SCHOOLS' MATCH.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20619, 8 August 1932, Page 16

SCHOOLS' MATCH.

ST. BEDE'S BEAT TIMARU. A CLOSE CONTEST. (3PSCIAL TO TBS PBEBS.) | TIMARU, August 7. j St. Bede's College 0 defeated Timaru J High School by a margin of one point—--11 points to 10 —in the annual first XV.'s match at Fraser Park, Timaru, on Saturday. The ground and -weather conditions were ideal for the fast, open game to which the largo crowd of spectators were treated. Timaru were decidedly superior in the first spell, both in forwards and backs, and held the advantage so much territorially that the gaino tended to be onesided. St. Bede's took a fresh lease of life in the secod spell, and displaying improved team-work, speed, and ability to grasp opportunities, turned the tables on their opponents. Two potted goals assured St. Bede's win. From Timaru's viewpoint the match was one of lost chances. Timaru won the toss and took advantage of the sun, St. Bede's kicking off. After a period of scrambling play in neutral territory, the home backs were sent speeding downfield in a passing rush, Eollinson penetrating well in a thrusting dash, stab-punting and following fast, forcing O 'Connor to find touch in his own twenty-five. Timaru kept up the pressure, Strang flinging the ball cleanly from the line-out twice in succession to Blue, who worked the blind with Milne, the winger making a dashing bid to cross at the corner, on the second occasion being forced out. A penalty gave St. Bedo 's much-needed respite. Timaru's persistent attack was rewarded a minute later, when the forwards hooked cleanly to Blue, 12 yard? from the line. The half-back whipped smartly round the scrum on to the blind side and sent on to Taylor, who flashed through an opening to dive over. Eollinson 's kick was wide. Timaru 3, St. Bede's 0. The home team lost two tries in quick succession through the faulty handling of the winger Hall a little later. The visitors battled hard to hold the solid packing Timaru forwards in the loose, but without much success, though Kecnan and Ward performed some very effective defensive work. Timaru increased its lead as a result of a fine piece of co-ordinated play between backs and forwards. The movement was opened up by Taylor, who raced down the blind side touch from mid-field and sent on to Milne, the winger flashing down the line with a dazzling burst and flinging in a long pass to the forwards, who joined in the rush. The movement was checked momentarily, and Blue secured from _ a scrum and dived over. Strang's kick missed. Timaru 6, St. Bode's 0. A splendid loose rush by St. Bede's | forwards, led by Heffernan, Lister, and Dando, swept into Timaru's twenty-five, j Here the visiting forwards hooked cleanlv to Keenan, who whipped the leather smartly to Ward, who potted a beautiful goal. Timaru. 6, St. Bede's 4. Maintaining the pressure, the Timaru forwards kept St. Bedo's penned in their twenty-five, where A. Bollinson gathered from the ruck and increased Timaru's score with a clever potted goal just before half-time. Timaru 10, St. Bede's 4.

At the kick-off St. Bede's began to get more than an even share of the ball, and infused more dash into their work. Picking up close to the side-line at halfway, Fahey ran down toilch in a sparkling burst, swerving prettily, only to be pushed out at the corner. The Timaru forwards battled back to past mid-field. The visiting .backs opened up a promising back rush from their twenty-five, Nee bursting to the twenty-five with a fine thrusting run, which threw the opposing rearguard out of position. He held on too long and was smothered. St. Bede's forwards, led by Heffemau, burßt through the opposing backs m a splendid loose rush, which was checked in front of the posts, within 15 yards of the line. The pack hooked cleanly to Keenan, who whipped the ball smartly to Ward just behind, and the fiveeighths coolly potted his second goal. Timaru 10, St. Bede's 8. The visiting backs threw the ball round in sparkling style, adopting punt and follow-through tactics with marked success. The crowd was brought to its toes again as Hall flashed in, gathering a dropped pass in St. Bede's passing rush, and streaked downfield, punting on reaching the full-back. Fahey raced back to gather the ball splendidly to find touch. A penalty to Timaru 35 yards out gave Strang a chance to goal. His kick fell short and wide. Hooking cleanly from a'five yards' scrum, the forwards fed the ball to Keenan, who ! sent on to Ward. The five-eighths, f end'ing well, burst, clean through the opposing backs to score a fine try. O'Connor missed. St. Bede's 11, Timaru 10. Ward was injured at this stage and had to leave the field, Boland replacing him. The home backs were sent into action in a sparkling rush, Taylor making a fine opening before handing on to Eollinson, who. flung a long pass to Milne. The winger was smothered bofore he could move. Fielding the baU, O'Connor made a dazzling run to midfield, starting the forwards, Bradley, Bray, and Lester, on a fine loose rush which Eollinson stopped with a touchfinder. The Timaru backs burst to the visitors' line, where a torrid forward battle raged. The game ended. — St. Bede's 11, Timaru 10. Mr A. B. Rowlands was referee. HIGH SCHOOLS' MATCH DRAWN. (PKESS ASSOCIATIOH TBLBOKMt.) NEW PLYMOUTH, August 6. In a Rugby football match, played hero to-day, New Plymouth Boys' High School drew with Hamilton High School, six all. OTAGO, TEAM TO PLAY AUCKLAND. (PBBSS ASSOCIATION TBUBQBAM.) DUNEDIN, August 7. Owing to rain during the week and the consequent heavy state of the grounds, no Rugby matches were played on Saturday. The following team has been gtlected to meet Auckland on Wednesday:—• Symonds, Procter, Smith, McSkimmmg, Fookes. Bathgate, Simon, Service, Hore, Hamilton, Findlay, Hartnell, Allan, Fmlayuou, Niven. SOUTHLAND TEAM CHOSEN. Crssss associatio* tmjobak.) INVERCABGILL, August 7. The following team has been chosen to represent Southland against Auckland f»t Invercargill on Saturday. Full-back: Porter. Three-quarters: Mitchell, McKay, Goddes. Five-eighths: Grant, Sharp. Half-back: Holden. Front row: Mattingly, G. George, Donnelly. Middle row: Purdue, Metcalf, Berry, Murphy. Back r«w; Fowl». - -