Canterbury shows its strength

Press, 4 August 1977, Page 32

Canterbury shows its strength

By

RAY CAIRNS

Winning possession almost at will, though not always tidily, Canterbury yesterday completed its rundown tb the Radio New Zealand rugby championship with a handsome 37-6 win over Mid-Canterbury at the Ashburton Showgrounds.

As in its victory 10 days ago at Greymouth, Canterbury’s performance was not unblemished, but it was a victory accomplished in a match that carried no real significance for the side, and it was carried out with verve, both back — especially — and forward. It was a triumph, too, for the University club. The regular wing, Scott Cartwright, a reserve for the day, said that Canterbury would struggle: no Christchurch club players were in the line-up! But Randall Scott, on the wing for Cartwright, and Doug Heffernan, replacing Richard Wilson as full-back, jointly scored 30 points.

Scott raced over for four tries — on the left wing usually occupied by Cartwright — and Heffernan not only entered the backline with sure judgment to cross the line twice, but finally found kicking touch to land three conversions. Nor did it finish there for University. Mark Romans scored a try of his own that was as well deserved an individual reward as any that will be seen: kicking ahead after a series of Canterbury-won rucks, and beating a plodding John McLay to the touch-down.

The Canterbury scoring was completed with a cool dropped goal from Doug Bruce, and for Mid-Canter-bury, Geoff Bryant scored a try and Murray Straight kicked the conversion.

Bryant’s try was his only high spot. Twice he was spoken to by the referee (Mr A. W. J. Lilley) for late and over-vigorous tackles; one against Heffernan was so

late as to be almost posthumous.

Enjoying a surfeit of possession — 60 per cent — Canterbury made wise and commendable efforts to give the backs their head. The backs again scored all the tries, usually on the flanks, with the wings, Scott and an ebullient Terry Mitchell, thirsting for work.

It had been a barren time for Mitchell in representa- ; tive football; he has not ’ scored a try at the top level I since returning from South i Africa last year. There should have been one yester- ; day, however, but Mitchell, who had done the lead-up ; work, was pushed out on the comer flag. i Scott’s speed and deft footwork made him a constant danger, and Shane Gibbons again gave his wings the room in which to move 1 with his sharp acceleration. The five-eighths, Don Stewart and Bruce, did all i asked of them. Romans

served the line with long, flowing passes, and eventually won a keen battle with his determined opposite, Alan Edge,

But even in such a swiftmoving back game, it was a forward who most took the eye. Dave Thompson is still a rookie at the art of loose forward play, but his energy and tireless effort took him always to the right place. He was at the heart of the Canterbury drive and forward attacks, and always at Alwyn Harvey’s elbow in the few defensive situations.

The line-outs were initially dominated by John Harwood, near the front, but as time wore on Vance Stewart established a stranglehold on the possession at No. 5, reducing his taller opponent, Jock Ross, to picking up the crumbs in this, his fiftieth game for Mid-Canterbury. Canterbury enjoys considerable line-out strength these days, with the locks’ efforts nobly complemented by John Ashworth and Thompson, and

, Mid-Canterbury had no counter, going down two to one. s But it was still an aggressive and eager pack in the loose, with Straight and the • captain. Grant Perry, at the i forefront. However, McLay, who earned a fine reputation I as a youngster, was a liabili ity long before he had to retire with an injury. Edge was all snap and i bristle, and frequently an elusive runner too, but the most notable feature of the backs outside him was the swiftness — too swift? —with which they were up on defence, and lan McLenaghen. had a shaky day. Mr Lilley awarded 10 penalties to Mid-Canterbury and six to Canterbury', but I spoiled an otherwise efficient ' display by whistling up the rucks with the ball just toi ground and in full view. And i he bewildered Thompson by | penalising him for playing a tackled ball before it touched the ground. Tane Norton won four, tight-heads to Perry’s two. |