Issue 10 76/77, 10th August 1977
From the Touchline
By James Diack:
vs West Torrens.
In the slush of a wet Tregenza we allowed Torrens too much freedom of movement in their inside backs which allowed them to control the match from their five eighths position. Their drive and enthusiasm got them quick points early in the came, however, by the second half we were able to hold them but could not mount any form of constructive attack. The seven State players out
This week could be claimed as an excuse, however, our replacements had the ability and experience to counter anything West Torrens produced.
vs University
Despite an early try by Uni, Collegians did not fall apart as happened against West Torrens. More discipline got us on top of Uni and despite a strong effort by Uni in the last quarter of an hour we remained in reasonable control during most of the match. Fearnley Szuster is to be congratulated on his sound display in the unaccustomed position of five eighths.
vs Brighton
Not having seen this game makes it hard to report. However a 3-0 loss to Brighton is an indication of the type of game. Collegians received a caning in the penalty count and we must be thankful to have only had those points scored against us. Our backs showed that when they got clean ball they were able to do things. However, clean ball was not a feature of the game, much of it being spoiled behind the forwards as Brighton's back row applied pressure.
Division 2
The last three games have been predictable with a win against Salisbury, a loss to Woodville I's and a good win against Woodville II's.
Against Woodville II's we showed a bit of discipline and concentration in a situation where many sides would ease off. Our second half was not in the same class as the first until
we remembered how to score tries and then things happened again.
The oldies showed their worth again with Paul Butler racing over for two neat tries and giving Doc Douglas a run for his money after Doc picked up two against Southern Suburbs.
IN MELBOURNE - A Collegians Eye View
The State team's Tour was in every sense of the word a "team" tour, not a collection of quys from different clubs. S.A. won two out of their four games, not anything spectacular but to those who went the most successful aspect of the Tour was off the field and the team efforts on the field. Rugby is a hard game - it should never by anything less - but the friendship and consideration shown and felt between members of different clubs will go a long way to further the ideals of the game in S.A.
Richard Waddicor was probably the unluckiest of our bunch having to sit out all games due to the consistency of Brighton hooker, Glen Millar. Richard did have a chance in the sevens match against eventual winners, Victoria, and true to form covered the entire field. P.A. was knocked out 16-12, the closest any team got to Victoria.
Dennis Hay had a run against Tasmania in the Saturday game. This was played adjacent to where some 30,000 were watching a soccer match. Dennis still believes that the thunderous roar from the crowd was in appreciation of his fine run down the right wing when, in fact, it was Red Star of Belgrade scoring an equaliser. We won't tell him!
Mick Byrne and John Taylor played against Victoria and Tasmania but were "rested" for the W.A. game. No doubt the reason we didn't repeat the win in Adelaide the previous Sunday and went down 15-12 was we just didn't tackle, one wonders if the two "rested" players would have done something about the tackling as this aspect of the game is a strength of both players.
Dave Glanville, Dennis Hayden and Ben Perkins played in all three games. Dennis pulled a few big ones in lineouts and Ben gave some outstanding displays of touch-kicking, keeping us in the Victorian and W.A. games and was awarded Best Back in the Victorian game. Dave Glanville gave me the notes on the Tour and didn't mention himself. However, I am sure David would have put in 100% on and off the field and played with the experience and flair we know he is capable of.
