Canterbury inflicts second defeat on dispirited Sydney

Press, 20 April 1981, Page 22

Canterbury inflicts second defeat on dispirited Sydney

NZPA Sydney The Sydney rugby side suffered its second successive defeat when it was beaten, 22-17 by Canterbury, at Coogee Oval Sydney, yesterday afternoon.

Sydney's pack performed well, fully holding its own in set play and winning sufficient loose ball, but the highly praised Sydney backline failed to make effective use of it. For a brief period, shortly before half-time, Sydney looked like a winner, scoring two quick tries. It led, 11-6, at half-time, but its hopes were quickly dashed. . Canterbury ran in two converted tries in the 10 minutes after the interval to take an 18-11 lead and control of the match. Canterbury was always in command from then on. Even when the Sydney ) flanker, Gary Pearse, clawed I his way over to bring the score to 18-17, Canterbury immediately came back and posted its fourth try. In the set play Sydney forwards did their part, wheeling the scrum cleverly, and Donald Price and Steve

Villiams won line-outs, but he Canterbury forwards had he best of the rucks and mauls. Canterbury’s All Black first five-eighths, Wayne Smith, used clever line kicks to keep Sydney pinned in its own half for much of the match. Canterbury scored four

tries to three, with the fullback, Robbie Deans, converting three. All the tries came from broken play close to the Sydney line. Canterbury’s manager, Mr Merv Barnett, said: “We have spent the year rebuilding our team and we’re very pleased with the win. “This will give the boys a lot of heart for their two games in Queensland on Wednesday and Sunday,” he I said. I A bitterly disappointed | Sydney coach, Peter Crittle, J said; “We have got to get iback the flair in our backs. “We won ample ball but we did not use it to the best advantage,” Mr Crittle said. Scorers — CANTERBURY: 22 (Hobbs, Scott, Smith, Deans, tries; Deans 3 conversions); beat SYDNEY 17 (Cowlishaw, Monaghan, Pearse, tries, Monaghan conversion and penalty).