Lincoln’s rugby threat

Press, 9 May 1981, Page 64

Lincoln’s rugby threat

The senior rugby championship seemed to be University A’s for the taking after its block-busting efforts in the first two founds of the C.S.B. Cup competition, but that impression might well be upset by an unbeaten and consequently confident Lincoln College side in the main match at Lancaster Park oval this afternoon. Lincoln College has made no secret of its quest for University’s scalp and, after the overseas tour earlier this year it has the form to back its claims. The team boasts a vigorous and mobile set of forwards and inventive backs, and the combination has produced 20 tries in five matches. But after the awesome opening to its 1981 campaign. University barely scrambled home against Hornby and then lost to Christchurch, a side which had been in the

doldrums. There were signs of looseness in the University pack, and this had a serious effect on the performance of the back line; the lesson will not be lost on Lincoln College. For all that, University has a vast spread of experience through its ranks, and the reverse of last week will have engendered a spirit of determination within the side. This will be accelerated by the fact that University is lagging behind Lincoln in wins since the college side left Ellesmere and joined the Christchurch senior competition in 1966. Since that time Lincoln College has won 10 times to University’s seven, with one draw, with Lincoln winning nine of the first 10 encounters. The team's solitary success since then was in 1979, when Mark Mclntosh, the auburn-haired wing who

is this season’s leading tryscorer, crossed University’s goal-line twice. John Edmondson and Randal Scott each scored two tries when University hammered Lincoln, 45-15, in 1975, and these youthful veterans have the'incentive to repeat the feat this afternoon. However, the cool competence of Mark Liddicoat at first five-eighths might prove to be University’s biggest asset. Dave White and Albert Anderson will lead a strong Lincoln challenge up front, and University will have to display great attention to its line-out ploys and the commitment of all of its forwards to the ruck if it is to prevail. But whatever the result, the match should provide a showcase of constructive and exciting rugby.