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League Chch wins Marist series

By

JOHN COFFEY

Marist-Western Suburbs (Christchurch) regained the Father Duffy Cup when it beat Auckland in the final of the New Zealand Marist rugby league tournament at the Show Grounds yesterclay- , . . , Although Christchurch had impressed as the best team I in the competition and confirmed that rating in the first half of the final, it had to withstand a thoroughly spirited recovery by Auckland before clinching victory, 29-18. The much lighter Auckland pack was not able to combat the sheer physical strength of the Christchurch forwards. Surging bursts by Mark Broadhurst and Terry Gillman had carried them across for tries in the opening quarter and had left Auckland with an uphill task. In wholehearted support of Gillman and Broadhurst were two equally strapping individuals, Russell Clifford and Michael Mclntyre. The loose forward, Chris Charlton, courageously kept up his work-rate in spite of having need of medical treatment early in he game and John McCue dominated scrum possession with his swift striking.

I Once supremacy in midI field had been established — (the settling-down period in'eluded one or two rushes of [lrish blood and a few cauItions from the referee (Mr (D. Wilson) — the Christchurch backs were brought (into play more frequently. 1 To its credit, Auckland (continued to defend enthu- [ siastically and the close marking contributed to some ! hurried passing and unsure handling on Christchurch's part. Over-all, though, Christchurch displayed a po(tential which must make it a (strong contender to win its first Canterbury championship. Michael O'Donnell, if still having problems with his goal-kicking, was outstanding in his timing when joining his back-line, particularly when he claimed four tries during the semifinal against New Plymouth on Saturday. The centres, Kevin Franklin and Mocky Brereton, complemented each other, Franklin running freely and Brereton giving clear evidence of his vast experience. John MacGougan was unobtrusive in his distribution from stand-off half and superb in his backing (up, while Graeme Frew [tackled and attacked with 'the strength of one consid-

erably above his playing •(weight. ;[ The all-round solidity of i;the Christchurch defence; “was emphasised by its refu’[sal to concede a try until '(the second half of its third j ■(tournament appearance. Id slackened somewhat from 1 that point as Auckland bene’ifiting from having had one ‘(game less, began to profit ‘ifrom a more purposeful and •I confident attitude. ’ Auckland, scoreless in the ((first half and trailing by 18 points, responded admirably. '■Twd quick tries swung the [(initiative away from Christchurch and the result was ■very much in doubt when L Auckland caught up to 23-18 ’ with 15min left. Late tries ’lby Frew and Mclntyre '(halted Auckland's advance, p New Plymouth won the . Ron Carter Trophy by beating Wellington, 26-15, in the play-off between those sides already eliminated from the knock-out section of the competition. i The powerful running of • the New Plymouth front-row . forwards, Willie Southorn i and Peter Reilly, provided • penetration in centre-field yand a New Zealand trialist ;jof last season, Paul Christensen, had an exceptionally t fine game, at stand-off half. -I Fred Campbell, a veteran

■ i but still admirably deceptive centre, kept Wellington will thin range by scoring two ispectacular tries in the first. I half before New Plymouth I moved away to a position of !safety in the third quarter. I Reilly, who had won the for- ! wards’ sprint on Saturday, j sealed the result by touching down just before the finish. Results: II Saturday: Wellington 26, ITifkoroa 17: Christchurch .39, -Dunedin 0; Tokoroa .3(1, , Dunedin 15; Auckland 40, . [Wellington 5; Christchurch ;34, New Plymouth 6. 1 Ron Carter Trophy (losers’ :final): New Plymouth 26 (.1. 1 Coffey, R. Ronal P. Chrtsten- ■ sen, D. Christensen, B. Tahu, - P. Reilly tries: W. P. SouthNorn four goals) beat Weiilingtcfn 15 (F. Campbell two, i'K. Ngamoki tries; H. White- • |wood three goals). Half-time: >,New Plymouth, 14-10. >; Father Duffy Cup (final): ’■ Christchurch 29 (M. F. N Broadhurst two, T. .1. Gilllman two, K. A. Franklin, G. NS. Frew, M. Mclntyre tries; - M. W. J. O’Donnell two, G. i S. Frew two goals) beat I Auckland 18 (T. Noel, A. 1 Tel'ea, F. G. Schuster, T. McCafferty tries; P. Simms ■ i three goals). Half-time: Christchurch, 18-0. Scrums: I Christchurch, 19-11. Penalt ties: Auckland, 13-8.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19790416.2.158

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Press, 16 April 1979, Page 16

Word count
Tapeke kupu
704

League Chch wins Marist series Press, 16 April 1979, Page 16

League Chch wins Marist series Press, 16 April 1979, Page 16

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