Rugby Shock victory by New Brighton allows Marist to take Cup lead

Press, 12 June 1989, Page 22

Rugby Shock victory by New Brighton allows Marist to take Cup lead

The shock defeat of the leading side, Shirley, by the promoted New Brighton combination in the eastern derby on Saturday allowed Marist to slip through to the lead in the senior rugby competition for the Trust Bank Cup.

The still unbeaten Marist downed the bottom side, Belfast, and Burnside’s win over Linwood and High School Old Boys’ quelling of the University challenge gave those winning sides a hefty hoist up the competition ladder.

But it ws the unheralded New Brighton team which deservedly captured the limelight on Saturday, even though its success left it in second-to-bottom place. Amazingly, the seasiders held and actually bettered the renowned Shirley forwards, and the final outcome of three tries to one was a fair indication of the game.

Shirley started confidently with three penalty goals by Colin Williamson, to lead 9-0 after 20 min. But the light blues seemed to relax from that point, and when New Brighton scored soon afterwards Shirley lacked the organisation and ability to get back on top. Marist was behind by nine points at half-time, but recovered its composure playing downwind in the second half. The loss, through injury, of Wayne Smith, accelerated Belfast’s slide.

Old Boys’ forwards gave them the edge against University, and it was also a powerful performance up front which led to Burnside’s victory against Linwood, which placed it ahead of that side in third place on the points table. The table is.—

New Brighton 20, Shirley 19 New Brighton: S. Gray, C. Evans, M. Carrington tries; R. Adler conversion, two penalty goals. Shirley: C. Williamson try, dropped goal, three penalty goals; A. Lindsay dropped goal. Halftime: 10-12. Referee: Mr M. L. Fitzgibbon. Pride played an important part in New Brighton’s shock win against the competition leader, Shirley, at Lancaster Park south, a ground which New Brighton must rate among its favourites. Earlier in Cup round, the seasiders had come from behind at half-time to beat University on that ground. New Brighton, playing into the wind, was behind at halftime to Shirley, but only by two points, and it dominated the second half, gaining a thoroughly deserved win, albeit by a point. New Brighton’s coach, Graham Stanley, said after the stunning victory, “I sat them down at practice on Thursday night and told them to get it out of their liver. We talked about pride; I told them they had the ability but they had to take the game to the opposition and not sit back as if in awe of being in the first division. It is important to set goals and set them high.”

The message certainly got through to the New Brighton forwards who never buckled

against one of the bigger and stronger packs in the competition. It may be that Shirley took its opposition a bit lightly, but when it tried to tighten its game it was not allowed to by eight zealous New Brighton forwards buoyed by pride. Andrew Thom and Nuku Onekawa were magnificent in the loose for New Brighton, whipping away the feet of the Shirley big men before they received support in the drive. And when New Brighton had possession, the likes of Stu Gray, Clynt Beaumont and Tony Walters had instant backing, New Brighton making great progress in the mauls.

New Brighton’s performance did not wane when it lost its playmaker, the first five-eighths, Wayne Burleigh, who was the victim of a dangerous head-high tackle. Mark Carrington moved into his position and he forced a passage through the Shirley defence to give New Brighton a two-point lead with 20min remaining. Shirley made the most of a rare excursion into New Brighton’s 22m, Colin Williamson nipping over on the shortside with 17min left. Shirley desperately defended until smin before full time when it infringed and allowed Ross Adler the chance of a match-winning penalty goal. Adler, normally so sure, had earlier missed two reasonable chances, but the vital kick from 30m and almost in front was always on target. Matthew Sexton impressed with his enthusiastic and consistent effort in the Shirley front row, and Williamson and Wayne Steadman combined well at five-eighths, but it was New Brighton’s day and even a huddle of stalwart Shirley supporters disbanded with voices proclaiming that the better team had prevailed. Burnside 21, Linwood 16 Burnside: G. Smith, D. Robertson tries; J. Preston two conversions, three penalty goals. Linwood: R. MacDonald try; penalty try; G. Bachop two penalty goals. Half-time: 3-4. Referee: Mr H. R. Catherwood.

Cohesive forward play triumphed over flashy coun-ter-attacking as Burnside drove inexorably to victory in the second half of the main match at Rugby Park.

Linwood at last unearthed a goal-kicker of some talent, but the discovery came at little late and there was not much joy for the green-and-blacks in other respects. Apart from a rather “soft” try from set play in the 12th minute, Linwood could not turn big centre-field breaks into four-pointers. Its penalty try came in the last seconds of injury time, as Burnside illegally foiled an attempted pushover. Richard Macdonald, Kose Seinafo, Andrew McCormick and the Bachop brothers were always eager to coun-ter-attack and they often carved gaping holes in Burnside's swarming defensive pattern. But the finish, for once, was sadly lacking, although the admirable Tim Welsh and the tireless Braden Hill did their best to keep movements flowing. Graeme Bachop emerged as a very handy goal-kicker, landing three from as many attempts, one from 45m, after MacDonald (three attempts)

and McCormick (one) were found badly wanting.

Burnside’s success was based firmly around its driving pack, with the backs, particularly Graeme Turner, offering solid ancillary service. Dave Robertson, a gritty, hard-working lock who crashed through for the side’s second try llmin from the finish, won the player-of-the-day award, although the crowd’s choice might have been the brilliant Rob Penney, whose leadership by example was inspirational. The flankers, Richard Flannery and Greg Smith, supported Penney superbly while the nuggety Jon Preston complemented the forwards admirably, as well as kicking precisely at goal.

There were some fine individual performances in the Linwood pack, notably from Welsh, Hill, Mike Fransen, who turned the lineout count around in the second half, and Kerry Pauling. But the key statistic was the scrum count. Burnside enjoyed the put-in more than twice as often as Linwood, testimony to the side’s ability to roll forward from the mauls.

Marist 37, Belfast 15 Marist: P, Gallagher, 2, A. Munro, R. Connell, K. Hansen, A. Winder tries; G. Coffey five conversions, penalty goal. Belfast: A. Boyd try; B. Hutchinson conversion, two penalty goals; C. McFadden dropped goal.' Half-time: 615. Referee: Mr R. Vincent (South Canterbury).

Marist paced itself nicely in the late match on Lancaster Park. Although down by nine points after playing into the breeze in the first spell, Marist had hit the front after 55min and pressed on for an emphatic victory. A leg injury to Wayne Smith and the subsequent departure of the Canterbury first five-eighths in the first half did not help Belfast’s cause, but it needed more than him to suppress Marist when it wound up its effort.

Belfast did not concede easily and its half-time lead was well merited. Its try was a delight, the inside backs clearing the ball quickly and Adrian Boyd, from fullback, taking possession at pace and hoodwinking the Marist fullback, Richard Connell, with a deft change of direction on his 60m run to the goal-line.

Connell had the satisfaction of scoring the first try after the interval, but it was the replacement forward, Paul Gallagher, who sparked the complete recovery. Usually a hooker or prop, Gallagher slotted smoothly into the role of flanker and his two tries within six minutes took Marist seven points clear.

The Belfast forwards, competitive for the first threequarters of the match, faded badly in the last quarter and Marist had nearly all of the possession in the last 20min. But it mananged only two more tries and Kelly Hansen’s try was a product of his own making. Tom Coughlan, Winder and Bruce Houghton, who had an outstanding all-round game,

held sway in the lineouts for Marist, and Gallagher, Tony Macdonald and Houghton established their superiority in the loose.

Marist’s backline, perhaps missing the steadying influence of Steve Hansen, did not have the thrust of old but Kelly Hansen invariably made ground and Bill Anderson forced the gaps when joining the line from the blind-side wing. Boyd was in a class of his own as an attacking back for Belfast and both wings, Jeff Patrick and Mark Burns, ran strongly on to the passes. Barry Robertson and Rob Jones battled hard in a pack which was relieved to hear the final whistle. High School Old Boys 20, University 13 High School Old Boys: S. Dods, N. Mayo tries; Mayo four penalty goals. University: G. Thompson, M. Thompson tries; P. Treves conversion, penalty goal. Half-time: 10-13. Referee: Mr R. B. Rudkin.

For three-quarters of the game Old Boys enjoyed dominance and deservedly beat a University side which, although individually impressive, lacked cohesiveness and discipline. It was Old Boys’ forward pack that held the key. Often playing as an extra back, Steve Dods played a vital part in his side’s win. His try early in the game came after a tighhead and a series of

mauls which travelled half the field.

Ken Pope and Dennis Trembath were always in the thick of things, while the work of the emergency hooker, Richard Currie, was a significant factor. Apart from winning two scrums against the head, Currie often showed up at the front of many attacking movements. These kept play for most of the second half on University’s side of the halfway line. For much of the game the Old Boys backs kept it tight and seldom attempted any move that even sniffed of danger. Mac Mouat was the most consistently adventurous. Neil Mayo made numerous timely entries into the backline and his 50 per cent success with his kicks at goal gave his side 12 decisive points. University took a long time to settle, but in the second quarter its efforts gave it the lead. It faded dramatically after half-time, however, and rarely looked likely to add to its half-time score. Its lack ol success in forward confrontations told against it. Greg Thompson had a good game, and his try was the result of speed and strong running. Warwick Taylor and Victor Simpson had few opportunities to demonstrate their skills.

University's front trio of Tavita Sio, George Latu and Greg Jones had solid games, while Mark McAtamney gave his side slight superiority in the lineouts. Mark Thompson also impressed at times from the back of the scrum.

W L D F A Pt Marist 3 0 2 128 76 16 Shirley 3 1 1 94 66 15 Burnside 3 2 0 139 94 14 Linwood 2 2 1 108 99 12 H.S.O.B. 3 2 0 93 116 12 University 2 3 0 99 93 9 N. Brighton 2 3 0 98 139 8 Belfast 0 5 0 48 124 2