Sub-Unions hold unbeaten record

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32700, 1 September 1971, Page 28

Sub-Unions hold unbeaten record

Determined to prove his worth to the Canterbury selectors after a surprise omission from the team which unsuccessfully defended the Ranfurly Shield last Saturday, the former All Black prop, A. E. Hopkinson, scored two tries and played a fine all-round game in captaining Canterbury Sub-Unions to a 24-6 win over the touring Marlborough representative Rugby team at Kaiapoi yesterday.

Fielding a forward pack which was almost to a man made up of present or former Canterbury representatives, Sub-Unions gained an early ascendancy and was able to dictate terms almost throughout However, a strong northwest wind often spoiled the Sub-Unions backs’ attempts to run the ball, and the side could only manage a lead of 6-3 at half-time.

Marlborough levelled the score soon after the resumption with a fine try by the right wing, M. Guillnot after the centre had been missed out of a back movement and the bull-back, J. Thompson, had made the extra man and forced the half-gap. Sub-Unions regained con-

trol soon afterwards, however, and a 40-yard penalty by the All Black, A. J Wyllie, was the signal for his team to score three converted tries in the latter stages. The Sub-Unions pack completely dominated their opponents. Using Hopkinson at No. 2 and M. R. Perkins at No. 3 for the short throws and Wyllie and H. H. McDonald at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, for the longer ones, Sub-Unions allowed R. S. Sutherland, the Marlborough captain and the elder brother of the injured All Black, A. R. Sutherland, only a tiny share of line-out ball, while his tall team-mate, R. Banks, was .ompletely overshadowed. The hooker, M. Ryan, was able to gain eight tight-heads to none in the scrums, seven of them in the first half, gaining valuable support from the very promising prop, B. Thompson, and Hopkinson. FIRST TRY Hopkinson's first try was the result of good backing up in a forward rush, and the second came from a “Willie away” from a line-out feed by McDonald. The former AU Black’s charge was virtually an irrisistible force, as he carried several defenders across the line with him after a couple of others had wisely allowed him right of way by gingerly stepping out of his path.

The Marlborough backs were seldom seen in an attacking role, mainly because of the difficulty experienced by the young half-back, D. Cassidy, in clearing the ball ahead of R. M. Wainohu and S. E. G. Cron, who broke swiftly from the many screwed Marlborough scrums or though the gaps in the line-out.

However, Guillnot proved ’ a swift, deceptive runner in ’ the second half, and A. J. Goodard who impressed I the touring Lions recently—was an able general under very trying circumstances. Sub-Unions was also handl- < capped by the inability of its < half-back, W. Gibson, to give I his first five-eighths, O. D. i Bruce, a swift and sure service. Gibson appeared to stand too far back from line- , outs and rucks, often mis-, handled, and sometimes badly misjudged his kicks over the forward. Bruce kicked with intelligence, often driving Marlborough back in the same manner as Goddard did when he got the chance. The right wing, G. Taylor, made a number of powerful runs, and deserved more opportunities. The win gave Sub-Unions ah unbeaten record in its five games for the season, including the 8-6 victory over Town. For Marlborough, it meant a record of two wins, two draws, and four losses in scoring 80 points with 104 against during the season.

For Canterbury Sub-Unions Hopkinson (2), Cron, and G. Taylor scored tries; J. Taylor dropped a goal, and Wyllie kicked a penalty and three conversions. Marlborough’s points came from a try by Guillnot and a penalty by G. Cocks. Referee: Mr H. Gray.