Rugby League Gore Cop final to Linwood

Press, 10 September 1984, Page 22

Rugby League Gore Cop final to Linwood

Linwood gained compensation for narrowly missing the Canterbury rugby league club championship play-offs by convincingly beating Marist-Westem Suburbs, 45-16, in the Gore Cup final at the Show Grounds yesterday. The winning margin was the second biggest in a cup final, being overshadowed only by Linwood’s 46-10 defeat of Sydenham in 1969. The aggregate of 61 points equalled that of Addington (36) and Marist (25) 10 years ago.

The clear superiority established by Linwood from the opening minutes was reflected by its claiming of eight of the 10 tries in a free-flowing encounter. Not only was Linwood far more alert to its attacking chances, but it marshalled its defensive resources far better than its rival.

Linwood began full of commitment and confidence. It led by 12 points after as many minutes, scoring two converted tries before Marist had even handled the ball anywhere other than deep inside its 22m area. The Marist defence failed to find any effective method of diffusing the towering “bombs” kicked by the Linwood centre, Lewis Hudson. After Linwood had regained possession from one such ploy its big prop forward, Kelvin Gernhoefer, brushed aside a weak tackle to touch down.

Soon afterwards Marist’s tackling was again inadequate when the Linwood full-back, Grant Todd, fielded a goal-line drop-out near half way, ran 45m, and when finally cornered flipped a pass to an unmarked team-mate, Brian Goodall.

The one-way traffic was briefly diverted by two penalty goals to Tony Wildermoth for Marist, only for Linwood to extend its advantage to 18-4 when Kim Turton and David Campbell conspired to provide Gary Finlayson with a try-scoring chance on the left wing.

The match was into its second quarter before Marist penetrated into Linwood’s territory, and it immediately bluffed the Linwood line-up. From a tap kick Wildermoth turned his back on the try-line and deftly chipped the ball back over his head; Chris Charlton followed through to take a clean catch and touch down with the whole Linwood side moving in the wrong direction.

However, Linwood needed little time to regain its poise. It again drew the Marist defence out of position, Jeff Whittaker spotted an exposed left flank, and Turton quickly doubled around to capitalise on it. A field goal from Hudson had Linwood well clear at 23-10 at the interval.

Linwood more than consolidated its situation, and had the cup safe, during the third quarter. It concentrated on working its way into favourable attacking jositions before slipping hrough the seemingly inevitablegaps left by Marist.

The other Linwood layers were shown the way jy the very experienced Paul Truscott and Hudson, and then Stephen Blanchard stood firm in a tackle and gave David Campbell a clear passage to score.

There was some consolation for Marist when its captain, John MacGougan, wrong-footed two opponents in a 30m dash to score. But Marist was still very prone to error, as shown when the ball went loose after being hooked from a defensive scrum and Gemhoefer, from the next play-the-ball, finished the match as he had started it — with a strongsurge over the tryline.

Gernhoefer might not be the most mobile of forwaris, but he does manage to muster enough momentum from a standing start ; to cause fatal hesitations in the minds of rival defenders. Whittaker and;' Truscott — chosen as “man of the match” — were the most prominent forwards in the loose, while Blanchard won the only tight head and gave a lively display. /

Ken O’Brien and Turton complemented each other effectively in the halves, Hudson and Campbell fused a solid midfield combination and Todd made a number of timely entrances from fullback. Had all the Marist forwards measured their workrates with that of Gary Leek Linwood’s task would have been much more difficult. Charlton and Craig

Cambell had their moments on attack, but they were widely spaced because of Linwood’s resolve, and only MacGougan and Wildermoth threatened to seriously disrupt Linwood’s back formation. The windy conditions presented few problems to the goal-kickers. Wildermoth’s only miss was from halfway, and Hudson finished with an analysis of six goals

from eight opportunities. Details:— Linwood 45 (K. Gernhoefer two, B. Goodall, G. Finlayson, K. Turton, L. E. Hudson, P. W. Truscott, D. A. Campbell tries; Hudson six goals, field goal) beat Marist-Westem 16 (C. E. Charlton, J. MacGougan tries; A. Wildermoth four goals). Half-time, 23-10. Scrums, Linwood, 7-6. Penalties, Marist, 13-6. Referee, Mr T. Drake.