Impressive Chch rugby win

Press, 8 May 1978, Page 26

Impressive Chch rugby win

Any suggestions that Christchurch was no longer! ■ force in club rugby were dispelled at Lancaster Park ' on Saturday when the red-1 end-blacks decisively out-1 played the previously unbeaten Linwood. In the course of a pow-. erful and compelling per-i formance, Christchurch scored four tries, which was ss many as it had managed In four previous matches. With Mark Treweek. Neil Porter, and Peter Coleman playing particularly well, the Christchurch forwards gained a clear cut ascendancy over once mighty Linwood. The backs chimed with certainty, and Richard Wilson’s able fielding and splendid kicking tied the bow on a notable perform- • ■nee. The lead in the C.S.B. Cup competition is now shared by Christchurch and Univer-j sity A. which staved off a | spirited challenge by Lincoln

College at the college. Mar-i list, still unbeaten, is a point; behind, with four wins and a draw, and Linwood and Old 'Boys are equal fourth. The rejuvenated Sydenham I side continued its good run by thoroughly extending Old Boys. After an absorbing tame with plenty of action, ydenham lost by the odd point in 37. Marist played with great resolve after the ordering off of its prop, Pat O’Byrne, and scored three second-half tries to win convincingly against Shirley. In the brightest match of the day, Suburbs gained its first win of the season by beating University B. In the dullest, game. New Brighton {downed Belfast in a try-less ! struggle. Results: Christchurch 26, Linwood 15. University A 10, Lincoln College 6. I

Suburbs 22, University B IX Marist 22, Shirley 7. Old Boys 19, Sydenham 18.

New Brighton 9, Belfast 0.

Hornby 6, Bumside 6.

Lancaster Park oval was | given its first airing of the season and appeared to be in good order. Ken Taylor (Sydenham) certainly found the surface to his liking and his five goals against Old Boys made him the day’s highest scorer. Bernie Stewart’s 10 points for Marist made him the first player to reach the half-century mark this year. He has 54, Richard Wilson 44, and Taylor 39. The Fletcher Humphreys “player of the day” award was won by Christchurch ■lock, Peter Coleman. Points:

A big advantage in first-half possession and two brilliant tries in the third quarter put Christchurch well and truly on top against its old rival, Linwood.

Christchurch gradually achieved dominance through the splendid efforts of its forwards, and after an hour had the game in its keeping with a

handsome lead of 23-3. Only ati the end did Linwood produce the football of which it is capable—it scored 12 points in the last 12min—but there was a suspicion that Christchurch had slackened the pressure by then. It is hard to believe that a Christchurch pack could take 85 per cent of the ball against Linwood, but that is what happened in the first half. Linwood’s forwards tightened their resolve in the second half, claiming 60 per cent of possession, but it was in this period that Christchurch clinched the match with its spectacular tries. A blind-side break and a 25m 1 sprint by Barry Thomas led to the first, scored by Chris Morgan after a skilful pick-up by John Collinson. The second i started with a drive from a lineout by Tony Porter, then successive bursts bv Peter Coleman and Neil Porter before Collinson sent Don Humphrey away on a sharp run to the line. Outstanding contributions by Coleman and Neil Porter put Christchurch on top in the tight and Coleman and Mark Treweek won most of the clean line-out ball. Treweek. playing at No. 8 in place of the injured Jerry Rowberry, was an impressive figure in the loose. The acting captain, Murray McEwan, marshalled his forces w’ell and played assertively in midfield. At full-back. Richard Wilson was sound and polished in everything he did. He kicked some excellent goals. Linwood toiled without inspiration in the first half and took a long time to produce anything of value. But John Phillips, who roamed far and wide, and Shane Gibbons, in spite of a heavily bandaged thigh, finally raised the side to a level of play more In keeping with its reputation. The most spirited runner for Linwood was its full-back, Bruce Hanham. He reacted quickly to a fleeting chance and scored a dazzling try between the posts during his side’s belated surge. RECOVERY

Playing with only 14 tnen from near the end of the first spell, Marist gave a lively and worth-while display In defeating Shirley, scoring 79 points to nil In the second spell. The ordering-off of Pat O’Byrne was, strangely, the turning point in Marist’s fortune. From that moment. Marist played with remarkable verve and determination. Possession in the first spell was even. In the second, Shirley won barely 30 per cent of possession from all phases.

The game ran with the figures. Shirley looked a very useful side until the interval, when it led, 7-3. There was some good lineout ball from Stewart Mitchell and the Shirley backs, well served by a sharp Steven Scott, had some good moments. Frank Jack scored a try after a strong burst, and there were other purposeful and attractive movements. Scott, injured in the ordering-off incident, was sadly missed.

When the tide turned against Shirley, the best back was Vincent, who caught, kicked, and ran well.

Marist dominated the second half, the backs profiting from the wealth of possession. There was a good display from the halfback, Adrian Young, some shrewd kicking from Bernie Stewart, and some strong thrusts from the three-quarters, with Brian McLean an asset on defence and attack. '

Vance Stewart, in the tight struggles and the line-outs, lived up to his reputation and the other six were with him intheir dedication and drive. Their efforts were rewarded with three good tries by the backs.

Roger Smith was a strong Shirley forward, and Graham Pulley devoted himself to business without respite, but there was no mistaking the superiority of Marist in the second spell. ONE-POINT WIN Old Boys has a reputation for producing attractive, attacking rugby but on Saturday it had to share the honours with a revitalised Sydenham. The match bubbled along merrily—and although there were errors of an avoidable nature both sides attempted to play constructively. Old Boys scored three tries to one but Ken Taylor kept Sydenham in the hunt with his excellent goal kicking. The loss of the captain, Alwyn Harvey, with a head Injury after 15min was a blow for Old Bovs but his replacement, John Symonds. was most industrious in is pursuit of the loose ball. Gary Fuller and Mark Harding toiled hard in the tight for Old Boys but the most successful forward in the game was Bernie Ryan, Sydenham’s hooker. He cleared the ball well, initiated some strong drives, arid claimed several tight heads. Simon Bloomberg and Gary Cookson combined soundly to Provide a steady base for the Old Boys back attacks. The best of these produced a try by lan Mather after Clive Currie, who had Joined the line, lobbed a punt ahead for his left wing. Sydenham was kept in the picture by the imaginative play of its half-back. Wayne Tinker. He also scored the team’s try through intelligent backlng-uri after Sydenham had taken advantage of an obvious overlap to send Dennis Fay off on a long run. It was a fine effort by Tinker, for he had cleared the ball from a ruck 15m from his nwn goal line and was in position to take Fay’s infield pass on the Old Boys’ 22m line.

Richard Wixon looked good in one or two forays for Old Bovs but was inclined to be a little casual. However, his runaway try after an interception gave his side the initial advantage. In a lively pack which never flagged. Roger Higgs played with great dedication for Sydenham. DULL GAME Although It was a try-less match and there was not much between the teams. New Brighton deserved its victory over Belfast. The match featured two earnest sets of forwards and two back lines which lacked sufficient thrust to look like making or

scoring tries. Conditions could hardly have been better: Rugby Park was flawless and the day was windless. At times it seemed that the football was pointless.

The forward struggle was intense. Behind the packs were two talented half-backs, Graeme Ellis and Teddy Davis. Even for them it was not a memorable occasion. Both made more mechanical errors than is their habit but on the day Davis came out slightly ahead. He contributed some sharp running here and there. Belfast looked at its best when Bill Bush or Andy Karatea was driving ahead. Dave Thompson turned in another sound game.

New Brighton’s forward pressure, however, was more sustained. A slim-looking Kerry Tanner was at the heart of it all and John Te Amo. full of business, was a swift raider among the Belfast backs. BRIGHT RUGBY

Suburbs and University ' B played an entertaining and exciting game, with victory going to the more disciplined Suburbs team.

There was good rugby from both sides with the backs keen to run the ball and good handling, powerful running, and astute kicking. Seldom was a defensive attitude adopted and counter attacks followed attack continually. The forwards were little behind in this positive attitude. Both sets backed up well and gave the backs continual support. They also combined well among themselves to make surging runs. It was from one such movement that Suburbs scored the final try between the posts with backs and forwards combining well. The forward struggle was even, with Suburbs tidying up a little better than University B. This more solid play was also shown in the backs. However, Suburbs could at no time relax its defence for University was willing to run at every opportunity.

Suburbs was well served in the forwards by the tireless Warren Hay, who was to the fore in both tight and loose. Solid support also came from Craig Whale and Stuart Munro. Mike Le Leivre was an efficient half who combined well with John Nielson. Outside them, both Geoff Brain and Wally Argus had good games. Gilbert Enoka was the outstanding University forward who played to good effect in the lineouts and was also prominent in other play. The combination of Tony Maparangi and Phil Holstein behind the scrum was equal to that of Suburbs. Allan Faith was a strong running wing while Neville Brown played enterprisingly at full-back, frequently making telling runs in the backline.

MISSED CHANCES In what must have been a frustrating game for both sides, Hornby was unlucky not to beat a lack-lustre Burnside. Each side had several scoring chances but these were repeatedly thrown away because of bad passing or some minor infringement. Hornby suffered in particular from this inability to finish off most promising moves; the backs were far superior to Burnside's, but crossing the line was one thing they could not manage. Hornby’s domination stemmed' from some powerful and intelligent scrummaging. Burnside had no answer in this department; if it was not being pushed back, the ball was being lost as Hornby screwed the scrum. Any ball that Burnside did win was poor. Some fine work from Hornby’s flankers. Howard Wil-i son and Robert Webster, and some inaccurate passing from Burnside’s Phil Walter kept Burnside on the back foot for most of the game. The Hornby forwards plaved a more consistent game, although! they lacked concentration in the mauls. The backs played with flair and aggression and made a wholehearted attempt to score tries. In comparison. Burnside gave; a half-hearted display that lacked purpose or drive. Only Paul Me-' Kay. the hooker, seeined to be able to recapture the style andattitude of last season. For Hornby, Sonnv Panui gave a fiery display at No. 8, while the two locks, Brent Campbell and Gordon Gossett must take much of the credit for their side’s dominance. In the backs Fred Haley broke through several times, while Neville Wilson played an intelligent game at half-back. MILLING. MAULING The match between University A and Lincoln College did little to enhance the celebra- i

tions of the college's centennial week-end. The players and referee put everything Into the game for little reward.

( Two strong packs struggled for {dominance in the line-outs but University A outscrummed its [opponents convincingly, five tight- ; heads to one. 1 The rucks were almost nonexistent; the new mauling game dominated the scene and led to endless frustration for all concerned.

Backs from both sides tried to use possession from set play to score points, Lincoln with the over-use of the high kick from the first five-eighths, Graham Shapland. These kicks were fielded in the main by David St George, the full-back, and Stewart Griffiths the half back. Both came through a torrid game with credit. In the Lincoln forwards, none played better than Andy Hollander, who made some stirring charges with the ball in hand. His good line-out play marked him as a player of promise. Not far behind was the captain. Rob Crawford, who led the side by example. It was a pity that their efforts were capped only by two goals by an enterprising fullback, Brett Codlin. University A gained something besides two points for the win: a regalvanised approach. Randall Scott was too seldom able te run with the ball from broken play; he did once and scored. Kieran Keane played at second fiveeighths and showed his class with a competent all-round display. Craig Shearer tried hard at first five-eighths but, except for one or two excellent breaks, failed to settle. The University forwards drove hard and often, with Ray Scott back in action assisting John Chapman, who excells in the diving requirements of the new milllng-and-mauling game.

W. L. D. F. A. Pts Univ A . S 0 0 92 48 10 Chch 5 0 0 72 34 10 Marist 4 0 1 122 32 9 Linwood 4 1 0 103 54 8 H.S.O.B. 4 1 0 74 49 8 Shirley .. 3 2 0 55 41 6 Albion 3 2 0 61 61 6 New Bri. 3 2 0 49 36 6 Syd. 2 3 0 66 67 4 Belfast .. 2 3 0 54 52 4 Hornby I 3 1 28 95 3 Line. Coll. 1 4 0 32 56 2 Subs 1 4 0 53 60 2 Burn. 0 3 2 27 63 2 Univ. B . 0 5 0 26 81 0 Mer.-Pap. 0 5 0 CLEARCUT 16 MIN 101 0