Another title for Chch

Press, 9 August 1976, Page 26

Another title for Chch

“Boys, we will need 21 points today if we are to beat University.’’ With that remark at Lancaster Park yesterday, Mr Ruk Wainohu, the Christchurch coach, joined Dr Doug Smith as a rugby soothsayer of note. His team scored exactly 21 points — in reply to University A’s 10 — to carry off the senior inter-club championship for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. The Christchurch captain, Jerry Rowberry, had his hands full at the presentation ceremony after the match. He received the Canterbury Savings Bank Trophy from the deputy president of the bank (Mr I. D. Howell), the Fletcher Humphreys “Player of the Day” award from the president of the Canterbury Rugby Union (Mr C. H. J. Rhodes), and, along with his fellow players, a gold medallion to mark the title win.

The rewards were richly deserved by a side which, once again, demonstrated its remarkable ability to rise to the occasion. Although it qualified in fourth place at the last gasp, and had a playing record inferior to University’s in the preliminary round, it grasped its chances firmly in the final to leave no doubt about its supremacy. Christchurch’s sense of the dramatic enabled it to cap its triumph with a bold, impudent movement with yielded a brilliant try after 85 metres of hard running in the final minute.

Trailing by 10-15, University was throwing all its resources into a last-ditch effort to gain a converted try. But the Christchurch hooker, Mick Powley, wrenched his way clear of a maul and with Bruce Cochrane (twice), Rowberry and Richard Wilson al! chiming in, a try was secured for Scott Cartwright at the other end of the field. The first half gave little indication of the spectacular exchanges which were to mark the last 40 minutes. A crowd of about 5500 watched a close-to-the-chest struggle in which Kevin Jennings and Peter Cook concentrated on keeping the University forwards on the front foot with angled punts, while Wilson, just as firmly, sent them back with sound fielding and strong line-kick-ing. Two penalty goals by Wilson in the last five minutes of the spell gave Christchurch a half-time lead of 6-0.

The game sprang to life midway through the second half when the competition’s top try scorer, Randall Scott, crossed the Christchurch line twice, after clever play by Jennings on each occasion. But sandwiched between these efforts was a try by Cochrane for Christchurch, after University had been hoodwinked into expecting a

blind-side thrust. Wilson and Joe Hanna sprinted on the open side to give Cochrane his chance, and Wilson complemented the effort with a fine conversion from the side-line. Ten minutes from the end, after a strong run by Murray McEwan for Christchurch, Cochrane caught a clearing kick by Cook and calmly drop-kicked a goal from a wide angle. The result of the kick brought great joy to Cochrane, for he had a longstanding bet with his fellow wing, Cartwright, as to which man would score first with a drop-kick. “I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome," Cochrane said. “Most of my kicks go along the ground.” Christchurch won against the odds, for it gained only 38 per cent of total possession and was drubbed in the rucks, 19-3. In addition, John Black, the University hooker, won the game’s two tight-heads. But the Christchurch defence had a cast iron quality about it, and when University broadened the scope of its attacks in the last quarter, the ball carrier was usually put firmly on the ground. Christchurch adopted a loose formation in midfield to persuade University to probe for gaps rather than move the ball to its highscoring wings. The tactics worked, /for Rowberry, Ray Waghom and McEwan were always sure on the tackle. McEwan damaged a leg muscle in the first half, but played on courageously to give Christchurch a strong hand in midfield. Less fortunate was John Mill, who broke a bone in a hand 15 minutes into the second spell. His replacement, Mark Treweek, who received a severe knee injury last week, lasted only 13 minutes and a third flanker, Roger Barnett, saw out the game. Dennis Waller and Tony Porter applied themselves willingly in the tight for Christchurch, and Tony Penny’s sagacity meant much to the side in tight comers.

Ray Scott led University spiritedly, with John Edmondson and Gary Brown making strong contributions in all sectors and Jennings having a big say in dictating the trends. Doug Heffernan produced some strong kicks, and was unlucky when a 50metre drop-kick struck an upright in the eighteenth minute of the second half. But for all its possession, and its undoubted resolve. University made less impact on attack than its rival. Christchurch seized its chances avidly, and that is why it is still the champion team.

For Christchurch: tries by Cochrane and Cartwright; a dropped goal by Cochrane; two penalty goals and two conversions by Wilson. For University: two tries by R. F. Scott; a conversion bv Heffernan.