North Canterbury retains shield

Press, 21 July 1986, Page 8

North Canterbury retains shield

North Canterbury , retained the Southbridge Shield in a successful day of representative rugby against Ellesmere at Rangiora on Saturday. North Canterbury held the shield by beating Ellesmere, 24-12, in the senior match, which was one of seven

North Canterbury wins in a 10 match programme. The match was not one of flowing rugby, but. it was a good example of strong, driving forward play and skilful kicking.

Ellesmere had the edge in the forward battle, winning line-out ball 15-8, rucks and mauls 15-12, and a penalty count of 17-10. Ellesmere won the only tighthead also. Ellesmere was unable to convert this advantage to points, however, although the lively young flanker, Gavin Hill, aged 19, a nephew of the national selector, Tiny Hill, kept Ellesmere in the match by scoring four penalties. In the last 10 minutes, Ellesmere maintained a relentless attack on the North Canterbury goal line, with powerful forwards such as Albert Anderson, John Masefield, and Don Hayes making repeated charges at the line. It said much for the calibre of the North Canterbury defence that none of these efforts was successful. The kicking skills of the Deans brothers kept the scoreboard ticking over for North Canterbury. Robbie Deans did not miss a shot at

goal, leading four penalties and two conversions, and he supported that with some grand touchfinders. Although kicking too much for those wanting to see a passing-running game, Bruce Deans, at half-back, kicked with skill. His grubber kicks along the sidelines gained valuable ground aind it was from two ■, of

well placed up-and-unders that the speedy and' talented wing, JohnMcAllister,, scored the only two tries 7of the match;. John Hamilton kicked well at . first five-eighths also and made one good break. .

The Ellesmere backs kicked away possession, with Robbie Deans usually winning the exchange. Paul Winter, at half-back, and Lee Golding, at full-back, had sound games.

North Canterbury forwards were hard to single out, but three of them, Kevin Smith, the captain, Ross Lbffhagen, and Andy Jones had to be relaced early in. the second half by Jack Burrows, Terry O’Loughlin, and Greg Cottam. The referee was Mr lan Doody, Hurunui. Other matches North Canterbury took the Munro Trophy from Ellesmere by winning the colts match by 22-0. After an even first half, the North Canterbury backs got on top for a comfortable win. Scorers: Paul Schuler, two tries, Dick Stevens, a try, Andrew Cooper, a field goal, and Jim Graham, two conversions and a penalty. North Canterbury won two other trophy matches, retaining the Presidents’ Cup for the second grade, won by 8-3, and took the under 18 McGlffert Trophy from Ellesmere by 8-3.

The other matches resulted—Senior B: Ellesmere 35, North Canterbury 9. Under sixteen: Ellesmere 38, North Canterbury 10. Under fourteen: North Canterbury 4, Ellesmere 3. Under twelve: Ellesmere 12, North Canterbury 0. Under ten: North Canterbury Blue 20, Ellesmere 4; North Canterbury Red 10, Ellesmere 8.