Last game a winner

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33942, 8 September 1975, Page 24

Last game a winner

In its last game of the season Canterbury Country proved that although it helps to have Rugby stars like Alex Wyllie and Doug Bruce amongst its ranks, it is still a very formidable side without its two leading players.

Showing considerable dash and spirit. Country beat MidCanterbury, 19-10, in a representative match at the Rangiora Showgrounds on Saturday. From the start the Country team made it quite clear to the small but appreciative crowd that its last game was going to be a winner. The forwards pushed well and the backs ran hard.

Showing possible strains from its match with Southland. Mid-Canterbury, although not making many mistakes, was considerably slower off the mark. Country’s enthusiasm showed when J. Taylor kicked a dropgoal after Country had forced Mid-Canterbury to take the early defence. However, the game then settled down to a series of tactical, but less interesting, line-outs. The forwards were equal in weight and achieved little headway in the scrums. The Mid-Canterbury backs were less sure in their handling. They were beaten several times by their opponents and it was only bad luck that stopped Country from scoring. , r, The tall J. Ross proved a

great asset to Mid-Canter-bury in winning the line-out ball, but unfortunately the backs when in possession kept the ball to themselves, allowing the Country forwards to seek them out. MORE LIVELY Mid-Canterbury brightened up in the second spell and play became more lively. Both sides missed chances, dropping the ball and being caught off-side. Mid-Canterbury put in still more effort after it had a few points. More running and chasing the ball was seen, especially by the winger, B. Whelan. The backs began to pass and support each other well. The result was almost a try, Country’s full-back, N. Dykes, clearing the ball just in time.

A highlight of the game was a break by the Mid-

Canterbury backs near Country’s goal line, followed by a beautiful dummy by the forwards, which allowed P. M. Keenan to score right between Country’s goal posts. But it was very much Country’s day. B. Higginson and B. Thompson dominated in the forwards, catching the high balls and holding them until support arrived. The backs looked good throughout the game; wherever there was a threat they were there. Dykes was a sure and accurate kicker, very much the cool and calculating fullOutstanding for MidCanterbury was the young P. McLeod, who scored his team’s first try. This was his second representative match fdr Mid-Canterbury; his first being against Southland, when he also scored a try. TEAM EFFORT

Country’s success was, as the coach. Mr A. E. Hopkinson, said, “a good team effort, the older players with the experience supporting the younger members giving them the chance to run the ball.” Mid-Canterbury never really got over its disjointed play in the first half, said the coach, a former Canterbury and Country captain, Mr N. G. Cornelius. Although the backs had “the legs” the team was “a bit dead up front.”

For Country tries were scored by G. Henderson and B. Thompson; a penalty goal, a field goal, and a conversion by Dykes; and a field goal by J. Taylor. For Mid-Canterbury tries were scored by P. McLeod and P. M. Keenan, and a conversion by'J. Ross.