Rugby League One-point win to Canty over Central

Press, 26 April 1983, Page 34

Rugby League One-point win to Canty over Central

Special correspondent The South Island battled gamely through a number of tight second half situations on Saturday to open the Sony inter-districts rugby league series in Wellington with a 14-13 victory over Central Districts. Leading 14-7 after 50 minutes, the South Island looked about to take command. However, Central’s moving of Peter Mellars from second row to prop immediately started to pay dividends in the scrums, and with the last quarter beckoning a converted try had cut the visitor’s lead to one point. With Central continuing to dominate the scrums after big first half difficulties, the South spent much time on defence. It held up though, particularly at full-back where Canterbury’s Tony Wildermoth pulled off at least two tackles when he was all that stood between Central adding to their try tally. On both occasions Central had been rampant up the middle only to founder when confronted by Wildermoth, whose over-all defence throughout earned him a $7OO Sony Radio unit as the player of the day. Unhappily the match generally lost much of its impact in the final 15 minutes when the ball became almost impossible to handle on the mud.

As both teams repeatedly committed handling errors, the game degenerated to a scrappy struggle, players diving hither and thither in their quest to gain control of the loose ball. While the South did not look much above ordinary it

was weakened initially when West Coast hooker, John Griffin, was ruled out through injury, and the Canterbury pair of Lewis Hudson and Rex Dalzell were both late defections. However, in a second rower, Wayne Dwyer, the South were well served in the forwards, and stand-off half, David Field, scrumhalf, Glenn Gibb, and Wildermoth were the pick of the backs.

Dwyer looked the most dangerous of the southern attackers, and, in fact, opened his side’s scoring with a burrowing try from Dunny half after 14 minutes.

On defence, Dwyer proved just as effective. Field often kicked with telling accuracy, a tactic highly appropriate in the conditions.

While the snowy-haired Wildermoth was making his debut at this level he looked competent and composed in general play. He should have converted Dwyer’s try, but made some amends after 33 minutes when he succeeded with a longish penalty attempt, his only success from four shots at goal. After enjoying an 8-5 scrum advantage in the first half, the South lost the first seven in the second to trail finally 11-15. The penalties continued to come their way, though, as Central repeatedly offended at the scrums, South winning this area 14-7.

As reigning inter-district champions, and as such due to play Newtown in Sydney on May 11, Central were highly disappointing. It was no surprise that three forward changes were made hours after the trip to Sydney, including the selection of a past Hornby and Canterbury player, Barry Edkins, who had been ignored since transferring north pre-season. South Island 14: (Wayne Dwyer, Mike Williams, Glenn Gibb tries: Tony Wildermoth penalty); Central Districts 13 (Nolan Tupaea, Dick Uluave tries: Garry Campbell two conversions, Tupaea dropped goal). Halftime, 10-6.