Papanui not as dominant

Press, 31 August 1977, Page 22

Papanui not as dominant

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JOHN COFFEY

Papanui. for th* second consecutive season, was the front-runner throughout the Canterbury rugby league premiership, but the diminishing of its dominance will ensure that it cannot approach this evening's semi-finals with the aura of invincibility that it held 12 months ago. That Papanui took a more faltering path to the Massetti Cup on this occasion was emphasised by the loss of its extensive unbeaten record and its returning of only the third — behind Eastern Suburbs and Hornby — most impressive points-scoring percentage among the eight teams. Yet Papanui finished a decisive five competition points clear of Hornby over the three rounds and if managed to lift its standard sufficiently to finish ahead in each of its meeting*. with its two sternest rivals. i nere is no doubt that Papanui is still entitled to strong consideration, perhaps even warm favouritism. to complete another double by retaining rhe Pat Smith Challenge Trophy when the grand final is ' held at the Show Grounds on September 18. A victory over Hombv tonight would give it a direct passage to the final. Paoanui has a nucleus of players w r ell versed in the tense requirements of championship play-offs, more so than the younger Hornby. Eastern and Linwood squads. Of Papanui's 18 premiership wins. 12 were bv seven points or less and its coolness under p essure and the leadership of Rod Walker were quite often all that stood between the Tigers and defeat. However, even Papanui

could not continue to recover from deficits of as much as 14 points — the margin by which it trailed lowly Marist-Western Suburbs at half-time in one floodlit fixture — and the first positive chink in its armour was made by Linwood when it drew, 9-9, in the second round. Sydenham eventually prised open that dent and broke through for a 10-5 triumph, and Linwood went one step further by inflicting a 23-13 loss on Papanui. It might be a moot point, though, that a far more relaxed and confident Papanui XIII demolished Marist by more than 50 points on Saturday in a fine final rehearsal for the semi-finals. At last Papanui was back in the mood of 1976. The flair shown by Eddie Kerrigan in claiming three tries — to extend his premiership total to nine, compared with his record 30 of last winter — typified the return of the Papanui spirit. For much of the club programme, only the scrum-half. Ken Tait, and the wing. Russell Seaward, consistently attained their true potential among the backs. Their contributions were complemented by the steadiness of Kevin Williams and Donald Ambrose. and flashes of exciting form from Peter Tairi and Gary Taie. Apart from Rod Walker, the Papanui pack took considerable time to settle to its task. Grant Findlay. Mark Broadhurst and Angus McGregor were often below the impressive levels they attained a tear ago, but the solidity of Kevin Walker and Mike Godinet was of the utmost

benefit in the many close encounters.

Hornby improved one placing to be the runnerup, and the development of the young forwards, Wayne Wallace, Stewart Wells. Alan Rutherford and Dean Taylor, has more than justified the importation of the former Auckland players who sparked the club’s revival.

Wayne Robertson, still setting the example for his youthful partners, did not always receive full support from two other northern imports, Murray Wright and Steve Brewster, and the long absences of Wayne Bunn and Bob Jarvis because of injuries greatly increased Robertson’s burden. There is emerging promise in the Hornby backs, too, through the deeds of Robin Alfeld, Gary Smith and Gary Moffat, and the seasoned centres, Brian Langton and Warren Wright, provided Hornby with more authority in mid-field.

After a disappointing, if not surprising, start to the premiership. Eastern has hinted that the loss of several prominent players has not too much eroded its quality. If anything, its forward power has been increased by the further advancement made by Alan Rushton, Barry Edkins and Terry Gillman. Murray French and Graeme Cooksley continue to serve their outside backs efficiently, and it was to the team’s credit that it had the best scoring percentage — exactly 200. compared with Hornby’s 191 and Papanui’s 179 — in spite of a high turn-over of centre combinations. Dean Harris proved most effective in

mid-field, and Kevin Murphy had a purple patch in mid-wmter.

It would have been a matter of some regret had Linwood failed to qualify for the top four after its excellent displays against Papanui and its recovery after having been beaten five times in its first eight appearances. Linwood’s revival was based on a firming of its forward resolve, a joint venture carried out skilfully by Paul Truscott, Trevor Wong, Alan McNaughtan, Rex Dalzell, John Pattinson, Brian Candy and the youthful hooker, Alan Kerr.

As the competition progressed. So did the mark made by the newcomers in the backs, Tommy Lightfoot, Paddy Barker, Steve Rouse and Robin Hudson. The guidance of Lewis Hudson, Wally Wilson and Gary Morell completed a balance that will worry Eastern in the suddendeath semi-final this evening.

In spite of. and partly as a direct result of, the team building undertaken by Sydenham in the autumn, the side only occasionally lived up to its collective individual reputations. The club had some consolation in rising from the qualifying series to be the probable Gore Cup (bottom four) winner, and there should be more improvement next year. The value of the longserving Barry Bigwood. Dave Schultz and Steve Holden could not be under-estimated, and had Bruce Dickison not decided to retire prematurely it is probable that Sydenham would have attained a higher ranking. Mark Vincent, once he had sha-

ken off his ankle injury, Francis Lawrence, Kerry Corkran and Peter Sturgeon proved to be more than useful signings. Kaiapoi. the most injury-afflicted of all sides, faded after upsetting Eastern and extending Hornby and Papanui. There was much heartening form shown by Ray Howard and Keven Steel, of the backs, and John Greengrass, usually at loose forward, and Bill Morrison, in the secondrow. A number of newcomers promoted in recent weeks should consolidate their places next season.

The tailenders of the points table, Addington and Marist. have their premier status under threat from Halswell and Riccarton in the 1978 qualifying contest.

Grant Stocker was an important gain for Addington — most of its other former rugby union players are still finding their feet — and Mutu Stone was clearly its ouistanding performer, whether at the back of the scrum, stand-off half or in the centres.

Marist, weak up front, was not able to give the O’Donnell brothers and Mocky Brereton anything like full rein to attack. There was also a suspicion that its condition was lacking, so often did it out-score its opponents for 40 minutes and collapse dramatically during, the other half. Over all, the reduction to eight teams ensured many more closely-con-tested matches, if no obvious rise in the general standard. The very wet winter hindered back play, and it followed that a majority of the indivudals who consistently stood out were forwards.