League ‘first’ for Halsweil club

Press, 4 April 1985, Page 48

League ‘first’ for Halsweil club

Halsweil won its first rugby league competition at premier level when it beat Papanui, 26-8, in the final of the Radio Avon knock-out tournament at the Show Grounds last evening. The result provided Halsweil with a memorable start to its twenty-fifth anniversary year, though it would be more appropriately described as a coming of age for a club that is now realising its potential. Although Halsweil spurted away to a 14-point advantage in the first of the 15min quarters, it had to repulse a spirited, though far too brief, revival from Papanui before careering away to an easy victory.

The best that Papanui could manage was to reduce the deficit to 8-14. Halsweil, however, resisted all of the

pressure imposed and soon turned the tide of attacks back towards Papanui’s tryline. Phil Prescott, the Halswell captain, extended his side’s challenge in the second minute when he darted through a yawning gap in Papanui’s defences. Not long afterwards the left wing, Nigel Ward, sprinted away from his opponents and Halsweil had virtually “stolen” the final. Even a fine try by Barry Brown, in the Papanui centres, soon after half-time could not dim Haiswell’s enthusiasm. The “man of the match” award went to the right wing, Neil Sinclair, whose bubbling and penetrative breaks typified the enterprise of the Halsweil players. Linwood required only a few minutes of the curtain-

raiser to be on course towards a decisive win over Sydenham in the play-off for third. There was no hint of early-season rustiness as Linwood scored four flowing tries to have the result in safe-keeping by the interval. Handling and backingup were of a particularly high standard, stretching and then out-flanking the Sydenham cover. Final: Halsweil 26 (P. Prescott, N. Ward, J. Clydesdale, D. Pluck tries; A. Moore three, G. Grut, P. Bancroft goals) beat Papanui 8 (B. J. Brown try; A. J. Wildermoth two goals). Half-time: 14-2. Referee, Mr T. Drake. Play-off for third: Linwood 28 (S. Wernham two, J. Rees, K. O’Brien, T. Keepa, S. McMaster tries; D. A. Perkins, Keepa goals) beat Sydenham 6 (M. J. Smith try; R. Kara goal). Half-time: 18-2. Referee, Mr K. R. Blackler.