‘Canty B’ thrashes Canty

Press, 8 May 1978, Page 40

‘Canty B’ thrashes Canty

The Canterbury rugby selectors must have their share of worries after their

side was convincingly beaten, 26-6, by an invitation XV at Amberley yesterday. The invitation team, consisting mainly of players from last year’s Canterbury B and Canterbury Country sides, dserved its big win, as it was superior in most facets of play. Although Alex Wyllie’s forwards dominated the scrums because of their weight advantage, in the I line-outs, mauls and in the! loose they were made to look very inadequate. Bruce Farmer had far the better of! his contest with Canter-i bury’s John Harw ood in the I lineouts, while the Invitation I

flankers, Don Hayes and John Patterson, were far quicker to the loose ball than their opposites.

Part of Canterbury’s problem was that it was playing three tight-loose forwards. While this gave them an obvious advantage in the scrums, time and again attacking opportunities were lost by possession not being retained at the breakdowns.

The other disturbing aspect for Canterbury was the lack of cohesion among the : backs. Gary Barkle had a | disappointing game at halfIback, seldom combining with I his first five-eights, Kerian I Keane, and this set the pat- | tern in the backs for the !rest of the game. Although the invitation ; backs had not played toIgether before they had far

more life and aggression t han their opponents.

Andy Munro gave a good display of attacking rugby, and his second try showed real class. At full-back, Clive Currie had the better of his opposite, Richard Wilson, especially in his defence work, where his tackling was sure. Of the Canterbury backs, Murray McEwan emerged with credit, some

of his attacking bursts cutting through his opposition. But these gains were rarely capitalised on because of a lack of support. Tries for the invitation team were scored by A. Munro (two), D. Hayes and R. Cretney. Currie kicked two conversions and two penalty goals. Wilson scored Canterbury’s points with two penalty goals.