LINWOOD BEATEN Stage set for exciting climax to senior Rugby

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33254, 18 June 1973, Page 15

LINWOOD BEATEN Stage set for exciting climax to senior Rugby

It looks as though the Canterbury Rugby Union will be in luck with its new-look Harewood Trophy senior competition this year.

By not legislating for a grand final, the union hanked heavily on two finalists” emerging by themselves and New Brighton’s upset defeat of Linwood on Saturday has just about ensured this.

It was Linwood’s first loss and with five rounds of the competition remaining it has been joined by Christchurch at the top of the points table and these teams have still to meet.

Suburbs is third, half a point away, but it has still to have the bye, and it seems unlikely that any of the other teams will overtake the top two.

• Next Saturday, when Canterbury plays Wellington at Athletic Park, there will be a break in the Harewood Trophy series and, instead, there will be the first round of pennants matches. Ahead 6-0 at half time, New Brighton had to defend desperately throughout almost the entire second half to hold off Linwood. It was a tremendous victory for a team which has been battling for the last two seasons to get back to the top. The Linwood centre, P. R. Jellyman, opened his side’s scoring with a penalty goal and this gave him the three points he needed to become Vie first player in the senior competition to reach 100 points this season. However, with seven unsuccessful attempts at goal it was not one of Jellyman’s better days.

Another frustration for Linwood was when its wing, K. Hickman, lost direction over the goal-line and put the ball down in the dead-ball area. It was enough to make grown men — Linwood men, of course — cry. In the feature game of the day, Christchurch had one or two aqxious moments just after halftime before it could feel safe against Lincoln College. Christ- 1 church's first try was scored by Ito right wing, S. Cartwright,; and he now needs Only three: more to equal the post-war > record of 17 in a season, set; bv Y. Sakata (University A) in 1969. , u . Albion was narrowly beaten for the second successive Saturday when it failed to contain a much-improved Marlst side during the second-half of a match which contained some good football. University A kept its selfrespect by comfortably beating Its B team and High School Old Bovs, Suburbs and Belfast also had convincing wins. Belfast,; also had convieing wins. Belfast, however, gave its army of sup-; porters some worrying moments before it turned a nine-pointl deficit into a 12-point victory-. [

Results were:— New Brighton 10, Linwood 7. Christchurch 17, Lincoln College 0. Marist 20, Albion 18. University A 24, University B 7.

High School Old Boys 28, Burnside 6. Belfast 21, Sydenham 8. Suburbs 16, Shirley 4.

LINWOOD LOWERED Perhaps it was the presence of the Basil Brush mascot dressed in the New Brighton colours which spurred the seasiders to a thrilling victory against the unbeaten Linwood. From the start, New Brighton seemed an inspired team; there was a sense of urgency about the play of the forwards, while the b.loks—not noted for their attacking brilliance — quickly squashed any endeavour by Linwood.

New Brighton had gained a 6-0 advantage by half-time, but Linwood awoke from its lethargy in the second-half and camped inside New Brighton’s territory. Never lacking in enterprise, Linwood initiated move after move, but each one faltered

either through a misdirected pass or a handling lapse. New Brighton increased its lead to 10 points after 18 minutes of the sectod half when the Linwood backs were caught going in the wrong direction from a ruck. The left wing, T. White, made a strong burst on the blind side which resulted in a try to the No. 8, R. Kelly. Linwood was in complete command from that stage, but, failed to rc.jnd off its movements. The death knock was sounded 'lO minutes from the end, when I a perfect backlined movement resulted in K. Hickman crossing .New Brighton’s line unopposed. (Hickman, however, unbelievably, forced down In the dead-ball area. Linwood scored soon afterwards, but although it tried desperately for the last few minutes,, it could not score the winning points. For his ability to halt Linwood moves and initiate New Brighton attacks. G. D. Tanner earned high praise, while Kelly, E. R. Leask, and the untiring hooker, R. Davison, were little inferior. D. Rowe and J. C. Ashworth won a glut of ball for Linwood, but the backs—-although running impressively—were unable to finish their moves. The New Brighton inside backs, W. Dickson and R. E. Gearry, had excellent games and G. Shepherd and White contained their opposites most effectively. Linwood had its chances to win but the usually accurate P. R. Jellyman missed seven attempts at goal and W. F. McCormick also failed with a penalty attempt.

CHILTON STARS For a period lust after halftime, when it trailed by only one point and was doing slightly better in the forwards, there was a possibility that Lincoln College might upset Christchurch. However, then Christchurch restored to its play the order which had marked it throughout most c.f the first half and over the final stages there was never much likelihood of Lincoln College making up its lost ground. In set play there was not a great deal between the two packs and on two or three occasions the Lincoln College eight drove ahead with considerable skill. But when it came to profiting from broken play the Christchurch forwards were clearly superior. Christchurch also looked better equipped in the backs and although it found gaps hard to come by the line lacked little in either pace c.r penetration. Lincoln College, on the other hand, while being steady in its handling and passing could make little headway. The outstanding player of the game was the Christchurch No. 8, J. Chilton. He did an enormous amount of work in giving [cover to his backs and yet he was still able tr. show up regularly in the role of a forceful attacking forward. M. Powley and C. Cochrane were two energetic and constructive toilers in the Christchurch scrum, while the pick of the Lincoln College forwards were C. Shannon and R. Hart. The McEwan brothers. P. and M., were two resourceful fiveeighths for Christchurch and the wing. S. Cartwright, dispelled any suggestions that he was just a good finisher of moves by the manner in which he scored his try. He had very little room in which to work and the way to the line looked to be blocked, but somehow he fooled four defenders into letting him past. The Lincoln College inside backs. M. Fluker arid P. McMahon, combined smoothly, but things usually became muddled when the ball was moved out further. LONG WAIT The spectators had to wait in the extremely cold conditions until half-way through the second half before either Old Boys or Burnside infected any life into their match. Then, strangely enough, it was Burnside which brightened up play. Throughout the first half and for much of the second spell, play was scrappy with neither side being able to control the loose ball. If the Burnside forwards had not committed so many infringements in the scrums and rucks, they might have led their team to an upset victory for Old Boys lacked any real nenetration until late in the game. The Bumside backs, with some clever running by G. Dennison, clicked for a short period in the second half and on several occasions had Old. Bovs defending grimly. However. Old Boys’ star forward. S. I. Purdon. scored his second try against the run of nlay and this was all that was needed to break down Burnside’s resistance. For the last 10 minutes. Old Boys were firmly in control. For once they were able to control the loose hall and th* forwards, especially Purdon. A. Harvey and G. Glackin. were able to supply amnle ball to their backs. B. McPhail. Old Boys’ only representative in the Canterbury shield squad, had a fluctuating game. At times he was beaten by his opposite opponent, his passes were astray and he held

on to the ball too long, but on other occasions he was responsible for some enterprising moves, particularly when Glackin scored. However, McPhail missed some good ball because of I. Taylor’s persistence in endeavouring to find his own gaps. At times both sides found an easy way out by kicking for touch. Burnside often had to in defence, but Old Boys chose to at times when they would have been better served bv putting the ball along the back line. However, most of the kicking to touch was extremely good, even if it was not always tactical. Bumside’s full-back, R. Fulton, made few mistakes and kicked his side out of some tricky situations. Burnside could have found itself with more scoring opportunities had the backs not been so flat-footed. Their hesitation with the ball proved costly against such speedy players as Taylor and McPhail. M. Kaliouniviti (Bumside) has sufficient speed to outrun many of the Old Boys backs, but his handling was poor and this spoiled several promising moves.

BELFAST RECOVERS Belfast fought back from a nine-point deficit to gain control against Sydenham in the second soell and score a decisive victory.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Svdenham harrassed Belfast unmercifully and the half-back, M. Pepper, dictated play skilfully with his tactical kicking. He also kicked three penalty goals from wide angles. In contrast, Belfast failed to take advantage of its six goalkicking opportunities, two conversions and four penalties. But backed by the wind in the second-half. Belfast gained ascendancy in the forwards and with Its key attacker, P. Sheehan, moving better, the Sydenham line was under constant pressure.

Infringements and niggly play spoiled the match to such an extent that the referee found cause to award the alarmingly high number of 35 penalties—2l to Belfast and 14 to Sydenham. The Belfast lament was lack of a reliable goal-kicker; apart from the two dropped goals by P. Sheehan, there were nine other attempts by three players and only one kick—from in front —was successful.

Through M. Banks, A. Steele, and V. Hahipene. at the back, Belfast never lacked possession from line-outs. Hahipene, J. Cruickshank, and the alert B. Kennett, proved an effective loose forward trio, while the hooker. M. Hall, gave able assisttance and finished slightly ahead in the tight-head duel. Belfast was disappointing in the backs, and Sheehan, although making some powerful runs, was Inconsistent in this play. R. Higgs performed very capably in the Sydenham pack, and Pepper, especially in the first half. G. Tallott. and D. Blair were the best of tile backs. FORWARD STRUGGLE After opening with a lively display of attacking Rugby, Suburbs fell away In the face of some torrid forward play by Shirley. Early points from a try after a clean break by R. Kershaw converted by G. Stone, who then added a penalty, provided Suburbs with the encouragement to continue running the ball. Over eagerness by both backs and forwards led to numerous errors and Shirley gained some relief from penalties.

It was, perhaps, fortunate for Suburbs that S. Holden was out of touch with his kicking during the period of Shirley dominance prior to the Interval. Any one of several shots that went astray would have reduced the modest five-point deficit at half-time. Shirley had its troubles. Playing with a rearranged back-line, which had Holden at second five-eighths. W. Paulin at fullback and R. Appleyard, a forward, on the wing, the attack was hesitant and hindered by mishandling. , . The difficulty was compounded later in the game when the retirement of Paulin through injury necessitated further adjustments. Paulin had played well, with his long kicks to touch saving his forwards frequently. The urglngs by coach D. A. Arnold, to ‘'get the ball at toe and keep over it,” were finally heeded and Suburbs finally ran to a more comfortable win than the score suggested. J. Fleming varied his play intelligently and kicked shrewdly. His covering and backing up gave purpose to an often indifferent attack. Line-out play was indecisive and both half-backs, M. McOscar and B. Cook, were under constant pressure. G. Pullev led the Shirley pack by example and G. Burrow displayed vigour and courage In an extremely versatile display. A. Tweedie, who was rewarded with a trv, ran deceptively and stronglv but was handicapped by the disorganisation Inside him. 'Finally it was W. Meredith, E. Cutts, M. and P. Cron who led the Suburbs forwards back

as a compact driving force and here the credit for the win lay. BEST PERFORMANCE Marist gave easily its best display of the season to narrowly beat Albion in a game which maintained a fairly lively pace and was full of interest throughout.

Albion did most of the attacking in the first half, but in the second spell Marist improved considerably on what had been a fairly solid display in the first half and it dictated the play for almost the entire 40 minutes. Largely through the efforts of its very good line-out forward, E. Brown. Albion enjoyed a wealth of’ possession, but this advantage was offset by the speed and efficiency with which the Marist pack hunted out the ball in the loose.

Albion tried to launch attacks through its backs, but some poor handling in mid-field nullified many of the moves and except for the “gift” try it allowed A. Quested the Marist defence was fully able to cope. Marist relied heavily on the kicking of its inside backs, K. J. Lawler and B. N. Stewart, to keep it on the offensive and both placed the ball with precise judgment. It was a drop-kick by Stewart 10 minutes from fulltime which gave Marist the match. As well as Brown, whose general play was every bit as good as his jumping in the line-outs, T. Wenmotn and M. Eagle also worked tirelessly in the forwards for Albion. The best of the Marist forwards was the bearded No. 2 in the line-outs. P. O’Connor. He got some very useful possession and his bullocklng play often sparked a Marist drive. P. WaUs and K. Cowan served Marist tremendously well in keeping the Albion backs under lock and key. A newcomer to the Marist side, G. Wilby, at second five-eighths, had an impressive game and the right-wing, P. Gill, showed a sharp turn of speed in scoring his two tries.

R. Todd, on the left wing, once again looked the most dangerous of the Albion backs and just as he had done the previous week he was successful with all his kicks at goal. Both the full-backs, T. Mooney (Marist) and A. Quested, made some excellent takes under the high ball and Quested was always a potential threat to Marist when he elected to run with the ball.

COMFORTABLE WIN Because of the attacking strength of the backs, University A had little difficulty in defeating the B side.

When the ball was cleared quickly the A team looked very good, but too many line-outs and rucks were indecisive and the match, as a spectacle was disappointing. The first try scored by University A was a splendid effort. After J. Black had led a spirited forward rush down the sideline, the ball was won quickly from the ruck. The second five-eighths, B. Fauth, made the break for D. Faulkner to cross near the posts. After such a fine start it was a pity that the forwards were seldom able to give an equivalent service and it was not until the last 10 minutes when two tries were scored that the team recaptured its early brilliance. The University A forwards were well led by Black, and D. Ogle and R. C. Scott were tireless in the loose. The half-back, D. Morrison, combined well with his first five-eighths, K. Jennings, but further out promising movements came to nought through bad handling. P. Hennings and T. Suckling were the best of the University B forwards and the wing. M. Lake, scored a well-deserved try after some dogged defence. J. Phillips, at full-back, came through a difficult game, with credit.

Points are:— p W L D F A Pts Chch 9 8 1 0 250 105 8 J.inw. 9 8 1 0 208 92 8 Subs. 10 7 2 1 195 119 75 Univ. A 10 6 3 1 150 134 65 H.S.O.B. 10 6 4 0 154 94 6 L. Coll. 9 5 4 0 114 107 5 Bell. 9 5 4 0 108 105 S N. Bri. 9 5 4 0 87 112 5 Mar. 9 4 5 0 107 144 4 M.-Pap. 9 3 4 2 91 165 4 Syd. 10 3 7 0 118 163 3 Shir. 9 3 6 0 95 179 3 Alb. 9 2 7 0 116 139 2 Univ. B 9 2 7 0 90 162 2 Bum. 10 1 9 0 89 185 1