South wins, but North backs better

Press, 13 September 1976, Page 17

South wins, but North backs better

PA Hamilton Most of the North Island backs enhanced their chances of touring the Argentine in the inter-island rugby union match at Rugby Park, Hamilton, on Saturday.

Although losing 16-20 to a gritty South Islam. side, North backs showed more dash in a game which contained some brilliant rugby. The five-eighths, Murray Taylor (Waikato) and Mark Taylor (Bay of Plenty), indicated they were N: ’ ~ land’s backs of the future with some classy play, the centre, Eddie Stokes (Bay of Plenty), did nothing to damage his reputation, a ‘.*’e wingers, Ken "ranger (Manawatu). who scored twice, and Stu Wilson (Wellington), had their moments.

The full-back. Greg Rowlands (Bav of Plenty), who was a contender for the South Africa tour, had a bad day w-’o his goal-kicking but generally played a sound game. Of the South Island backs, the winger. Scott Cartv. right (Canterbury) and th” fullback. Richard Wilson (Canterbury) were most impressive.

In an c tertaining game, South Island cd three tries to North Island’s four, led 7-4 at half-time, and managed to come out on top after a second half in which North seemed to have the upper hand. It was a tough fon rd battle, the North Island more than holding its own against a strong South unit. North took the line-out count, 2413, but lost the rucks, 9-16, and the South Island’ hooker, John Black (Canterbui.), took the only tight-head of the game. Early honours went to South Island with a good try to the winger, Brian Ford (Marlborough), ant' a Wilson penalty goal in the first quarter hour.

But it was an even spell, North settling down and taking on South in all departments. After 20 minutes, North Island closed the gap when Granger scored in the comer from a Rowl Is break.

It was an action-packed start to the second-half with the Bay of Plenty midfield players. Taylor and Stokes, piercing the South defence, and Steve Marfell (Marl-

borough) having one or two good runs for South. North began to dominate and despite some poor service from the base of the scrum by the half-back, Jc k McCarrol (Hawkes B ' had South Island in all sorts «.f trouble in the middle stages of the spell. Early solo tries by the first five-eighths, Murray Taylor and Granger, within two minute of each other gave North a 12-7 lead after eighteen minutes of the secon half.

But it became anyone’s game once again when the speedy South Island winger, Scott Cartwright, ran around the North Island defence to score near the corner three minutes later. Then the South first five-eighths, Tony Goddard, who was having his handling lapses burst through to score and put his side ahead again.

Right on full-time, Bay of Plenty’s Taylor scored another of the game’s outstanding tries. He capped off a fine game changing direction three times to score midway between the posts and touch.

A conversion would have put north one point ahead but Rowlands could not find the posts. South drove down to the North line from the kick-off and Goddard snapped over a goal from the field to provide the finishing touches to South’s victory. The North Island

flanker, Graham Mourie (Taranaki), was the best loose forward in the field with the South side’s man, Lester Rutledge (Southland) close behind.

Andy Hayden (Auckland) featured in the line-outs for North and his locking partner, Graham Coleman (Wanganui) and props, Robbie Stewart (Hawkes Bay) and John McEldowney (Taranaki), all did good wbrk.

For South Island, the Otago props, Paul Sapsford and Lindsay Clark, and the lock, Bill Anderson (South Canterbury), were hard working in the tight.

Scorers were: For South Island; tries by Scott Cartwright, Tony Goddard, and Brian Ford. Conversion and penalty goal by Richard Wilson and a drop goal by Goddard.

For North Island, Granger (two) Murray Taylor, and Mark Taylor tries.