Coast misses the bus in league

Press, 31 July 1978, Page 28

Coast misses the bus in league

From

JOHN COFFEY

in Greymouth

An unexpected training stint near Arthur's Pass yesterday morning primed the Canterbury rugby league team for its most impressive display of the season, a 39-8 victory over West Coast at Wingham Park, Greymouth. The bus carrying the Canterbury squad and its supporters could not be restarted after a brief breakfast stop in the wilderness of the Southern Alps, and the players were pressed into service to give it a rolling start.

Canterbury’s pack, in particular, appeared to thrive from the unexpected exercise and it was the concerted efforts of the forwards which ensured Canterbury’s advancement to the national semi-final of the Rothmans tournament against Wellington at Wellington on August 19. Only in the early stages of each half was Canterbury' restrained, and it did not take Rex Dalzell, Terry Gillman and Steve Brewster long to discover that considerable progress could be made by strong, straight running from the play-the-balls.

To emphasise the ascendancy held by Canterbury’s physically more powerful pack, its relatively inexperienced hooker, Dizzy Millward, beat the wily John Griffin to the ball in eight of the first nine scrums. Even when Griffin switched positions with his loose forward, Paddy Byrne, Millward enjoyed success in his new role.

Wayne Wallace and Barry Edkins, both fine all-roun-ders, complemented their team-mates by dividing their energies between supporting the frequent offensives and covering on the few occasions that West Coast threatened to, at least turn the tide. There was certainly no loss of momentum when Paul Truscott replaced Dalzell. It was not until Canterbury’s supremacy had been indelibly established that much was seen of the backline. For most of the opening hour it was left to the scrum-half, Wally Wilson, to prove just how effective he can be when linking up as an extension of the manoeuvres initiated by the! much bigger man. However, Robin Alfeld was his irrepressible self at full-back, breaking through the first line of defence and running around the remnants of the cover for his try, the product of a 65m run. Alfeld aggravated a shoulder injury soon after the resumption, causing Francis Lawrence to

drop back and Peter Thirl to take over on the left wing. Lawrence has never been in a more favourable light while wearing Canterbury’s colours and fully deserved his “player of the match” award. His handling and tackling were error-free and on a ground that has been the scene of many goal-kick-ing legends because of the prowess of Don Ladner, Lawrence had the remarkable analysis of nine successes from 10 opportunities. Three of his conversions were from the side-lines.

If Canterbury has yet to devise a means of bringing its three-quarters into action from scrummages, the outside backs were not completely off centre-stage. Mocky Brereton and Kevin Franklin gave clear evidence of their thrust in the second spell, and Paul McCone — who was beset by handling problems — and Tairi claimed tries from over-laps. West Coast, wljich had been 12 points behind after the first leg of the zone home-and-away series, never hinted that it would off-set the deficit. Two goals by Ladner had it in front for a short time, but in the final accounting it was only Ladner’s goal-kicking and courageous defence — he was hampered by a shoulder injury — which kept the margin from being considerably greater.

The Canterbury selectors (Messrs R Trevor Bisman, Gary Clarke and Peter Yaxley) might now have a difficult task in deciding on their forward formation before meeting Wellington. Canterbury’s pack was indeed a magnificent six (seven,when Truscott is deservedly included), and the Kiwi front-rower, Alan Rushton, and the near-inter-national, Mark Broadhurst, will also have to be considered.

Gillman’s return to firstclass football was made all the more memorable by his two tries. It was Gillman who began the scoring .avalanche when he broke through two tackles, and he completed the onslaught with time almost up. Canterbury’s other tries I were gained by Field, Alfeld, (Wilson, McCone and Tairi 'and Lawrence kicked nine goals. Ladner replied for West Coast with four goals from six attempts.

i The final scrummaging advantage achieved by Millward was 13-8, while West Coast received 15 of the *23 penalties awarded by the referee, Mr Bob Cooper, of Waimate.