13 points to Stead

Press, 24 August 1976, Page 6

13 points to Stead

David Stead played the dominant scoring role for Belfast, when it beat Lincoln College.! 21-7. in the last of the qualifying! matches in the D.C.L. Shield) senior rugby competition at) Denton Oval last evening. ) Stead scored one try, set up) another, drop-kicked a goal and; succeeded with three conversion! attempts — with both thei orthodox and the round-the-corner styles. The victory was Belfast's fifth! in section play; it will play New! Brighton in the final on the! same ground next Monday. I Last evening’s result was of), academic interest only. Belfast; had a lead of two competition < points from Lincoln College and would have won its section on a) count-back even if it had lost i to its rival. The game also caused College], some inconvenience, for several of its players had to return top Christchurch from agricultural field trips in the North Island. 11 Belfast began with a rattle, and « had 15 points to its credit in the I first 25 minutes. Its first scoring)

[movement um superbly! i executed; Stead found open I territory with a sharply angled i 1 punt, regained the ball after a (strong run, and fed Wayne Nut- ) brown. j Brian Kennett was in position for a quick from Nutbrown I and he ran 20 metres to score (between the posts. I But Belfast's performance (tailed off in the second half, although its forwards continued to win the ball regularly. Three I of the team's mobile forwards, ! Kennett. Bryan Mustchin and I Trevor Rusbatch, retired hurt, land Stead was less prominent 'when he moved from first five-); (eighths to full-back after injuring a hand. 1 Lincoln College won only 25L per cent of possession, and its:: I inside backs. lan Blake, Andy) Jefferd and Paul McFie.L received little latitude from a watchful Belfast defence. . However, one sharp break by< [Blake led to College’s only try, : scored by the No. 8, Gavin) i Ussher. The Belfast foru aids gave a <

| rousing display. They won th* 'rucks. 23-3, and the lineouts, 16-8. and the Canterbury hookei. Murray Hall, took five tightheads in the scrums. Tn broken play, Mustchin showed up with several powerful bursts, and Kennett, Hall and Viv Hahipen* also carried the ball forward purposefully. Bruce Bennett, the half-back, cleared the ball confidently, but in the second half Belfast lost several chances through switching play inside when the threequarters were poised to attack. Lincoln College macle a brave showing, contesting the forward struggles with a will and j attempting to make good use |of its infrequent attacking ‘chances. Belfast’s forward domjinance, however, made the outcome certain long before the final whistle. For Belfast: tries by Stead, i Kennett and Peter Sheehan ■ dropped goal and three conversions bv Stead. | For Lincoln College: try by i Ussher; penalty goal by Brett