Alex Wyllie has winning farewell

Press, 1 October 1979, Page 25

Alex Wyllie has winning farewell

Special correspondent Canterbury ended the current season on a high note when it beat Otago 32-20 by playing controlled rugby on a dry Carisbrook turf on Saturday. The win was important to Canterbury because it meant that it won seven of its 10 national division one championship games and finished third. Altogether this season, Canterbury played 16 games, for 11 wins and five losses.

It also provided a fitting send-off for Alex Wyllie who can retire with a proud record after 105 games as the Canterbury captain.

Wyllie has’ the knack of bringing the best out of the Canterbury team and he also understands the techniques of the game sufficiently to apply the pressure at the correct time. This was done to perfection at Carisbrook as Otago was not allowed to settle into its game. Speedy wing-three-quarter, Ross Gibson, ran in two!

[tries within the first eight jminutes and Canterbury was ahead 10-nil. The lead was increased to 16-nil when John Black crossed from a line-out close to the Otago goal-line. The Canterbury forwards drove ahead and Graeme Higginson set the ball up for Black to dive over.

A try by Wayne Smith after 36 minutes put Canterbury ahead 22-6 at half-time and the game was safe. This try, like the two by Gibson, was helped by some inept Otago tackling. Otago won the scrum, but halfback Ross Edwards, left the bail behind and Gary’ Barkle was around in a flash. He picked it up just inside Otago territory and sped downfield. When he was covered, Dave Thompson! was on hand and he passed’ to Smith who crossed' near the corner.

Canterbury appeared likely to reach a big total when it led 32-12 after 20

i minutes in the second half. /But the team then relaxed [and Otago was able to come 11 back. :i The match proved exciting [with 52 points being scored i — six tries to Canterbury : and three to Otago. i The enterprise came from i the Canterbury backs and; this was established through . the efficient inside back combination of Barkle and ■ Smith. Barkle was a fast mover and judged his passing well. He was also very quick to pressurise his opponent. Smith was very impressive. He is a quick and tricky runner with the ball and has a lot of acceleration. He is a potentially [brilliant first-five-eighth and [is an accurate kicker. He [kicked the high ball well to [put pressure on Otago. ! Murray McEwan and John I Collinson were effective] links, with the latter being] 'particularly effective in tim-

ing his pass to the wing.

.' Richard Wilson played steadily. There was a swirlTing wind at Carisbrook and ' Wilson sensibly kept the, ; ball low when kicking for the 1 line. However, late in the ' game he was slightly vuhier-. able under pressure. His : ] goal-kicking was safe and he; 1 kicked four goals from six; ' attempts, including two I from wide out. The Canterbury forwards . displaj-ed a cohesion and purpose which w*as lacking i from the Otago pack. It overpowered and outgunned the ■ Otago eight in all aspects of i play. The Canterbury pack . was quicker to the break- ■ downs and dominated the ■ rucks and mauls. Higginson and Vance Stewart got the 1 better of the Otago line-out jumpers. Higginson jumped high to gain some good line-out ball and he was very efficient in

’his driving play. Stewart was steady and Dave Thompson and Don Hayes were i quick in the loose. I The powerful and efficient ■ Canterbury front row of [John Ashworth, John Black land Barry’ Thompson, had I too much experience for the (Otago front three. ; The referee. Mr Barry Dawson (Southland), awarded 15 penalties to Otago and three to Canterbury. A crowd of 2000 watched' the game. The scores were: Canterbury’ 32 (Ross Gibson 2, John Black. Wayne Smith 2, Graeme Higginson tries; four conversions to Richard Wilson). Otago 20 (John Colling, lan Palmer. Bevan Wilson tries; Wilson two penalty goals and conversion).