Marist ‘escape’ into C.S.B. Trophy final

Press, 3 August 1981, Page 17

Marist ‘escape’ into C.S.B. Trophy final

For the second time in three weeks, Marist performed an escape that would have done Houdini proud, and with it qualified to meet Lincoln College in the final of the C.S.B. Trophy next Sunday.

Marist walked a tightrope in all of its section two matches, but it came through unbeaten from its three matches even though its margins were by a single point on two occasions and by two points the other time. However, as one prominent Marist official remarked: “It's the winning of matches that counts, not how much you win bv."

Against New Brighton in the first round, Marist scored a try in injury time to sneak home by a point, and on Saturday it scored the win ning try three minutes from the finish against University A to win again by a point after having looked a beaten team for most of the second half.

In section one. Lincoln College and Belfast both had decisive wins in their final matches against High School Old Boys and Christchurch, respectively, to top the points table. However, Lincoln College had a far superior points differential, it had a plus differential of 27 points — Belfast was minus six. Not since the early 19505. when Marist won the senior championship for three successive years (1950 to 1952), has Marist taken the premier trophy.

Lincoln’s last success was in 1969 and it is poised to complete an outstanding double in what is the club’s centennial year. Already the College team has won the C.S.B. Cup. Lincoln also gets the chance to become the first team to win the two trophies in the one season.

The Cellar Ghost “player of the day” award at Rugby Park went to the live-wire flanker. Kerry Flood, for the second time in three weeks. Results.— Section one: Lincoln College 19, High School Old Boys 9; Belfast 22, Christchurch 12. Section two: Marist 7, University A 6; New Brighton 16, Linwood 0. Points — Section one

Marist snatched a nearmiraculous victory over University A at Rugby Park; its revival in the last 15 minutes will be remembered by Marist supporters, and many others, for a long time.

The teams were level, with a penalty goal apiece at halftime. After 10 more minutes Mark Liddicoat dropped a clever left-foot goal, and for the first 25 minutes of the second spell Marist was on the back foot. It won far more of the ball than University. but all its attacks were

stifled, and University’s strong mauling and driving posed persistent threats. Marist was under siege for those 25 minutes, but once it was lifted, the side responded to its first sight of victory with tremendous spirit. It went on to score the only try of the match and, on the basis of its response in the final dramatic minutes, it deserved to win.

It was magnificent rugby by both sides, especially in the final quarter, even if the quality of the defence of both sides, and the heavy ground, meant there were few flowing back movements. There was shattering tackling, and the Marist centre. Steve Hansen. was given particular attention by the University defence. Marist had a clear two-to-one advantage in the lineouts. mainly through Kerry Flood and Pat O’Gorman, and it was also ahead in possession from rucks and mauls. Yet possession seemed to mean little against the purposeful University team, and 15 minutes from the end Marist looked a beaten side. The battle of the forwards was awesome in its intensity; there have not been many club matches in which so many players of outstanding ability have been matched — Mark Meates, Dale Atkins, lan Stewart, Tim Lambert, and John Edmundson of University, Kevin Milne, Flood, O’Gorman, Terry Petersen. Pat O’Byrne of Marist were only a little ahead of the others.

Although handicapped by a heavily strapped left leg, Liddicoat was a competent University first-five eighths, and there were flashes of brilliance from the centre, Vic Simpson.

The Marist backs were under intense pressure for most of the match, but they had a little more freedom near the end, when their forwards seemed to outlast University. But it was only three minutes from the end when a very competent halfback, Gary MacDonald, ran from a scrum, Hansen for once had room in which to move, and he sent Garry Hooper over in the corner. College untroubled

The well-disciplined Lincoln College team had little trouble defeating High School Old Boys and the margin of 10 points flattered the losing team. Lincoln play rugby in a style which would delight any purist. Everything is well controlled, both on attack defence, and there is a flair for the unorthodox which by its very rareness becomes a potent weapon. Against this efficient play High School Old Boys had little to offer. Movements which might have succeeded against a lesser team failed and consequently the back play began to develop a frantic note.

On too many occasions the ball was run in hopeless positions and it must have been disheartening for the forwards to see much hard won possession squandered.

Lance Rickard and Bruce Deans were the best of a very even Lincoln back-line

while Robbie Gowland. Brian Fechney and Albert Anderson were the mainstays of the hard-working pack. Hugh Flaus and Gary Fuller were forwards to take the eye for Old Boys and the full-back, Mark Wheeler, came through a difficult day with credit. Brighton’s revenge With little at stake, except for personal pride, the match between New Brighton and Linwood never reached great heights.

However, New Brighton, which lost to Linwood in the C.S.B. Cup round, gained its revenge and there was no doubt that it deserved to do so against a team which started in first gear and seldom moved out of it.

New Brighton lifted its game against a team which has had the better of recent matches and the long kicks ahead by the New Brighton backs embarrassed a shaky Linwood defence.

Both of New Brighton’s tries were scored in similar manner. Wayne Burleigh kicked deep from inside his half, followed up swiftly, and when the ball rolled free from the grip of the last Linwood defender, Burleigh had a free run to the line.

The second try. near the end of the match, brought great amusement to all bar the Linwood team and especially Les Davidson. He went to drive on a kick ahead by Brian Lloyd, missed the ball completely and was face down in the mud as Trevor Keats casually picked it up and walked across unopposed. Led superbly by John Te Amo, who was in his element in the heavy conditions, New Brighton played with determination, something that was missing in the Linwood team which, at times, seemed at a loss to know what to do with possession. •

Burleigh. Lloyd and Dave Bowick gave sound perform-

ances in the New Brighton back-line, and Te Amo found excellent support from the much-improved Na Katae and Bob Davison, who had a lively game on the side of the scrum. Ru Koha was to the fore in the Linwood pack and Nelson Collett tackled firmly. The backs had an unhappy day, but Kevin Thomas showed out with his sharp turn of speed. Open match Belfast scored four tries to one in toppling Christchurch in a fast-moving, exciting, open game at Lancaster Park South.

It was a classical rugby match, featuring stirring forward play and swift running and passing by both sets of backs. The only thing to mar the proceedings was the high number of injuries and the need for half a dozen replacements.

The Belfast forwards, inspired by the leadership of Jack Oldridge, drove powerfully and mauled skilfully. The No. 8, Tony Burrows, featured strongly. W'ayne Smith, until he was carried off injured towards the end. and Kieran Keane moved the ball crisply and quickly for Belfast, creating space, notably on the left flank where the speedy John Rawson profited. Brian Hunter had a fine fullback's game.

For Christchurch, the fiveeighths, Alistair Roberts, lost nothing in comparison to his talented rival, Smith. Roberts showed deft touches throughout, whether passing, running or kicking, and he scored a grand try in the first half when he slashed through a gaping hole that Belfast left close to its scrum and its line.

John Jones was strong and incisive at centre for Christchurch. The loose forwards, Jock Hobbs and Peter Fife, were outstanding in the pack, as was the lock, Peter Fry, until he retired injured midway through the second half.

P W L F A Lincoln Col. 3 2 1 48 21 Belfast 3 2 1 38 44 Christchurch 3 1 2 24 32 Old Boys 3 I 2 22 35 Section two P.W. L. F. A. Marist 3 3 0 26 22 University A 3 2 1 46 28 New Brighton 3 1 2 37 34 Linwood 3 0 3 16 41 Marist’s revival