Hudson’s goals sink Halswell

Press, 12 April 1984, Page 8

Hudson’s goals sink Halswell

Only the outstanding goalkicking of the Linwood fullback, Lewis Hudson, prevented Halswell from making an auspicious start to its Canterbury rugby league premiership campaign at the Show Grounds last evening. Hudson kicked eight goals from nine attempts and added a long-range field goal in Linwood’s 21-18 victory. It was of little consolation to Halswell that it scored three of the four tries in the match.

The enterprise of the Halswell backs, Grahame Frew, Phil Bancroft, Jeff Whittaker and Todd Metcalfe, and loose forward, Nigel Ward, had Halswell ahead on two occasions. But Linwood dominated the penalty and scrum counts, Hudson displayed remarkable accuracy, and Brent Todd eventually surged across for the winning try 6min from the finish.

Halswell added to its difficulties by losing Bancroft and Kevin Williams to the sin-bin and not having a replacement ready when Frew was injured. It was while Halswell had only 12 men, with the totals tied, that Todd touched down.

Bancroft’s deft foot-work and slick passing was a constant worry to Linwood, and Ward switched from the wing to the pack so effectively that he won the “man of the match” award. Linwood owed much to Hudson in general play, too, for the length and height of his tactical kicks. Papanui joined Linwood.

Marist-Westem Suburbs and Kaiapoi as a first-round winner when it beat Addington, in the other game. Although handling errors cost it points and prevented it from establishing any permanent superiority, Papanui generally had the better of its rival.

The forward exchanges were torrid, and John Green, Adam Fisher (Addington) and Steve Bazley (Papanui) served time in the sin-bin. While Fisher and Bazley were absent Papanui claimed two tries in as many minutes from up-and-unders to seal the issue.

Addington's inexperience showed, but Green (the “man of the match”). Billy Parker and Pomare Connell gave strong performances. John de Goldi and John Cole were prominent in the Papanui pack and the backs moved positively, Roy Ah Kuoi finishing with 22 points. Details.—

Linwood 21 (B. Todd try, L. E. Hudson eight goals, field goal) beat Halswell 18 (G. S. Frew, T. Metcalfe, A. Baughan tries; P. Bancroft three goals). Half-time, 8-8. Scrums, Linwood, 11-5. Penalties, Linwood, 14-9. Referee, Mr S. O’Grady. Papanui 38 (R. Ah Kuoi two, J. Blazey, J. Cannell, N. Hermanson, G. C. Roberts tries; Ah Kuoi seven goals) beat Addington 24 (W. J. Parker, D Flynn, G. Ngaru, S. E. McCann tries; B. E. Corkran four goals). Half-time, 14-8. Scrums, 6-6. Penalties, Papanui, 13-12. Referee, Mr K. Ireland.