Mather scores five tries in easy Canty rugby win

Press, 10 May 1979, Page 30

Mather scores five tries in easy Canty rugby win

From

KEVIN McMENAMIN

iii Greynioutli

'rhe fleet High School Old Boys wing, lan Mather, gave further evidence of his worth as a rugby scoring machine when he contributed five of the six tries that helped Canterbury to a 37-7 win over West Coast vesterdav.

Mather has now scored eight tries in just two games for Canterbury. He did not see a great deal of the bail yesterday, but each time he did. he was away in a blur of movement for the line. Admittedly, at least three of the tries were made for him, but his speed, nevertheless, was most impressive. The sixth try was also scored on the wing, by the new comer Ross Gibson, who filled the right flank. Gibson was not put into the clear as often as Mather, but he had a sound debut all the same, his defence being especially safe.

Canterbury played as well as might have been expected from a side having its first game of the season. Like a disused machine, there were a few putters in the early stages, but as the pack became more dominant there developed a general tidiness that was best displayed in the transference of bail from forwards to backs.

West Coast had a surprisingly large say in the possession from the early line-outs, due mainly to the effort of its middle jumper, Ken Thompson. Canterbury swamped this initial disadvantage later, with Graeme Higginson a towering figure in the second half. Higginson also had a very fine game in other respects. In company with John Ashworth, he spearheaded some of the drives that left West Coasters strewn in all directions. But the Canterbury for-

ward to really take the eye! was the Oxford dreadnought,! Barry Thompson. Hisi strength was the foundation for many a ruck Canterbury controlled and he matched brain with brawn in his con-

trol and release of the ball. Alex Wyllie dispelled any thoughts that age might be overtaking him with a workmanlike display and Don Hayes, by his speed and anticipation, served notice that he could become a key member of the Canterbury pack before the season is over. With his forwards offering him more protection than an armoured car, Graeme Ellis had an easy time at halfback. By the same token, however, he relished the luxury and his sharpness, both of pass and movement, underscored just how welloff Canterbury is for half-

backs when he is rated only the No. 3 choice.

Although Mather kept upstaging everyone, the other backs were all safe and sure, Richard Wilson kicked very well for his return of five successes from nine attempts and he proved equal to the challenge of making a testing, try-saving tackle.

Robbie Deans was content to act mainly as a link and this he did with complete assurance. He showed up bes' when he hoisted three “cloudscrapers” to the base of the West Coast posts. 1 bey were kicks Doug Bruce would have been proud to call his own.

I Canterbury lost two players through injuries. Alwyn Harvey went off after 15min with a foot injury and was replaced by John Phillips while Murray McEwan, who ha< been moving with plenty of zest, retired just before the end with a gashed cheek. Andrew ’“’unro took McEwan’s place. West Coast lost its prop, Bruce Aitken, shortly after half-time, Ross Dixon filling tne gap.

West Coast was beaten, as ! always when it meets ' Canterbury, by size and speed. Still, the side was certainly not devoid of ability. Ken Thompson, Alan i Bruhn, and Winston Monk ! toiled purposefully in the pack, while Tui Bromley, Hand Peter Teen were backs . j to make a mark. J Teen, in fact, featured in lone of the game’s brightest J moments, a sideline dash of imore than 50m. ! West Coast had the dis-

tinction of scoring first and last. Tony Kissick opened with a penalty goal in the fourteenth minute and just before the end a last-gasp effort was rewarded when Ken Thomson gathered in a high pass to score unchallenged. Between times, however, Canterbury ruled the roost. I Mather got his first try in the twentieth minute after a .blindside break by Ellis. GibIson scored his try next, the end result of the classic open side movement of an extra man (Mather) coming into the line outside the centre.

Gibson repaid the kindness when he made the extra man for Mather to get himself into the clear and Mather’s dazzling speed was vividly displayed by the manner in which he got the first hand to the ball he had kicked over the line. Mather’s other first-half try was made for him by

the old Canterbury ploy of I Wyllie coming " off the scrum, and Ellis drawing the! blindside wing.

In the second spell, Mather scored his fourth try! when John Collinson drew i others besides his own marker and Mather’s speed) did the rest again when Gib-j son helped create another! overlap. For Canterbury, tries by Mather (5) and Gibson; Wil-1 son kicked two conversions,! two penalty goals and ai dropped goal. |

Thomson scored a try fori West Coast, and Kissickj kicked a penalty goal.