Late try leads to draw in league clash

Press, 10 April 1980, Page 38

Late try leads to draw in league clash

By

JOHN COFFEY

The lead changed hands twice in the final seven minutes before the 1979 championship grand finalists, Eastern Suburbs-Hertz and Mar i s t-Western Suburbs, began their Canterbury' rugby league N.Z.I.G. premiership campaigns with a 14-14, draw at the. Show Grounds last evening.

Marist, having trailed for most of the opening spell, was in front, 11-9. when Eastern unleashed the most spectacular attacking manoeuvre of the match. Marist’s defence faltered as the Eastern backs swept 50 metres upfield and Bruce Murphy' timed his pass perfectly' to provide Murray French with a try. The conversion by Barry Edkins had Eastern ahead, 14-11, and .seemingly' sure of victory.

But Marist was far from finished. Its -hooker, Bruce Radford, continued to dominate the scrums and the vital break was created by the loose forward, Kevin Franklin, carried on by Ken Norton and completed by Mocky' Brereton, whose try' was one of the more important of the 154 that he has scored in his club career. Warren Rainey was short with a difficult conversion attempt.

Few could quibble with the outcome. Marist gained three of the five tries and held a terriforial advantage. However, Eastern’s defence was seldom at fault, whether at the front line or when scrambling back to cover,

Both sides still have some early-season lack of co-ordi-nation to discard, although there was clear evidence that they have the potential

to challenge seriously for the major trophies. Mark Broadhurst, the Marist captain and prop, was judged to be the Grenadier Restaurant “man of the match” for his exceptional work-rate, and he had particularly dedicated support from Terry Gillman, Franklin and Radford.

Deficiencies in goal-kick-ing and scrummaging cost Kaiapoi an excellent chance of upsetting Sydenham in the curtain-raiser. Sydenham might well have been rather relieved with its 12-7 success, three different Kaiapoi kickers having duffed simple penalty shots when just one point behind. Kaiapoi’s tackling was never less than tenacious, particularly when the Sydenham hooker, Kerry Corkran, wrested the ball from 11 of the first 12 scrums. It was an unexpected superiority over a Kaiapoi front-row which comprised Mark Fuller, Dale Brown and Danny Mi 11 ward. Scorers. —

Eastern Suburbs-Hertz 14 (B. R. Edkins, M. R. French tries; Edkins four goals) drew with Marist-Western Suburbs 14 (M. W. J. O’Donnell, M. E. Broadhurst, M. P. Brereton tries; W. Rainey two goals; J. MacGougan field goal). HalfTime: Marist, 10-9. Scrums, Marist, 17-10. Penalties, Eastern 13-11. Referee, Mr W. J. Menzies.

Sydenham 12 (P. Corkran, P. Vili tries; B. Corkran two, K. Siave goals) beat Kaiapoi 7 (M. Barron try; S. Dixon, G. Turton goals). Half-time: 8-7. Scrums, Sydenham, 1914. Penalties, Sydenham, 1811. Referee, Mr J. M. Baughan.