The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 31

'4 The Sydney Morning Herald. Monday, Aug 7, 1978 24 i i Foster's freak field goal sinks Souths jfj '2S By BRIAN CURRAN "I don't know how I did it" Geoff Foster said after kicking a match-deciding field-goal in Western Suburbs' 10-7 Rugby League win against South Sydney at Lidcombe Oval yesterday. FOSTER GEOFF A weekend to remember as Souths launched a nerve-tincling assault. 1 For 10 straight tackles the Rabbitohs sought vainly to crash over, then in desperation they kicked over the top and the ball fell safely into the hands of David Waite, Wests' replacement winger. "It's ironic that David Waite dropped two vital balls in reserve-grade.

then held the one that mattered most in first grade," Roy Masters, Wests' coach, said later. For Masters, the schoolteacher who has resurrected Wests this season, it was "mission accomplished" "We had lvee aims today: To defeat Souths, to win all our games at Lidcombe Oval this and to ensure that made the semifinals. We did ail three." Indeed. Wests are the ROY MASTERS cower scored Wests' only try and' landed an amazing field-goal his first ever to give them this match. "I once kicked a goal for Griffith in an under-16 grand final, but never a field goal," he said.

This was only Foster's third full match after being out for 10 weeks with a broken leg. He was a prime representative prospect before the injury. To cap what has been a memorable weekend, Foster's wife gave birth on Friday night to a boy. whom Foster expects to be making his mark in Ruaby League about 1998. OF ID i I Tourists2 call up Knigntg: NAPIER, The Wallaby selectcuXT; have returned to one -in an effort to solV-4-the biggest headache of the New Zealand tour-finding the right for the coming three Test' -series against the.vAH-Blacks.

They have called, lip -Martin Knight and An- drew Slack, who figured in the 2-0 scries -win against Wales, for the match against HavVk.es Bay at Napier on Wednesday. It will be the fourth centre change in as many matches. The fact that only one of the Wallabies' tries has been scored by a back is evidence that the other pair- ings have not hit it off well. The Wallabies flew to Napier this afternoon relieved to have left 1 the heavy grounds of the South Island where Ihev lost two of their first three games. No rain has fallen in -this holiday resort; for' more than a the forecast is good and the McLean Park venue for Wednesday's match- is firm.

But neither of the tour- ing McLeans five-eighth Paul and his second-rower cousin, Peter will be playing. 1 Both will be rested after three successive games. Paul has been replaced by Ken Wright, who has been named vice-captain, and late af-" rival Keith Besomo takes over from Peter. Two others will be making their first tour appearances Test number eight Mark Loane. who like Besomo only joined the touring parly last Friday afler recovering from a broken bone in the hand and Queensland fullback Roscr Gould.

Gould missed the Southland match after Western Suburbs Rugby League club are bound to make Geoff Foster a lucrative offer to remain in Sydney next season after his match-winning effort against South Sydney yesterday. Foster, a physical fitness instructor with the NSW police. recently bought a house in Griffith, his home town, and has declared his willingness to return there when' his contract with Wests expires at the end of this season. He was playing his 100th first grade game for Wests yesterday and what a great performance it was. The thick-set second- THE WIZARD Kevin Hastings, Eastern Suburbs Rugby League halfback, looks anxiously toward the linesman as he scores his team's second try aginst Canterbury-Bankstown at the Sports Ground yesterday.

Parker and Hart nnAvi "trie Aezrr 1 Foster, a second-rower who had never even attempted a field goal in a match before, edged Wests ahead 8-7 with seven minutes to go after the teams had been locked 7-7. Soon after, Peter Rowles landed a 35-metre penalty goal, but it was the field-goal that broke South hearts. Sydney's The ball, in fact, was supposed to go to Rowles, a field-goal specialist, but in a mix-up it went to Foster standing unmarked in front of South Sydney's posts. It was an awful kick, slithering off his left boot or was it his shin? before staggering barelv over the crossbar. Awful, but so devastating effective.

Yet Wests had to fkht desperately in the last three minutes to hold on MATTSeOP rAcr 1 By Since last i Vvri Vs vfv 'V Vti tix HAGAR THE HORRIBLE first team since the inception of the homc-and-away system to win all of their home matches in the one season. And they not only ensured themselves of a final-five spot but are well on the way to winning the minor premiership. They are second on 29 points, one behind Cron-ulla-Sutherland; they have a relatively easy match next week against North Sydney; and they play Cronulla in the last match before the semi-finals. Whoever wins that encounter should be the minor premiers. Souths are now seventh, one point out of the top rive, and must win their remaining two matches to have a chance of making the semi-finals.

They had reason to feel disappointed yesterday, for they attempted to play to the rules and had at least four scoring opportunities ruined by poor handling. Wests' handling was little better. Gibson blamed the poor handling largely on referee Gary Cook's interpretation of the five-metre rule, which Wests took advantage of repeatedly. "We train to play to the rules and get a penalty if the other team breaks the rules," a disgusted Gibson said. "This did not happen today." Souths scored first after only six minutes from a set move that revealed once again the coaching mastermind of Gibson.

Souths won a' scrum, ha'fback Bob McMillan passed to five-eighth Gary Wright, who ran back around the scrum and sent winger Jimmy Swift sprinting 30 metres to score. "Full marks to Jack Gibson," Masters said. "I spent a lot of time before this match studying Souths' play but he had a few surprises in the first 10 minutes." But in the 1 Ith minute Foster scored to level at 3-3 after a collision brtween two Souths players had allowed Wests winger Buddy Cain to break down the right. By halftime it was and midway through the second half it was 7-7. These teams drew 11-11 in the first round and until Foster's field-goal, another draw appeared likely.

Wests lost centre Ron Giteau at halftime with a bruised 'knee and winger Don Moseley was carried off with a deep head gash (six stitches) in the 44th minute. It was not a happy birthday for Bob McCarthy. Souths' veteran second-rower, who was replaced in the 59th minute after losing possession at four crucial times ith poor passes. Gibson's choice of Arthur Katinas as hooker was justified, for he levelled the scrums eight-all WESTERN SUBURBS 10 (Pol-ter try: Rowles 3 goili Foster field goal) SOUTH SYONEV 7 (wirt try! Ferguson 2 goals). Crowd: 13.172.

Arthur Beetson, Eastern Suburbs Rugby League captam-coach, watches his team Mark Harris, Eastern Suburbs' powerful Rugby League centre, grimaces, but gets his pass away, as Canterbury winger Stan gutier tackles mm at the Sports Ground yesterday. Easts were Deat uanteroury atter minutes from the aeservea ly-u winners. By Dik Browne By Jim Russell Norths crash with two off Parramatta pay dearly for win WHAT DOEslXoU.SWE. UAIuV L- I Vnr Mnea lrkii- A u.u I A I satuhjay saturoa week THE POTTS FRONTIERS OF f'TKATS ANlCEgBVZP LAST Oovg got These. i itank-t WHEN ao A Five-eighth John Peard almost certainly out for the season and second-rower John Baker with possible broken hand Parramatta's 31-7 Rugby League romp against Penrith at Cumberland yesterday.

Centre Glen West is nursing an injured ankle and fullback Mark Levy strained a hamstring muscle. Peard aggravated an old groin injury, and said sadly: "It's not good it looks like the end of me for the season." It is a bad blow for the Eels, as he played with much of his old flair in scoring his team's first two tries. For next Sunday's match against South Sydney at Redfern Oval, the best news for Parramatta is the return of Test lock Ray Price. Parramatta led 12-7 after a scrambling first half, but did almost as they pleased after the break. Most of the damage was done by Graham Oiling, the big Test prop.

He repeatedly cracked the Penrith defensive line and surely is a strong contender for the Kangaroo tour to England and France later in the year. It was perhaps ironic that major casualties Peard and Baker each scored two of Parramatta's seven tries. Don Parish, the Penrith coach, declared later: "We had 16 dropped balls, and on 10 occasions Parramatta came up with it." PARRAMATTA SI (Peard 2 Raker Cronln Whit Glover tries: Cronln goals) 0 PENRITH 7 (petnyoridp try; bouia 2 goals) Crowd: 9.140. Wf A SCIENCE Can vesy cusseio IS NOW CMM-LEKKilKKV TM6 SCieWTiSTX OP NASW the op shviAB, TM6 (VND MOST FOR. Science Save Skylab? Part 1 North Sydney forwards Russell Hunter and Don McJCinnon were sent from the field by referee Kevin Roberts in a sensational, opening five minutes of the Rugby League game against Manly at Brook-vale Oval yesterday.

Manly ran up 10 tries and five goals in a runaway 40-12 win. Hunter and McKinnon will face the New South Wales Rugby League judiciary on "head-high tackle" charges. Hunter was first to go in the third minute and McKinnon followed. Norths played a three-man pack for 75 minutes and Manly finished only one try short of the Craven Mild target of 11 set for the round. The only other time Norths have finished with 11 men over the past 18 years was in a game against Canterbury-Bankstown in 1973.

Four Manly players, Ian Martin (back injury), Terry Randall (burst blood vessel in eye) Graham Eadie (hamstring) I A FAWHIHTC srie-MCS PirriOM tor us the eascueo 3T4 sr.CKN spaceship EARTH. -4r-TsL ASOARb, ORBIT SPAM FLIGHTS, SCHefiOLED 1979, tlTT Buft TO 0'JKS6EN Nt THREATENS TO 6lN leaving tne tieia nine finish yesterday. and Russell Gartner (sprained ankle) were casualties from a bruising match. North Sydney centre Keith Harris received a back injury and lock John Long had four stitches put in an eye pash at halftime to enable him lo ronlinue. The Manly coach Frank Sianton said: "These two match points make us clear third and our job is now to hold that position." Manly led 5-4 after 15 minutes following a goal by hooker John Gray and an unconverted try by left-winger Simon Booth.

Centre Peter Schofield kicked two goals for Norths. Then right winger Tom Mooney increased the Manly lead to 8-4 with an unconverted corner trv. Norths led 9-8 for the first and only time midway through the opening half when scond-rower Glen Boatswain scored near the posts for Schofield to convert. Manly gained a 13-9 halftime lead with a try by Krilich and conversion by Gray. MANLY-WARRING AH 40 (S Martin 1 Mooney 2 Walker 2 Booth Krlll-h Gibi tries- Grav 9 OOAIS) NORTH SYDNEY 17 'Boatswain Adam tries: Srhofteid 3 goals).

Crowd: 11.058. John Janscn who showed fine form. Jansen's strong running was also a major factor in the win, while prop Craig Young distributed Ihe ball well from rucks. Rcddy and Jansen both scored two tries each, a feat equalled by Tony Graham and Graham Quinn. John Chapman was the final try scorer and George Grant kicked five goals from nine attempts and Ken Kearney one from two attenpts.

St George would surely have reached the Wills target had it not been for the last ditch efforts of Newtown lock forward Colin Murphy, who saved a possible three tries. ST GEORGE 39 (Reddv 2 Ian- sen 2 Graham 2 Quinn 2 Ch. man tries; t. rant 4 aoalc Kearney goal) NEWTOWN I (Soyd sigsworth tries; Kermodt goal) Crowd: 2.S64. IN EWtTX'S WMOSPHSUft on.

evEN CAUSE SANi IN POPULATED 7 xvrj toPSrVi i Told Tue FPCTORV HPiD CLOSD down U)C HFVC LOT Of FOOD UtfT OVR FKO fbRTONS OF FiSW rRTibNS OF mew Pie PrJD CHiPS PD HI fbWOMS m. GORDON BujejueJ iij- r-ivjonut. tfco etsK bind CHIPS 7 REDDY TEARS JETS APART straining a hamstring at training in Invercargill last week. For the first time since the Wallabies arrived two weeks ago all 25 players were considered for selection, including Victorian prop John Meadows, who had three stitches put in a cut over his left eye afler yesterday's 8-10 loss to Otago. Announcing the team tonight, manager Ross Turnball said that although disappointed at two losses in three games, he was happy with the way ihe forwards were progressing.

The team for Ihe match against Hawkes Bav is: Roger Gould. Paddy Batch. Martin Knioht. Andrew Slack. Steve Streeter.

Ken Wrloht. Rod Hauler. Tony Shaw (c). Marie Loane. Gary Pearsej.

Carried rv. Keith Besomo. Stan Pileckl. Bill Rov Chris Handy. Reserves: John Meadows.

Peter Morton, Peter Mrtean. Peter Carson. Bill McKid. Laurie Monaghan. Watson's 645 his best LONDON.

Sunday. Greg Watson, 23, an Australian, in his first season for Worcestershire, wrecked Sussex in Ihe county championship match at Eastbourne yesterday. He achieved a career best 6-45 and Sussex were bowled out for 169 in 89 overs. Watson took 2-28 before lunch, when Sussex were 4-93 off 38 overs. Bowling a splendid length and line, Watson completed his career best when he had1 taken 5-29.

The five came in a spell of 7.1 overs when he conceded eiuht runs. With Ihe score at 7-126. the medium struck again. His sixth wicket came after a spectacular catch by wicket keeper Humphreys. (AAP) fi -f lb MARK ELLA PROCRUt POINTS 7.S: Richards (ES) il Andrews W) ls Richards (PH) Hawker a (Rl IS: (SU) McGeorh (UNSW) 14: con (Mj wamer ir Satlllhal (STC) A Sine, (R) 13: 1J: III Glen Ilia (R) Williams () A Melrose (P) McLean (M) I Monaghan (G) Mathers 10: 9: Satala (WS) windshut- tlo (M) Cornforth (NS) Clements (P) Flvnn (UNSW) 7: Wrlg-it (R) McOoug.M (ES) Oavls (SU) Mur PliV (WS).

CLUI POINTS) Randwick it Gordon 63 lasts SS. Parramatta S2 Manly 47 St George UNSW. Norths 42 DrummOvne 36 Port Hacking 39 Hornsby II Mlcquarl. Unl I. Shore in record Rules run John Pitura spearheaded North Shore lo a massive 75-point win against East Sydney in the Sydney Australian Rules match-of-the round at North Sydney Oval yesterday.

Pitura, the captain, kicked 12 goals in Norths' mammoth total of 28-23 (191) to Easi Sydney's 18-8 (116). It was Norths' 13 th win in a row a record in the club's 75-year history and confirms North Shore as hot favourites for the 1978 pennant. The club previous best run of victories was the first 12 games of the home and away series in 1969. North Shore's Ijackmen led by Warren Wuttke and John Baker bustled Easts into silly errors and nullified any Bulldogs offensive. East Sydney ran out of condition as North Shore kicked 14 goals to Easts' eight in the second half.

At Trumper Park Pen nant Hills slipped out of i-final contention when they were defeated convincingly by a determined Newtown. Final scores were Newtown 21-17 (143). Pennant Hills 15-14(104). Both teams were desperate for victory. New town are now assured of finishing in the top five while the Demons can now begin preparations for next year.

Newtown began the game in brilliant style and by the end of the first quarter led 9-1 (55) to 4-4 (28). Ted Callister and lan Gordon, their key posi tion players, were domi nant in the air and provided Newtown with plenty of drive. IN LEAD JIM CROSS Eastern Suburbs Northern Suburb 3: MUSTON NS area: Rucked and meuted with great vigor. Prominent In forward rushes. Scrummaged strongly.

2: A STEWART NS) break-awevi Quick to the breakdown. Worried opposition Inside backs with his defence. Ran strongly with the bill. 1: McTaggart (ES) half-beckt Gave excellent service to hii supports. Made several smart breaks.

Tackled strongly, OR DUNCAN Perl Hacking Marnsbv GRUNDY break-awayi Conspkous In ricks and mauls. Tactcied solidly. Harassed the opposition hick line. 2: SUESUI breakaway: Always dangerous in attack and defended soundly. CHONG SUN (PH) half, backt Made several good breaks and was rewarded with a good try.

Cover defended well, CHARLES RLUNT Macquarle Unl Gordon 3: LYONS (G. front row, Sound display of forward football. Excellent mauling gave his side overwhelming possession. Ran strongly In loose and scored flood try Trom front of line out. 2: MARTI (G) halfback.

Capitalised on his side's fliut of possession with quick accurate clearances to speedy backs. Scored three tries, 1: SIMKIN (Gl fullback! Outstanding attacking game. Constantly In back line giving wingers scoring opportunities. Scored two tries and kicked nine floats. Eastwood Western Suburbs Points not advised.

Sydney Unl Warringah Pomts not advised. Record laps take their toll Sydney's Graham Kcyes, riding a Kawasaki Zl. won the improved touring motor cycle grand prix at Oran Park yesterday after the early leaders were forced to retire. Keyes won the 20-lap (50 km) event by 4.5s from Roger Heyes (Yamaha 1000). But both riders inherited their places after early leaders Jim Budd and Roy Denison.

both on Kawa-sakis, succumbed to the lap record-breaking pace. Budd and Denison swapped the lead for the first half of the race, consistently breaking the three-year-old lap record held by Roger Heyes. Denison finally claimed the record of lmin 22.3s 4s faster than Heyes" best time. Denison blew his motor on lap nine at the back of the circuit and Budd was disqualified after being towed in by another rider one lap later. Keyes took easy win in 29min 26.4s ahead of Heyes who held off.

a race-long challenge from Michael Cork (Kawasaki 900). JO Bunu) CRYPTIC CROSSWORD No 9129 AND SOLUTION TO 9128 Rod Rcddy. back to his bcst form, almost single-handedly tore the -Newtown defence apart lo pave the way for St George's 38-9 Rueby League romp over Newtown at Henson Park yesterday. Reddy, with bewildering side-steps and ball distribution. ran the Newtown defence ragged as Saints scored nine tries just two short of the Wills target.

Reddy opened the scoring nfler nine minutes following a break by halfback Ken Time and again Rcddy drew the defence and although seemingly well bottled up got his pass away. Rcddy was well supported by second-rower 'J 1 which lost transport. (3) 19 A building for Head Office use. (5) 20 Half the skinny sporting footwear. (3) 21 Thing that moves in the dark.

(5) 22 Label for a kids' game. (3) 24 They fleece Ihe sibilant audience. IS) 28 Drafting aid that's a firm conservative. (3, 6) 29 Bad apple could be so grimy (6) 30 Tom gains a hairdresser's galleries under ground. (9) 31 With which to hate a mother-insect.

(6) 32 Arm needed to become wound thus. (9) DOWN 2 They beat one suit. (6) 3 Various explorers of the deep. (6) 4 Pit used for making an argument. (7) (SPCfte, Mark Ella issues challenge FULLBACK STILL ACROSS 1 Crook business in an adumbrated card game? (5.

4) 9 Take a firm line with a NSW address. (6) 10 Asked for views, like an oil painting perhaps. (9) 1 1 A look from the batsman? (6) 12 Student astronomer? (4. 5) 14 Cictiing into the middle of money for a phone call. (X) 17 Favourite carpet ABUBADORABAMLH I panurseIIrubeulaI EBRBEUCUDnBIIAENI ROyNDELAYlIl I OT UStJ I BC ATBLBS.

TM I Hn IDLES on EHAfcjN I sletUaerosram! NHQBO WNBAET3VBMJ ARRDI CTATOR FBIHOBLUPBGBDBL IP BEL LSBaOTOF Fl HOLIDFVS or 7 vn puitlts tomorrow. TO No 335 EOfi IT AS Ekf SC PL P. I GJ AHKJ 1 AToHieac NORWICH! I EBAtssaiu IXANT I PKEmI UfdN iPlPi! fQK iHcJrv. '0 Ml "5 Solutlci I anr SOLUTION 15 Accurate timer. (9) 16 Device for measuring pressures, (9) 17 Supporting a motion.

(9) 18 Member of feudal hierarchy. (5) 23 A Cheese. (7) 25 Scandinavian. (6) 26 Serpents. (6) 27 Fixing device.

(6) 5 Good service and itch because of aci. (6) 6 Putting it all togjiher like a Latin clog. (9) 7 Getting onto horses where bearings may sit. (9) 8 Flow controller at a place of political scandal? (9) 13 Walk when it's legal, in brief. (5) 15 Trees that hold teeth in spirits (5.

4) 16 Air completely in accordance with the melody. (9) 17 Writer who got a gem for a dollar. (5, 4) 18 It's arsenic that hides some rulers. (5) 23 Bats in a flurry don't drink (7) 25 On? point identical with a seed. (6) 26 Sable bauxite, for example, is all the rage.

(6) 27 Can be tilled in Ber-ala. (6) DOWN 2 Suit. (6) 3 Of little worth. (6) 4 A sugar. (7) 5 Bovine animals.

(6) 6 Argumentative. (9) i Puis into formalin. (9) 8 With face to ground. (9) 13 Declaration of opinion. 15) Mark Ella, the Rand-wick five-eighth, is making a late bid to close the gap on Geoff Richards, the Eastern Suburbs fullback, who leads in the Herald Cup for the best and fairest Rugby Union player.

Ella picked up his third major award of the season at the weekend, and, with three rounds remaining, trails Richards by seven points. One point ahead of him in second place is Grant Andrews, the Warringah five-eighth and captain. The club contest is developing into a battle royal with Randwick clinging to a narrow one-point lead over Gordon and Eastern Suburbs a further five points back in third place. QUICK CROSSWORD No 336 AND Jutffl.it ALAN ROPE Manly Parramatta 3 ROIILLIARO f) full, back) Positional pltv flood. Kicked trectivtflv and faved hit tdt rtpeitedly In dfnca.

2 A MILROS1 ftvt-tlohthi Put hit aid en attack wtwnavtr posiibft and hit wctlltnt goal-kicking was rtponnbl for Ml ttam'i win. 1 McLEAN lock) Good M-round gam. Secured a lot of poiteision tor his aide. Enterprising In attack. NORMAN DEWS It fleoree Drummoyne 3 STIPHENSON (D) locttf Atwavi dangerous In attack, led strong pack well.

2 CALLUM (StG) break-gwayi Made many fine Individual runs and never Stopped trying, 1 MAGUIRI (D) centre: Set his back line In motion well. CYRIL TOWERS Randwick Unl of NSW 3 ELLA (R) nveelghthi In tough game of close marking he gave fill outside three-quarters every he ante to win. 2 A ING half back! Atter only a moderate first half under pressure from a winning pack he beat the opposition to the ball throughout the second half and that was vital for victory. 1 McGEOCH (UNSW) fullback! A lot of work to do In defence and attack but was never found wanting. Veteran Langford turns clock back in Marathon BRISBANE.

Jim Langford, the veteran West Australian long distance runner, turned back the clock 13 years when he brilliantly won the national Marathon title in steamy conditions yesterday. Langford's only previous win in a national championship was in 1965 when he beat Ron Clarke in the cross country. Running yesterday at Caboolture, 52 km north of Brisbane, Langford, 33, dominated lo record the very good time of 2hrs 19 min 29s. After early opposition from John Stanley, NSW, and Ron Irwin, QUI, Langford drew away in the second half of the 42.195 km event to win by almost live minutes. Stanley, who has strived for many years to emulate his father by winning a national title, could again manage only second in 2hrs 24min 6s.

Irwin, 35, the oldest runner in the field of 44, turned in a creditable performance for third, six minutes behind Langford. 22 Service that cannot be returned. (3) 24 Having great insight. (8) 28 Listen in secret. (9) 29 Compensation.

(6) 30 The "forties." (6, 3) 31 Removes grime. (6) 32 Member of a singing group. 19) ACROSS 1 Without form. (9) 9 One who carries. (6) 10 Flaws in logic.

(9) 1 1 Explosions. (6) 12 Opposite to port. (9) 14 Caster of spells. (8) 17 Firm (3) 19 Barter and exchange. (5) 20 Thespian.

(3) 21 Exhausted. (5) 1. I el.4l, etWtWel i.