University sights on title after Linwood crushed

Press, 26 July 1976, Page 13

University sights on title after Linwood crushed

A powerful, highly disciplined University A team displayed the form which might bring the club its first outright senior rugby title in 11 years when it systematically demolished Linwood at Lancaster Park oval or Saturday.

University was the! only team to beat Linwood in the preliminary round-robin series, and it confirmed its superiority by trampling over the to)>ranked side, 24-0. It was only the second) occasion in eight seasons on! which Linwood had failed to; score a point. The University half-back, Peter Cook, won the Fletcher Humphreys “Player of the Dav” award, but the stunning victory reflected great credit on all members of the winning side. University’s opponent in the grand final for the Canterbury Savings Bank Trophy on August 8 will be either Linwood or the holder, Christchurch, which beat High School Old Boys, 10-3, in a spectacular semifinal match. Linwood and Christchurch’ will depute the preliminary final at Lancaster Park next Saturday. NOT IN CONTROL Although Linwood set up I rucks splendidly and dominated 1 the tussle for second phase pos-l session, it tailed to .ake control of the match. The University forwards were remarkably resilient. the defence was sound, and the backs exhibited superior pace end polish. University achieved a 10-0 lead in ti e first quarter, and clung to this advantage with determination as Linwood attacked vigorously in the second quarter. But Linwood’s confidence was bt.dly shaken when a deft feint by Xeii Mackie gave Wayne Lewis an overlap, and a try, from an orthodox back movement in the fifth minute of the second half. From this point, Linwood’s

j anxiety led to errors,, and evenll I the experienced Fergie McCorm-h ■ ick gave away two penalties! which his successor as Canter-(< bury’s full-back. Doug Heffernan, H turned to profit for University. H Heffernan produced good kick- I ing form, goaiing four times ( and narrowly missing once from ; seven penalty attempts. All his •, i goals were from careless Lin- i ( wood infringements. The University pack gave a I convincing performance in the,. ! loose—with Ray Scott proving a ’ constant source of inspiration— • and it held the upper hand in . set play. Gary Brown and Colin Donald jumped energetically to give University a 20-9 advantage < in line-out possession, and John Black claimed three tight-heads ! int he scrums before retiring injured at half-time. Cook and Kevin Jennings operated efficiently behind the forwards, and Jennings’s well directed punting kept his side rolling ! forward. The outside backs displayed better judgment on attack than their rivals, and their sharp running and devoted backing up contributed handsomely to the victory. On defence, too. University performed creditably, with Neil Mackie providing plenty of stiffi uning in mid-field. He lowered I McCormick with a copybook tackle, and caused Dave McGuigan to retire with a red-blooded - example of aggressive defence. Linwood played tolerably well, but found success elusive. Its ■ best moves yielded territorial • 'gains, but University contained I the thrusts and tied up the ball ■to prevent further advances. I John Phillips, with ball in hand, was constantly to the fore - for Linwood, and John Ashworth I bowed to no-one in the tight. ‘ But Gary Overend was unsettled at times at half-back. I and tlie back-line seldom moved ; with authority, although Shane - Gibbons did his best to fashion I profitable moves. Not even Peter Jellyman could I save Linwood on this occasion. »[University cut errors in its own Li half to a minimum, and only once ; | was Jellyman able to try for , goal. FLUID GAME i' Fervent supporters provided a (fitting backdrop for the fasts’moving, entertaining game be-

tween Old Boys and Christchurc at Lancaster Park oval. Old Boys’ supporters encou aged their team with haka while the Christchurch conth gent displayed a red shield whic bore the words “Christchurch champion ciub is here.” Apart from a period of r itrenchment in the middle m I the second half, the match was played at an exhausting pace. I Both sides attacked with gusto ■ and although Old Boys exhibited •greater flair with the ball h hand, the Christchurch defend met its demands convincingly. Imaginative back moves, i which full use was made of tlu strong-running full-back, Pete Buck, and well-supported for wards thrusts built on Stuart Purdon’s extraordinary capacity for non-stop action, gave Old Boys many scoring chances. But the Christchurch cover defence worked overtime to seal off the goal-line, and such was its efficiency that Old Boys were denied even one try. Richard Wilson scored all the winner’s points, with his second penalty goal being the highlight. He required attention after being flattened by an early tackle, but climbed off the deck to kick the penalty goal from 45 metres. Long line kicking and excellent positional play were features of Wilson's display. Assertive defence by Murray McEwan in midfield also helped Christchurch greatly. Up front, Christchurch encountered determined opposition from the mobile Old Boys pack, but the strength of Tony Porter and Dennis Waller and the anticipation of Ray Waghorn—who endured a good deal of discomfort in staying Old Boys’ advances—helped the red and blacks greatly. Purdon and Alwyn Harvey were outstanding in the loose for Old Boys, and their work rate was exceptional. Support for the ball carrier was a feature of plav on both sides. The Old Boys’ first five-eighths. Terry Mehrtens. was shrewd and resourceful, and Darcy Palmer ran spiritedly. Ray Stanbury’s smooth, long pass gave the backline a fine start—but the Christchurch defence had the last word.