Addington’s run ends

Press, 10 May 1979, Page 30

Addington’s run ends

Bv

JOHN COFFEY

Addington’s unbeaten run! in the Canterbury rugby!) league premiership ended at 1 the Show Grounds last even- i

ing when it faded in the face of a formidable Linwood revival and lost, 21-10.

In its toughest match so far in the competition. Addington did not fold easily. It trailed by six points in

I the early stages, but tries by I Rod Kirk, making a welcome I return to the top grade, and I its new acquisition, Graeme ICooksley, left Linwood I behind, 10-6, at half-time.

[ But Linwood resumed in a far more positive mood. : Surging runs by Rex Dalzell, Jeff Whittaker, and Paul

Truscott, and the timely arrivals of the full-back. Cliff Leney, into the attack quickly tipped the balance. By the end of the third

quarter Linwood had broken clear, 18-10. thanks also to the excellent, finishing efforts of the ! left wing, Charlie Black, and the liooki’ng dominance of Truscott. Addington appeared to falter [under pressure, and a magIni.f'c'cnt try... by. Lewis Hudson — side-stepping at speed — sealed Linwood’s 'success.

! The Addington backs ate [fast and they penetrate, well, 1 hut obv’ously they cannot use these assets without a [good supply of uall. Ihe ! concerted pressure of the. [Linwood forwards, supported !by the backs, finally batIfered down the Addington def'-nces. Li.’.wood is quite capable of extending more highlyrated teams if it can maintain the form shown in tne I second spell. It again gave awav a lot of penalties but it was heartening that there

was not a blow struck in anger in the game, nor in that which preceded it, and the “sin bin” was’ not required.

Sydenham made no race of the second half against Hornby in the curtain-raiser, quickly building on its 10-5 lead at the interval to win: 24-8. Hornby stuck admirably to its task in the first half, but its handling errors in promising positions and its serious defensive lapses cost it any chance of gaining it: first premiership point. The result must have been particularly disappointing for the young Hornby captain

Wayne Wallace, who played outstandingly. Sydenham was never in full command — that much can be gauged from its scoring of only four of the six tries in the game — but it held a marked territorial supremacy, and Kerry Corkran’s swift hooking off-set its penalty deficit. Karl Slave was responsible for the wide winning margin with his six goals from nine attempts. Results and scorers.— Linwood 21 (C. L. Black three, J. Whittaker, B. Candy, L. E. Hudson tries; R. W. Dalzell goal; C. R. Leney field goal) beat Hornby 10 (R. M. Kirk. G. R. Cooksley tries; P. Peters, P. E. Lagrosse' goals). Halftime: Addington, 10-6. Scrums: Linwood, 13-7. Penalties: Addington. 18-7. Referee: Mr W. J. Menzies. Sydenham 24 (T. Ale, B. Corkran, K. R. Corkran. M. D. Vincent tries; K. Siave six goals) beat Hornby 8 (G. Hallett, P. Rickard tries, I. Payne goal). Halftime: 10-5. Scrums: Sydenham, 17-10. Penalties: Hornby. 16-7. Referee: Mr W Kinsey.