CANTERBURY HAS 35-0 VICTORY Coast emigrants score well in drab game

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32706, 8 September 1971, Page 32

CANTERBURY HAS 35-0 VICTORY Coast emigrants score well in drab game

(By

J. K. BROOKS)

Canterbury gained its expected Rugby victory over West Coast at Lancaster Park yesterday, but the unkindest cut of all for the visiting team in its 35-0 loss was that all but one of Canterbury’s seven tries were scored by former Coasters.

R. J. Woolhouse, a native of Harihari, gained four of them on the left wing, and S. E. Kron, who hails from Kowhitirangi, scored two from forward melees.

A. E. Hopkinsen scored the other try, and W. F. McCormick kicked two penalty goals and four conversions.

It would probably be best to leave the rest unsaid. The warm, sunny weather and a playing surface as hard as concrete were scarcely conducive to good Rugby. Both teams made many errors and the stem line taken with even minor infringements by the referee (Mr K. G. Orsbome) did not help to make the game much of a spectacle for the small band of loyal supporters in the stands.

Strength to spare Canterbury had too much strength and experience at its command for West Coast to have a chance of crossing the goal-line, let alone winning the game. But Canterbury made heavy weather of its task, and the valiant tackling of the visiting team and its diligence on cover defence checked many movements.

The line-outs and rucks were dominated by the home side and L G. Grant, who took four tight heads to one in the scrums, gave the team an added advantage. But the backs did not always develop

play with certainty, and it required McCormick to put some purpose into the movements.

He had a hand in all the attacks which brought tries to Woolhouse and, . after some early failures at goalkicking, found his best form and succeeded with four splendid kicks from near the side-line. Penrose foiled Perhaps the most absorbing part of an undistinguished game was the bid by I. H. Penrose, the Canterbury captain, to mark his hundredth game for the province with a try. Twice he was desperately close to succeeding, and although his fellow players tried hard to place him in a scoring position, their efforts usually exposed their captain to the zealous West Coast defence.

Before Woolhouse scored the final try, he dallied in the in-goal area, as if expecting Penrose to trot up and go through the motions of pressing the ball. But a defender arrived on the scene, and Woolhouse had to score himself.

Then Penrose was given the final kick at goal, but it was not surprising that he missed, for he had been almost run off his feet in the hectic last 10 minutes.

This was the best part of the game, with the Canterbury forwards and backs combining in some sweeping moves, two of which brought tries.

Struggled in vain

West Coast struggled mightily, but to no avail. M. J. McQuillan and K. J. Beams each made one good break; B. N. Stewart was quick and decisive in his play at centre; and P. J. Nolan made three good attempts at goaling from penalities- But because of the imbalance in speed and ball-winning ability. West Coast had little chance of wresting the initiative from Canterbury.

Beams excelled on cover defence and brought off several good tackles. O. D. Bruce was just as reliable for Canterbury in this role, but

there was little for him to do. Woolhouse used his swerve to good effect and B. R. Arnold, his marker, was unable to keep him in check. McCormick’s timely entrances into the line gave Woolhouse the chances he neded to outrun the cornerflagging Coasters. Cron was again in lively mood on the flank, and Penrose and A. E. Matheson were often prominent with the ball in . hand. J. F. Bums had a good day in the line-outs, and R. J. Lockwood moved round the field with greater purpose. Faced with some, untidy possession, B. F. Elder, the half-back, did not always give rise to confidence in tight comers, but he produced some superb passes to give his backs a flying start, and also varied the avenue of attack cleverly.

Three minutes from the end Elder retired with an ankle injury, and L. J. Davis ! came on as his replacement. This brief appearance, how- j ever, counts as a game for j Canterbury so, provided ; Davis plays in both the re- i maining representative games j against Otago and Welling- \ ton, he wijl join Penrose as ; a provincial centurion at the \ end of the season. Sand to be | provided | At the request of the Canterbury Rugby selectors (Dr ? J. D. Stewart and Mr M. J. i Dixon), buckets of sand are to be placed on the side- j lines at Lancaster Park on j Saturday which goal-kickers i can use to build a mound when placing the ball. | Mr B. J. Drake, who has i managed the Canterbury i team in its recent matches, ! told the union management i committee last evening that ' he had passed the selectors* request to the Lancaster Park groundsman (Mr C. Barnes), who, once he had been convinced it was not a joke, agreed to meet it. Lancaster Park was very hard at the moment, and to see players wandering all over the field in search of dirt With which to make a mound Was not in the best interests of the game, and was also a great waste of time, Mr Drake said.