University wins first premier league match

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32626, 7 June 1971, Page 13

University wins first premier league match

University justified its inclusion in the Canterbury Rugby League premier grade when it recorded its first win —at Sydenham’s expense during the eighth minor championship round at the Show Grounds on Saturday.

The students led by 13 points after only 12 minutes and held an 18-6 advantage at the interval. In the second half Sydenham enjoyed a territorial dominance, but its three tries during this period were all gained in the final six minutes and served only to cut Universitys margin to 15-18.

It might well have been a day of upsets. Of the favoured teams, only Linwood—which beat ChristchurchEastern Suburbs, 35-B—was not extended by its opponent, Papanui had the unusual experience of trailing by 12 points at half-time in its match with Hornby. But it improved considerably in the later stages and, boosted by A. F. Clarke’s 16-2 scrum superiority, retained its unbeaten record with a 24-12 victory. In the curtain-raiser Addington was forced to come from behind to beat MaristWestern Suburbs. The Marist defence conceded four tries in each spell but the Addington goal-kickers, P. Popata and M. Emerson, failed with even the simplest of conversion attempts. The “player of the week" award was won by the Papanui scrum-half, P. C. Blackler, who contributed two tries in his team’s rally and impressed throughout with his alertness and the good service that he provided for his outside backs. Results:—

Papanui 24, Hornby 12. Addington 24, MaristWestern Suburbs 10. University 18, Sydenham 15. Linwood 35, Christ-church-Eastern Suburbs

Revival PAPANUI 24: F. C Bladder two, R- S. Walker, S. Dunn. B. Biswood, K. G. Walker tries; C. R. Schwas* two, R. r. Schwa** goal*. HORNBY Ik W. Wright, B. Houston trios; T. William* three foals. - - A change of hookers, necessitated by injuries suffered by K. R Blackler (Papanui) and K. 11. Neiman, contributed to the remarkable change that came over the main game. Scrum posaesaion had been evenly shared in the first half, but after the Interval Blackler'* aubstttute, A. F. Clarke, won the strike almost every time that the forwards packed down. Thia monopoly enabled Papanui to dictate play and tire the Hornby defence, which had been so effective earlier in the match. R. S. Walker started Papanui** revival with an excellent solo run to the try-line 10 minutes after the resumption of play and from this point Papanui was completely la command of the situation.

However, it was not until 15 minutes from the finish that Hornby relinquished the lead. S. Dunn and then P. C. Blackler touched down from set play after Papanui had forced scrums deep in Hornby’s territory. Making good use of the ball won by Clarke, Papanui twice out-flanked the Hornby coverdefence for B. Bigwood and K. G. Walker to cross at the conclusion of swift passing moves; P. C. Blackler added an opportunist try when Hornby displayed a lack of attention at a play-the-baH. Hornby's dominance in the first half had been almost as decisive as that which Papanui was to assert after the Interval B. W. Langton created an opportunity for his centre partner, W. Wright, to score and Wright was prominent in the move that led to_B. Houston's touch-down. The Hornby standoff half, R A. Neiman, continually took play into Papanui* half with accurate line kicks or punts that isolated C. R. Schwas* from his teammates and required him to take a tackle in a defensive position. P. C. Blackler and Dunn were the most successful Papanui backs, while R. S. Walker, Clarke and P. A. Sturgeon played extremely well among the forwards.

The most notable performers for, _Horahy were Langton, Wright, R. A. Neiman and the second-row forward, T. Williams,

whoae tackling was worthy of eS ?he referee *Mr T. C. Houston) awarded nine penalties to Horbny and seven to Papanui. Poor defence

ADDINGTON 24: A. Mather two, M. D. Stone two, S. J. Wilka, I. Mcß.ath, M. Emerson, B. F. Ullman tries. MARIST-WESTERN SUBURBS Ik M. P. Brereton, P. R. H. Brown tries; M. W. J. O’Donnell two goals. The frequency with which Addington breached the MaristWestern Suburbs try-llne was as much a testimony of ths Inadequacies of its opponent’s cover-defence as it was to the ability of its own players to capitalise on attacking situations. S. J. Wilks, the Addington right wing, provided the moot obvious example of these contributing factors when ho regained the lead for his side IS minutes before half-time. Wilks beat three tackles in a swerving, 30yard run; his foot-work was deceptive, but each of the rivals he left sprawled on the ground had been in a position to halt his progress. In contrast, the Addington defence was far more solid and consistent. Only twice—when M. P. Brereton and M. H. Mohi made breaks that led to tries—was Marist-Western Suburbs able to pierce the first line of defenders and run dear of the cover.

Each member of the Addington back-line was able to escape the attentions of his marker at one time or other, but the stand-off half, A. Mather, was particularly impressive in this sphere and his two tries contributed to his winning of the “player of the mateh’ r award. Marist-Western Suburbs made radical changes to players’ positions when Addington gained its 24-10 lead with 23 minutes remaining. P. V. Smith changed from the forwards to full-back, B. F. Dobbs from the wing to second-row, M. W. J. ODonneU, from full-back to centre and Brereton shifted from centre to wing. This served to restrain Addington’s scoring. The young Marist-Western Suburbs hooker, P. Caaaeriey, won the scrums by a narrow margin, but Addington's sureness of defence prevented its opponent from capitalising on this advantage. Mr P. Yaxley, the referee, found cause to award only eight penalties, four to each team.

First win UNIVERSITY Ik W. Barrington two, A.. W. Thompson, A.

Peterson tries; Petaroon throe goals. ■bw* University’* ouaeeM should give its relatively Inexperienced and young playero considerable The rash of mistakes made by Sydenham during thia period spread to University, making the game a very scrappy one. The frequent muhandUng and poor petitioning did not remove interest from the fixture, however, as the students strived to retain their load In the face of continued Sydenham attacks., A. W. Thompson began UniversHy*s initial scoring spree and, in a very short time, his touchdown was followed by those of A. Peterson and W. Barrington. Barrington, a forward pressed into service on the wing, later added another when Sydenham appeared to be gaining the upper In the second half play seldom ranged out of University’s territory, but Sydenham did not make the best of its chances. On two occasions players crossed the University goal-line only to be recalled for minor infringements and the lack of an accurate goal-kicker also hampered the side. Eventually, the University defence relented as Sydenham was

enough to r roaoh tho roily wm too lota, and UniV^r‘b.^ V «.V»ty Notify and S. Kara wan prominent for Sydenham. _ The referee waa Mr G. Gibson.

Deserved win LINWOOD Hi R. G. Thorpe cromble tries; watte four mole tries; L. Tenula goal. From the outset Linwood exerted a sustained pressure that soon had the Eastern defence reeling into submission. Throughout the first half, play was confined to Eastern territory and by the interval Linwood, mainly through the efforts of Its weU-co-ordinated forward pack had scored four tries to establish a 14 point margin. Although Eastern found greater cohesion in the third quarter. Linwood completely dominated the closing stages and registered tour additional tries In the final 13 minutes. The outstanding personality of a game that produced only mediocre football was the Linwood prop;, 3. G. Greengrass. His strong running, determined attitude and above-average pace were suitably rewarded with three tries but, In addition, he provided the inspiration for

others. . . R. G. Thorpe also completed an exceUent game and his constant application and fine supporting play provided him, too, with a trio of tries. . However, In contrast to the Eastern forwards, who relied too much on the aggressive efforts of J. H. Fisher and Alan Rushton, the Linwood pack always attempted to function as a unit and it was this factor that enabled it to dominate. Scrums were shared evenly, but whero-

as Eastern rarely retained possession for the four tackle*. Linid.b?.rO«l«byof*taX and an ability to make effective use of the possession It gained. After it* promising and vary successful performance of the previous week, Eastern’s display waa disappointing. If pointe were awarded for illconceived poaltlonal play and Ineffective over-robust tackling, Eastern’s score would have been much greater, and those two factor* combined to make Linwood’s task much easier, Fisher and Rushton exhibited considerable ability but too often lacked effective support. Neither baekllne had many momenta of glory but several player* did warrant praise. For Linwood, E. William* and W. Wilson were efficient halve* while B. Odgers proved a reliable and judicious full-back. The injury sustained by D. Parker, the Eastern centre, waa not • just reward for th* steadying influence he exerted and It may not bo coincidence that after hl* retirement Linwood added their final four tries in a very short period. Anthony Rushton, at serum-half, showed courage throughout and ft was hardly satisfying for Eastern that his fine defence could not be matched by hl* forward*. Rafere*: Mr G. Gibson.

8. p w l r A Pte Pap . 1 1 o tn a 14 Add . t • j in >1 u Hornby . 7 4 3 157 113 0 Lin . 7 4 3 163 132 8 Mar-WS . 7 4 3 168 166 8 Kate . 7 3 4 110 156 6 Easts . t a ■ iS 195 4 $ . 7 1 6 87 . « 1 7 128 lIH