Home games should help Canterbury

Press, 5 August 1976, Page 30

Home games should help Canterbury

~ By

RAY CAIRNS

The advantage of playing at home, even though some of the crowd is sure to be from the West Coast, should be a critical factor in Canterbury’s defence of the Rothmans rugby league championship today. Last season, Canterbury had to play four matches to earn the distinction of being the country’s leading league, and its four victories included the momentous 15-14 win at Auckland. On the surface, the path this year is much easier: only a home game against the West Coast and, if successful, a further home game against a North Island side, one of Auckland, Waikato, Wellington and Taranaki. But though its victory in June against West Coast on the Show Grounds, and a narrow loss at Wingham Park, Greymouth two weeks ago, argue a Canterbury win, its way will not be easy. 1 The referee is Mr Bill Mann, of Wellington, and there is historical significance in his appointment. Three years ago, when the Rothmans championship 1 was decided on a home and 1 away basis, and points for • and against came into the > reckoning in the case of ’ equal results, Mr Mann was i referee at Greymouth. And that was one of the many matches at Wingham » Park where the accuracy of ■ the timing has been called i into question: many will I swear that full-time was well and truly reached when West Coast’s Bill Johnsen scored his third try and gave Coast the over-all decision. But history still points to a Canterbury victory, and so does an evaluation of the two teams. Canterbury has ■ won the last six matches it , has played in Christchurch against the Coast, with margins ranging between five

and 36 points. Ironically, the last loss at home was in 1971, also in a Rothmans match, and also after extra time: the teams were tied at 27-all, and West Coast piled on another 16 points in the additional 20 minutes. Even without Bruce Dickison and Bob Jarvis, Canterbury has a more incisive back-line. Michael O’Donnell in the first match between the teams, was a splendid complement to the threequarters, running into attacks with great speed and sureness, while not neglecting the defensive functions of a full-back.

The three-quarters, Eddie Kerrigan, Mocky Brereton, Leon Paskell, and Lewis Hudson, are strong determined runners and such is the individual form of each that the absence of even the skilled Dickison may barely be noticed.

Inside them, David Field makes his debut under exacting circumstances. It is a crucial match for Canterbury in what has been a difficult season, and Field’s captain and scrum-half, Wally Wil-

son, has by no means bet at his best.

Injuries have played a part in Wilson’s indifferent form, but such is his tenac ity of purpose that it woult not surprise if he was back to his best. One of West Coast’s strengths has been in its halves, especially Gerard Harcourt, and it would bt playing to Coast’s greater strength if Harcourt left the three-quarters to a defensive role and kept play around his robust forward pack.

The West Coast front row of Bill Hargraves, the captain, John Griffin, the hooker, and Kevi Fraqklin, has an important psychological edge over Canterbury. Griffin won the scrums handsomely at Greymouth, in part because of the indifferent refereeing, and held his own in the previous game. One potential finalist will be decided tomorrow at Po rirua when Wellington plays Taranaki. The winner will play the winner in the Auckland v. Waikato match three weeks later.