Canty comes from behind to beat Southland

Press, 26 June 1989, Page 40

Canty comes from behind to beat Southland

From

BOB SCHUMACHER

in Invercargill

Canterbury gave the impression that it had watched too many replays of the first test between France and New Zealand when it tackled Southland in their representative rugby match at the Homestead Stadium yesterday.

Like the All Blacks, Canterbury made most of the running in the first half, it put points on the board while keeping its opponent scoreless, and was generally comfortably in control, or so it seemed.

Canterbury should have been ahead by more than 11-0 at half-time and that it was not, looked likely to be punished as Southland, emulating the brilliant opening of the French in the third quarter, rattled on the points. However, unlike the French, Southland actually took the lead, 13-11 after 8 minutes of the second spell, and it had the wind and rain behind it. It said much for the indomitable spirit of Canterbury that it should gather its wits and earned the points to complete a 27-16 victory.

Three of Canterbury’s five tries came in the last 18 minutes and they were not the result of any flagging of effort by the same 15 Southland players who had lowered the flag of the Tricolors only 12 days earlier. Canterbury’s , tries involved controlled discipline and skilled teamwork and they must have been difficult to forge after the stunning reversal on the resumption. Canterbury scored its 11 first-half points in the first 14 minutes, its other 16 in the last 18 minutes; in the interim there were times when Canterbury was the instigator of its own problems, perhaps more so than from the

pressure applied by its lively opposition. Simon Cuihane scored an all-too-easy try in the first minute of the second half, the Southland first five-eighths capitalising on the excellent buildup from his flankers, Brent Shepherd and David Henderson, whose purposeful progress committed the Canterbury backs to the tackle and left the defence bare when Cuihane ran on to the pass.

Two minutes later the Canterbury fullback, Robbie Deans, failed to smother the slippery ball but the right wing, Paula Bale, had fallen back to cover the long kick through. Bale delayed interminably his pickup and when he bent for the ball it evaded his fingers but found those of Bruce Pascoe who, as all good wings should do, had chased hard. He had the simplest of tries; it gave him a share of the Southland record, along with the late Ray Todd, and none of his previous 58 could have come easier.

When the Southland fullback, Eion. Crossan, whose goal-kicking foiled the French, curled a 43m penalty kick between the falgs after 48 minutes, Canterbury was down but not out. The penalty decision by the Englishman, Fred Howard, in New Zealnd to control the two tests against the French, was perplexing but he gave one even more puzzling not long after. Canterbury had a rolling maul moving steadfastly to Southland’s line

and Robin Penney picked the right time to peel away and slide over. Mr Howard, however, summoned the fiesty No. 8, Rata Smith, to his side, along with the Southland captain, Murray Brown, and after delivering some well-chosen words gave the penalty to Canterbury. Dean’s goal attempt rebounded from an upright and a probable six points became none.

The Canterbury coach, Frank Jack’s introductory words after the match were: “The referee was good.”

If Bale had conceded a try early in the half he made amends with his second, a crucial try, starting the last quarter. Deans, who had released Bale for his run for a try in the first half, freed him at halfway. The long, loping strides of the Fijian wing had him around Crossan and the cover defence had no chance.

Canterbury scored again 6min later after Tavita Sio had worked the “willie away” from a lineout. Penney and Chris England seeing the forward rush to its conclusion, and Bale had his third try almost on fulltime after Greg Coffey weaved a little path through a swirling defence. He linked nicely with Stephen Bachop, Andrew McCormick drew the last line of defence, and Bale proved what a good finisher he is.

The manner in which Canterbury stuck to its task and responded with positive play when the

situation had soured, pleased Mr Jack. He said he had a queasy feeling on the flight down yesterday and it was not through excessive turbulence. With club rugby on Saturday, the rushed trip, the loss of a prop, Tala Kele, he wondered whether the omens were right. His fears were well founded when Southland hit the lead, they were ill founded at the end.

The stirring play by the former All Black hooker, John Buchan, and the vigorous and unyielding play by the flankers, Penney and Murray Henderson, must have warmed the heart of the All Black coach, Alex Wyllie, on a bleak day. Graeme Bachop won the “player of the day” award, but has had better games; Coffey was most assured at first five-eighths; and Wirimii Maunsell made one crashing tackle when Canterbury could easily have conceded a try and fallen eight points behind. Stephen Bulmer proved a forceful centre and Henderson and Russell Palmer were hard men in a hardened Southland pack.

For Canterbury: Paula Bale (3), Rob Penney and Chris England scored tries; Robbie Deans kicked two conversions and a penalty goal. For Southland, Simon Cuihane and Bruce Pascoe scored tries; Eion Crossan kicked a conversion and two penalty goals. In the curtain-raiser, the Canterbury women’s XV beat Southland women, 46-0. Debbie Ford, at halfback, was Canterbury’s "player of the match.”