Forwards give N. Canty win

Press, 15 July 1985, Page 44

Forwards give N. Canty win

A marvellous display of controlled driving by the North Canterbury forwards laid the foundation for their team’s 22-4 victory over Canterbury Maoris in a representative rugby match at Linfield Park yesterday. The tacky ground surface did not prevent both sides from playing an open, passing game, but North Canterbury ensured that it had command of the mauls, and had committed the Maori flankers to the tight before spinning the ball too wide.

The match took some time to settle down, as both teams struggled early with the slippery ball and puggy ground. But North Canterbury asserted itself in the forwards as the first half progressed, although it was only two minutes before half-time that it broke the scoring drought with a try to its captain, Ross Loffhagen. Earlier on, the Canterbury Maoris looked more like scoring in the backs where the strong running centres, Sam Hale and Hed Tamatea, strained the North Canterbury cover defence. But the North Canterbury pack never eased its effort.

The forwards hit the mauls the rucks hard and low, and they kept the ball off the ground in their numerous ground-gaining peeling surges. The North Canterbury backs also proved they were" riot short of speed and skills, in the second half. The left wing, John McAllister, had a field day as he scored three of the four tries scored by the North Canterbury backs after, the individual. The handling by the backs was commendable. With McAllister scoring twice inside four minutes, North Canterbury led 18-0 with 20 minutes remaining, but the Maoris never became dispirited. They made most of the play in the last quarter, but the over lap was ignored several times and North Canterbury remained steadfast in defence.

With only a few minutes remaining, the Maoris did gain some consolation with a try by Ralph Robertson after a sharp dash by Richard McDonald.

The Maoris were competitive in the line-outs, where Hud Rickit, especially, and Theo Gomans

showed the art of twohanded takes was still in existence. The captain, Brent Whakataka, comSleted a high tackle count. Robertson, Hale and Phil Cross, a flanker assigned to the wing because of shortages, were all prominent on attack.

Andy Jones, Chris Earl and John Fowler were in close support of Loffhagen in a diligent North Canterbury pack, and the quickness of Doug Flynn through gaps allowed the backs enough freedom for McAllister to display his speed on the wing. lan Cowan, the full-back, was sound on defence, three times lowering the opposing wings when his try-line was threatened.

For North Canterbury, John McAllister (3), Ross Loffhagen and Doug Flynn scored tries, one of which was converted by lan Cowan. Ralph Robertson scored a try for the Canterbury Maoris. In earlier games, the Canterbury Maoris under 18 team beat North Canterbury, 19-14, and the under 23 contest was won by North Canterbury, 21-8.