Papanui advances to league final

Press, 1 September 1977, Page 28

Papanui advances to league final

By

JOHN COFFEY

Papanui will make its seventh consecutive Canterbury rugby league club championship grand final appearance on September 18 after narrowly beating Hornby 20-18, in the main semi-final at the Show Grounds last evening. However, Hornby’s title aspirations have not yet been extinguished. It now advances to the preliminary final on September 10, when it will meet Eastern Suburbs, a 24-20 victor over Linwood in the sudden-death minor semi-final last evening. Whichever of the other two survivors goes on to meet Papanui for the Pat Smith Challenge Trophy, the championship-holder will be assured of another strenuous encounter. Hornby led Papanui for the first 53 min of an exciting fixture, while Eastern pierced the traditionally firm Linwood defence for six tries. Both results could well have been reversed, so evenly balanced were the respective sides. In the end, the teams which claimed the most tries emerged triumphant but Papanui and Eastern were guilty of conceding penalties which could have cost them wins they otherwise deserved.

There was a familiar pattern to the late game. Hornby, as it has done against Papanui in previous matches this season, slipped away to a useful six point advantage. It was still in front until Mark Broadhurst, easily the most impressive of the Papanui players, ran powerfully to score well into the third quarter. At no stage was Hornby completely out of the reckoning, although a dropped pass provided the Papanui centre, Eddie Kerrigan, with an unimpeded passage to the try-line to open the margin to 20-13, with Bmin remaining. Hornby struck back and Wayne Wallace, the youngest and best player on the field, crossed by the uprights just before the end. Papanui had the better of its opponent in two vital, and related facets of the match. Its defence, at the

first line and in covering, spread wider than Hornby’s and was more forceful in its operations. Similarly, Hornby was not the equal of Papanui in releasing possession from tackles to keep movements alive.

But Papanui had a less satisfying tactic of deliberately obstructing when Hornby seemed poised to launch a try-scoring attack. The mathematical calculation that it was preferable to give away two points from penalties rather than a possible five for a converted try left something of a sour taste and was reflected in the referee (Mr W. J. Menzies) awarding 15 of the 21 penalties to Hornby. Brian Langton capitalised with six goals from nine attempts and another kick struck a post. Hornby, however, could not complement his scoring until the sixtyseventh minute, when Warren Wright, given his first real opportunity of the night, found his wing, Gary Moffat, perfectly positioned to touch down.

Generally, though, Hornby’s thrusts were blunted by the close attention of the Papanui tacklers. It could not off-set the combination of the Papanui side when probing for the line, manoeuvres which diremly resulted in tries to W)d Walker, Broadhurst, and Russell Seaward.

Papanui actually created more chances than it accepted. Broadhurst, in his only blemish, ignored an over-lap in the first spell, and Bruce Gardiner dropped the ball when unmarked on the wing. Only courageous covering by Robin Alfeld (twice) and Moffat prevented Papanui from increasing its total after breaking through. Wallace, at 18 years of age, should have a memorable career ahead of him. He was the moat enthusiastic of the Hornby forwards in racing onto the passes of his captain, Wayne Robertson, and his defence was unyielding. Wayne Bunn also put sting into Hornby’s penetration and Alfeld, Moffat, ar 1 Lex Clarke were in-

variably prominent in the backs. . ; With Broadhurst leading the way and Grant Findlay and Walker at his shoulder, Papanui had marginally the better of the forward exchanges. Peter Tairi and Seaward were elusive behind the scrum and Kevin Williams added four goals to his solid display at full-back Linwood held or shared the lead six times before it bowed to Eastern in the cur-tain-raiser. That it went so near to success was due to the dedication of its pack and particularly, the prop. Paul Truscott, who mustered a remarkable work-rate. Alan McNaughtan and Trevor Wong were also extremely valuable to Linwood around the play-the-balls and Wally Wilson and Lewis Hudson ' who kicked six consecutive goals for a final analysis of seven goals from nine attempts — were the equal of any of the Eastern backs.

In the final accounting, the verve of Kevin Murphy on the right wing and the pcwer of the prop, Terry Gillman. when surging for the try-line carried Eastern through. There were notable efforts also from their teammates, Tony Rushton, Bruce Murphy, Trevor Philpott, Barry Edkins, and Jim Churcher.

Eastern did not regain the advantage for the last time until Bruce Murphy’s try a mere 7min from full-time. It did have slightly the better of proceedings, though, and has a strong claim to again reach the grand final. SCORERS Papanui 20 (R. S. Walker, M. E. Broadhurst, E. S. Kerrigan, R. V. Seaward tries; K. P. J. Williams four goals) beat Hornby 18 (G. Moffat, W. Wallace tries; B. W Langton six goals). Halftime: Hornby, 8-7. Referee W. J. Menzies. Eastern Suburbs 24 (K. J. Murphy two, T. J. Gillman two, B. J. Murphy, T. W Philpott tries; B. R. Edkins three goals) beat Linwood 2( (P. McCone, D. A. Perkins tries; L. E. Hudson seven goals). Half-time: Linwood, 9-8. Referee: T. C. Houston.