Penalty goal swings game for Nelson

Press, 3 August 1981, Page 18

Penalty goal swings game for Nelson

Nelson reporter

A .‘penaH.v goal kicked a minute before half-time was all that stood between Nelson Bays and West Coast in the first Seddon Shield challenge match of the season at Trafalgar Park on Saturday. Each side scored a converted try in the second half and with the first-half penalty goal Nelson Bays won. 9-6'

Overhead conditions were the best in Nelson for a week, but the ground showed the effects of almost incessant rain. Little wonder then that Stuart Dayman, for Nelson Bays, and Wayne Gugich had difficulty scoring from the seven attempts at penalty goals. the very sloppy conditions and the penchant for both sides to commit all sorts of offences — most of them ball killing in the rucks — made the first half a very easily forgettable affair. This half was played mainly along the eastern touchline to the accompaniment of the referee. Lyall Daines’s. whistle concerto as he awarded 26 penalties in the half. Much cleaner ball was won from lineouts and mauls in the second half and both sides stopped trying to kick, in favour of chain passing. Nelson Bays made a lot of ground out of its back movements and came close to scoring more than the one try notched. 'With the Springbok match now a mere three weeks away there were some features of the Nelson Bays performance that will undoubtedly cause the coach. Mervyn ' Jaffray. some concern/The inside backs continue to jog up to the tackle and far too much' hard-won forward possession was frittered away in ill-directed

and unnecessary kicking. The forward pack has a very good unit yet the lighter West Coast forwards time and again wrenched away maul ball which Nelson Bays appeared to have safely locked up.

There was one occasion when the Nelson Bays’ tactics slipped badly and this cost it six point's. For the rest, however, the tackling was very sure on both sides. The West Coast defences were often stretched to the limit, but somehow somebody always arrived on the scene at the critical moment. There were some fine in-

dividual performances? Paddy Calleson and GugichZ were excellent at full-back; Wally McCallum and Stewart Robertson were, full of fire and running for Nelson Bays, on the wings. Bob NeigK; hours at second five-eighths; had one of his best games for Nelson Bays for a long time.. If Dayman appeared a. little too nonchalant at times he was an effective link in' the passing chain and inside him Marty Dawson handledthe greasy ball as if it were bone dry. The West Coast backs, tended to run across field and consequently the wings, Dennis King and BruceDavidson, were crowded. - The experiment of playings Stephen Boon at half-back was not a success and West Coast's backline improved immeasurably in the second; half when Kevin Manera. took his place. He and DavidFoster had a rapport which' could have set the West' Coast line alight had it been’ strengthened up. Willie Dempster, Nelson Bays' No. 8, was the best loose forward on the field — in spite of his brief sojourn in the sin bin. Jon Sullivan, although a little late with some of his tackles, was the best of the West Coast loose forwards although Graham McGurk covered extremely well, and won some valuable lineout ball at No. 6.

It was a day made for tight play and in this phase Monty Wynyard, the West Coast lock, and Joe Baryluk. the Nelson Bays prop, were outstanding. Steve Phipps won some good lineout ball for Nelson Bays. Dayman kicked a penalty goal and converted the try scored by Dempster for Nelson Bays and Gugich converted the try scored by Foster for West Coast.