Rugby League Hornby, Sydenham have late wins

Press, 4 July 1983, Page 22

Rugby League Hornby, Sydenham have late wins

Hornby and Sydenham came from behind to snatch late victories and considerably improve their Canterbury rugby league premiership prospects when the eleventh round was played during the week-end. Vaughan Low’s third try on the Hornby right wing, just one minute from full-time, saved a critical situation for his side. Having been 2-16 behind at one stage, Hornby escaped with a 22-20 victory over Eastern Suburbs.

Sydenham’s 12-11 success over Linwood was completed in equally tense circumstances. David Field kicked a penalty for Sydenham just before the end, but there was still time for Linwood to recover and it would have done so had Lewis Hudson been accurate with a comparatively simple penalty attempt.

The close contests on the No. 2 playing field at the Show Grounds attracted attention away from the main match, in which Addington established an early lead and retained it throughout. On Saturday Halswell realised the promise it had shown in quite a number of its earlier matches by dominating Mar-ist-Western Suburbs at Halswell Domain. Low was the leading individual scorer of the round, which was also notable for Robin Alfeld’s feat in scoring a try for the ninth consecutive week, his fourteenth of the competition. Results.— Hornby 22, Eastern Suburbs 20. Sydenham 12, Linwood 11. Addington 14, Kaiapoi 2. Halswell 18, Marist-We'stern 0.

Hornby 22, Eastern Suburbs 20 Hornby; V. Low three, R. L. Alfeld tries; B. R. Edkins three goals. Eastern: D. R. McLauchlan, M. R. French, D. Billesdon, G. Starr tries; J. Komene two goals. Referee, Mr G. Baxter. The five Hornby members of the South Island squad had the distinction of being part of a team to recover from a 16pqint deficit for the second time during the week-end in a quite exciting encounter against Eastern. Eastern scored the 'first three tries of the match, all from positions close to the Hornby try-line, and seemed poised for a comfortable win. The Hornby defence had been suspect, and its characteristic

attacking manoeuvres seldom sighted.

However, the Hornby revival began just before half-time when Robin Alfeld created the chance for Vaughan Low to score his first try. In the third quarter Alfeld and Low conspired in a move which placed Alfeld in the clear, ano then Lowe moved from his wing to make capital of a gap left by Eastern in midfield.

Complemented by three goals from Barry Edkins, Hornby had more than , made up its deficit and was leading, 18-16. Eastern, however, also displayed some spirit and Garron Starr made a determined try-scoring run along the right wing after receiving a pera -timed pass from John ury. Undaunted, Hornby struck back and after Steve Hann and Alfeld had just been restrained by the cover, the ball was moved speedily along the backline from a scrum, Alfeld was again up from full-back, and Low used his pace to gain his third touch-down. Sydenham 12, Linwood 11 Sydenham: D. C. Field try; Field two, P. Griffiths two goals. Linwood: P. Lightfoot, B. Jordan tries; L. E. Hudson goal, field goal. Referee, Mr J. Baughan. Sydenham can be thankful for the arrival from Huntly of its, and the South Island’s, captain, David Field. He did not enter the match until the 25th minute, but made all of the difference from that point. Linwood led twice, and was level on two other occasions, before Field goaled with the penalty which captured the two premiership points. Field had earlier scored a typical try, slipping a tackle and skipping away from the cover. This was yet another game that Linwood might have won, and probably would have had Lewis Hudson not muffed a late penalty. It crossed for two of the three tries — Paul Lightfoot was on hand to reap points from an up-and-under, and Bernie Jordan surged across in a tackle — but other opportunities went begging. Most of Sydenham’s tactics revolved around the half-back pairing of Field and Mark Forsey, both of whom made light of the wet conditions. But the young Linwood scrum-half, Ken O’Brien, also impressed with his elusive running and keen backing-up. Addington 14, Kaiapoi 2 Addington: M. Pitts, K. Stirling tries; P. Bancroft three goals. Kaiapoi: S. Dickson goal. Referee, Mr T. Drake. For much of the main game Addington and Kaiapoi were virtually in a stalemate. Neither side was able to mount more than a few constructive

manoeuvres when in possession, the defences dominated, and minor errors prevented the game from flowing. Addington, however, had taken the initiative as early as the second minute, when Murray Pitts had a runaway try on the left wing. It was 73 minutes — plus time off for goal-kicks — later that Ken Stirling completed the only other try-scor-ing run after Pitts was again prominent. — Even though it eventually lost by 12 points, Kaiapoi had an equal share of the proceedings, territorially. But it faltered at vital times, the ball being lost when Addington’s defence was at its most suspect, and Kaiapoi’s only positive return was a goal by Steve Dickson in the 63rd minute.

Lawrence Hale, John Tapiata and Wayne Clemence gave dedicatee! displays in the Addington pack. Phil Bancroft was an incisive runner for Addington at stand-off half, and Pitts and Grant Stocker had their moments among the outside backs.

Still feeling the effects of his match for South Island the previous day, the Kaiapoi captain, Richard Hampton, did his utmost to inject thrust into the midfield play. Halswell 18,

Marist-Western 0 Halswell: G. Burns, A. Baughan, B. Owens tries; P. C. Ashton three goals. Referee, Mr K. Ireland.

Halswell was on course for its first premiership points from the start of its match with Marist-Western Suburbs in chilling conditions at Halswell Domain on Saturday. The first Halswell try came from only the third play-the-ball, with Darryl Hawker creating the chance for his wing, Greg Bums, to sprint 50 metres. In the second quarter Halswell extended its lead to 10 points when Tony Baughan got his third try in two games against Marist. Phil Ashton converted, and added two penalties soon after half-time. Continuing to adapt better, Halswell prospered with its short-passing game, while Marist’s fumbles prevented it from avoiding what was a humiliating defeat. As if to confirm Harwell’s authority, its replacement forward, Barry Owens, crossed for a try virtually unopposed in the last minute.

Hawker was particularly impressive for Halswell, and he was strongly supported by Robert Rushton and Alan Rutherford. The Marist pack did not perform as well as a unit, the occasional good work of Carl Wild, Trevor Sillick and Craig Campbell being wasted.

It was not an aftemoonm for flowing back play, and the Marist halves, Lee Nelson and John MacGougan, were not able to capitalise on Willie Tauwhare’s 17-10 hooking .superiority in the scrums.

Papanui bye. PREMIERSHIP POINTS P W D L F A Pt Papanui 9 7 0 2175 97 14 Hornby 10 7 0 3185133 14 Sydenham 10 6 1 3135123 13 Addington 10 6 0 4164117 12 Kaiapoi 10 5 1 4142127 11 Marist 10 4 0 6134196 8 Eastern 9 3 1 6109129 / Linwood 10 3 1 6113154 7 Halswell 10 1 0 9122203