Tourists beat error-ridden South

Press, 28 May 1984, Page 22

Tourists beat error-ridden South

By

JOHN COFFEY

Sooth Island’s rugby league players averted their eyes from a large “6” written on the blackboard in their dressing room after they had lost, 24-15, to Queensland Country at the Show Grounds on Saturday. It had been placed there by the South coach, Ray Haffenden, during the halftime break, and was testimony of the number of tryscoring opportunities created, and wasted, during the opening spell. Mr Haffenden might well have updated the figure at the end of the match, for South could still have won had it not continued to

fritter away its chances. But the expressions on the faces of the players showed that they needed no further reminding of the crucial handling, passing and positional errors that on all but one occasion reprieved a quite unimpressive Country combination. *Tt was a real bad game, one that never flowed. You can’t make that many basic mistakes and expect to win. It was inexcusable,” said Mr Haffenden. Adding to the gloom in the South camp was the near-disbelief that the referee, Tony Drake, had ruled out two legitimate tries when the players did

get the fundamentals right. The score was 2-2 midway through the first half when the South right wing, Robert Moi Moi, was first to a well-judged chip kick by David Field. Mr Drake was very much In the minority in believing Moi Moi did not force the ball correctly. Much more serious, even, was his penalising of the South scrum-half, Glen Gibb, for “rabbiting” when he stretched out to score beneath the cross-bar. Barry Edkins would have had no difficulty with the conversion and South would have led by three points with 20 minutes left. Not that Mr Drake

endeared himself to the visitors. Three Queenslanders, Robert Tew, Mike Smith and Rob Brunker, spent time in the sin-bin, and they and their teammates were on the wrong end of a 21-15 penalty count The frequent punctuations by Mr Drake’s whistle, and the close marking of the opposing back-lines, cancelled out the attacking potential of the two sides. Queensland Country managed four tries, three .of them the product of South’s failure to cover its left flank. Both wings, Brunker and Steve Gibson (who had drifted across from the far flank), were given over-laps,

. and just before the end the substitute forward, Kevin Bocos, scooped up a spilled ball and ran 30 metres to touch down as South finally capitulated. The try which took Queensland Country to an 85 advantage at half-time was a far more spectacular affair. It featured the two most impressive Country forwards, with Danny Stains making the initial burst and Les Morrissey completing the movement in spite of the simultaneous arrival of three defenders. As if to underline the back-line resources which South seldom used, the three-quarters, Marty Cre-

quer and Bernie Green, joined in a sweeping 70mejje thrust for the only try awarded to the home team. Crequer broke away deep inside his own territory and, when cornered, flipped a pass up to Green, who skirted around the remnants of the cover. Although Queensland Country replied in kind soon afterwards, South kept in range almost until the finish. There was ever the impression, though, that it bad already given away the winning of this particular encounter. South certainly had enough possession to have beaten its rival by a corn;

fortable margin. Wayne Wallace, its booker, continued his outstanding success in the scrums, including five tight heads in his 10-3 superiority. Edkins, Russell Tuuta, Wayne Dwyer and Ross Taylor gave strong performances in the forwards. Field was very sharp at stand-off, Green and CreSuer also troubled the lueenslanders ’ when with the ball, and Moi Moi had a most satisfactory debut at this level. But no-bne could be excused the general ineptitude which restricted South’s scoring. When Stains and Morrissey synchronised their dual

thrusts they were most effective, Stains taking the brunt of the front-line defence and delivering the ball to his rampaging young partner, Col. Lindenberg and Tew gave competent displays in the halves, and Peter Gill bad South in some trouble when moving up from full-back. The respective “player of the day” awards went to Tuuta and Morrissey. Details.— Queensland Country 24 (L. Morrissey, R. Brunker, S. Gibson, K. Bocos tries; C. Lindenberg four goals) beat South Island 15 (B. J. Green try; B. R. Edkins five goals; D. C. Field field goal). Half-time, 8-5. Scrums, South, 10-3. Penalties, South, 21-15. Referee, Mr T. Drake.