Early scoring blitz by Canterbury stuns Q’land into submission

Press, 29 May 1978, Page 28

Early scoring blitz by Canterbury stuns Q’land into submission

NZPA Brisbane Canterbury can quite rightly c laim the title of Australasian rugby champion after crushing Queensland, 25-0, in an action-packed game at Ballymore Oval in Brisbane yesterday.

Canterbury scored three tries to shut Queensland right out of the game with a non-stop blitz that started from the openin whistle. After 14 minutes, Queensland had conceded two converted tries and a magnificent dropped goal by the Canterbury full-back, Richard Wilson, to trail 0-15. "We just couldn’t get back into it after that,” the Queensland coach, Mr Bob Templeton, said later. The Queensland captain, Mark Loane, added: “I know it’s not true the Canterbury players were carrying axes up their jumpers but it sure felt like it.” Canterbury had to over-j come a severe psychological! disadvantage after being; convincingly beaten by ■ Queensland B in a warm-up ’ match three days earlier.

Yesterday Canterbury’s! half-back. Steve Scott, was; undoubtedly the man of the match, which was watched: by 10,000 people. Scott was quick and elusive around the base of the I

rucks and kept up fast ser-l vice which let his centres] use their speed and skill to .shake the defence. Canterbury packed a big I punch and got right on top of the Queensland forwards, who are being strongly

; tipped to dominate the Australian team to play Wales ■[in the first test on June 11. I: Queensland crumpled and creased in the scrums and • was out-jumped in the linelouts.

Canterbury’s first try came after only eight minutes when the flanker, Dave Thompson, crashed over after a series of inspired forward attacks. Then Scott scored after he was right on the spot to harass Paddy Batch and Bruce Cooke as they tried desperately to get under a high up and under by the first five-eighths, Kieran Keane, who replaced Bruce for Canterbury. The rock-solid Canterbury defence kept Queensland’s only chance at first-half points to a hopeful 55m penlalty by Batch which missed. Canterbury was full of ati tacking ideas after the changeover and Queensland’s confidence began to evaporate. The try of the match came midway through the second

’ half when a wing-to-wing movement stretched the ma- ! roon defence paper-thin and • the fast Canterbury centre. I Murray McEwan, scorched across to put the result be-j > yond doubt. i “We played as a unit and 1 it’s impossible to single any* I one out,” a happy Canteri bury coach, Mr Tiny Hill, • said in the dressingroon. “Our forwards bustled , Queensland off their game and our backs did the rest,” ■ he said. > In the dying stages of the ’ match, Queensland sum- ■ moned all its strength and came back for one final charge, but the Canterbury i defence refused to buckle > and the state side had gone down to its first defeat at > home in 21 games, stretchI ing back over three seasons.