Wairarapa too much for Canty

Press, 25 July 1985, Page 48

Wairarapa too much for Canty

Special correspondent Masterton A depleted Canterbury combination, without six of its seven All Blacks, found a fired-up Wairarapa-Bush team more than it could manage in the national first division championship rugby match at Memorial Park, Masterton yesterday.

Wairarapa-Bush, won 13-9, and while the final difference between the two sides was only four points, there was no doubt that the local team deserved its win. Indeed this was verified by the Canterbury captain, Don Hayes, in his aftermatch comments. “The better team on the day won. We gave it everything we had but it wasn’t enough.” he said. Wairarapa-Bush went into the game with a definite plan of attack. It knew that Canterbury’s greatest strength lay in the attacking skills of the No. 8, Dale Atkins, and the centre, Victor Simpson, so every time they came within close distance of the ball, there were three or four Wairarapa-Bush players shadowing them. It was testimony to the ability of both players that if Canterbury' broke the first line of defence, it was usually either Atkins or Simpson who did it. But such the commitment of the Wairarapa-Bush defence that they seldom, if ever, got further. The big problem for Canterbury lay in the inability

of its backs, to make good use of the reasonable amount of good possession which came their way. The half-back, Alan Lindsay, was stilted in his service to the outsides, and with the Wairarapa-Bush loose forwards breathing down their necks all through the game there was little positive play from either the first-five, Colin Williamson, or the secondfive, Wayne Burleigh. They were both hesitant in attacking situations, and their tactical kicking was sadly lacking in accuracy. . In fact, Simpson was the only Canterbury back to finish on the credit side. The wingers, Joe Leota, and Dennis Woods, seemed to have few ideas when it came to beating a man one to one, and the full-back, Rod Latham, although earning full marks for his positional play, seemed unsure with the ball on the ground and had an off day with his goalkicking. In the forwards, the lock, Andy Earl was a dominant figure in the lineouts, prop Murray Davie was a superb mauler, and the loose men, Atkins and Don Hayes were

quick and constructive enough to set up some ideal second phase situations. For Wairarapa-Bush, its commitment was total at both back and forward with its pack. The former Cantabrian, Bryan Higginson, the Maori All Black Chris Kapene and the aggressive flanker, Brett Harvey were most impressive, winning more ball than was generally anticipated, and the Wairarapa-Bush backs outclassed their Canterbury opposites. The young second-five, Marty Berry, a New Zealand Colt this season, had an outstanding all-round game, and in the wings, Greg Karaitiana, and Mike Foster, and the full-back, Mark Benton, the home team had players who had enough speed and penetration to keep a suspect Canterbury defence guessing. Joe Wyeth scored a try for Wairarapa-Bush, Mark Benton and Marty Berry (from 55 metres) kicked a penalty apiece and Kevin Carter dropped a goal. Canterbury’s points came from a try to Joe Leota and a Rod Latham penalty and conversion.