Papanui takes revenge

Press, 29 July 1976, Page 30

Papanui takes revenge

By

RAY CAIRNS

“Tigers, Tigers” went the chant from the stand at the Show Grounds last evening, and how magnificently they responded. Papanui walked tall in its crucial rugby league premiership match against Eastern Suburbs, and extracted harsh revenge for the beating it took in last season’s grand final. Papanui justified all the support from its loyal followers among the crowd of 2000, as it hammered home its second-half dominance in winning, 32-15. On the degree of Papanui’s secondhalf superiority, the margin was a shade flattering to Eastern Suburbs. The latter was but a shadow of the side that so humiliated Papanui in last season’s grand final — and it must have been a moment for Papanui to savour.

The win was as comprehensive as the score suggests, and the spectacle was worthy of a final. The first half was particularly exciting as for half an hour no more than three points separated the teams. The turning point came after Grant Findlay’s try, when he was splendidly put through a gap by his captain, Rodney Walker.

Eastern’s captain, Graeme Cooksley, kicked out on the full, Kevin Williams kicked the penalty for Papanui, and his team led 11-6 at halftime.

Eastern fought back to 8-11 immediately, but that was its last flutter. The Papanui scoring machine took charge, David Field providing splendid thrust from stand-off half, and Gary Taie playing the game of his life in the centres.

Walker was the outstanding general — he rises to the occasion in a major match, and Eastern had no-

one to match his consistency of effort.

Peter Cook and Terry Gillman tried hard to break through, but the Papanui tackling was always sure, save when Bruce Dickison was allowed to romp over for a simple try.

The curtain was raised on the main fixture by a fullblooded display from Hornby and Linwood, the latter not being done full justice by a 7-20 loss.

Again sadly depleted by injuries, Linwood for 50min played some of its best football of the season. It was a deserved half-time leader, by 7-2, and it was only in the final quarter-hour that its outstanding defence wilted in the face of Hornby’s continual pressure. The match was in two distinct phases. Linwood attacked with great willingness for the first 40min and tackled like demons. There were splendid penetrative efforts from the centres, Cliff Leney and Robin Turner, and Rex Dalzell, captain for the occasion and Jim Beam “player of the match”, led a sterling forward effort.

PAPANUI 32 (D. Field 3, G. R. Findlay, D. Ambrose, E. 5. Kerrigan tries; K. P. J. Williams seven goals) beat EASTERN SUBURBS 15 (B. I. Dickison try and goal; B. R. Judkins try and 3 goals; G. R. Cooksley field goal). Half-time 11-6.

HORNBY 20 (H. Hornbrook, W. A. Bunn, W. R. Robertson, E. Lewis tries; T. Williams 4 goals) beat LINWOOD 7 [P. Truscott try; L. Hudson 2 goals). Half-time, 2-7.

grand final series are:— Papanui and Hornby 4, East ern. Linwood, Kaiaopl, Addington 2; Marist and Sydenham 0,

MASSETTI CUP (Minor championships) W L F A pts Papanui 11 0 487 132 22 Eastern 8 3 382 129 16 Hornby 8 3 274 129 16 Kaiapoi 7 4 206 124 14 Addington 5 6 191 336 10 Linwood 4 7 193 247 8 Marist 4 7 160 275 276 8 Sydenham 3 8 147 6 Points In the Stars Travel