Leaders thin out in senior rugby

Press, 1 May 1978, Page 17

Leaders thin out in senior rugby

The list of unbeaten teams in the C.S.B. trophy rugby competition was narrowed to four on Saturday, but there is as yet no convincing evidence that any one of them may not soon succumb to its rivals, or to teams lower in the table. University A, Christchurch, and Linwood have won all four matches. Marist has had three wins and a draw, thus echoing its swift progress at the start of last season. But Christchurch won narrowly in the mid-week match and on Saturday University A was fully extended by a lively Sydenham team. Linwood won from a previously unbeaten team, High School Old Boys, in a very ragged and dull main match. Marist had little to spare in beating Albion, and Shirley lost its first game narrowly. But it was a good day for two of the teams. Hornby and Lincoln College each scored their first competition points and two other sides with prospects, Belfast and New Brighton, advanced their positions. The Fletcher Humphreys “man of the match” award at Rugby Park went to the Linwood lock, Robert Johns, who played a sterling game and kicked for goal efficiently. One of the day’s best performances came from the University A half-back, Gary Barkle, who was outstanding in his side’s entertaining game with Sydenham. He vindicated the judgment of the Canterbury selectors in promoting him to the Canterbury A squad— not that he is without rivals. Scores.— Hornby 9. University B 0. Belfast 7, Shirley 0 University A 25, Sydenham 17. Linwood 22, Old Boys 15. Lincoln College 19, Merivale-Papanui 10. Marist 16, Albion 13. New Brighton 12, Burnside 6.

RAGGER GAME Linwood was a deserved winner of the main match at Rugby Park, scoring three tries to none, but only the closeness of the scores lent much interest to the match. Playing against a very strong wind. Linwood dominated possession in the first spell, and the try it scored, through ies vigorous rucking and mauling in the first five minutes was a key factor in its success. Old Boys, scoring 15 points with kicks, had a six-point advantage at the interval and did not yield the lead until 15 minutes from the end of the match. If the Old Boys forwards regained equality in possession in the second half, there was no thrust in the backs. Linwood’s backs were also lacking In quality and with the second spell alone yielding 18 penalties, it was not a match to remember. In the most vital stages, Old Boys mishandled regularly and although the forwards rucked with marked efficiency in the last 40 minutes, they could not hold Linwood in the regular and prolonged mauls. It was Linwood’s strength there that led to the half-back. Graham Parrott, scoring the vital try after 65min. There was another Linwood try. but it came in the last minute of pljy- ...

Robert Johns contributed handsomely to his side's win. He was at top throughout the match, being in the heaviest going, and also showing ability when the ball was loose. His two goals kicked into the half-gale were inx aluable. Tane Norton took three tight-heads but lost one scrum against the head to the inexperienced Mark Toner, who has been a fast and efficient flanker for most of his rugby career.

Gary Fuller tn the tight, Alwyn Harvey with his swift reactions and football sense played well for Old Boys and in broken play Richard Wixon gave some thrust to a couple of attacks. He also dropped two fine goals. But Peter Rattray at first five-eighths had a most unhappy day. and the Old Boys backs rarely looked like defeating a thoroughly-organised defence. Graham Parrott delivered the ball well at half-back for Linwood. but even when Shane Gibbons came on as a replacement half-way thruogh the second spell. Linwood’s back line looked lumbering. BRIGHT DISPLAY Sydenham thoroughly deserved the handsome ovation it was given by University A after the early match at Rugby Park, for If it lost the game, it gave a particularly spirited and attractive performance. After playing with the advantage of a strong wind, Sydenham led the championship holder by four points at the Interval, and it did not seem to be enough to test University. But it was not until 10 minutes from the end that Unlversitv had the match firmly in its grip. University A was without some of its best players, but Sydenham won much credit for its showing in a difficult situation. Its forwards hunted like terriers, and the side showed a wholly admirable ability to counter-attack, often through the enterprise of the loose forward. Allan Duffin, and the talented half-back Wayne Tinker. . . „ , Svdenham certainly had its moments. It was six points up within five minutes, and after 13 minutes led by 10 points to 3. Des Fay scoring a try after a break bv Tinker had given the back line the look of thoroughbreds. It took only 11 minutes of the

second spell for University A to take the lead, but Sydenham came back with its second trv and was very much in the game almost until the end.

University owed its victory mainly to greater strength in the forwards, the splendid line-out leaping of Gary Brown, a quite superb service by half-back Gary Barkle — who scored two tries — and the efficient goal-kicking of Kevin Jennings. There were times when the University back line flowed into its movements with crisp and stylish passing, Barkle’sservice being superb. Very good use was made of Randall Scott, who twice raced into the line from the short side to score tries. Brown and lan Stewart led a vigorous pack, and University looked an attractive and efficient team. Sydenham had its bad moments. There was some weak tackling now and then, and a poor standard of mechanics among the forwards at times.

But Sydenham certainly has sp'rit. and it ontributed in large measure to a far more attractive game than the main match which followed it. Tinker’s passing, kicking and running were first-class and although he was under much more pressure than Barkle. he lost little by comparison. Brent Oetgen again impressed with his determined attacking efforts and his splendid tackling. The fullback, Ken Taylor, was efficient and if Duffin stood out regularly for his swiftness to seize a chance, his qualities as a link, Richard Higgs was dominant in the tight play. RECOVERY Although Albion gave a spirited display, Marist came back with a second half rally to take the game in a comfortable manner. With a strong wind in its favour, Albion began with energy and determination up front. Although it was hopelessly outclassed in the scrums, in the other facets of forward play it more than held its own.

Murray Davie, the Albion captain, won some useful ball at the front of the line-out, while Mike Gee fought hard in the tight. What ball Marist did win was often cancelled out by some fine defensive work from the Albion loose men. Two fine penalties from Murray Straight, one from nearly 50 metres, and an intercept try gave Albion a 13 to 3 lead, and the prospect of an upset victory. The second half saw a change of fortunes however, with the Marist backs emerging from obscurity, and with the wind behind them, looking a powerful force. Adrian Young assured his outsiders of plenty of good ball. His long accurate passes from half-back set things off in an attacking manner. On the wing, Dave Direen scored a good try, while the positional play from Marist’s full-back, Brian McLean was flawless.

Although Marist threw’ away a lot of opportunities with some very basic errors, it certainly looked the better team. Its forwards, especially in the scrums where locks Vance Stewart and Kevin O’Gorman kept things stoked up. were clearly superior, while in the backs Marist moved with more determination and cohesion. HORNBY AT LAST Hornby had its first victory since June 4 last year when it toppled University B at Lancaster Park south. It was a welldeserved win, following the valiant showing against pow. erful Linwood a week earlier. The handful of Hornby followers were ecstatic at their side’s fairytale start — nine points in the first nine minutes, with the ebullient Sam Hale potting a goal from 35m and then carving through a disorganised defence for a try, converted by his brother Fred. That was to be the end of the scoring, but not the end of Hornby’s attempts to play bright and enterprising football. The backs moved the ball willingly through the chain, with Anton Wils always up from full-back to make the extra man. It was entertaining stuff, and although some careless errors were made, the efforts of Willie Pirini, Sam Hale and Trevor Hayton, in particular. sorely troubled University. The students’ approach was exceeding!' low key until the last 15min when the pack began to drive with gusto, and it established a permanent base camp for attacks on the Hornby 22m line. But although it received five of its 14 penalties in this period, it gallantly scorned kicks at goal and instead tapped and ran — all to no avail. An odd sidelight on the game was that although Mr Tom Doocev awarded 18 penalties in the match, not one attempt was made to kick for goal by either side. Brent Campbell and Robert Webster played steadfastly in a much improved Hornby pack, and the versatile Howard Wilson moved from flanker to hooker and took six tight-heads to one. Neville Wilson, the half-back, excelled on defence and Wils, at full-back, caught everything University fired at him. The University defence did well to contain the free-running Hornby backs: Neville Brow-n was particularly sound at fullback. But erratic clearances ruined the team’s attacking chances, and Phillip Holstein’s excellent handling and quick re-

flexes saved his team from embarrassment. BOGEY LAID Oave Straker had a point to prove to at least one spectator at Lancaster Park south when he kicked the decisive goal for Belfast against Shirley 10 min from the end of the game. “Remember Varsity A last week,” called the spectator as Straker began his run-up. It was a harsh reminder of the Belfast full-back’s costly last-minute failure against University the previous week. But on this occasion Straker kicked a fine goal from 45m to clinch the match for Belfast. It was a game in which much energy was expended, but not much achieved. Andy Karatea scored a try for Belfast in the twenty-seventh minute, and that was the only score until Straker’s goal. But, in between times, Belfast rucked and mauled expertly and the greater cohesiveness shown by its forwards brought it a two-to-one advantage in possession.

Shirley played solidly but without inspiration, and did not look like a side with an unbeaten record. Steve Scott started some promising thrusts, and in the final quarter, the previously neglected Norm Chase was brought into the play with encouraging results. Generali}', however, the side’s ball control was not good and passing problems in midfield spoilt moves.

The strong leadership by Dave Thompson was a significant factor in Belfast’s win. He did not want for willing helpers up front, and the veteran Brian Kennett was among the most useful contributors.

Teddy Davis was a sharp and enterprising half-back for Belfast and figured in much of the play. The other back to earn credit was Ray Eustace, who moved sharply on attack and was consistently sound on defence. WIND PROBLEMS

The firm turf at Burnside Park promised a fast, entertaining game but it was the wind which was the deciding factor and New Brighton adjusted better to the blustery conditions.

As a spectacle the match was disappointing, the conditions making constructive play almost impossible, and the result was in the main a hard forward slog with kick and chase tactics from the backs.

Burnside matched Brighton in the tight forward play but Brighton showed greater control in the loose and gained ground with hand to hand passing and aggressive running. The pick of the Brighton forwards was Paul Goosey who showed up in all aspects and solid support came from Devin Power and Paul Bell. The Brighton backs kicked to better purpose than Burnside and the first five-eighths, Wayne Burleigh, frequently had the defence scrambling with well placed punts. Outside him Derek Davidson also played well, chasing tirelessly and handling safely while Dave Bowick was a solid full-back who kicked accurately at goal.

The Burnside forwards, with Graham Church and Patrick Dougherty to the fore, worked hard but gave away too many penalties in the rucks and mauls. Apart from one spectacular move when Donal McKenzie ran 60m to score from a quickly taken drop-out the Burnside backs looked lethargic and did not cope with the wind as well as Brighton. EVEN GAME As discernibly the better team especially in the forwards, Lincoln College deserved its win over Merivale-Papanui — but not by quite such a decisive margin. Merivale-Papanui’s luck was out wnen it was given first use of the wind mat blew with considerable force across the open plain of Nunweek Park. It capitalised sufficiently to have me only points, from a try, at halftime, out a penalty attempt from in front of me posts was a costly failure.

Wim the wind at its back, Lincoln college was more assertive and after getting ahead, 13-4, it seemed to nave little cause tor concern. Bui lowarus the end, Lincoln College tirea quickly and Merivale-Papanui struck back wim a converted try that revitalised its hopes.

Although under some pressure in me dying stages, Lincoln College held its leaa through a stout defence, but it was lucky in the extreme to turn a rather untidy movement -Into a last-minute try, which when converted added insult to Merivale-Papanui’s injury. The try, the second scored by the wing, Alike McCurdy, was legal enough, but In changing course to follow the scorer, the referee, Mr T. M. Hannan, twice came between Ryan and a defender about to pounce. It was, as Mr Hannan explained to the irate sufferers, simply bad luck.

John Patterson, Rob Crawford and Andy Hollander injected plenty of life into Lincoln College’s forward play but the backs used good ruck ball indifferently. The first five-eighths, Geoff Shapland, displayed some nimble footwork, at times it taking him away from his supporting players.

lan Culpan led the Alerivale-Pa-panui forwards with fearless determination and Dennis Skipper and Mike Penrose were two who heeded his call. But the pack was too loose at times to hold its ground. In the backs, Allan de Joux was an efficient half-back and when he retired injured Bruce Stewart filled in most capably.

Further out tackling errors were common, which could well have been repeated when McCurdy scored the try that MerivalePapanui disputed so hotly.

Competition points are.— W L D F A Pts Linwood -1 — — 88 23 8 Univ A — — 82 42 8 Chch 4 — 46 19 8 Marist 3 — 1 100 25 7 Shirlev 3 1 — 48 19 6 H S O B. 3 1 — 55 31 6 Syd. 2 2 48 48 4 Albion 2 2 — 35 61 4 Belfast 2 — 54 43 4 New Brl 2 .. — 40 36 4 Line. Coll. 1 3 — 26 46 2 Hornby 1 3 — 22 89 2 Burn. 3 1 21 57 1 Subs 1 — 31 47 0 Mer-Pap. __ 4 16 0 Univ B — 4 — 13 59 0