Merivale-Papanui drops chance of rugby title

Press, 2 July 1979, Page 17

Merivale-Papanui drops chance of rugby title

Five of the six top teams won their matches in the senior rugby championship on Saturday, and the race for the G.S.B. Cup remains fascinatingly close.

But Merivale-Papanui, although having its best season for some years, now seems to have a hopeless chase for a place in the top four teams which will later contest the C.S.B. Trophy competition. It lost heavily to the unpredictable New Brighton side on Saturday. The only other upset for the defeat of Lincoln College by Sydenham. A week earlier, Lincoln College had beaten University A with a very convincing 'display, but on Saturday it succumbed to a spirited Sydenham side which is giving the club its best senior season for a long time.

Linwood still leads the table by one point from Marist and Old Boys, with Christchurch an anxious fourth, one point ahead of Belfast. In the morning matches to be played next Saturday, the day of the first test with France, Linwood will meet Lincoln College, which is the enigma of the competition. Christchurch will not have an easy match either: it meets Merivale-Papanui. Marist plays Hornby and Old Boys meet Suburbs. For Suburbs, John Neilson dropped his ninth goal of the winter, which leaves him only one short of the record for a club season. And at Denton Oval, the University B coach. Laurie O’Reilly, was on the field again, this time as a player. At Rugby Park Doug Heffernan, recovering from injury, watched the first half of University A’s match with Hornby from the sideline. But he was needed as a replacement after the interval and he scored all the rest of his side’s points, scoring a try and kicking four penalty goals to finish frith 16, the day’s best tally. Richard Wilson, of Christchurch, with two penalty goals, took his club total to s 9 this season, and he is bow second to Marist’s Bernie Stewart. Although a member of a well beaten side, Geoff Brain, the Suburbs and former Canterbury three-quar-ters, won the Fletcher Humphreys ’’player of the nay” award. Results:— Linwood 18, Suburbs 3. High School Old Boys 16, Burnside 3. Christchurch 14, Univer--6 6. New Brighton 18, Meri-tale-Papanui 0. Belfast 13, Albion 9. University A 30, Hornby Marist 21, Shirley 4. Sydenham 9, Lincoln Colfege 4.

YOUNG AT BEST An outstandingly good performance by its half-back, Adrian Young, was the key to Marist's convincing victory over Shirley in the main match at Rugby Park. Young certainly had good service from his forwards, but his passing approached perfection in its speed and length. He was no mere link in this swift-moving game. He seemed to be everywhere — retrieving, tackling, and counter-attacking with startling speed. His performance gave his eager, strong-running outsides many chances, and Marist again looked a very confident and capable team. There was a brief period soon after half-time when it was all thumbs, but if this performance was not its best of the season, it was still a good one.

Shirley has had a couple of notable victories this season, but it could not match Marist forwards or backs. It was sometimes clumsy in distribution of the ball, and its backs lacked thrust compared with faster and stronger opponents. If Marist rather went in fits and starts, it produced some thrilling movements, none better than the one which led to Gary Hooper’s try. It came, at the end, from a weaving, swerving run from the second fiveeighths, Paul Molloy, who must

surely attract the attention of the representative selectors before long. He has a quick eye for an opening, he is strong and fast, and he seems able to maintain contact with those outside him.

Terry Petersen was an inspiring Marist captain, but there was a great display from the prop Pat O’Byrne, who was in the thick of the heaviest work, but was regularly the lynch pin of driving forward movements. Vance Stewart and Kevin Milne commanded the line-outs ably. FORWARD DOMINANCE

The Linwood forwards once again provided the basis of a comfortable win, this time over Suburbs. Suburbs made a brave effort in the second half to score tries through its back line, but were frustrated in the quest for sufficient possession, mainly because of the virtual monopoly Linwood had over the scrums and mauls.

The Suburbs back line played most attractively at times and was well gene railed by John Neilson at first five-eighths. Most impressive was Geoff Brain on the left wing. Brain is a fast and powerful runner and his marker, Terry Mitchell, had even more than his usual number of defensive problems. Although outclassed in most facets of forward play, Suburbs obtained a surprisingly large share of line-out ball and Roger Cumming won most of it. Especially when victory was assured, the Linwood back-line moved the ball a little more than usual and Shane Gibbons made some brilliant breaks at centre but often ran too far when his wings were in the clear. The best all-round performance, however, came from Murray Le Compte. He tackled extremely well and, although seldom given much room on the

wing, impressed with his hard, straight running. UNSPECTACULAR High School Old Boys were unable to maintain their early momentum against Burnside, and made an increasing number of mistakes as the game progressed. This, coupled with the ultra-defensive tactics adopted by Bcrnside, made for a rather disappointing spectacle. Old Boys received an abundance of possession, but loose passing and excessive kicking broke up several promising moves by the backs. Gary Cookson was the chief offender in both of tnese categories and capped off an unfortunate game with a below par goalkicking performance. Burnside has won few games this season and a more positive approach may be of some help. The No. 8, Kevin Johnston, played much of the game as an extra back and, although this occasionally upset the Old Boys pattern of play, it never helped his side score the tries that were required to win the match. The scrummaging of the Old Boys pack was the most impressive feature of the game and until he was injured scoring a fine try, a prop, Mark Harding, was outstanding in the rucks and mauls. The Burnside forwards also did most things well and the captain, Graham Church, was a diligent and hard-working prop.

Only John Lindsay, at first; five-eighths, showed much initiative in the Burnside back line and his tactical kicking was impressive if somewhat over done. lan Mather was an extremely fast and aggressive wing for Old Boys and when he retired with an injury, his replacement, Bruce McPhail, made several penetrative runs, but tended to Jose contact with his supporting player. SKETCHY DEFENCE Weak tackling, and a strange willingness to be drawn out of position by the backs, cost Hornby dearly against University A, which scored four tries in a convincing victory at Rugby Park. Hornby held the lead for seven dizzy minutes mid-way through the first spell, but its deficiencies in defence were thoroughly exposed by a University team which commanded possession from all phases of play and had its b-icks running regularly. Gary Barkle sent them off so often that at times it looked like a training run, with only a brief stoppage before another assault was launched. University’s first try came from a typical lack of reaction from Hornby. There was a scrum near the Hornby line, the University flanker Mark Hammond was detached for duty on the short side, and he was left unmarked, before running Randall Scott in at the corner. There was no lack of effort from* Hornby, but its forwards were outclassed and its backs

had few opportunities. The pack did have its moments, and there was a furious, surging rush halfway through the second spell which all but brought a try. Robert Webster showed considerable dash and determination. The best of the backs was Neville Wilson, behind the scrum. It was a depressing situation for him, but he was into everything, and if over-eagerness cost his side a few free kicks, his defence was resolute. He made some superb stops with a confidence lacking in Canute. It was a dream day for the University backs, in terms of possession. They ran eagerly, if not always handling well. Barkle served them proficiently, and there was some strong running from Kieran Keane at second five-eighths and all the threequarters. Perhaps University should have scored more than four tries. If ever a man made his mark on a match, it was Doug Heffernan, who came on as a replacement after the interval. Within 20 minutes he had run up 13 points, and kicked another goal just before the end. Hugh Barns was again a commanding figure in the line outs and Hammond showed top form on the flank. UNCONVINCING In a match riddled with errors and infringements, Christchurch managed to con-

tain an energetic University B team. Although Christchurch was superior in most departments, it did not look like a competition winner. From the early stages of the match it was clear that University B’s best policy was to keep the ball in the forwards and endeavour to win the game up front. This it did with some success. In the line-outs, rucks and mauls the students, ably led by No. 8, John Matanga, challenged everything. Although Christchurch led by 11 points at half-time, it was a laboured, lethargic effort. In the line-outs Mike Cron and Jock Hobbs were prominent for Christchurch, both players taking some high catches and establishing some momentum with fine driving through the line-outs. The well-earned possession Christchurch enjoyed was spoiled by the tactics of the Canterbury representative. Robbie Deans, who seemed to feel he could win the game on his own. Towards the end of the second half the Christchurch attacking machinery, which had coughed and spluttered its way through the first 40 minutes, all but died. University B began to win a lot more of the ball from the rucks and line-outs and towards the end of the game was rewarded for its labours with a try under the posts by the halfback, John McLean. A loose forward, Adrian Muir, again produced a notable per-

formance for University B. He was remarkably fast to the loose bail and his tackling was always sure. BRIGHTON IMPROVES Sustained pressure in the first half, which was rewarded with three tries and a 14-point lead, provided the basis for New Brighton's comfcrtabla win against Merivale-Papanui at Rawhiti Domain. Merivale-Papanui, a team which has given its supporters much to enthuse over this season with bright and imaginative rugby, was disappointing. It spent less than five minutes in New Brighton’s half in the first spell and, although the territorial battle was shared in the second half, seldom did Merivale threaten to cross its opponent's line.

Although astray with several passes, Graeme Ellis proved his ability to score from situations near the line and gave his opposite, Tony Manarangi, a harrowing time.

Murray Green had an excellent match in the New Brighton pack and the surging charges of John Te Amo and Paul Bell helped to weaken Merivale’s resolve.

Brian Lloyd moved into first five-eighths for New Brighton and Wayne Burleigh went out a position. They formed a good combination, REVITALISED

After a dull first half, marred by a number of infringements, the match at Sheldon Park came to life and both Belfast and Albion contributed fully to the fast moving play. In the second half play ranged evenly up and down the field, with some promising back movements. But in the final minutes when Belfast gained forward control, the backs also gained an ascendancy over Albion. The battle between the forwards was intense and interesting, with Belfast, because of the effort over the final 15 minutes, having a slight edge. In Albion's Murray Davie and Belfast’s Bill Bush, both teams had hard, uncompromising props and they played a major part in the forward tussle.

Bush was well supported by Dave Thompson and Paul Toneycliffe and together they made some rousing hand-to-hand rushes, while the best of the Albion forwards, who worked sturdily in the tight, were Davie, Richard Martin and Allan Kerr. The star of the match was undoubtedly the Belfast first fiveeighths, Wayne Smith, and his ability to sense a gap and his quick acceleration posed regular problems to the Albion defence. SYDENHAM ON TOP In spite of a radically rearranged back line, Sydenham convincingly outplayed a seemingly complacent Lincoln College team at Lyttelton. Only some last-ditch defensive efforts by Lincoln College and poor goal-kicking by Ken Taylor kept Sydenham’s scoring down to nine points. Earlv in the match, the Lincoln College and Canterburj’ lock, Dave White, looked set to dominate the line-out and he scored a try after a scramble on the Sydenham line. Peter Doell, however, lifted his game to match White, and Sydenham took control. Surprisingly, Sydenham had the edge in terms of individual ability, with Brett Oetgen outstanding on the right wing. Any Lyttelton “player of the day” award, however, would have to go to the Sydenham No. 8, Lyn Chandler. He played a magnificent game in the first half, always close to the ball, setting up drives, covering and tackling determinedly. If he ran out of steam a little in the second half, he made amends late in the game by detaching from a scrum hard on the Lincoln line, rolling out of a tackle and crashing over for the crucial try.

The competition points are:— W L D F A Pts Linwood 10 2 1 220 75 21 Harist 19 3 0 271 112 20 3id Boys 10 3 0 239 101 20 Ehch 9 3 1 214 120 19 Seifast 9 4 0 201 161 18 Ber.-Pap. 8 5 0 125 154 16 IJnlv. A 7 5 1 214 145 15 R. Brighton 7 6 0 148 122 14 Shirley 6 6 1 157 173 13 line. Coll. 6 7 0 141 162 12 ilbion 5 8 0 126 135 10 Suburbs 4 9 0 124 186 8 (ydenham 4 9 0 100 233 8 tornby 3 9 1 118 223 7 Surnside 11 0 94 282 4 Univ. B 1 10 1 89 197 3