Queensland jubilant after beating Canty

Press, 27 May 1985, Page 38

Queensland jubilant after beating Canty

NZPA-AAP Brisbane The halcyon days of Queensland rugby returned to Ballymore yesterday when the Maroons trounced New Zealand’s Ranfurly Shield holder, Canterbury, 21-7. It was only the third loss in 40 matches over the past three seasons for New Zealand’s rugby maestros, their stunned coach, Mr Alex Wyllie said. “That was one of our best wins ever. We drove perfectly in the forwards and our backs worked smoothly,” said the Queensland coach, Mr Bob Templeton. Down 6-7 at half-time after a first minute try by the Canterbury No.B, Dale Atkins, Queensland hammered the visitors after the resumption. The maroons built its game around the new centre, Nigel Kassulke, the tenacity of forwards Andy Mclntyre, Shane Nightingale and Mike Crank and the accuracy of goal kicking first-five, Michael Lynagh, who added 17 points. “That win takes us back to the mid-70s when Queensland suddenly came good as a rugby team,” the Queensland captain, Mclntyre said. The tough prop was leading Queensland for the first time after the withdrawal of regular skipper, Roger Gould. Gould stood down at the last minute with a leg injury. His full-back spot went to Neil Goodman-Jones.

Queensland staged a gallant fightback after Canterbury appeared to have taken control in the opening minutes. Its early anxious play gave way to free flowing football that allowed Canterbury only a penalty in the remaining 79 minutes of the match. Lynagh kept his team in touch with two first half penalties before unleashing a second half scoring spree. In all the Wallaby firstfive eighths landed two field goals and three penalties and converted Kassulke’s try. Lynagh also won his personal battle with All Black

first-five, Wayne Smith, who was able to show only brief glimpses of his undoubted class. Kassulke, in only his second match for his state,

said later: “I saw the line and just pinned my ears back.” The big youngster had taken the ball 25m out and beat two defenders with

blistering pace, sliding over despite a last ditch tackle by his opposite number, Warwick Taylor. Mr Wyllie said afterwards: “This was not one of our best matches. We won the ball in the line-outs but lost it through mistakes on the ground. “Queensland was always able to break away from the scrums and gain ground.” Mr Wyllie said his four All Blacks for the first test against England next weekend, Taylor, Smith, Craig Green and Jock Hobbs, had come though the match without any worries. Scorers: Queensland 21 (Nigel Kassulke try; Michael Lynagh 3 penalty goals, 2 dropped goals, conversion) Canterbury 7 (Dale Atkins try, Daryl Cotterell penalty goal). Crowd: 9000.