RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25555, 24 July 1948, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

COLLEGE BEATS SCHOOL GOOD DISPLAY BY WINNING FORWARDS The annual match between Christchurch Boys’ High School and Christ's College, played on the Boys’ High School ground yesterday, was won by Christ’s College by 9 points to 6 after a game which shewed the very best that can be given in Rugby football. Weather conditions played a part in the result. Before the rain came late in the first, spell the Boys’ High School backs established a control of the game that looked like giving a comfortable win. The second spell was played in continuous rain and, when the ball became wet and difficult to handle, Christ’s College played the game better suited to the conditions with hard, fast forward rushes supported by the sound line-kicking of backs playing a defensive game. The game early developed into a battle between the High School backs and the Christ’s College forwards. Yet Christ’s College backs made the first real attacking movement and scored after a passing rush in which the ball travelled cleanly through the whole line of backs and ended in the wing-three-quarters, Andrews, scoring a try in traditional fashion. From being a beaten side in the first 10 minutes of the game, the High School backs rose above their difficulties and gave an exhibition of clever taking and passing that has not been seen in Christchurch this season. Ditfort, behind the scrum, was by no means perfect, but his swift, if somewhat erratic, passes were taken on the run by the first five-eighths, Wilson, whose handling on several occasions was remarkably sure. Even when the ball became greasy Wilson took passes With ease and assurance. He collected passes, good, bad, and indifferent, and with full confidence sent on to his outside men, Preece and Blick, with the knowledge that these men were running straight and had every chance of piercing a rigid defence, in which tackling was the feature. In the early part Ditfort was the spearhead of attack. An injury which forced him to retire in the second spell was the hardest blow that equid have been dealt to. School. He had proved a great defender when the College forwards broke through.

College Foot Rushes As rain fell more thickly and the ball became wet and difficult to handle, it seemed that School persisted too long in attempts to handle and to carry on the attack as usual. College made no mistakes in adopting the correct tactics. The forwards, with an advantage in weight, used every pound to advantage and loose forwards regularly tackled the half-back, espeically after Ditfort had left the field. The College forwards settled down to hard, gruelling football, keeping the ball under control and carrying on with typical old-time dribbling rushes that took a lot of stopping. School provided the highlights of back play in the first spell when the ball could be handled with a degree of certainty. College gave a splendid exhibition of wetweather football. The College half-back, Fraser, played very soundly. While he depended on his forwards and saved them with judicious line-kicking, he also showed he could open up the play when he sent fast, accurate passes to Grant, who in turn did the necessary kicking. Smith, at outside five-eighths, and Stokes, at centre, turned on the fireworks early in the game when they cut the High School defence to ribbons in the movement which gave Andrews his try. The College forwards took control when ground conditions favoured them, and there was seldom a rush or a line-out in which Couzens, Hutchinson, Dowland, or Moginie did not take part. Ball control in the rushes was the feature of the College forward play. Wilson was the star performer of the High School team because of his splendid handling and while the half-back, Ditfort, was on the field, his defence was sound. Preece took passes on the run with sure hands and right direction, and the speed of the attack lost nothing in his transfers to Blick, a straight-running centre. When conditions were good the back division was a smooth-running machine and always appeared a likely scoring unit. The full-back. Poore, played a masterly game, and while high punts were taken by all the backs without a mistake, Poore overshadowed the rest with sure fielding and long-range line kicks.

Chirnside was the best in the High School forwards, and- in line-out or hard rucking he did more than his share. As utility forward Barton was very useful. He set his backs going when others failed. Easton, Maxwell, and Bristowe were others who hunted consistently and in loofce rushes caused the College backs many anxious moments. The game was played at a fast pace from start, to finish by both backs and forwards, and the speed of the game was helped by the referee, Mr D. F. Johnson, who allowed many minor infringements to pass unnoticed.

Scoring Movements The ball was dry and the ground in excellent order when the game started, and soon Wilson gained a long stretch of ground for School with a line-kick and the forwards almost went over. G. A. Perry, for College, relieved with a long kick, and with play near half-Way Fraser, the College half-back, started the ball going through the hands of Grant, Smith, and Stokes. Stokes cut in with a rare burst and sent on to Andrews, who had little opposition in his race to the line. Stokes made the try with his straight

•Harrison, Boys’ High School wing threequarters, showed determination in clearing with a run from his own twenty-five and very soon the School forwards took charge. College was on hard defence but it failed when Ditfort sent out to Wilson, Preece, who cut in nicely, Blick, Wilson, who had doubled round, and Harrison, who scored a try from one of the best movements of the year. School continued to have the better of play, and from a scrum on the College line Ditfort scored. At half-time School led by 6 points to 3. Rain fell more heavily after half-time, and College gained ground when passes by the School backs went astray. From a scrum near the School line Fraser dived over for a try, Hutchinson’s shot at goal striking the cross-bar.

Hutchinson, for College, missed a shot from a penalty from 30 yards out. Still attacking, the College forwards carried the ball to within a few' yards of the School line. From a scrum G. A. Perry dodged over on the blind side, for a wellmanoeuvred try. The College forwards held a big advantage in the second spell, although spirited attacks by the tigerish School forwards frequently tested the defence of the backs.

Following were the teams;— Christ’s College.—J. G. Perry; M. M. Andrews, J. G. Stokes, G. A. Perry; I. D. Smith, K. P. R. Grant; B. A. Fraser; R. K. Pears, R. W. Wilson, W. G. Dowland; T. Couzens, O. A. Hutchinson (captain), R. F. Moginie, H. C. Burry, D. L. Rantin.

Boys’ High School.—M. B. Poore; R. D. Harrison, K. R. Blick (captain), R. J. Cunningham; V. Preece, D. D. Wilson; T. H. Ditfort; M. E. Maxwell, S. D. Bristowe, M. J. Easton; B. Wilkinson, A. M. Chirnside, E. R. McCalman, M. J. Barnett; J. E. Barton. In the second spell J. D. Lawson replaced Ditfort.