Marist tournament won by Hokitika

Press, 26 April 1984, Page 28

Marist tournament won by Hokitika

Greymouth reporter

The unpredictability of rugby was once again demonstrated in the final of the South Island Marist rugby tournament played at Victoria Square on Sunday when Hokitika St Mary’s defeated the dominating favourites, Christchurch Marist, 12-9 in a game which, although tryless, lacked nothing in excitement. Conditions were ideal when Marist kicked off but they were quickly back on their heels when penalised twice in the first two minutes. Gugich’s first effort, a drop kick from inside his own half, proved too optimistic, but the second from 25m out near touch was right on target and St Mary’s were into a three-point lead. Marist came back after this

initial setback and quickly appeared to gain dominance in the game with a virtual monopoly of line-out ball, mainly through the efforts of the tall lock, Pat O’Gorman, and a swift service from the halfback Steve Baker. It appeared to be only a matter of time before the swift Marist backs scored. However, when Marist did equalise after 12 minutes it was not a try but a penalty from McWhirter when St Mary’s were penalised on their own goal-line. Three minutes later Marist went into a 6-3 lead when the first five-eighths, Greg Coffey, ran on the blind side from a scrum, and as the defence moved across fired a long pass back to Phil Gibson on the open side. Gibson had plenty of time to slot a drop kick between the posts.

The second half began as the first half ended with Marist on attack. After two minutes they went further ahead when Coffey, who had had a sound game, drop kicked a neat goal to give Marist a 9-3 lead. Within a minute, however, St Mary’s were back to within three points when Gugich kicked a handy penalty to bring the score back to 9-6. It was shortly after this that the pattern of the game began to change. Although Marist still won vital ball, St Mary’s were pressing more often. Shortened line-outs lessened O’Gorman’s dominance. The protection given by the Marist pack to their backs began to disappear and the Marist backs were beginning to get caught more in possession. It was really no surprise

when St Mary’s drew level. Half-way through the second half it was 9-9 and St Mary’s for, it seemed, the first time in the game sensed that victory might be their’s. St Mary’s took the game to Marist with Wyness showing good form and it was from one of his runs that St Mary’s took what turned out to be the match-winning lead. Wyness cut through and fed to Lyn Ross, who was bundled into touch. However St Mary’s won the subsequent line-out and ruck and Dave Curtin slotted a drop goal to make the score 12-9 with six minutes to play. Marist than ran the ball from everywhere, but their desperation and the ever-reso-lute tackling of St Mary’s saw vital passes going to ground, and St Mary's driving the loose ball ahead.

The scheduled play-off for third and fourth place did not take place as Nelson Celtic withdrew, conceding third place to the host club, White Star.

Three selectors, Messrs Gerry Adams, Alec Fussell, and John Hunt later selected a South Island Marist team.

The team is: W. Gugich (Hokitika), D. Kilworth (Christchurch), S. Wyness (Hokitika), P. Gibson (Christchurch), M. Mclntosh (White Star), G. Coffey (Christchurch), S. Baker (Christchurch), N. Schroder (Hokitika), G. Elley (White Star) M. O’Grady (Ashburton), B. O’Gorman (Christchurch), R. Elley (White Star), K. Davidson (Hokitika), G. Davidson (Hokitika), S. Gunn (Nelson). Reserves: J. Temepo (Hokitika), K. Ford (Greymouth), P. Liehert (Christchurch), P. Davidson (Hokitika).