STILL ON PROBATION Lions Win But Show Same Weaknesses

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31087, 16 June 1966, Page 17

STILL ON PROBATION Lions Win But Show Same Weaknesses

I From Our Rugby Reporter]

After the defeat by Southland, the British Isles were placed on Rugby probation. The defeat of South Canterbury-North Otago-Mid-Canterbury 20-12 yesterday did nothing to suggest that the probation should be lifted. While not habitual Rugby criminals, the Lions still are in need of some reformation.

After a half-time lead of 15-3, it seemed the Lions would • achieve the large win needed to re-establish their confidence after the Southland defeat.

In the second half all the errors reappeared. Combined was able to pour through the line-outs; the driving and harrying tactics of the forwards forced the Lions into errors.

For most of the second half the combined team attacked relentlessly and was unfortunate not to add one try to the three penalty goals kicked by Smith.

For the Lions, McFadyean '(2), Gibson and Price scored tries and Rutherford kicked four conversions. Smith kicked four penalty goals for Combined.

The scoring might suggest that the four tries by the Lions far outweighed in Rugby worth the four penalty goals by Smith. That was not so.

The back play of the Lions was not impressive; the forwards, although improving on the display at Invercargill, could not muster the spirit and vigour of the Combined pack. The pleasant day and the firm ground made for ideal Rugby but the crowd of 18,600

which paid £5154, did not have much to excite it or even admire until Combined made its desperate bid in the last 10 minutes. Boots And Fists No doubt Combined will feel well satisfied with its performance but there were some features of its play which even the parochial crowd might have looked at with dismay. In many of the rucks in the first half, the ball seemed to be a secondary to the man. There were examples of booted stupidity and these brought quick retaliation from the Lions. There were other incidents in a peppery half [which came to a head when in one ruck players hacked at each other; punches were thrown with enthusiasm but without skill. The referee stepped in and called the captains, Weston and Vercoe, together. 1 After that Rugby sanity reigned. I If it had possessed a more penetrative line Combined may have narrowed the margin. Several times in the second half there were scoring ! opportunities but lack of speed and finesse nullified some grand work by the forwards. In the first half Combined commendably tried to use its backs but J. Sampson and Reilly were lumbering and usually ground was lost against the quick and alert Lions’ defence. In the second half such Rugby frills were dispensed with and the ball was placed in front of the forwards. They responded nobly. Player Kicked For parts of the first half the Lions looked a good side. Once they recovered from the white-heat intensity of the first ruck in which Young was kicked—it appeared deliberately—and lay writhing on the ground, there was some good Rugby from them. Telfer, replacement for Pask, who has an injured neck, led his forwards well. Lamont, a magnificent flanker, Grant and Telfer, were fast and strong runners. Price, Thomas and Lamont jumped high in the line-out, and this, with the tight play of Powell and Williams, suggested the forwards would be too good for Combined, which was straggly by comparison. The Lions backs, without being particularly dangerous, were competent. Gibson played an assured game outside the quick - thinking Young. Once again it was the Lions’ line-out play which caused deficiencies.

No line, no matter how fast and skilful, can function when it is receiving untidily. When the big forwards Dench, Crowe. Moffatt and Vercoe were able to force their way through line-outs, the Lions’ play became very scrappy. In the first half when Combined was winning most of the line-outs, the Lions looked a better side for their own backs and forwards were not under pressure. But once the pattern changed and Combined con-

centrated on driving or spoiling, it came into its own. Thomas and Price, the powerful Welsh locks, played well in the first half but when Price was injured some of the cohesion went from the Lions’ play. Thomas had some good moments but was too easily deprived of the ball once he had caught it in the line-out. Lamont, Grant and Telfer, all tall and fast, were most effective until the calls of defensive duty brought them back into the tight play. Powell and Williams, the Welsh props, did not block very well but were robust in the tight The best feature of the Lions’ forwards was their skill in loose play and short passing rushes, but they found it difficult to burst through a sound defence.

Young had his problems at half-back when he was given possession accompanied by a horde of Combined players. His courage never faltered and he passed quickly and accurately.’ Gibson, playing his first game for two months, faded in the second half but obviously is a highly accomplished player. Weston and Bresnihan had few opportunities on attack but even when the ball rather unwillingly was passed along the line, they did not look particularly incisive. Bresnihan seemed rather surprised by some of the things that went on but it was his first game for some time. Best Backs McFadyean and HinsheTwood showed speed and enterprise but had few chances. Rutherford was a calm fullback with a long punt and the ability to run with the ball.

McGregor served the Combined team well at half-back but the best of the backs was the first five-eighths, Farrell. He handled welt, kicked quite cleverly and looked after Gibson competently. B. V. Sampson and Teen were mainly occupied in throwing the ball in but covered enthusiastically. At full-back, Smith looked cumbersome but, except for one blemish, was sound and his goal-kicking was very accurate.

Vercoe did a fine job as pack leader and was the best of the forwards. He hunted the ball tirelessly and also managed to cover the threatened breaks.

Dench was a rugged lock and was a force at No. 2 in the line-outs. Crowe gave him good support and he had grand help from Sloff at and Grant in the tight play. The Combined hooker, Milne, lost six tight heads to Laidlaw but gained three. The referee, Mr K. Bush (Manawatu) awarded 15 penalties to the Lions and 10 to Combined.