COLLEGE RIFLES' FIRST WIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1928, Page 13

COLLEGE RIFLES' FIRST WIN.

Somewhat by way of a surprise College Rifles won their match against North Shore on the latter team's ground on Saturday. The turf was in good "order but a high wind puzzled the players. The game was evenly contested, and the win by a "potted" goal just about represents the difference between the teams. There was no marked superiority shown by either side, and a draw would have about represented the merits of the teams. Shore started with a rattle in the first quarter when all their scoring was done. Their forwards were stronger than those of the College Rifles teatn, but as the game progressed the College Rifles hookers were getting the bail consistently, and this gave them a great advantage. In the loose, however, the Shore pack was superior, and by their close rushes often worked play 25 to 50 yards downfield. Of the winning team practically all the backs played well. The inside backs showed a commendable ability for straight running, which gave the three-quarters, Webber and Gillespie, room to finish a run. On one occasion Blyth secured the ball from a scrum at midfield and sent on to McGregor, who went straight through the opposing fiveeighths and then spnt on to Gillespie, who also ran straight and then passed to Webber. As the result of this play Shore gave a penalty from which Gillespie kicked a goal. Blyth and Webber worked the blind side to great advantage, College Rifles' final score coming from a move of this kind. Of the forwards the most prominent were Gallagher and the Souter brothers, but they were overshadowed by the Shore pack. Among the North Shore backs Palmer, halfback, stood out. He played a sterling game, and proved equally as good in defence as in attack. Holmes also did well, but Johnson, the full-back, must give the club supporters many anxious moments. He'kicks and tackles well, but is too fond of waiting for the ball to bounce. Of a good pack of bustling forwards Simpson and Smith were the pick, but the former is inclined to play a little too hard. D'Autherau was a forward who caused his side to be frequently penalised by consistent offside play. Soloman, as rover was always in the thick of play. He is a hard man to stop and to bring down. It would have been bad luck for College Rifles if they had not won on Saturday, for just after MacGregor potted a goal, Gillespie, another College Rifles back, had a pot, and spectators behind the posts declared it was a goal, but with a background of high trees the referee could be forgiven for not following tlic flight of the ball.