Tough start to championship

Press, 25 May 1977, Page 42

Tough start to championship

By

JOHN BROOKS

Improved ball control and steadfast tackling by the Canterbury players will be necessary if the team is to open its national rugby championship campaign successfully in the match aainst Marlborough in Blenheim today.

Errors of omission and commission were made in both these fields by Canter bury in its first outing of the season, against Queensland, and Stan Hill and Gerald Wilson, the coaches, have been at pains to tighten up the performance of the side with Marlborough in mind. Hill vividly remembers the last Canterbury appearance at Lansdowne Park, in 1975. Marlborough won only 18 per cent of the ball — and, indeed, gained possession a mere three times in the second half — but scored six tries in a record 41-17 win.

Canterbury used Alex Wylie to serve the line-outs that day and the backs ran the ball willy-nilly. With the Marlborough flankers, Dave Neal and Brian Dwyer, released from the forwards to bolster the mid-field defence, Canterbury finished most of its movements going backwards at high speed. There were periods in the Queensland game in which it appeared that Canterbury was running the ball with a similar lack of purpose. But it was the team’s first assignment and there was a desire to try a few moves and achieve understanding among players. In the first match of last

season’s Radio New Zealand first division contest, Canterbury beat Marlborough at Lancaster Park. It should be able to repeat the feat today because of the strength and experience of the pack, the steadiness of Lyn Davis and Doug Bruce in the pivot positions, and the knowledge gained from defeat by Queensland. But Marlborough must have benefited from its games in Australia recently, and it will prove a lively opponent. A mobile pack, an enterprising half-back in Allan de Joux, and a threequarter line with exciting attacking qualities could make Canterbury’s task a difficult one.

Ten of the players on display took part in the All Black trials in Wanganui earlier this month, and they will have an additional reason to excel. Two South Island selectors, Messrs J. M. Finlay and M. J. Dixon, will watch the game. The teams are:—

Canterbury.—R. G. Wilson; S. C. Cartwright, D. J. Stewart, R. F. Scott; M. R. McEwan, O. D. Bruce; L. J. Davis; A. J. Wyllie (captain); S. I. Purdon, D. M. Thompson, V. E. Stewart, A. R. Harvey; J. C. Ashworth, R. W. Norton, W. K. Bush. Marlborough.—B. W. Hunter; J, Davie, S. W. P. Marfell. B. R. Ford; K. R. Hodges, R. Gordon; A. de Joux; B. Kenny, B. P. Dwyer, T. Macdonald, J. H. M. Love, D. W. Neal (captain); J. W. Joseph, K. Sutherland, G. Harrison.