INTER-SCHOOLS' MATCH.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17807, 5 July 1923, Page 11

INTER-SCHOOLS' MATCH.

BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL (23) V. CHRIST'S COLLEGE (0).

Christ's College and Boys' High School met in their annual match at Lancaster Park yesterday before an attendance well up to that of previous, years. Enthusiasm was at fever heat long before the teams took the field, and the incessant barracking by supporters of both sides was very pronounced. The effects of influenza were felt by both teams, neither being at its full strength. Christ's College were the greatest sufferers in this respect, as three of the first fifteen, in E. D. T. Lewis, centre-three-quarters, "W. J. Hutchinson and G. "Williams, forwards, were unable to take the field, "while School were without Broughton, a hefty forward; but this fact, however, only spurred the players to further efforts in a gallant fight to do the best for their respective colours. The recent heavy weather had left the oval a trifle slow, but it improved consider-, ably during the afternoon under a drying wind. Christ's College: were first to take the field, amidst loud applause, which was redoubled when Boys' High School followed. Boys' High School looked much the more solid of the two teams, being more 6turdily .built than their opponents. When it came to real football, Boys' High School showed their superiority in no uncertain manner, but the display was one that did not do ,credit to the standard of football shown by these teams in previous years.. . Boys' High School, though easy winners, did not plav really good football. ' Many mistakes were made by the inside backs, who had opportunities galore, and the handling in the passing rushes was extremely bad. Cross-field running by the backs was also a bad feature, and very many opportunities to score were lost through thiß fault. The forwards on both sides showed- cle\*er footwork, and at times brilliant tackling, but altogether tho display was hardly one to please the average football follower. The teams took the field as follows:

BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL. (Blue and' &ack.)' ■ " Full-back: G. M. Kemp <Capt.). Throe-Quarters. A. G. Berry, L. B. Cromb, J. F. . Moffatt. Five-Eighths: A. J. Brown, I. B. Fleming. ' Half-back: ■'"" v George Mortlock. Forwards: A. G. Sterling, S. W.. Minson/ G. Chambers, N. Porterfield, J. R. Esson, H. T. J. Thacker, M. E. Skipworth, C. R. "Watsoh. ..!... Christ's college. ~/:v v ■ Wliite.)C •/ ." Full-back: E. D. Hartley-Smith. Three-Quarters. D. 8. Young, J. D. Onnond, J. Armstrongs ■ F>ye-Eighths: ~~, -": G. F. McHardy (Capt,), R. P., Hunter- .', Weston. Half-back: ; , J. Sugden. Forwards: W. C. Stafford,. A.-1. Cottrill, A. H. Reeves, W. W. Sherratt, 0. P. Ballantyne, H; Weston, THE PLAY. College won the toss, and elected to play against the sun, but with -the wind in their favour.; Play was bright and breezy from the Btart, but a ing rush was mulled by Fleming, of School, and the College forwards swept through the opposing,backs. , A wild pass by a School back landed in Armstrong's hands, and he made a good run, and passed infield, but the fer was taken by Watson, of School, who relieved. A penalty to College saw Kemp return well, and'he tackled Hunttr-Weston .in: possession. Mortlock was prominent in starting several passing rushes, which were spoilt by bad handling, and a penalty kick taken by Cromb was resultless. • The College forwards attempted dribbling, and presently sent the ball to Sugden, who gave a good pass to Hunter-Weston. The latter sent on to Young, who made a poor attempt to beat the defence. A short kick by Hunter-Weston had School thinking hard, but a penalty relieved. A good kick by Cromb and .a solid tackle bv Moffatt looked like providing a 6core, but the College forwards, headed by Reeves and Armstrong, tested the School defence. Mortlock was in the picture a moment later, when he kicked : past the College five-eighths. Cromb followed up fast, and appeared to have a great chance of scoring, but Hartley-Smith marked, and sent the ball out near the halt-way flag with a beautiful kick. Mortlock was passing out smartly to his backs, but both Fleming and Brown made the mistake of cutting-in too often, instead c-f giving the outside men chances to make good. , The College forwards made a great rally, and the backs carried on with a passing rush, which gained no ground. A fine bout of passing between- Mortlock, Brown, Fleming, and Cromb enabled Moffatt to. make a good run, but solid tackling met his .effort. HartleySmith gained a lot of ground with a line-kick, but the - School forwards, headed by Porterfield, came back with a great rush, and a penalty kick, taken by Cromb, went perilously near the posts: The reward came a moment later, when Porterfield dashed over, but Cromb failed .with the kick.' School ..". ... ... 3 College ... ... 0 School no\v aserted their superiority in no uncertain manner, and made several sorties on the College line. Fleming cut-in prettily, but was tackled near the posts. Brown picked .up smartly and dashed over. Cromb failed with' an easy kick. School ... 6 College ... 0 School attacked hotly to half-time, but no further score .resulted. Playing with the wind in the second half, "School at once attacked, but Fleming lost an almost certain try through hanging on too long. Then after "a passing rush oh the west side, the play swung across field, and neat passing between Mortlock, Fleming, and Moffatt gave the .last-named a chance, of which he showed his appreciation bydashing over at the corner.. With a good kick, he converted his try. School ... ••• - 11 College ... ••• ... 0 Play was stitl confined to the College twenty-five, the School backs and forwards showing to advantage. Passing between Mortlock, Fleming Brown, and Moffatt saw the last-named make a

CContinu&d. at foot at nast colnan.)

I ~——. : - : —- great effort to get over, but he was tackled inches short of the line. Then another movement, worked on the blind ,side by Mortlock and Berry, enabled Berry to score after a good dash. ' The kick failed. School ... ... ... 'l4 College ... ... ... o College were forced a few minuses later, and then Cromb made a good run round the defence, and gave Moffatt a chance to add to the score. An easy kick at goal was missed. . School ... ... ... 17 College ... ... ... o College appeared tired at this stage, while School were playing as solidly as ever.' Mortlock again worked the blind side, and only the solid tackling of Armstrong prevented Berry from scoring. McHardy relieved with a good kick. A moment later Morfatt I lost a try through failing to ground the ball properly after he had crossed | the line, but the respite was only temporary, for School at once carried play to the College line, and Fleming and Porterfield made attempts to get over. Sugdeh put in a lot of good defence for College, hut, with the forwards beaten, the College backs had a hard task, ana it was not long before Berry received a pass from Mortlock, and, showing a fine burst of speed, he scored at the corner. Cromb missed with the kick. School 20 College ... ... ... 0 Brown opened up the play for School a moment later, and brought the score to 23 points to nil hy giving Moffatthe ball to score, but still the goalkicking was not up to standard. For the remainder of the game, School held the upper hand, and made several attempts to score, but bad handling lost several chances. Headed by Ballantyne and Sherratt, the College forwards made a last effort, but Kemp coolly marked, and sent the attack back to College territory. The final score was: Boys' High School ~. 23 Christ's College ... .... - 0 ■-/ ■ Mr C. W. Allord controlled the same.