Canty late in clinching Otago clash

Press, 7 August 1985, Page 64

Canty late in clinching Otago clash

From a special correspondent in Dunedin Canterbury’s experience proved too much for Otago in the last 15 minutes of their national championship rugby match at Carisbrook yesterday. Canterbury scored 16 points in that period to win, 26-9.

It was two championship points for Canterbury, but that will not please the Canterbury coach, Mr Alex Wyllie. Canterbury dominated possession, and should have won the game before those last 15 minutes, when it scored three tries. But it made too many elementary mistakes when tries should have been scored, and foundered against the courageous tackling of a spirited Otago team. There were glimpses of control by Canterbury but it would have been expected too much for it to dominate Otago in the same manner as last year’s Ranfurly Shield defence at Lancaster Park. Canterbury won the lineouts, 24-14, through the efforts of Albert Anderson, in the middle, and Dale Atkins, at the back. Atkins, Don Hayes, Andy Earl, Chris Earl and Tony Thorpe ensured a 27-8 dominance in second-phase possession. Several times the Canterbury forwards won several rucks on end, but tries did not result. In the first 20 minutes, the Canterbury pack won three rucks in a row without scoring, while in the second 20 minutes, it won four without a try. Canterbury led 10-6 at half-time. The only try in the first half came when the No. 8, Atkins, detached from a five metres scrum. A penalty goal by the Otago full-back, Greg Cooper, soon after half-time kept Otago within a point of Canterbury until the last 15 minutes, but there were always indications that Can-

terbury would eventually take control. There was a plan and a purpose about the Canterbury forwards which eventually broke down the gallant Otago resistance. The forwards were moving ahead and gave the backs several options. Anderson was instrumental in winning much good line-out ball for Canterbury. It was mostly taken two-handed, and then taken into the maul and the drive applied. Atkins was dangerous on the drive and made Canterbury’s second try 15 minutes from the end, with an initial break, before feeding his half-back, Bruce Deans. Deans lofted the ball high and, in the ensuing middle near the Otago line, the All Black, Craig Green, scored. It was pressure on an attempted Otago back attack that brought the third try after 31 minutes, when an Otago attack broke down and Wayne Smith burst clear from his own 22m. Quick thinking by Joe Leota kept the ball in play at halfway, and Smith spurted further downfield before Leota used his pace to score. The final Canterbury try, on the call of full-time, showed the skills of Warwick Taylor as he burst through a tired Otago defence to score . under the posts. Other forwards to impress were the prop, Murray Davii, and the hooker, John Buchan, who buried themselves in the tight. The inside backs, Bruce Deans, Smith and Taylor, were the best of the Canterbury backs and controlled play effectively.

Deans played soundly throughout and compared favourably with Dean Kenny, who played an outstanding game for Otago at half-back. Smith and Taylor used their experience to place pressure on Otago. Taylor made a crunching tackle on his opposite, John Waldron, early in the game to establish his dominance, and showed his attacking skills to score the final try. Robbie Deans did many good things at full-back, but still has a long way to go to return to his best form. He kicked four goals from seven attempts, but one of his missed conversions was a poster. He had the better of his duel with the Otago fullback, Greg Cooper, who landed two goals from four attempts. Green revealed glimpses of his talents on the left wing, but Leota and Victor Simpson will not have been satisfied with their form. The All Black, Jock Hobbs, did not play because his wife was expecting their first child. The match statistics were: Line-outs, Canterbury 24-14 (half-time 12-7); rucks and mauls, Canterbury 27-8 (19-5); tight-heads Otago 2-1 (Otago 2-0 at half-time); penalty goals, Otago 13-5 (5-all). Scorers: Canterbury 26 (Dale Atkins, Craig Green, Joe Leota, Warwick Taylor tries; Robbie Deans two penalty goals and two conversions), Otago 9 (Dean Kenny dropped goal; Greg Cooper two penalty goals). In the curtain-raiser, Canterbury Colts beat Otago Colts, 25-3, after leading 7-3 at half-time.