Country far too strong

Press, 24 June 1983, Page 28

Country far too strong

By 808 SCHUMACHER Possession is something which Central Queensland will have to learn to win if it is to meet with any success on its short South Island rugby tour. It was left with only crumbs in its opening match against Canterbury Country at Leeston yesterday and was vanquished, 41-4. Central Queensland won only seven line-outs and the odd ruck and maul. All it could do was to defend for most of the match — in the second half it was never out Qf its own territory — and deficiencies were evident in that respect in mid-field. The signs were ominous for Central Queensland from the beginning. After four minutes, Robbie McGregor, the Country second five-eighths, cut a diagonal path through half a dozen half-hearted tackles to open the scoring. The non-playing Central Queensland players were quite jubilant when Greg Schlartz capped off a fine back-line movement, in which support play was seen at its best, to narrow the lead to 13-4 after 23 minutes. But the touring team found little else to get excited about. Ahead 22-4 at half time, Canterbury Country had only a penalty goal to show for its dominance in the third quarter, but the floodgates opened again over the last part and points were scored at the rate of one a minute. Canterbury Country had one try ruled out after it had been awarded by the

referee, Mr lan Doody. After consulting a touch judge who had his flag out, he penalised Country for an earlier infringement. If Central Queensland did not have the team to prevent Country winning forward exchanges at will, it did provide an outstanding individual in Jim Rothery. He was an animated ball of energy on the flank. Usually a hooker, Rothery, a man who has behind him 80 games for Rockhampton, Central Queensland and Queensland Country, cut down the opposing backs and forwards with copybook tackles. And he was called upon often to cover defence. Once the Country backs realised there were weaknesses in mid-field, they probed consistently for gaps and found many. They scored several excellent tries, but missed many others through a couple of handling blemishes and some selfish acts. Albert Anderson, a commanding figure in line-outs, paced himself nicely and came through the match with no apparent discomfort to an injured shoulder. John Patterson and Andrew Prattley relished the drives up-field and Kevin Graham hoed in enthusiastically in rucks. For Canterbury Country, McGregor (2), Tony Harris (2), Graham and Neville Carter scored tries; Carter adding four conversions and two penalty goals; and Bruce Black kicking a dropped goal. Schlartz scored Central Queensland's try. In the curtain-raiser, Canterbury Country under 18 beat Central Queensland under 19, 36-7. _______