Canty hammers Queensland in fine rugby win

Press, 7 May 1984, Page 44

Canty hammers Queensland in fine rugby win

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

The Canterbury rugby team gave every indication that it will be as good, if not better, than last year when it scored six tries to one in beating Queensland, 33-9, at Lancaster Park yesterday.

Not only was it a good win on the board, but it was ■p a good win against a ? which was in no way itclassed. But what would •ave really endeared Canterbury to the crowd of about 17,000 was the entertaining way it went about its work. There was plenty of free running from the backs and while many of their moves were a little disjointed the ingredient of speed was always evident. Wayne Smith displayed it in abundance, and others who covered the ground smartly were Robbie Deans, Andrew McMaster and Craig Green. Queensland opened the scoring when its first fiveeighths, Michael Lynagh, kicked a dropped goal after 12 minutes. It might have been a little lucky to hold these points as in the buildup to the kick the Queensland lock, Nigel Holt, was pummelling Tony Thorpe, on the ground, well away from the ball. The referee, Mr A. R. Bateman, had his attention drawn to the incident by one of the touch judges, and after a long discussion with the touch judge he let the kick stand. Otherwise, the game was incident free. By half-time Canterbury was well in control at 17-3 and a fine try just after the interval by Robbie Deans, which he also converted, put the result just about beyond doubt. However, Queensland played its best rugby in the second half. In the first spell it slipped well behind in the quest for possession, but in the second half it took the line-outs at better than two-to-one to finally edge out Canterbury, 16-15, in this area. Queensland tried hard to penetrate through its backs. There was plenty of imagination and forceful running in the moves that were used, but the Canterbury defence was very safe, especially in the mid-field. The only time it faltered was when Andrew McMaster had the ball bumped from his grasp over the goal-line and Lynagh was on hand to touch it

down. There were some good tries in the six Canterbury scored. Robbie Deans’ just after half-time was probably the best. He started the movement from inside his own half, a Green cross-kick took play close to the posts and after two rucks Deans carved himself a gap on the short side. Don Hayes and Tony Thorpe scored excellent forwards’ tries in the first spell, both snapping the last chains of defence after swirling movements that had disorganised Queensland. Bruce Deans got the other in the first half, combining with his brother to slip through a gap which had been left when Queensland made the mistake of assuming that there would be a kick at goal from a penalty. It was the final two tries, though, that showed Canterbury at its best. Green was true to form of never missing when left with only a man or two to beat. It was Smith and Wayne Burleigh who put him in this situation. McMaster scored the last, the end product of a coun-ter-attack started by Robbie Deans on his own side of half-way. Both were the tries of a team confident in its own ability to take calculated risks, even if the scoreboard offered every encouragement. The Canterbury No. 8, Dale Atkins, won the Cellar Ghost “player of the day” award, and he probably did enough in the first half to warrant selection. Thorpe may have been the one to run him closest. Not only was he Canterbury’s best line-out forward, but he was dynamic about the field. The Canterbury coach, Alex Wyllie, was not entirely happy with the Canterbury scrum and the new hooker, Merv Aoake, did concede two tightheads. However, the rucking was first-class and this made things so much easier for the backs. Bruce Deans had a fine game at half-back, being especially quick in getting to his opposite, and he also

did a lot of good work on cover defence. Victor Simpson, at centre, was as aggressive as ever and there was the strange sight on one occasion of Simpson on his feet, three defenders on the ground and Canterbury being awarded a penalty for a dangerous tackle. The penalty count was interesting. In the first half Canterbury was awarded six and Queensland none, and in the second spell it was the other way around. Of the Queensland side, Lynagh looked a player of class and the wings, Brendan Moon and Peter Grigg, were dangerous runners. Chris Roche and Peter McLean had useful games in the forwards, but while Queensland played reasonably well as individuals they were no match for Canterbury as a team. The Queensland coach, Bob Templeton, rated Canterbury “a much better side” than when it played

Queensland in Brisbane 12 months ago. Few at Lancaster Park yesterday would argue with that assessment, except perhaps the spectator in No. 3 stand who booed at the top

of his voice nearly every time Robbie Deans kicked for goal. It could have been a fear for his safety that shut him up in the second spell.

It was not one of Deans’s greatest goal-kicking days. He found the posts with four out of 10, but there was not an easy kick among them. Canterbury now has almost a month’s break before it plays its first Lion national championship match against Wellington. Mr Wyllie said he would be making no changes to the squad, and on the way the side went yesterday it is not hard to see why. For Canterbury, tries by Don Hayes, Bruce Deans, Tony Thorpe, Robbie Deans, Craig Green and Andrew McMaster. Robbie Deans kicked three conversions and a penalty goal. Michael Lynagh scored all Queensland’s points, from a try, a conversion and a dropped goal.