, went against Canterbury by as much as two to one, with I. M. Eliason. H. W. Bridger, and R.- Feather winning the ball for Taranaki and. more Importantly, controlling It much better than the home forwards.

The steady How of possession to Taranaki made the side's first five-eighths, J. E. Irving, a key figure. His high punts, which were faithfully followed by his three-quarters, and his four dropped goal attempts, none of which missed by very much, kept the shield holder under intense pressure In the first half. But Canterbury’s catching of

Canterbury, Taranaki was just as unfortunate, for Heppell. Its accomplished goal-kicker, was forced to retire with a leg in ! Jury after 22 minutes. Hurley ifouri and Wills tone) I missed penalty kicks at goal.: and three of these would have been well within Heppell's capabilities. But Hurley could! be forgiven for two of his! misses, for he was subjected toi a disgraceful outbreak of boo - ing from some spectators In the] No. 3 stand. The first of the penalties was! awarded against R. W Norton' for dealing summarily with Harris on the Canterbury side of a ruck; the second was against Matheson for blocking the ball after Taranaki had screwed a scrum. BOOING Booing broke out when the referee <Dr H. Rainey, of Wellington); awarded the penalties, but the fact that it continued while Hurley was kicking reflected badly on the sportsmanship of some spectators. There was plenty in the play of both sides to cheer about. Canterbury Initiated some surging movements with Penrose. Matheson and A. McLellan in