CANTERBURY CRUSHES OTAGO, 23-9 McCormick the hero in bruising shield battle

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33033, 28 September 1972, Page 30

CANTERBURY CRUSHES OTAGO, 23-9 McCormick the hero in bruising shield battle

(By

J. K. BROOKS)

It was Fergie’s match; and the Ranfurly Shield stays in Christchurch.

Otago’s unsuccessful bid for the prized trophy at Lancaster Park oval yesterday will long be remembered for the intensity of the forward struggle and the tenacity of the tackling on both sides; for the courage shown by the injury-plagued Canterbury forwards; and for the grim determination of the backs.

But, most of all, it will be remembered for the magnificent contribution made by W. F. McCormick to Canterbury’s 23-9 victory.

The stocky full-back must have looked like Lawrence of Arabia to the Otago players as he burst through the clouds of dust which rose regularly from the rock-hard ground at the head of men who, if they did not utter wild cries, at least had a light in their eyes which reflected .dedication to a cause.

McCormick was the source of their inspiration. His booming punts for the line drew gasps of anguish from the • toiling Otago forwards; his goal-kicking was so accurate that the four points he required to bring his total for the province to 1000 presented no problems. And how he ran! Time and time again he thrust through the heart of the Otago defence, running with the strength and subtlety of a man 10 years his junior.

If the All Blacks are as well served in Britain by their full-backs as McCormick served Canterbury yesterday, the tour will be an outstanding success. Otago was a worthy challenger. The forwards played with the power and efficiency expected of Otago packs; to share the honours with them in the tight was an achievement for the Canterbury forwards. But for the crowd of about 33,000, there was disappointment in the display by the Otago backs. G. L. Colling, the captain and half-back, was not swift or certain enough in his dispatch of the ball, and the problems this caused rippled all the way along the back-line. Breaks by Bruce The Canterbury backs, in contrast, did remarkably well —remarkably, because the half-back, L. J. Davis, was subjected to intense pressure by the Otago forwards, especially at the line-outs. But the balance was restored by the first fiveeighths, O. D. Bruce, who played his best game for Canterbury. His swift breaks made a mockery of what had earlier appeared to be a castiron Otago defence, and his long, curling left-footed punts were acutely embarrassing to the visiting full-back, L. W. Mains.

Bruce exploited his first gap in the thirteenth minute and scored a fine try when Otago was on top. Canterbury’s half-time lead of 7-0 did not seem big enough for a side which had to play into the breeze and the sun in the second spell. But two splendid tries from planned moves in the first 10 minutes after half-time put the holder strongly in the ascendancy. A. J. Wyllie, the captain, scored the first from the back of the scrum after Davis had run wide and drawn the defending loose forwards, G. W. McGee and R. A. Roy, to his side. Crowning blow From the back of another scrum, Wyllie dummied to K. J. Gimbiett and fed Bruce. In the twinkling of an eye, the five-eighths sprinted through a gap and made contact with McCormick so expertly that a try by the centre, I. A. Hurst, was inevitable. That, to all intents and purposes, was the crowning blow to Otago’s hopes. But the challenger showed spirit in cutting back the daunting deficit of 17 points to eight by means of a whirlwind run for a try by the right wing, T. Morrison, and two sharply angled goals by Mains. Canterbury assessed the situation, discovered hidden reserves of stamina, and drove the challenger back through the heat and dust to a position from which McCormick was able to dropkick, with certainty, for goal. Rucks hard The forwards were the unsung heroes of the encounter. The rucks were hard, bruising affairs; the dust and the unyielding ground added to the discomfort of the participants. If a red badge of courage was awarded, W. K. Bush, the Canterbury tight-head prop, would have been a worthy recipient. He played with badly bruised ribs—a legacy of the All Black trials —but displayed great stoicism in battling his hardest in the tight. Only when Canterbury appeared to be in safe waters did Bush reluctantly leave the field. B. A. Thompson,

the Oxford prop, who had not previously appeared for Canterbury A, played in Bush’s place for the last 19min.

R. W. Norton also played in pain, from an injured leg muscle, yet he helped K. J. Tanner, Bush, H. H. Macdonald, and R. J. Lockwood greatly in the rucks and mauls. Fearless attacker Wyllie, like McCormick, was a dreadnought attacker, although he found the Otago defence prepared for many of his charges. S. E. G. Cron and J. K. Phillips tackled with a will and, in the backs,. they had an admirable ally in Gimblett, who sat many an Otago player on the seat of his shorts.

Hurst and R. J. Knight were sharp and eager on attack and D. A. Hales distinguished himself with some excellent clearances when Canterbury was hard pressed. Total possession was shared, but Otago gained a clear advantage in the lineouts through the well-timed jumping of K. Murdoch, at No. 2, and the lanky lock, G. A. Seear, at No. 5. In addition, the hooker, D. A. Pescini, who was supported by the All Blacks props, Murdoch and J. D. Matheson, shared the scrums with Norton. Otago backs Seear and McGee were to the fore when the Otago forwards pursued the rolling ball, and there was much to be admired in the manner in which the whole Otago eight thrust into the rucks. But the backs did not complement the forwards’ efforts. L. Colling’s uncertainty transmitted itself to L. H. Jaffray, normally a sound first five-eighths, and he was unable to get the line moving at speed. This was a great pity for Otago, as D. V. Colling, in two sparkling runs, showed himself to be a gifted attacker. Morrison, one of the country’s fastest wings, pined for chances. Mains was in considerable difficulties in the first half whenever Bruce kicked high with the sun behind him. Later, the Otago full-back made a better showing when he joined the back-line effectively. But he had no chance of making a good impression with his rival, McCormick, in such an irrepressible mood. No wonder the tough little full-back was carried shoulder-high from the field at the end of the game. For Canterbury: Wyllie, Bruce and Hurst, tries; McCormick, two penalty goals, a dropped goal and a conversion. For Otago: Morrison, a, try; Mains, a penalty goal and a conversion. Referee: Mr P. A. McDavitt (Wellington).