Hale scores four tries in 34-26 Canty league win

Press, 23 April 1984, Page 15

Hale scores four tries in 34-26 Canty league win

By

JOHN COFFEY

Lawrence Hale proved at the Show Grounds yesterday that a front-row forward’s rugby league career need not be without flair when he scored four tries in the Canterbury XIII’s 34-26 victory over New Zealand Marist.

The well built and surprisingly mobile Hale might not be a disciple of the scripture of orthodox prop play, but the points he contributed were worth a library of text books in the context of yesterday’s match.

A typically strong and piercing burst by Hale carried him across for the first try soon after the start, and he regained the lead for Canterbury half an hour later in quite contrasting fashion.

This time Hale was positioned in the centres — he is not an infrequent visitor to the territory of the threequarters — and once placed in a gap he fended off two opponents during a 40m sprint to touch down.

His second half feats were similar. After Marist had slipped away to a 20-12 advantage Hale moved in close to the play-the-ball, accepted a pass at full pace and used his weight to reduce the deficit. For a time it was the turn of the Canterbury team’s invitation captain, Tony Coll, to dominate the scoring. Coll, who had been responsible for much of the ball distribution, twice perplexed the Marist defence with dummy passes and slipped across the try-line.

However, Marist was back within range when Hale made the result safe for Canterbury. Again he drifted wide, and a quick relaying of the ball across field allowed Hale the room to gather momentum, push off an attempted tackle and breach Marist’s in-goal area for a fourth time.

That Hale and Coll should provide six of Canterbury’s seven tries testified to the

overall advantage' achieved by the bigger Canterbury pack. The scrums were an exception, Marist winning possession from 10 of the 18, but that is only to be exEected from a team coached y one of this country’s finest hookers, Colin O’Neil. The statistics also suggest, with accuracy, that the Canterbury back-line did not function as well as it might have, given the considerable potential of the individuals. The Marist backs also maintained a sound defensive pattern, and only once did Canterbury completely evade that cover.

Barry Brown, at outside centre, made full use of his one attacking opportunity, breaking away in midfield and evading the Marist fullback, Paddy Maloney, on his 45m course to score.

A tendency by the other centre, Lance Setu, to turn back infield restricted the chances of the Canterbury wings. Setu is a youngster

with much to offer, and he will no doubt come to appreciate the greater value of seeking to break outside his markers.

The fine all-round performance of the loose forward, Mike Smith, and the slick partnership of the halves, John Blazey and John Rangihuna, were encouraging aspects of Canterbury’s display. Coll celebrated his farewell to the Show Grounds with his two tries when they were most needed. But will Canterbury have future cause to rue the day its team included a man who has been nominated as a West Coast selector? New Zealand Marist might have lacked players of great renown — its only former Kiwi, Paul Te Ariki, was a late withdrawal because of a suspension in Wellington — but it was nevertheless a very capable combination.

It, too, had a prop with personality. Eddie Tewhui did not have Hale’s roving nature, but he was from a mould which made him very difficult to tackle. Tewhui’s ability to turn and deliver passes to his teammates caused problems for Canterbury, and he just had enough reach to gain one of Marist’s tries. His brother, Brad, had the better of the hooking duel and kicked five goals from six attempts.

If Canterbury eventually out-pointed its rival, the distinction of scoring the most spectacular try went to Marist, and particularly John MacGougan, a former Canterbury representative. Eddie Tewhui set up the situation for MacGougan to place a neat chip-kick over

Lewis Hudson’s head, regather and race away from the cover.

Arnold Lomax, a wing with the size to look eye-to-eye at his forwards, opened Marist’s scoring in each spell, while Maloney ignored the indignity of having his jersey ripped from his back to prove an enthusiastic runner at full-back and later in the centres. Details.—

Canterbury XIII 34 (L. M. Hale four, A. P. Coll two, B. J. Brown tries; L. E. Hudson two, R. Ah Kuoi goals) beat New Zealand Marist 26 (A. Lomax two, J. MacGougan, E. Tewhui tries; B. Tewhui five goals). Half-time, 12-12. Scrums, Marist 10-8. Penalties, Marist, 8-3. Referee, Mr D. Wilson (Wellington).