SENIOR RUGBY Linwood holds lead on day of high scoring

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32958, 3 July 1972, Page 10

SENIOR RUGBY Linwood holds lead on day of high scoring

Senior footballers responded to the warm, north-west weather by producing some record scoring as Linwood and Christchurch led the way through the second-last round of the D.C.L. Shield competition on Saturday.

The seven senior games produced a record tally of 46 tries, and, because of the increased value of the try this season, the total points from all matches reached a new maximum of 288.

Linwood, which assured itself of at least a half-share of the shield by scoring its twelfth consecutive win, reached the milestones of 50 tries and 300 points for the season.

D. McGuigan, the auburnhaired right wing, who scored three of Linwood’s nine tries against the hapless Shirley side, became the leading tryscorer in the competition, with a total of nine.

Next Saturday, Linwood will play Christchurch in the final round of the competition. Christchurch, which lost to Lincoln College in the fifth round, survived a late rally by University B on Saturday to hold second place. Lincoln College scored eight tries against bottom-of-the-table Marist, and the side’s full-back, S. M. C. Murray, added a further 13 points with his goal-kicking. But the highest scorer on Saturday was W. J. Lewis (University A), who kicked seven goals from eight attempts for a total of 18 points.

There will be a close struggle to decide which teams are drafted into the top eight for the Harewood Trophy competition. After Saturday’s games, Old Boys and Suburbs each had six points and a half, while five other sides —New Brighton, Shirley, Albion, and the two University teams—were all on six.

New Brighton, Albion and Suburbs should all qualify next Saturday, and so join Linwood, Christchurch and Lincoln College in the Harewood Trophy field. The crucial games will be betweeen University A and Shirley, and Old Boys and University B. In each game, victory will bring with it a place in the top eight. Results were:—

Linwood 42, Shirley 17; Christchurch 20, University B 15; Lincoln College 45, Marist 9; Albion 26, Meri-vale-Papanui 10; New Brighton 20, Suburbs 3; University A 30, Belfast 12; Old Boys 33, Sydenham 6. Points are:—

University B's late revival, the climax of which was a remarkable try by its hooker, J. Callaghan, gave some dramatic content to an otherwise uneventful game. Christchurch scored three tries in 43 minutes to establish a comfortable lead; University B seemed destined to be harried from pillar to post, and it was constantly under pressure from P. Dalzell, M. R. Powley, J. W. Rowberry, and R. F. Mahan. But. slowly, University B found its feet and after Callaghan had made his score by running, kicking and chasing over a distance of 60yd and the reliable Parsons had kicked another of his angled goals, the side was only one point behind with 12mln to play. I To its credit. Christchurch did not adopt a defensive attitude, and its bold counter-attacks brought a just reward. The gifted right wing, R. J. Knight, previously grossly neglected, took advantage of a clever switch of play behind the scrum by A. T. Penny to score the final try. The mobile Christchurch forwards made life miserable for the opposing backs, but University's revival began with Its forwards displaying greater cohesion and drive. L. Black was a strong figure In the tight, and support for him grew as the game progressed Parsons and K Jennings survived their ordeal at the hands of the bustling Christchurch for-

wards to bring their influence to bear during the second half. But University was the poorer for not having a mid-field back of M. R. McEwan’s sharpness and speed. The rival captains were frequently in the limelight. P. McBride (University B) was a sort of general factotum, and had a hand in most of the pies. He was most effective at the breakdown. Rowberry emerged from two long runs as a sprinter of no mean ability. He appeared to have scored a legitimate try at the end of his second run—but that, of course, would have robbed the match of its spinetingling finish. BLITZKREIG Linwood gave a vivid illustration of why It is the top team when it demolished Shirley with ruthless efficiency during the first 40min. By halftime the team had scored six tries and held a huge lead of 30-3.

Linwood prospered chiefly because of Its dominance of the rucks. The forwards’ technique was admirable; B. F. Elder, at half-back, was in one of his sharpest moods; and the ball was moved merrily along the chain by men who have grown confident on a feast of possession this winter.

In the second half. Linwood slackened its efforts for a considerable period, and it was not until the last seven minutes that it again slipped into top gear for two final tries. Whatever its defensive deficiencies. Shirley is always a bright, attacking team, and during Linwood’s quiet period it produced three sparkling thrusts which led to tries. In one of these movements, the sturdy G Burrow, who seems equally at home in the three-quarter line as he is in the front row, wrongfooted W. F McCormick on his way to scoring between the posts _. . In the forwards, however, Shirley was no match for the welldrilled Linwood eight, and Eider had the opposition in a state of constant anxiety with his ability to make capital of the slightest chance. D. Andrews, the first fiveeighths, had one of his best games, and K. J- Gimblett and McCormick boosted the scoring capacity of the back-line bv their strong running and snlendidlytimed passing. D. McGuigan profited from the good work accomplished inside him. but one trv which he scored bv his own efforts showed him to be a wing above the ordinary. REVIVAL With the pressure on It to qualify for the Harewood Trophy, which it won Jointly last year. New Brighton showed bv beatino Suburbs so convincingly that it is still a team to be reckoned with. Both teams applied themselves with a will, and although the greater strength of the New Brighton pack had a bearing on the result, it was the greater pace and penetration of the backs which made the victory so decisive. Testimony to the Intensity of the forward play was the number of interruptions because Of injury. Suburbs lost both its props, P. Cron and W. Meredith, the former being heavily concussed and requiring hospital treatment. For most of the second half the effectiveness of the New Brighton forwards was reduced by foot and leg injuries respectively to I. H. Penrose and K J. Tanner. Penrose eventually hobbled off: but Tanner staved to the finish. Tanner, in the first half, and E. R. Leask, won much ball for New Brighton in the line-outs and although the backs had close marking to contend with thev had the Suburbs coverdefence at full stretch keeping them contained The wings. W. Grogan and R Pierce, were esneciallv forceful. Suburbs relied more on the capacity of Its forwards for work to nave the way to the goal-line and although the forwards stuck resolutely to their task, it needed more imaginative p’ovs to upset New Brighton The tactical kick was also used extensivelv. but tb<« r»res*>n+ed few nrobleins for New Brightens fvi’-b*'*. A. THi*en. K Duke and the smaller, but no le's industrious. B Gibson were honest toilers In the New Brighton scrum and on a par

with them in the Suburbs eight were W. Hay and D. Mahony. The Suburbs half-back, L. J. Davis, was typically competent, and B. McKay came through a none-too-easy day with credit. The centre, G. Shearer, made some useful runs and the right wing, N. Winsloe, had his hands full keeping Pierce in check, yet managed the assignment fairly well. McLELLAN SHINES

Well served by energetic forwards and strong-running backs, Lincoln College had no difficulty in soundly defeating Marist, scoring eight tries in the process.

Although Lincoln College did many things well, the play at times was disappointing. Many passes were dropped and the forwards did not clear the rucks with the purposefulness seen In other games. A. McLellan was a tremendous force in the Lincoln forwards and received fine support from G. Sanderson. The backs were well served by M. D. Fluker, and I. A. Hurst and M. Gaukrodger ran with speed and determination. In the movement that led to

Marist’s try, the Junior AH Black, B. N. Stewart, showed a glimpse of his ability, but for most of the game his role was a defensive one. D. O’Gorman was a sound forward and J. Hales at full-back came through a difficult day with credit. "A" TEAM ON TOP A short period in the second half excepted. University A was always the superior side against Belfast. University’s forwards, vigorous and mobile, won bountiful possession from rucks and lineouts for a back line that, therefore, had ample opportunity to show it was both too speedy and too skilful for its Belfast counterpart. When Belfast drew to within three points of University early in the second spell and then mounted a series of promising attacks, it appeared to have a chance of scoring an unexpected victory. Three penalties In quick succession not long afterwards, however, accounted for Belfast’s revival, for the University fullback, W. J. Lewis, was in fine kicking form. Most of University’s penetration was provided by the centre, L. W. Jones, who continually had Belfast’s defence stretched, and the first five-eighths, B. Fauth, the originator, with a fine, clean break of the team’s first try.

The representative wing, M. P. Collins, played at the unaccustomed position of second fiveeighths, where D. W, Stead’s determined tackling allowed him little freedom.

Certainly the most energetic forward on the field was the University No. 8, J. Ogle, who provided the initial impetus for many of his team’s attacks from loose play.

Belfast’s front row, consisting of the props, W. Bush and R. Banks, and the hooker, M. Hall, conceded very little in the tight; otherwise forwards and backs alike were outclassed. IMPROVEMENT

After being down, 26-0, to Old Boys at half-time, Sydenham improved dramatically in the second spell to restrict its opponent to only seven further points, while scoring six itself. However, there was little doubt which was the better-equipped side and Old Boys once again showed themselves capable of playing entertaining Rugby. In the first half, when Sydenham’s defence was woeful, the Old Boys backs made full use of the freedom given them. Old Boys were also far superior in the forwards, although by dedicating itself more to the tight play In the second spell Sydenham reduced the advantage. With L. Furness and R. Doell holding sway in the lineouts, Old Boys won much clean ball and the sure passes of the half-back, R. Stanbury, maintained the advantage. Old Boys’ main thrust came In mid-field where I. Taylor and B. McPhail showed sharp acceleration and a keen eye for a gap. Taylor, in particular,

proved very elusive and keeping him in check was just about beyond Sydenham. A new left wing, J. Kinley, also attracted attention with some determined runs. The game’s outstanding forward was, without a doubt, the Old Boys No. 8, S. I. Purdon. He was a bundle of energy in all phases, especially in the loose. After his team’s sloppy showing in the first half, the Sydenham coach (Mr A. Howard), no doubt, had some terse words to say at the interval and whatever they were, they certainly had an effect. The forwards, led by W. Underhay and S. Greenman, had a new vigour about their play and so much better did they pursue the loose ball that it was frequently Old Boys’ turn to scurry back in defence. The backs, too, were Injected with fresh life and although B. Winder’s side-stepping sometimes carried him too far from his supporting players he was still a dangerous attacker. The three-quarters, R. Whitfield and G. Kirk, also revealed pace and Whitfield’s try was a fine solo effort. UNDER CONTROL Weak defence and poor forward play by Merivale-Papanul enabled Albion to have the match under control by the end of the first half. Albion had a 17-point lead when the second half began, but it added only three more points —an indication of the improvement shown by Merivale-Papanul as the game progressed. The closely-knit Albion backs, well fed by strong forwards found the going easy against a hesitant Merivale-Papanul defence. In the first half, the Merivale-Papanul backs consistently shied from tackling; when this error was at least partly mended later in the game they were able to tie Albion down. On attack, Merivale-Papanui showed skill and confidence but had insufficient team work to capitalise on some good moves. Several times handling blunders lost their side good scoring The Merivale-Papanui forwards appeared to be smaller and were far weaker than their opponents. They were often robbed of the ball and thev also showed tardiness in following up, which cost them dearly.

w L D F A Pts Linwood 12 0 0 302 77 12 Chch 11 1 0 207 120 11 Line. Col. 10 2 0 239 89 10 H.S.O.B. 6 5 1 161 114 61 Subs 6 5 1 128 127 61 Univ. A 6 6 0 174 108 6 Albion 6 6 0 169 158 6 Shirley 6 6 0 203 209 6 New Bri. 6 6 0 137 139 6 Univ. B 6 6 0 124 180 6 Meri.-Pap 4 8 0 101 188 4 Belfast 2 9 1 96 160 21 Svd. 1 10 1 71 226 U Marist 0 12 0 81 298 0 LATE RALLY