Rugby Late burst not enough for Merivale

Press, 12 April 1982, Page 14

Rugby Late burst not enough for Merivale

A; A spirited burst over the final quarter by MerivalePapanui enlivened the centennial ' match against a Sydenham Invitation XV at Lancaster Park on Saturday, and brought Merivale to within three points of Sydenham, who won 16-13. The match was played as part of the Sydenham club’s centennial celebrations, with Merivale also having its centenary this year. Sydenham boosted its senior team with the inclusion of All Blacks Jock Ross, Brian McKechnie and Steven Pokere, and these three played a dominant role in Sydenham's command for three-quarters of the match. Pokere was rather subdued at second five-eighths, but he showed some deft touches, particularly in his passing, and he gave his three-quarter line. plenty of running. He also covered very well. Sydenham went out to 13-0 at half-time, through tries by Ross and Brent Nicoll, with some useful instep goal-kick-ing by McKechnie, and led 16-3 after 22 minutes of the second half. Ross’s lanky frame soared high for the ball from lineouts and kick-offs. His try came from a clean, twohanded take in a lineout, and a lunge for the line. A minute earlier, he had failed narrowly to score in the same fashion. Nicoll’s try came after a fly-kick through and a good chase.

In the heady last quarter, Merivale finally found its tonch. In that period it produced the best rugby of the match, and the best tries, After 24 minutes of the secondhalf, Merivale’s left wing, Jon Johanssen, scored superbly after running the length of the field. The Merivale backs, under pressure, spun the ball across their own goal-line to send Johanssen away. The slim, blond winger then checked and swerved easily round the Sydenham fullback and raced away to score near the north-west corner. After that, Merivale attacked frenetically, with Paul Karena cutting some merry capers in midfield( With five minutes to go, the Merivale backs moved the ball smartly from a ruck and the No. 8, Bub Hepi, ranged up in support and crashed over, Johanssen, with his conversion, completed the scoring for the game. The guest selector of the players of the day was Colin Meads, who chose Hepi, from the Merivale team, and Simon Bloomberg, who played a solid, efficent game at halfback for Sydenham. Sydenham’s points came from tries by Ross and Nicoll, and a conversion and two penalty goals by McKechnie. For Merivale, Johanssen and Hepi scored tries and Johanssen kicked a conversion and a penalty goal.