Johnsen puts Coast into Rugby league zone final

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33254, 18 June 1973, Page 3

Johnsen puts Coast into Rugby league zone final

(From

J. O. COFFEY

GREYMOUTH.

West Coast sports followers have for some years held the opinion that their representative Rugby league centre, W. K. Johnsen, has been treated shoddily bynational selection panels, and it is certain that their arguments will be strengthened in the light of Johnsen’s three tries in the 15-6 defeat of Canterbury at Greymouth yesterday.

A Kiwi trialist on several occasions without taking the final step to New Zealand honours, Johnsen positioned himself perfectly for each of his tries, the third — scored in the last minute of the match — eliminating Canterbury from further participation in the Rothmans interprovincial tournament.

The eight-point advantage Canterbury held after the first leg of the home-and--away tie was steadily whittled away by West Coast in the opening half. Johnsen gained two tries in this period, a conversion by R. J. Case bringing the teams back to level terms after 120 minutes of play. It was in this tantalising situation that the outcome wavered for half of the second spell. And when West Coast nudged its way to the aggregate lead, it was in somewhat controversial circumstances. The Kinsey report took on a new meaning to the crowd of more than 2000 when a line umpire, Mr W. G. Kinsey, stepped on to the field of play as the centre of action was near the opposite touch line. He reported to the referee (Mr G. A. Church, of Taranaki) that Canterbury players had been off-side at a tap penalty, and P. J. MacDonald goaled from a favourable position. MANY ERRORS Canterbury, which had held a territorial supremacy in the early stages before committing an almost incredible number of fundamental errors, finally raised its standard, and in quick succession I. J. Dalzell and P. R. Blackler crossed for tries to reduce the margin to 6-10.

Both touchdowns resulted from judicious passing bv R. S. Walker, the second coming six minutes from full time. Canterbury then seemed likely to lose the match but to advance past the zone stage of the Rothmans contest on points. Johnsen and his teammates had other ideas. Encouraged by the remarkable volume of support that only Wingham Park attendances appear able to muster, and the fine leadership of J. D. Hibbs, West Coast laid seige on the Canterbury line. Two up-and-unders caused concern as the Canterbury defence scrambled to clear. Then the break came. The powerful West Coast loose forward. A, P. Coll, enthusiastically threw himself into a knot of Canterbury opponents, stood firm as he was tackled, and slipped the ball to the unmarked Johnsen. When Case put over the simple conversion attempt, West Coast supporters and players rose in unison to greet the province’s first entry into a Rothmans southern zone final—to be played against Otago in Greymouth on June 30. ‘‘PLAYER OF MATCH” Johnsen, fittingly, had been named “Player of the Match” only a few moments before contributing his final try. It was similar in nature to those he had scored in the eighteenth and twenty-fourth

minutes—thoughtfully positioning himself to take the final pass from J. Birchfield and then G. V. Moore—as they drew the last remnants of the Canterbury cover. There was no doubt that West Coast was the better side in the firm and fine conditions. Its whole approach was more positive than that of Canterbury, with Hibbs, Moore, L. A. Grant, and Coll forming the solid core in a very effective forward pack, and Johnsen, K. R. Murcott, D. J. Monk, and G. R. Peters directing operations among the inside-backs.

The only satisfactory features of Canterbury’s backplay were the solidity of W. D. Beri at full-back, and the exceptional tackling of M. E. Morgan, especially, and Blackler. Solidity and keen defence are necessary requirements for any side, but only as a basis for launching attacks.

In possession, Canterbury had little to offer. Blackler made one long run and Dalzell found a gap or two. These efforts, however, were fleeting and did no more than inflict a few dents in West Coast’s wall of defence. Perhaps it was an omen that the bus carrying the Canterbury team to Greymouth should break down just a short way along its journey. There were similar mechanical gremlins in the workings of the side on the field, the taxing trip increasing its problems.

West Coast might well have boosted its total with another two tries. Peters twice kicked ahead in a thrilling chase which covered 70 yards and ended just a few feet over the dead-ball line, and Hibbs had the ball knocked from his grasp as he dived over. These were two of the few opportunities that West Coast missed. In contrast, Canterbury was without lustre. The forwards were comfortably contained by their opponents, and the inside-backs painfully slow in their delivery.

All of the trials and tribulations that West Coast Rugby league has gone through over the last decade were forgotten as Case kicked that final conversion. The spark of revival was mirrored by the time-keeper as he enthusiastically signalled full time before the match could be restarted, to end what, must have seemed like a terribly long final few ! minutes to Canterbury supporters. Statistically, there was a parity between the teams. The West Coast hooker, A. G. Gardner, edged to a 22-21 success over D. P. Brown in the scrums—most of which were very untidy—and the penalties favoured Canterbury by 17-15. For West Coast, Johnsen scored three tries, Case kicked two conversions and MacDonald a goal. Dalzell and Blackler replied with tries for Canterbury.