Southland run off feet

Press, 4 May 1981, Page 36

Southland run off feet

PA Invercargill All the skills and class that have made the Queensland team one of the great provincial combinations in the world were clearly displayed at Rugby park in Invercargill yesterday when it beat Southland, 39-12. It was a fascinating game played in conditions that suited the visitors right down to the ground. The overhead conditions were brilliantly fine and the ground, while a little soft, encouraged plenty of movement of the ball and the crowd of about 15,000 could only watch in amazement at the handling and backing up exhibited by Queensland. Scoring six tries, all of them converted by Paul McLean, who added lustre to the already heady qualities of the match with his goalk-

icking, four of which started within the confines of Queensland’s own half, the visitors literally ran Southlan off its feet. Southland was unable to conquer its almost age-old problem by failing to score tries when in good situations. Admittedly the Queensland defence was very sound and the speed of the visitors quickly got them out of trouble but there was only one occasion that Southland looked like scoring. But there was no taking anything away from Queensland. Its fitness was readily apparent and its ball-hand-ling skills were simply superb. The passing style that the Australian test team introduced to world rugby against the All Blacks last year was obvious, and with most of the

backline having been members of that team it was splendidly . executed. Men were missed out, men came as extras into the backline and most importantly of all, the men backed up in support. Just when it seemed the home team had movements covered yet another maroon Queensland jersey would pop up to further stretch the Southland And the visitors also laid to rest any old fashioned theories that attack should only start in the opposition’s half. Queensland, in four of its tries, did all the work well back downfield and simply worked at eliminating Southland defenders as quickly as possible. Southland was certainly a far sharper combination than

that which met Otago last week yet the quality of the visitors was just far too much for the locals to absorb. Queensland enjoyed a 19-7 line-out advantage through the good work of the locks, Peter McLean and Duncan Hall, and took the one tighthead of the game. But f;ese were the only areas where the visitors had an advantage over Southland. The home team took the rucks and mauls, 21-20, and the penalties, 18-10. Scorers for Queensland were: Brendan Moon (3),. Chris Roche, Tom Barker and Peter McLean tries, Paul McLean kicked six conversions and Mick O’Connor a dropped goal. For Southland: Brian McKechnie kicked four penalty goals.