Canty sets record

Press, 13 June 1984, Page 54

Canty sets record

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN,

in Timaru

Canterbury had no trouble in posting a new record for consecutive rugby wins by a province when it beat South Canterbury, 19-3, at Fraser. Park yesterday. The sequence now stands at 21. The depth of Canterbury forward play was very much in evidence as the pack, which contained only three first-choice selections, controlled the game throughout. The South Canterbury eight gave a plucky display, but it never had a chance against men bigger, faster and stronger. The superiority was most felt in the lineouts, which Canterbury won 29-6, and in the first-half South Canterbury secured the ball only once from this source.

But given the fine display by the Canterbury pack, and some of its ball-in-hand drives were classic stuff, it was disappointing that the side could manage only three tries.

The South Canterbury defence ran hot and cold, but indecision and slow ball movement were the main reasons why the backs failed to make the most of what should have been a golden afternoon for them. They had enough good ball to score half a dozen tries.

The players may find another excuse and it would not be one without some validity. If nothing else the Welsh referee, Mr ¥7lOBlOO

Jones, who was limbering up for Saturday’s test, is a man who rules by the book. He dished out a total of 30 penalties, 17 of them to South Canterbury, and there were times when spectators might have wondered if the Welsh have heard of the advantage law. His strictness did seem to intimidate the players and towards the finish the front-rows, in particular, looked to have reached a point where they were afraid to wipe their brows, in case it was an offence. With so much whistle the game was very much a stop-start affair, but Mr Jones could not be entirely held responsible for the lack of penetration by the Canterbury backs, especially out wide where a number of good scoring chances went begging. If anything, there was more life in the South Canterbury backline. Working only from crumbs, it rattled Canterbury with a number of strong thrusts, and a try towards the finish would not have been undeserved.

The mid-field pair, Steve Tarraot aod Craig Dorgao, were particularly agile aod the first five-eighths, Paul Morris, also made some useful stabs from broken play. But the Canterbury forwards were so dominant that the play went mainly in one direction. The “player of the day” award just had to go to the No. 8, Andy Earl. He was magnificent at

the back of the line-outs, drove with great fire and purpose, and linked tidily with his backs when coming off the back of scrums. Rob Moffatt, Pat O’Gorman and Tony Thorpe also contributed handsomely to Canterbury’s line-out monopoly, and Brett Dixon made a solid debut at hooker. Rod Latham, who might have been glad he was not playing cricket and under catches in the outfield, opened the scoring for Canterbury with an easy penalty. A dropped goal by Morris after nine minutes tied the scores at 3-3. But in spite of having all the ball it was not until five minutes before half-time that Canterbury scored its first try, Wayne Burleigh taking advantage of some half-hearted tackling to run 35m to the line. Burleigh was over again just before the interval. He worked a scissors movement with Victor Simpson and got back into the act to take the final pass. South Canterbury added spice to the last 10 minutes by mounting a couple of strong attacks, and the flanker, Mick Smale, was unlucky not to turn the best of them into a try. The try was awarded, but the touch judge’s flag was up. For Canterbury, Wayne Burleigh, 2, and Rod Latham tries; Latham two conversions and a penalty goal. For South Canterbury, Paul Morris a dropped goal.