Students hold on against Chch rally

Press, 7 May 1987, Page 8

Students hold on against Chch rally

Christchurch . staged a thrilling comeback against University at Rugby Park last night. But the students had done enough beforehand to maintain their unbeaten record and join Linwood at the top of the Trustbank Cup table, with a 31-14 win. When University led 25-0, after four minutes of the second half, there was ample reason for Christchurch supporters to leave the ground. The University pack had outpowered Christchurch and the only interest remaining seemed to be in the number of points University would finally rack up.

But Christchurch retaliated in style using quick throw-ins and tap penalties to throw University . off its stride. Christchurch scored three stirring tries in the 1 second half, and won the hearts of the spectators for its valiant counter surge.

Often at the heart of the Christchurch comeback was the durable hooker, John Mills, whose sweat-stained jersey bore testimony to his relentless endeavour.

John Currie and Viv de Beus helped Christchurch back into the match with their line-put ball, in the second half and Andrew Langley was a tireless loose forward.

In the backs, Roger Kilpatrick and Jeoff Barclay provided much of the spark that had the students reeling after the break.

For University, Dale Atkins showed up strongly in the first half, and there was a fine performance in the loose from Dallas Seymour. Gary Barkle, before events overtook him, looked very sharp at half-back and Andrew Sincock was a fast, powerful runner from the rear. . Scorers. —

University 31: V. Simpson, D. Seymour, A. Simcock, E. Luiaufi, B. Peterson tries; P. Treves 4 conversions and a penalty goal. Christchurch 14: J. Mills, R. Kilpatrick, S. Barclay tries; R. Latham a conversion.

Half-time 13-0. Referee: Mr M. L. Fitzgibbon.

“Press” points: Christchurch 10, 7,17; University 9, 6, 15. '> ' • In the senior B curtainraiser Christchurch beat University, 19-9. Marist, meanwhile, had to pull out all the stops to subdue a fired-up Lincoln College side at Denton Park Oval. Though the green and whites ran out winners, 21-12, it was appropriate when they clapped Lincoln from the field.

A try early in the match brought Marist’s only firsthalf points,' and it went into ' the break trailing, 4-6. A superb solo try to Mark Vincent, five minutes into the second half, gave Marist the lead again and it stretched that out to what seemed a comfortable margin Iwith a dropped goal to Kelly Hansen. ■ > :

But Lincoln never, gave up. It pushed Marist back and staged a concerted attack on its line, until finally John Gregan scored. The try, was converted to bring Lincoln to within a point of Marist, and the match was in the balance. It was Vincent, however, who made the match safe for Marist, when from inside his twenty-two he broke through Lincoln’s back-line and was pulled up again, metres short of scoring. The move set up Marist, and it camped for the remainder of the game in Lincoln territory. It was rewarded with two late tries.

For Lincoln, Colin Heads, and lan Fleming, had fine games on the loose, and Mark MacAtamny secured a good amount of line-out ball. Its backs were well marshalled by David Hutchinson. Dave O’Brian, Tom Coughlan and Greg Hills had good games in the Marist back. Scorers.—

Marist 21: G. Hills, M. Vincent, K. Hansen, S. Hansen, tries; K. Hansen a dropped goal, T. Houston a conversion. Lincoln 12: J. Gregan a try; R. Pound, two penalties, and one conversion. •

"Press” points: Marist: 12, 7, 19; Lincoln: 12, 6, 18.

In the senior B curtainraiser Marist beat Lincoln College, 21-16, ■