RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25551, 20 July 1948, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

COLLEGE GAME ST. BEDE’S BEATS ST. ANDREW’S St Bede’s College beat St. Andrew’s College on the St. Bede’s College ground yesterday by 14 points to 6 in a game which produced none of the highlights associated with secondary schbol football. The material for good football in both teams was plainly shown. St. Andrew’s College, with the heavier pack and with almost sole control in the line-outs and in many of the scrums, failed to use these advantages. Generally it was football marred by bad positional 6 lay by St. Bede’s, and by poor passing y the St. Andrew’s inside backs when given the ball with a half-back who kicked to the line when open play should have been the order. St. Andrew’s had the bigger forwards and apparently depended upon them to win a game against lighter and more tigerish boys who, when given a chance, raided hard and solidly among the St. Andrew’s backs. The St. Andrew S backs suffered from slow handling and lack of thrust. , x , St. Bede’s had enough chances to have won any game. The passing from tne scrum was orthodox and sometimes quick, but when the attack weijt across ground a stoppage was made easy for tne bt. Andrew’s backs, who tackled soundly. St. Bede’s provided most of the passing, ano .with the ball going across field. Hurley, the centre, elected to kick instead of giving a well-marked wing-three-quarters a chance. Hurley was the best attacking back on the ground, and had his inside men given him the chances the score would have been bigger. Williamson, the St. Andrew’s College half-back, received the ball many times but his safety-first tactics and line-find-ing showed that he had little confidence in the men outside him. Both full-backs well earned the applause of a big crowd, and although the kicking of Kelleher (St. Bede’s) was longer and more accurate than that Ox many senior footballers, Kensington (St. Andrew’s) had to work the harder. At no stage was his fielding at fault, and he handled high punts like a -master. He was the mainstay of a poor back team. The St. Bede’s forwards won the game. Each man tore into the heavy play with zest and was always hunting for mistakes bv St. Andrew’s backs. In this part of the play, McCarthy, Connell and Hardy were always on the ball, and it was their fast following that gave St. Bede’s two tr Ferguson, the St. Andrew’s captain, playing on the side of the scrum, took too many risks, and the referee possibly treated him leniently. A bit more weight 1 would have helped his side. Cavaye was easily the best forward in the side. His line-out play was the best on the field. Winskill, Moore and Clark were others ; who played solidly and well.

The Play St. Andrew’s supporters had a thrill aftei the kick-off when a centre kick was followed by the forwards and the referee awarded a 4ry. The ■ line-umpire’s flag brought the teams back to the twenty-five. Kelleher, with two great kicks, relieved St. Bede’s, but he made a poor shot from a penalty. St. Andrews backs did little with a monopoly of the ball, and when Keenan (St. Bede’s) sent in a high punt to the goal-mouth, Hardy was on hand to score. Kelleher converted and St. Bede’s led by 5 points to nil. Sabiston (St. Andrew’s) missed with his first kick after a penalty, but succeeded in a second attempt with a good kick from well out. St. Bede’s 5, St. Andrew’s 3. St. Bede’s had the better of play, and just before the interval Cummings, with an ambitious shot from a yard inside halfway, narrowly missed the posts and charged down the clearing kick, which was forced. At half-time St. Bede’s led by 5 points to 3. Williamson, the St. Andrew’s half-back, received the ball regularly from scrum and line-out, and just as regularly kicked to touch. He saved his forwards. From loose play in which St. Bede’s secured the ball, Heenan kicked high and wide to James, who collected, and sent to Hurley, who scored at the corner. Kelleher missed the long kick. St. Bede’s 8, St. An* drew’s 3. , , ’ Kensington, handling well, saved his side several times with long line-kicks. McDonald, St. Andrew’s centre, did not appear to trust his wings, and like his opposite number, Hurley, kicked too often. One of Hurley’s kicks landed near the St. Andrew’s line, and after a scrum Hardy scored. St. Bede’s 11, St. Andrew’s 3. Kelleher succeeded with a long range penalty for St. Bede’s, and Kensington with a nice kick added three points to the St. Andrew’s score.

St. Bede’s won by 14 points (a goal from a try, two tries, and a penalty goal) to 6 points (two penalty goals). Following were the teams:— St. Andrew’s College.—W. R. Kensington; D. Sabiston,.J. W. McDonald, A. Harris; W. Francis, M. West; D. Williamson; D. Ferguson (captain), I. Winskill. J. Thacker, S. Cavaye, B. N. Perry, A. Familton, S. Clark, R. J. Moore.

St. Bede’s College.—E. P. Kelleher; D. B. James, M. D. Hurley, W. T. Cadigan; A. P. Hayward, E. J. Heenan; R. F. Riordan; C. J. Cummings,. W< J. Hardy, P. A. Lovett, B. J. O’Connor, P. G. Dorrance, L. A. Brownlee, P. B. Connell, J. C. McCarthy. Mr V. C. Empson was referee. UNOFFICIAL GAMES CONTROL BY N.Z. UNION SUGGESTED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 19. Some arrangement to secure control by the New Zealand Rugby Union in such fixtures as those arranged by railwaymen, tramwaymen, Government departments, and others, was urged at to-day’s meeting of the management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union. Consideration was given to a Waikato letter dealing with railways Rugby. Waikato suggested that the New Zealand Railways Rugby Council should become affiliated with the New Zealand Rugby Union. It was considered that the matter could be resolved by negotiation, but that in a number of friendly Rugby games there were factors which might cause concern to the union as controlling authority for Rugby. These included observance of any penalties which might have beeri inflicted on players for misdemeanour in matches under its jurisdiction and the rules about Jirofessionalism. In view of the many mplications in the matter a decision was held over till a further meeting. Referees appointed for Ranfurly Shield games are:—Otago v. South Canterbury, July 24, Mr J. Fitzpatrick (Wellington); Otago v. Southland, July 31, Mr A. Fong (West Coast). A It was decided to advise the Canterbury Union that a tour of the South Island by the New Zealand Maori team after its return from Fiji was not practicable as it would mean too long an absence by players from their employment.

OTAGO TEAM TO PLAY SOUTH CANTERBURY

(P.A.) DUNEDIN, July 19. The Otago Ranfurly Shield team to meet the first challenger. South Canterbury, at Dunedin on Saturday, was announced to-day as follows: Backs: G. J. Moore (University); I. J. Sotting (University), R. R. Elvidge (University) captain, W. Meates (Maniototo); J. C. Kearney (Maniototo), L. Haig (South Otago); L. Woodhouse (Southern). Forwards: K. L. Skinner (Pirates), A. Foster (South Otago), R. A. Dalton (Pirates), J. McNab (South Otago), L. Harvey (Vincent), C. Willocks (South Otago), D. Hamilton (West Otego); P. Johnstone (Taieri). Emergencies: forwards, N. Wilson (Zingari). H. Wilson (Maniototo), K. J. O’Connor (University}, A. Hellyer (Zingari); backs, B. Haig (Dunedin), C. McDonald (Pirates), R. Orr (Zingari). SOUTHLAND TEAM (p.a.) Invercargill, July 19. The Southland Rugby team to play South Canterbury at Invercargill includes seven players who will represent Southland for the first time. The team is: L. F. Ward; I. Herbison, D. Smeaton, A. S. Chandler; F. H. Stewart, J. Prendiville; J. T. McKenzie; D. M. Brown, J. A. Mcßae, J. J. Boyle; L, Moynihan. R. W. Woods, H. McCulloch, F. Ward; T. A. Budd.

AUCKLAND CHALLENGE FOR SHIELD

(P.A.) DUNEDIN, July 19. Auckland’s special challenge to play Otego for the Ranfurly Shield on August 11 was considered by the management committee of the Otego Rugby Union this evening. It was decided to inform Auckland that it was not practicable to play on August 11, but to offer it a match on September 29, four days after the Wellington match, if Otago still holds the shield. SERVICES TOURNAMENTS The Rugby team to represent Southern Military District in the annual inter-dis-trict tournament in Wellington next month will be selected soon. Players will be drawn from all areas in the South island. At the conclusion of the tournament a team will be chosen to represent the New Zealand Army in the inter-services’ tournament at Auckland. MAORI TEAM ASSEMBLES (P.A.) AUCKLAND. July 19. The New Zealand Maori Rugby team to tour Fiji assembled at Auckland this morning. The team will leave by air on i Wednesday morning.