Atkins stars as Canty beats Maori team

Press, 1 April 1985, Page 27

Atkins stars as Canty beats Maori team

By

GEOFF MEIN

A masterly loose forward display by Dale Atkins was the feature of Canterbury’s comfortable 41-13 win against a New Zealand Maori 15 at Temuka on Saturday.

The big No. 8, deservedly named “man of the match,” once again proved that size does not necessarily affect mobility. His frequent penetrating bursts more often than not resulted in points for his team, much to the delight of the large crowd. In an entertaining game of fast, open rugby, Canterbury’s dominance over what on paper should have been a strong opponent was rarely tested. Even the late withdrawals of Bill Osborne and Jock Hobbs left both teams with liberal sprinklings of proven internationals and others such as Atkins knocking on the All Black door. The quality of the sides resulted in the game being given first-class status. If anything, the final scoreline flattered the Maori 15. Its lack of fitness really told, especially in the second spell. After trailing, 3-23, at half-time, it slumped to 3-41, going into the last five minutes. It was only an eleventh-hour flurry resulting in two consolation tries and a conversion that restored some respectability to its score.

The Maori 15’s capacity for producing unorthodox moves—while entertaining for the crowd—was no match for the controlled machine that has ensured Canterbury’s near-record tenure of the Ranfurly Shield. The Maori centre, Arthur Stone, was a good example. His quick changes of direc-

tion caught both the first line of Canterbury’s defence and his team-mates by surprise. He often managed to weave through two or three defenders before hitting the Canterbury wallalone and without support.

Stone was impressive in the first half, but tired to play little part in the second spell. Both packs had their moment, but, on a playing surface in remarkably good condition for an area suffering from drought, had to stand in the wings while the backs—and Atkins—took centre stage. The pick of the Maori forwards was the hardworking lock, Mike Fransen, who was named runner-up to the “man of the match.” Barry White, the late replacement for Hobbs, had the distinction of opening and closing the scoring for Canterbury. He scored a try close to the posts after a scrum in the third minute and later successfully converted a try by the halfback, Bruce Deans. Craig Green scored the first of his two tries after Deans switched direction to capitalise on a huge blindside gap. Minutes later, Victor Simpson made a strong jinking run up the centre

and Warwick Taylor was in support to score under the posts. Shortly before half-time, Adrian Boyd scored an easy try, after a series of defensive blunders by the Maori 15 again left a large gap on the wing. Boyd was back in the action early in the second half, breaking clear to put Atkins in for a try. The attempt by Atkins to convert his own try narrowly missed the upright. The Maori 15 was probably hoping that the Atkins menace would burn out, but the big man was soon bulldozing his way back through their ranks to set up the second of Green’s tries. Taylor, who had a good all-round game in spite of coming off second best in two first-half clashes with Stone, then weaved through a tiring Maori defence to provide Boyd with his second try. Poor tackling also enabled Deans to add four points. The Marist first fiveeighths, Greg Coffey, had a mixed first-class debut,

showing some flair before straining a leg and being replaced by Wayne Burleigh at half-time. Steven Pokere had a quiet game, seemingly content to pass the ball on rather than going alone. For Canterbury, Green and Boyd two tries each, White, Taylor, Atkins and Deans one try each; Coffey

kicked two conversions and a penalty goal, and White a conversion. For the Maori 15, Matene, Love and Fransen scored tries, Pokere a dropped goal and Warren McLean a conversion.