Enterprising league

Press, 8 July 1983, Page 4

Enterprising league

The British amateur rugby league youth team kept its promise to play attractive football when it opened an eight-match tour of New Zealand with an 11-4 win over Combined Canterbury at the Show Grounds last evening. Even though well over 30 penalties were awarded and just one try scored — to the British — the game flowed well and there was plenty of enterprising play. Deryck Fox, the British vice-captain, had an outstanding game at scrum-half and was a popular “player of the night.” He distributed the ball well and was very elusive, almost breaking right through the Canterbury team on one occasion.

Exceptionally long passing marked the British back play and they also used the pass back inside to good effect. The Canterbury backs ran on to the ball well, but failed to on scoring chances.

The British cover was very good and kept the Canterbury team out in one concerted period on attack when it was only a few metres out from the line with several tackles in hand.

Steve Durham, a 98kg coalminer from Wakefield, proved very tough to stop at prop for the tourists and the captain and centre, Gary Schofield, also ran strongly until he went off injured in the final quarter. The goal-kicker, Andrew Rippon, literally made his mark on the Show Grounds turf and took incredibly long steps back from the ball.

For Combined Canterbury Wally Langatule and Lance Setu were thrustful in the centres and David Peach, Don Swanson, and John Cannell among the forwards also made good ground.

British amateur youth team 11 (G. Divorty try, A. Rippon three goals; G. Schofield field goal) ,beat Combined Canterbury (R. Pidcock two goals):