Shirley firms as leader in premier championship — blow for Marist side

Press, 21 July 1986, Page 24

Shirley firms as leader in premier championship — blow for Marist side

Marist lost one of its key players for the rest of the season as it progressed towards its Inevitable showdown with Shirley in the Christchurch senior rugby championship on Saturday. Richard Connell, the Marist and Canterbury full-back, suffered a broken leg in the Sydenham match on Lancaster Park south, only a week after the side had been temporarily robbed of the services of its top goal-kicker, Greg Coffey, with concussion.

Marist still won convincingly, with Connell contributing 16 points before being injured mid-way through the second half. However, over the fence at the oval, Shirley was busy confirming its right to be at the top of the table in the race for the Trusteebank Trophy by taking the sting out of Old Boys. In the first-round cup competiton, Old Boys demolished Shirley by 31-10. However, it was a different Shirley, partly in membership and totally in resolve, which triumphed on Saturday. Kerry Mitchell, one of its locks, won the Quills "Player of the day” award.

It will be a case of same ground, same opponent, for Marist in the next round. It will face Old Boys on the Oval as it strives to keep within striking distance of Shirley. Christchurch beat a determined Suburbs to draw level with Old Boys in third place. Linwood gave another bright display in accounting for Belfast, and University battled against a stubborn New Brighton defence for a hardwon victory. Dale Atkins, back in the game after having his right leg badly gashed only 10 days earlier, strove manfully for University and was the Quills "Player of the Day” at Rugby Park. The St John Ambulance staff was at full stretch coping with eight casualties off the field in the BurnsideHornby match, a game in which Jon Preston kicked 10 points to reach a century in his first senior season.

The leading try-scorers all dotted down again on Saturday, with the result that Adrian Boyd (Belfast) heads the list with 15, followed by Hugh Murchison (Lincoln College), 14, and Michael O’Donovan (Marist), 13. However, the big news of the day for a certain section of the rugby community was Lyttelton's win against Meri-vale-Papanui at the port’s sports ground. It was Lyttelton’s first success of the season, and it came after 16 straight losses, including the 90-0 walloping at the hands of University. Points are:—

Shirley 23, High School Old Boys 4 SHIRLEY: C. Green, C Power, E. McAuley tries; C. Williamson conversion, penalty goal, two dropped goals. OLD BOYS: D. Trembath try. Referee: Mr T. F. Doocey. From the first minute when Colin Williamson kicked a dropped goal Shirley had this main game at Lancaster Park firmly under its control. The side gave a very complete performance to outplay Old Boys in every sphere. Only once in the whole match did Old Boys get into an attacking position. This was at the start of the second spell and it took an unusual gamble by pulling its big lock, Denis Trembath, out from a scrum under the posts and using him as a battering ram in the midfield. However, it paid dividends with Trembath crashing his way to the line. For the rest of the game, though, the goalline was a distant target for Old Boys. About the only credit Old Boys did earn was for its defence in the first half. It was under constant pressure and the interval had almost been reached when Craig Green finally managed to score Shirley’s first try. It was a typical Green try, and one probably no-one else would have scored. Brad Stringer made the break, but Green was still 10m short when two defenders got to him. However, he took them both with him to the line.

The Shirley forwards were in fine fettle, packing a powerful scrum and winning the line-outs at the rate of better than two to one. Kerry Mitchell made some lovely takes in the middle of the line, and Grant Mickell was just as much a force at the back. Mickell, too, starred in the strong driving play that Old Boys never looked like matching. Rob Mclntosh and Mark Young were other forwards to impress for Shirley. Considering all the good possession that they received, the Shirley backs might have done a little better. However, they supported each other well, with Stringer making some enterprising runs from full-back.

There was also a very good game from the half-back, Allan Lindsay. Chris Power and Green combined well In the midfield and both wings, Maia Toa and Eric McAuley, were quick on their feet. Old Boys was as bereft of ideas as it was starved of ball. Apart from Trembath’s occasional bursts and some diligent covering by Stephen Dods, the forwards had little to offer, and the backs were cast mainly as defenders.

Simon Brown served the side*soundly in this role, with Richard Leggat standing up well to the strain of having to confront forwards repeatedly charging at him. Marist 46, Sydenham 10

MARIST: R. Connell, S. Hansen (2), P. O’Gorman, D. Martin, C. Hay, M. O’Donovan tries; Connell three

conversions, two penalty goals; A. Ziolo three conversions. SYDENHAM: M. Aldridge try; M. Small two penalty goals. Referee: Mr G. J. Anderson.

There was never much doubt that Marist would win this Lancaster Park South encounter, but there must have been a few mild qualms among the green-and-white followers after the first smin.

In a heady opening burst, Sydenham virtually denied Marist a touch of the ball and there was no surprise when the Sydenham No. 8, Watti Viti, and the half-back, Malcolm Aldridge, engineered a splendid try to cap off the onslaught However, Marist soon recovered from this indignity to impose its will on the match. Much of the play revolved around Pat O’Gorman, operating from No. 8, and it was essentially a combination of forwards and backs running with the ball that split the defence for the side’s seven tries.

Apart from O’Gorman, the flankers, Damian Martin and Tony MacDonald, were highly prominent while the hooker, Dave O’Brien, was a bundle of energy in keeping up a very high work-rate in a wide-ranging foraging role. Marist’s considerable depth was shown in the performances of two senior B players, Tony Houston, who had come in for Greg Coffey, and Tony Ziolo, who replaced Richard Connell in the second half. Houston made two superb breaks, the first of which put Steve Hansen across unopposed under the bar, while Ziolo’s all-round play and goal-kicking were first class. Although Sydenham’s best effort came in the opening minutes, there were signs throughout the match that it is regaining the form of earlier in the season. Ten minutes from the end, the side mounted a splendid end-to-end movement which should have brought a try, but the final pass, with the line open, was poor, and put down.

Outstanding for Sydenham were Viti, the flanker, Andrew Gray, and John Arbuckle, a lock who leapt superbly in the line-outs in the first spell. Laurie Seinafo showed an admirable dash on the right wing while Mark Small looked to have the makings of a good fiveeighths and goal-kicker. Linwood 27, Belfast 9 LINWOOD: R. Koha (2), G. Bachop, B. Whakatuka, R. Potts tries; T. Wells two conversions, penalty goal. BELFAST: A. Boyd try; D. McKlnnel penalty goal, conversion. Referee: Mr D. J. Winton.

Fine attacking play by the enterprising backs, combined with solid supporting play from a vigorous set of forwards, gave Linwood a clear win over Belfast on the firm turf of Sheldon Park.

The Linwood backs gave an exciting display. The confidence shown in reverse passing, the cutting out of players and the long pass across field bewildered the defence and when the ball went to ground invariably the support was present The understanding between the inside backs, Graham and Steven Bachop and Andrew McCormick, was at times uncanny and this, coupled with hard, straight running, made for a most entertaining match.

The Linwood loose forward trio of Rob Hooper, Phil Cropper and Brent Whakataka, also handled and ran with a fine assurance and complemented well the confident attacking play of the backs.

Although both forwards and backs tried hard, Belfast had no answer to its rival’s expertise. Linwood was matched in the tight play and line-outs, but the home team was outplayed in the open. Mason Dalzell and David Reid showed honest endeavour in all facets of play.

Richard McDonald was the best of the Belfast backs, making some strong runs from full-back, but, as a unit, the backs lacked the skills of their opponents.

University 12, New Brighton 6 University: T. Slo try; M. Liddicoat conversion, penalty goal, dropped goaL New Brighton: P. McLaren try; R. Adler conversion. Referee, Mr K. N. Mcßea.

The two most impressive features of this Rugby Park feature were the University scrum and the New Brighton defence. The first assured the maroons of quality possession; the second ensured that they were not permitted to do very much with it University launched a variety of forward and back assaults on the New Brighton line, but only one succeeded, in the fourteenth minute. The match was then scoreless for almost an hour before Mark Liddicoat dropped a goal from a tapped penalty and Peter McLaren stormed back to gain a consolation try for the seasiders.

The sight of New Brighton going backwards at the gallop in the scrums caused the club’s supporters to blanch visibly. The University shove was impressive, and Merv Aoake was able to gain several tight heads. Dale Atkins, his right leg looking as if it had been borrowed from Madame Tussauds, used this scrum dominance as a platform for some block-busting charges. When the ball was moved through the backs Warwick Taylor repeatedly showed his class. His smart clearances gave an enterprising centre, Brett Ellison, and a swift left wing, Andrew Simcock, room to attack, and in the final quarter Taylor himself bobbed up to threaten the Brighton line through his well developed anticipation. However, the Brighton ranks held firm, even though there were some brave failures among those who sought to stop Atkins. Steve Blackler brought off some excellent tackles at full-back, McLaren marshalled his defence troops well, and Wayne Burleigh had a keen eye for counter-attacking chances. University might have been disappointed that its winning margin was not commensurate with its ball-winning success. But there was some solace for New Brighton, for its stubborn defence at least earned it a competition point for not losing by more than six points. Burnside 26, Hornby 6 BURNSIDE: D. G. Farrant (2), D. Schwaiger, M. Lake tries; J. Preston two conversions, two penalty goals. HORNBY: S. Bloomfield try; P. Treves conversion. Referee, Mr M. Lonie (Canberra). The alarmingly high injury toll in this Rugby Park match could be advanced as a reason for the game going off the boil. Eight players retired hurt, and the consequent reshuffling of personnel coincided with a disruption in the tempo. In the first quarter Bumside played with style, moving the ball about energetically and imaginatively. One of David Farrant’s tries capped a scintillating movement, and with Hornby showing signs of reciprocating, the game seemed likely to dazzle. Unfortunately, proceedings became Increasingly ragged, and it was not just because of hurt players going off and fresh men coming on. Both sides tried a little too earnestly, and in a tryless period of 47min increasing anxiousness brought mistakes. This was bad luck, especially for Hornby, because it deserved some reward for the inventive attacking forward play of Neville Wilson, Tom Mason and Lamen Hohaia. It had to wait until the final minute to gain its points, but at least it never stopped trying. Danny McGuire was an industrious figure in the opposing pack, Jon Preston was calm and controlled at halfback, and Farrant displayed his versatility with a reasonably convincing display on the left wing. Wayne Gugich brought off some shrewd line kicks from full-back, and his Horrnby opposite, Greg O’Reilly, played with natural poise and assurance. Lincoln College 17, Albion 13 LINCOLN COLLEGE: H. Murchison (2), M. Auld tries; R. Pound conversion, penalty goal. ALBION: D. Gouley try; G. James three penalty goals. Referee: Mr G. Herder. Even with a try advantage of three to one, Lincoln College was a shade fortunate to win this early game at Lancaster Park.

Albion, especially in the forwards, gave one of its best displays of the season, but it was only in the last minute that it managed the try which had seemed close at hand

right throughout the second spell.

Indifferent goal-kicking also cost Albion dearly. Two handy penalty attempts were missed in the second Spell when the side was putting a Jot of pressure on Lincoln College, and although it mattered little so, too, was the conversion of the final try, scored by the posts.

Both sides contributed to an open game, with Lincoln College attacking with a lot of verve in the first half. But its possession dried up in the second spell as the Albion forwards took charge and In the finish it was only some desperate defending that saved the College XV. Murray Davie was the player who lifted Albion to greater heights. He was tremendous with the ball in hand, and when he broke clear he had a willing ally in Chris Langsdale. Don Gourley was another Albion forward to stand out. Once the ball started to flow Albion’s way, the backs, If prone to error, were certainly not lacking in determination. The half-back, Ricky Hetherington, was full of Ideas, and Tim Palmer and Trevor Baldwin both ran strongly. Mark Gascoigne was Lincoln College’s best forward, with Richard Wilson and Andrew Owen both maintaining a solid work rate. The right wing, Hugh Murchison, took his total of tries for the season to 14, and he was the most dangerous of the Lincoln College backs. There was also some strong running from the centre, Mark McHardy, but after half-time very little was seen of the Lincoln College backs. Christchurch 27,

Suburbs 0 CHRISTCHURCH: G. Barclay (2), R. Kilpatrick (2), A. Borland tries; Barclay dropped goal; R. Latham, G. Kench conversions. Referee: Mr R. J. Grant Christchurch had to work harder for this five-try victory than the score would indicate. The first half was outstanding for the defensive efforts of the Suburbs loose forwards and the inability of Christchurch to finish off movements.

Suburbs rarely moved out of their half but they conceded only the Borland try and the Barclay dropped goal. The work-rate of the Suburbs flankers, Barry White and Steve Richards, was impressive. White stopped at least three tries with defiant tackles.

In the second half Christchurch shook off its shackles and started to move the ball with conviction.

Once Graham Kench shed his obsession with touch kicking, Christchurch looked' a competent outfit. Roger Kilpatrick was all pace and purpose and Geoff Barclay was a skilled general In midfield.

Ray Waghom, Mark Treweek and John Currie had fine games, and in the last 25min the red and black pack seemed to be hitting form. However, it had little to cherish from the game. The plaudits must go to a' courageous effort from a Suburbs side lacking the big men in the forwards and the inventive players in thee backs. What they do not lack is heart.

Lyttelton 22, Merivale-Papanui 16 LYTTELTON: G. Sanders, N. Eyres, V. Simpson tries; A. Williamson two penalty goals; A. Stewart two conversions. MERIVALEPAPANUI: D. Chalklen, R. Hastie tries; J. Stewart conversion, penalty goal; D. Kale dropped goal. Referee: Mr M. L. Fitzgibbon. Lyttelton’s supporters had to endure an anxious last smin before their team emerged with its first win of the season.

Merivale-Papanui, which lost four players through injuries, staged a strong finish, but Lyttelton held on determinedly, and fully enjoyed its success.

Merivale-Papanui led 7-3 at half-time, and it was only a strong third quarter, in which it scored two of its tries, that gave Lyttelton a chance.

For most of the second half Lyttelton dominated possession, with Craig Prior making some excellent takes in the line-outs. The side also put together a fine try when the left wing, Norman Eyres, crossed after the ball had been moved quickly through the chain.

However, the player of the day for Lyttelton was undoubtedly its diminutive flanker, Willie Watson. Some of his tackles even brought cheers from Merivale-Papa-nui supporters. Around the field, too, Watson was great value.

The right wing, Andy Williamson, and the full-back, Jeff Gealey, were other players to have good games for Lyttelton. Williamson aided the cause with two difficult penalty goals. Dave Chalklen played well at half-back for MerivalePapanui before he suffered a broken collar-bone.

W L D F A Pt Shirley 10 0 0 282 85 40 Marist 9 1 0 307 74 37 H.S.O.B. 8 2 0 233 105 33 Chch 8 2 0 211 97 33 University 7 3 0 362 104 30 Linwood 7 3 0 234 138 30 Burnside 6 3 1 207 131 26 Line. Coll. 5 5 0 181 159 21 W L D F A Pt New Bri 4 5 1 151 163 21 Belfast 3 5 2 167 192 17 Hornby 3 6 1 142 168 15 Sydenham 2 7 1 95 287 10 Albion 2 8 0 102 246 9 Suburbs 1 9 0 85 287 5 Mer-Pap. 1 9 0 87 260 5 Lyttelton 1 9 0 71 396 4