Porta fires on soggy pitch

Press, 6 April 1981, Page 30

Porta fires on soggy pitch

NZPA Sydney Hugo Porta, the casual rugby genius from the parched Pampas, kept a leaky World Barbarians XV afloat for a 16-16 draw against Sydney on a water-logged Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday. • The Argentine ace steered the World XV safely to harbour with a sublime display of five-eighths artistry in atrocious conditions. His deadly right boot contributed half his team’s points—including a magnificent 40m dropped goal — and his attacking genius laid the foundations for two tries.

Thie . star studded World XV, drawn from seven countries, led 9-0 after eight minutes and 12-3 at halftime, but the longer the match lasted the more pro-

nounced was its lack of coordination. Sydney, protecting a proud record of 13 games without defeat, capitalised on it with ruthless efficiency. But for Porta’s bewildering side-steps and masterly tactical kicking, the humiliation could have been devastating. Sydney proved just about all the pundits wrong after an admittedly shaky start, when it appeared to be overawed by the galaxy of talent opposing it. Sydney was outweighed in the forwards, but broke even in the scrums, with its hooker, Bruce Malouf, claiming the only tighthead of the match..

And in spite of the presence of the big locks, Andy Haden and Alejandro lachetti, Sydney emerged with a 15-13 edge in the line-outs. Sydney also had to overcome a lop-sided 7-15 pen-

alty deficit; imposed by the referee, Dick Byres. It was difficult to single out any one; from an inspired Sydney- side-after the early setbacks, but the. former test full-back, Laurie Monaghan, and ,the .lock,, Steve Williams, deserve much of the credit.

Monaghan, headed for the mainstream of representative football after two injury-: troubled years, turned in an almost faultless performance. He was a bulwark in defence, and confirmed his new-found kicking form with two penalties and a conversion from four attempts at goal. Monaghan', originally picked as a winger for the match until Glen Ella cried off, also set up Sydney’s first try with a typically blockbusting burst into the backline.

Mark Ella, who only last week was judged man of the

series at the Hong Kong Sevens tournament, turned in a ■ curiously indifferent performance at first five-eighths, and was overshadowed by Porta. .

Only late in the second half did Ella appear to find the confidence to run the ball with any authority. The only casualty of the match was the World XV prop, Graham Price, of Wales, who left the field after 30 minutes suffering a back injury. He was replaced by the Australian, Chris'Carberry, who took over as hooker, with New Zealand’s Hika Reid switching to tighthead prop.

Sydney 16 (J. Coollican, M, Hawker tries; L. Monaghan conversion, 2 penalties) drew with Barbarians World XV 16 (G. Comelsen, M, Fujiwara tries; H. Porta conversion, dropped goal, penalty goal).