RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27072, 22 June 1953, Page 10

RUGBY FOOTBALL

AUSTRALIA BEATEN BY NATAL, 1514

FIRST MATCH OF SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) DURBAN, June 30. Although the Australian Rugby team was beaten by 15 points (three penalty goals, one try, and one field goal) to 14 (one goal from a try, two tries, and one penalty goal) by Natal in the first match of its South African tour, it played the type of Rugby It had promised and went down with its colours flying. Natal led, 6-3, at half-time. The Australians swung the ball about from side to side of the field, opening up the game at every opportunity, and their challenge was eagerly accepted by the whole Natal side, which turned on a fine display of constructive open football. It was a thrilling game with the result open until the final whistle blew.

MANAWATU DRAWS WITH WANGANUI

(New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, June 21. The match between Manawatu and Wanganui, played in atrocious conditions at Palmerston North on Saturday, resulted in a draw. Both sides scored •an unconverted try, Manawatu’s coming in the first half and Wanganui’s in the second.

An unusual incident occurred when the referee, Mr L. Puklowski, pulled a leg muscle after 10 minutes of play, and there was a 10 minutes’ delay before a replacement could take the field.

NORTH OTAQO BEATS MID-CANTERBURY

(New Zealand Press Association) OAMARU, June 21. In the first representative Rugby match of the season at Oamaru on Saturday, North Otago defeated the Hanan Shield holders, Mid-Canterbury. In a non-shield match, by 11 points (a goal from a try. a try, and a penalty goal) to 3 (a field goal).