RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22769, 22 July 1939, Page 13

RUGBY FOOTBALL

COLLEGE BEATS HIGH SCHOOL TEN POINTS TO EIGHT HIGH STANDARD OF PLAY In a game that rose to great heights at times, Christ’s College beat Boys’ High School la the annual Rugby match yesterday by 10 points to 8. The match, played on the Straven i;oad ground, was a very well contested one and produced extremely good football throughout. The result was in doubt until the end, and a large crowd of spectators thoroughly enjoyed what might be termed the secondary schools’ football classic as far as Christchurch is concerned. The College team earned its victory by the spirited efforts of its forwards, who never let up for a moment. Though they did well in the set scrums, they excelled at coming round on the ball after a player had been tackled, and it was in this department that the High School boys were shaded. Often after a tackle the entire College pack would be on the bail and the quick heel to the backs had the High School backs in trouble on several occasions. Individually the College pack could not be faulted. Every man worked untiringly, and over the concluding stages swept everything before them. Henderson, Castle, and Humphries were the best of a very good set of forwards. The outstanding College back was undoubtedly Monaghan, the first five-eighths, After passing to his captain, Parsons, for the major part of the game, he made several brilliant breaks in the concluding stages. Palmer, the centre, made a great run which led to a try early in the game, but after that was effectively bottled up. The wings, Mills and Deans, played well, and the full-back, Norman, came through a hard day with credit. . , , If College were magnificent in victory, High School was fine in defeat. Though giving away weight and height in the forwards, the pack stuck to Its task resolutely, and for a period in the second spell appeared to nave taken charge of the game. Lake led his side in grand style, and he received good support from McMillan, Brooke, and Blgnell. Smith at half-back sent out fast and accurate passes for the most part, and Richards, outside him, also played well, though be was more conspicuous for his covering work than for the rapid thrusts he made in earlier games. Hadfleld showed his pace in coming outside the centre to score a try, and Maxwell, after an uncertain start, covered himself with- glory with some good breaks. The wings were a fast and hard-running pair, Mummery especially impressing in the first spell. The teams were;— Christ’s College—E, J. Norman; S. W. Mills, B. H. Palmer, H. H. Deans; J. M. D. Parsons, D. W. Monaghan; I. W. Gal-, loway: W. R. Deans, H. B. Williams, G. W. Salmond: D. G. Todhunter, A. M. Henderson, P. T. Humphries, M, R. Macdonald; L, J. Castle. . _ Boys’ High School—B. R. White: A. R. Mummery, P. B. Maxwell, D. H. James; J. P. Hadfleld, W., S. Richards: F, B. Smith; J, J. A, McLaughlin, S. C. Sapsford, W, F. Blgnell; D. L. Lake, A. A. Trotter, L. A. McMillan, R. M. Brooke; K. iV Mackweil. School attacked from the kick-off and White missed a penalty kick at goal. College worked back, and from a set scrum the backs went away. Palmer cut the defence to ribbons, and Deans capped off the movement with & fine try. College 3, School 0. . . School was kept defending hard, but a free kick relieved the situation. Mummery put In a determined run, and then Maxwell went through, but a bad pass spoiled a promising movement. The tackling on both sides was hard and clean, and the game fast and open. School had bad luck when Richards collided with one of his own team near the line, but Monaghan brought play back with a dazzling run. Henderson had a kick at goal from a penalty, but the ball dropped under the bar. The College forwards were getting a good share of the ball and play remained on the School line. A quick heel from a set scrum allowed Monaghan to pivot and drop a fine field goal. College 7, School 0. School came back to the attack, and from a scrum the backs handled. Maxwell went through and passed to James, who crashed over in the corner. College 7, School 3. ■ Trotter was hurt, but carried on, and School launched attack after attack. Though the handling fell away at times, it was thrilling football. White came up and sent Mummery away down the line. College returned, and when the backs got away only solid tackling kept them out. Maxwell intercepted a pass on' his own twenty-five line, and got clear away with several College players in hot pursuit. Hadfleld flashed up on the outside in time to take a pass before Maxwell was tackled, and scored underneath the posts. White converted, and half-time came with the score: School 8, College 7. School looked the better team In the early stages of the second spell. The forwards were getting more of the ball, and the back line was working well. Mummery came Inside the first five-eights to take a pass. He caught the College backs on the wrong foot, but Norman saved well. Both sets of forwards were working with a will, and a desperate battle for supremacy was waged. Jam’es next came inside Richards and went through, but his pass went, astray. School was playing better than at any other period of the game, and should have gone over at least twice. Penalties were frequent for both sides, and several for School (nearly put it further in the lead. The College forwards swept upfield In a devastating rush, and when the School backs began passing wider their own goal posts. College nearly scored, Maxwell saving nicely. School came back but was penalised, and Monaghan put his side in the lead with a beautiful drop-kick. College 10, School 8. The School forwards made a desperate rally and drove College back. A penalty almost under the posts failed to go over. Though appearing a trifle unlucky to be trailing 10-8, the School forwards at this stage began to tire, and though battling all the way, lacked the fire of the College pack. The concluding stages were marked by hectic forward work and a number of thrilling rushes by the College backs. Monaghan beat the defence several times, and only good backing up kept College out. The lapt few minutes of the game were full of thrills, the College forwards battling magnificently. School made a final effort, and one or two good moves failed to bear fruit through lack of support. School was attacking when a fine game ended with the score: . Christ’s College 10, Christchurch Boys’ High School 8. The referee was the Rev. E. A. Osmers, SOUTHERN V. NEW BRIGHTON The Canterbury Rugby Union advises that the match which was to have been played in the second grade competition between Southern and New Brighton on the Rawhlti Domain has now been transferred to the North Beach School. TEAMS FOR TO DAY ' ATHLETIC CLUB - Seniors v. Southern, Rugby Park, 2.30 p.m.—Callanan, O’Connell, Mahony, O’Fagan, Malley, White, Clark, Foley, Brown, Robinson, Constable, Knowles, Coll, Lanauze, Morel, Dunne, Doody, Glubb, Walsh. Juniors v. Air Force, at Wlgram, 2.30 Walklin, Mahar, Morgan (2), Noonan (2), Dwen, Holley, Allan (2), Bradley, Sheehan, Sowden, Scully* Sherman. Powell, Mahony. Third Grade v. Lyttelton, Ner. 26 South Park. Sixth Grade v. Boys’ High School, Straven road. 9st 71b—A bye. 6914 AUSTRALIAN TEAM SAILS (UNITED TEESS ASSOCIATION —COPTBIQHT.) (Receives July 21, 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 21. The Australian Rugby Union team sailed aboard the Mooltan this afternoon for England. Thousands of people gavs them an enthusiastic, farewell. __ ’