UPSET WIN BY SOUTH CANTERBURY Hard tackling pins down Canterbury backs

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32967, 13 July 1972, Page 24

UPSET WIN BY SOUTH CANTERBURY Hard tackling pins down Canterbury backs

(By

J. K. BROOKS)

The South Island selectors might be inclined to revise their team for the match against North on Saturday in the light of the remarkable Rugby happening at Fraser Park, Timaru, yesterday.

Canterbury, with 11 past or present South Island representatives, went down to South Canterbury, which had none, for the first time in the last 13 years, at Timaru.

The score, 20-10, did not flatter South Canterbury: it richly deserved its comprehensive victory. The home side’s forwards, beaten for possession in set play, excelled in the rucks and mauls and in chasing the loose ball and the vigour and purpose they displayed throughout the game led to Canterbury’s decline from grace. The South Canterbury backs supported this sterling effort by tackling hard and often; as a result, Canterbury’s star-studded back-line spent a good deal of the game on the ground. New coach The man behind the upset win was South Canterbury’s new coach, Mr J. A. Dawson, a former West Coast and Southland half-back and a prominent member of the Linwood senior side in Christchurch in the 19605. “These guys are fast and clever, but they are only human and if you put them on the ground consistently you will have a good chance of winning,” he told his players before the game. Afterwards, a beaming Mr Dawson attributed his side’s victory to its unrelenting tackling, the non-stop drive of the forwards and the strong team spirit. Fearful battering Canterbury has rarely been under such pressure in recent games against its neighbouring unions. P. A. Peacocke, the new first five-eighths, spent more time in rucks than he can remember and men of lesser fortitude than K. J. Gimblett and W. F. McCormick would not have played on after the fearful battering they took from the South Canterbury tacklers. Canterbury had more than enough ball at its disposal to win, for R. W. Norton struck five times against the head in the scrums, as well as raking the ball back 22 times on his own loose-head. In the lineouts, the tapping of R. J. Lockwood, H. H. Macdonald

and A. J. Wyllie and the fine two-handed catching by K. J. Tanner gave the side an impressive 19-9 advantage.

But all this was in vain against the dedicated defence of the South Canterbury backs, admirably aided by the flankers, J. D. Darragh and M. R. Noble. Achilles heel By stifling Canterbury’s attacks close to the forwards, South Canterbury, to a large extent, protected its Achilles heel on the right flank. It was in this area that Canterbury scored its two tries, R. L. King being unable to counter the tricky footwork of M. P. Collins. South Canterbury led, 8-0, at half-time, and the margin should have been greater, for N. F. Twaddell missed six kicks at goal in the first 40 minutes. During the interval, the Canterbury forwards’ coach (Dr J. D. Stewart) addressed his men in such ringing tones that his words could be heard in the grandstand. His urgings had some effect, and, with five minutes to go, Canterbury closed the gap to one point, 10-11. Three minutes later, however, Davis was penalised at the put-in and Twaddell kicked the goal that mattered. Spirited rush On the call of time, Canterbury again yielded ground to a spirited rush led by A. D. Grant. McCormick passed forward to Gimblett a yard from the goal-line, South Canterbury won the scrum, and Darragh, held up by defenders, was pushed over for a try his his fellow forwards. Grant played an outstanding game for the home side, but all the forwards covered themselves in glory as they buffeted Canterbury from pillar to post. Noble was remarkably sharp in seeking out the loose ball, and P. Walsh was constantly showing the way in the tight. R. M. O’Reilly set a high standard on defence with his crash tackling of Gimblett, and his fellow backs faithfully followed his example. They were less impressive with the ball in hand, but K.

3. Tarrant showed good judgment at half-back, and King revealed considerable pace in scoring his try. Canterbury’s backs missed too many tackles for comfort in the early stages, and although they rectified this fault, their play was blighted by some poor passing and a lack of support for the ballcarrier. Only D. A. Hales, at centre, showed his usual attacking ability but he, too, found his opportunities limited.

Canterbury used McCormick far too much in an effort to break through South Canterbury’s brick wall. The Canterbury backs were too well contained, and neither Peacocke nor G. E. Taylor, the new players, had much cause for rejoicing. The forwards launched some promising movements; Wyllie and S. E. G. Cron combined effectively on three occasions to cut a swathe up the middle of the field, but support was lacking. Likely looking peels from line-outs were also attempted, with Macdonald leading the assault, but South Canterbury’s forwards were quick to check and smother these sallies.

W. K. Bush earned his spurs with a good tight game, and Cron was effective at the break-downs. But their efforts were not enough to deprive South Canterbury of the whip hand. Hard and clean The game was hard but clean, with the exception of a brief flurry of punches after Darragh’s try. The referee (Mr L. J. Harman) awarded 12 penalties to South Canterbury, and six to Canterbury. Unfortunately for the leading Canterbury players, the convener of the New Zealand selection panel (Mr I. M. H. Vodanovich) watched the game. His most vivid impressions were of the unrelenting pressure exerted by the South Canterbury forwards.

There is no chance of the South Canterbury players becoming swollen-headed after their win. “I will make sure of that at the next training run,” Mr Dawson promised. Scorers:—

South Canterbury: Grant, King and Darragh tries; Twaddell, a conversion and two penalty goals. Canterbury: Hales and Collins tries; McCormick, a conversion.