Clean-cut wins seen in D.C.L. games

Press, 9 August 1976, Page 15

Clean-cut wins seen in D.C.L. games

After the third round of the D.C.L. Shield matches on Saturday, New Brighton and Belfast have emerged as the likely section winners.

Belfast has a two-point lead in section two, after defeating its strongest rival. University B. In section one, New Brighton is only a single point ahead of Marist and these teams are to meet in the next round.

The Marist five-eighths, Bernie Stewart, was in exceptionally good kicking form, with a tally of 17 points, and he stands a chance of becoming another centuryscorer. His tally so far is 84, with two more matches to go, and possibly a final. Scores were: Section I New Brighton 28, Shirley 6; Marist 37, Hornby 3; Meri-vale-Papanui 4, Albion 0. Section II Lincoln College 14, Suburbs 7; Belfast 14, University B 6; Burnside 29, Sydenham 10.

FINE FORWARDS New Brighton Improved on Its substantial winning margin of the first round when it met Shirley in the main game at Lancaster Park Oval. New Brighton won by 28 points to six, and its performance deserved rather better than a chilled audience of some 300. Both sides tried to attack through their backs, and for the first 15 minutes Shirley, winning possession regularly from all sources, looked likely to offer a strong challenge. But once New Brighton’s pack won control, it was an easy passage to victory.

Shirley made too many mechanical errors, some of them forced on the players by New Brighton’s swift advance and hard tackling. But it was the ordered, concerted driving of the New Brighton forwards which did most to ensure victory. The forwards gave an impressive display and the backs were given regular opportunities. They took them well, excellent handling of a heavy ball on a sodden field contributing towards the scoring of six tries. /

Although Shirley was awarded 14 of the 19 penalties, gallantry was no match for strength and skill. The backs were hamstrung by New Brighton’s fast and efficient serving and Shirley was Bof errors in defence and tion. New Brighton a sound and confident team.

John Wilkins, Peter Nixon and Bruce Gibson had very good games, Wilkins winning the Fletcher Humphreys “player of the day” award. Behind them Graham Ellis was sharp and sure at half-back, playing one of his best games in a good season. Shirley’s line-out successes came mainly from Roger Smith, who also played with fierce application in the tight.

SYDENHAM BEATEN Although confidently tipped to score its second win of the season, Sydenham was outplayed In most departments by Bumside, and the winning margin was not flattering to the victors. Bumside showed much more purpose and control in its forward play, and monopolised possession for much of the game, particularly at the lineout where Paul Smart was a dominant force.

The outstanding forward, however, was the Burnside hooker, Paul McKay. McKay was seldom more than a few paces from the loose bail and consequently was responsible for setting up much of the possession won by Burnside in the rucks and mauls. The Sydenham effort lacked both purpose and appreciation despite the constant urgings of its half-back, Maurice Pepper, and once a few points behind Sydenham appeared to lose its enthusiasm as well, particularly in the latter part of the second half. EVEN STRUGGLE In a match characterised by bad handling and fighting by both teams and some inexplicable decisions by the referee, Merlvale-Papanui managed to clinch the game In the final few minutes of play. In spite of fundamental errors in most departments of play. It was a tense, hard-fought battle. In the early stages, Albion en-

joyed a Hon’s share of the ball from the line-outs and rucks. Craig Quested, the Albion halfback, deHvered some accurate passes to his inside backs who looked dangerous on occasions. As the match wore on, the Merivale-Papanui No. 8, John Mac Lay, and the lock forwards, lan Culpan and John Harwood, managed to tidy up play in the tight. The result was some fine, hard driving by the Merivale-Papanui pack. Harwood took some fine takes in the lineout, and Mac Lay made some fine runs from the scrums.

In the main, the teams’ packs lacked punch and drive. Rarely did the ball reach the wings — this being the result of some wild and dropped passes. Ironically, however, it was a fine back movement by Merivale-Papanui that resulted In the try. John Mac Lay peeled off from a scrum, thus creating the overlap, the ball was relayed out to the right wing, Norm Chase, who went in at the comer.

All the Merivale forward pack came out with credit. From the performance of the back line in the dying stages of the game it would seem that they potentially could be useful. Easy win Marist, victor by a modest margin against Hornby In the C.S.B. Trophy round, made no match of it when the sides met in their D.C.L. Shield fixture. Marist scored five tries In winning by 37 points to 3. Marist gave an attractive display, with its little half-back, Adrian Young, throwing long and accurate passes to get his backs running. Marist showed determined drive in the forwards, with Vance Stewart and Kevin O’Gorman in top form. Hornby matched Marist for periods, but lapses in tackling, and lack of thrust and pace in the backs, made Marist’s task comparatively easy. For Marist Bernie Stewart kicked seven goals in nine attempts, missing one very long one and having another, from the sideline, hit an upright. Peter McGrath on the -wing was all dqsh and determination. Brent Campbell, Craig Kennedy and Ralph Dixon did some sterling work in the Hornby pack and Kevin Wilson, although suffering the indfgnity of delaying the start through being locked in the lavatory, was a courageous and efficient halfback.

BELFAST IMPRESSIVE A Strong and cohesive forward pack which dominated play from the outset was the decisive factor in Belfast’s win over University B. Belfast’s forwards were particularly adept at winning the ball from broken play and the manner in which the ball was delivered from rucks was extremely effective. This secondary phase possession had a twofold effect on the match. Not only, did it give the Belfast backs increased confidence to run the ball but also denied University the chance to exploit its greatest asset, the ability to capitalise on broken play. Foremost among the Belfast forwards was Dave Thompson, who showed up both in the tight and loose, and he received sound support from Bryan Mustchin and Barry Kennett. Bruce Bennett, who replaced Wayne Nutbrown at half-back early in the game, served his backs well and Dave Stead was a calm and resourceful five-eighth.

Craig Shearer, the University first five-eighth, made the most of his limited opportunities and Derek Morrison was a capable half-back while Rick Hart was the best of the forwards. GOOD START A fine first spell In which the forwards gained good possession and the backs ran with purpose gave Lincoln College the edge over Suburbs. In this period of play Lincoln played with confidence and although the performance was not without error Suburbs looked a very ordinary team in comparison. The second spell saw an improved Suburbs’ team. The forwards were on even terms with Lincoln and the backs showed more Initiative but the eight point margin enjoyed by Lincoln at half-time proved too great to overcome. The Lincoln forwards were well led by Gavin Ussher who showed up in the loose and the tight and he received good support from Mike Direen. lan Blake at first-five-eighth handled well and dropped two good goals while Brett Codlin gave punch to the attack from full-back. Stocker was an enterprising full-back for Suburbs and the half-back Phil Thomas played adequately. The best of the forwards were John Macefield and Stewart Cron.

Competition points are:— Section W L 1 D F A Pts New Bri. 3 0 0 72 13 6 Marist 2 0 1 59 13 5 Shirley 2 1 0 38 38 4 Mer.-Pap. 1 2 0 11 38 2 Albion 0 2 1 10 17 1 Hornby 0 3 0 13 84 0 Section II Belfast 3 0 0 58 9 6 Lincoln Coll. 2 1 0 47 35 4 University B 2 1 0 29 28 4 Suburbs 1 2 0 28 27 2 Bumside 1 2 0 44 60 2 Sydenham 0 3 0 16 63 0