Big test for Canterbury

Press, 5 August 1981, Page 40

Big test for Canterbury

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

In view of the number of forced changes in the team, Canterbury cannot be too confident of the outcome of its representative rugby match against South Canterbury at Fraser Park, Timaru, today. South Canterbury, relegated to the second division of the national championship at the end of last season, has as its ultimate aim to win a place back in the premier division and a win against Canterbury would do wonders for the team’s morale. South Canterbury has already crushed Mid-Canter-bury, 25-3, this season — a team which Canterbury could only draw with last Wednesday — and it has beaten North Otago and

Southland. It lost to Otago and drew with Nelson Bays in its first national second division championship match. The Canterbury team played well enough to beat Mid-Canterbury last week — the backs moved fluently many times, Ricky Allen scything through gaps and the fact that Canterbury did not score more than two tries was basic mistakes when , the line was open. On the debit side, Canterbury conceded two tries by not making the first tackle count. Another lesson which Canterbury would do well to heed is to accept the referee’s decisions even if the team considers itself hard done by. Against Mid-Canter-bury, the team was penalised four times for back-chatting.

Canterbury will miss the services of the injured John Ashworth and Graeme Higginson in the pack, but Albert Anderson is fast making the grade and Mike Fransen, who replaced Dave White against Mid-Canter-

bury, is a valuable ballwinner from line-outs. The return of the strong, roving Jock Hobbs should help Canterbury gain more possession from secondphase play and tighten the defence. The Mid-Canterbury flankers were given far too much latitude last week. Gary Barkle has the opportunity to reinstate himself as the No. 1 half-back ahead of Steve Scott, and Rod Latham, with his drop-kicking ability and towering punts, is certain to fully test South Canterbury’s defence.

But Allen might be the key link in the Canterbury chain. He has a keen eye for a gap and provided he can maintain contact with his wings, Brett Oetgen and Mark Mclntosh, try-scoring opportunities should come. Mclntosh, in his Canterbury A debut last week, attacked and defended with the aggression that has marked his club displays for Lincoln College. Both teams will be wanting hard work-outs today as a final preliminary to important fixtures later this month. Canterbury meets Southland in its second national division one match on August 16 and South Canterbury has the Springboks as its next game on August 19.