SCHOOL MATCH

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27072, 22 June 1953, Page 6

SCHOOL MATCH

WIN FOR ST. ANDREW’S COLLEGE

TWO EVEN TEAMS GIVE BRIGHT DISPLAY Merciless tackling and tight forward play of a very' high standard were the features of a bright display in th® first inter-college match of the season between Christ's College and St. Andrew’s College, played at St. Andrew’s College ground. Although St. Andrew’s College won by 14 points to 8 there was hardly six points difference between the teams. Christ’s College led by 8 points to 3 at half-time.

The teams were:— Christ’s College.—J. W. Clarke; A. J. Park, R. L. McKee, R. M. Ford; J. D. F. Smith, H. C. Praln; K. R. Greenslade; M W. S. Trolove, R. W. 0.. Williams, J. D. Hutchison, D. W. Russell, P. T. Kennan; R. W. M. Greenslade, R. J. Stevenson, A. R. Cottrell. St. Andrew’s.—C; W. Anderson; G. W. Riley, I. A. Dewar, P. B. Andrews; J. O. Black, A. B. McGillivray; F. Tavai; M. D. Mather, C. T. A. Bates, W. B. McCallum, G. R.-Millar, J. D. Matheson, D. A. Sloss, E. B. L. Hilson, M, S Elms The main reason for the failure of most attacks was the accurate tackling by both sets of backs. However, although the ball was thrown about at every opportunity, there was much mishandling and only the two full-backs, J. W. Clarke (Christ’s College) and C. W. Anderson (St. Andrew’s College) played consistently well throughout the game. Both took the ball coolly in the face of oncoming forwards, and gained ground with long, accurate line kicks. Clarke kicked a penalty" goal from nearly 40 yards out, and Anderson gained applause when a kick frbm two yards inside half-way hit the cross-bar.

Perhaps the best attacking back on the field, R. L. McGee •"(Christ’s College) had few chances until near the end of the game, when he showed his ability by several speedy ind determined runs, in which he broke through tackles. The Christ’s College backs took a deep attacking formation, and attempted to make straight thrusts. However, the advantage of this was nullified when backs ran infield towards opposing forwards and hordes of tacklers. J. D. F. Smith, at second five-eighths, who was standing far off his first five-eighths, offended in this respect.

In his running from the scrum, F. Tavai. the St. Andrew’s College half-back, would have few peers in school football, and although well watched by fast-breaking Christ’s College forwards, he scored a fine solo try towards the end of the game. He lapsed in his passing because of slowness in picking up the ball and the attention of opposing forwards. When running down the side-line, G. W. Riley, the St. Andrew’s College right wing three-quarters, was formidable, but good tackling stopped him short of the goal line. Many senior club players could have taken a lesson in orthodox forward play from these two school packs, which were evenly matched in Weight, fitness, and ability. There was only a difference of 81b between the two scrums. There were few spectacular dribbling rushes, but

packing, rucking, and line-out play were demonstrated at their best by such forwards as J. D. Matheson, M. D. Mather, and M. S. Elms (St. Andrew’s College) and M. W. S. Trolove, R. W. M. Greenslade, and P. P. Kennan (Christ’s College). Matheson and Elms were masters of line-out play, and Mather linked with his backs in passing movements. Kennan, who was selected as a reserve for Christ’s College, consistently bustled Tavai.

The Scoring After about 25 minutes of play Clarke, in his second attempt to goal from a penalty, was successful ■with a good kick from about 35 yards out. Christ’s College soon added to its score, the back-row forward, Trolove, scoring after he and R. Greenslade had broken through from a line-out. Clarke converted with a good kick from a wide angle. St. Andrew’s College scored just before half-time, Anderson kicking a penalty goal from a good position to make the half-time score 8-3. Good forward play by St. Andrew s College, with Matheson to the fore, enabled P. B. Andrews, the left wing threequarters, to score after the ball had been kicked over the line. Then another penalty goal by Arfderson gave his side a one-point lead. With the best try of the day Tavai consolidated the St. Andrew’s College lead. He ran round the scrum and went across the line with about three men hanging on. Anderson converted to make the final score 14-8. Mr W. J. Brown was referee.

BELFAST WINS AGAIN Belfast had little trouble in beating Sunnyside-Spreydon at Sunnyside, and maintained its practice of winning a match as soon as one was lost. In nine games, Belfast has had four wins and a draw, and- Saturday’s success took it into the first Six in the competition. The game had its bright moments, but there were many errors by both sides. Sunnyside-Spreydon’s advantage in weight among the forwards was discounted to some extent by the team’s lack of finish, and Belfast had the match all but won some time before-the interval. SunnysideSpreydon scored first, B. Jackson kicking a field goal, but Belfast scored three tries in succession^—by E. Brown, B. Knowles, and R. Odgers, and Brown converted two of them. „ . - A* Early in the second spell A. Jemmett kicked a penalty goal for the combined team, but Belfast went further ahead with two penalty goals by Brown. G. Bell then scored a try for Belfast, and Brown s conversion gave him 15 points for the match. Jemmett kicked a second penalty goal for Sunnyside-Spreydon. Belfast won by 24 points (three goals from tries, a try, and two penalty goals) to nine (a field goaj and two penalty goals). * The referee was Mr D. H. Parks. CHRISTCHURCH EXTENDED Air Force, an unpredictable team, seemed likely to provide another major upset by beating Christchurch in the match at Rugby Park, but lost by 19 points to 9. Christchurch, although without a number of key players, seemed far too strong in the forwards and much too fast in the backs for the first 20 minutes, during which the side scored eight points, and seemed likely to score more. By halftime, however, its lead had been reduced to two points, and at the start of the second spell Air Force, with the forwards playing above themselves for a while, looked the better and fitter team. In the end, it was Christchurch which was on top, and a goal from a try seemed to re- ’ move the tension from the game long be- . fore it was over. i The Christchurch forwards, at times, looked extremely capable, and they were . well led all the time by A. Bellamore and r J. Watkins. M. Gold had a bad day at j first five-eighths, but P. Moir and J. i Osborne, outside him, showed unusual ■ speed. The Air Force forwards had to ’ concede height and weight, but L. Young ? and R. Wilson led some good rushes, and t in a solid line of backs who did not, howr ever, tackle with all their usual resolution, S. Hoyt stood out for his dependaI toility and A. S. Brown for his pace and I initiative. o . a , A kick by Moir soon after the start let Osborne in for a try. which G. Johnson converted, and a little later Johnson kicked a good penalty goal. Johnson, playing very solidly at full-back, made i his first mistake when he missed a high c punt by D. Jamieson, and Brown gathered _ in the ball and scored. Before half-time a Jamieson kicked a penalty goal from a i long way out. In the second spell Air Force pressed - hard, and one or two scoring chances _ were lost. A break by Moir was checked i near the line, but a moment later Gold i went over, and Johnson, converting the try and kicking a penalty goal, gave his _ side a lead of 10 points. Jamieson reduced _ this with a penalty goal, but Johnson re- - plied in kind. " Christchurch won by 19 points (two h goals from tries and three penalty goals) to 9 (a try and two penalty goals). j The referee was Mr T. Evans.

LOWER GRADES

Senior Second Division.—Marist 15, High School Old Boys 9; Christchurch 6, Merivale 0; Teachers College 16, Papanui Technical Old Boys Al. Junior A.—High School Old Boys 15, Belfast 3; University A 16, SunnysideSpreydon 0; Sydenham 9. Technical A 9; Lyttelton 11, New Brighton 5. Junior B.—-Linwood 9. Merivale 3; Christchurch 18, University B 11. Third Grade A.—Christchurch 14, Papanui Technical Old Boys 3; University A 14, Linwood 3; University B 22. Sydenham 12; Kaiapoi 9, R N Z.A.F. 3. Third Grade C.—St. Andrew’s College 14. Christ’s College 8. Fourth Grade. —Albion 14, Christchurch 0; Belfast 3, Marist 3; Sunnyside-Spreydon 11. High School Old Boys 0. Fifth Grade.—Linwood 25, Lyttelton 0. Under 18B.—Xavier College 6, West High School 0: Papanui Technical College 9, Christchurch Technical College 6. Under 17.—Belfast 8. Sunnyside-Sprey-don 6. Under 16.—Papanui Technical Old Boys 14, Marist 0. Under Bst 101b.—Belfast 17, Kaiapoi 6; Marist 25,. High School Old Boys 10; Sunnyside-Spreydon 23, Linwood 3. Under 7st 71b.—Sunnyside-Spreydon A 25. Sunnyside-Spreydon B 0; Linwood 11, Christchurch 3; Technical Old Boys 25, Albion 0.

Under 6st 71b A.—Linwood A 25, Christchurch 0; Sunnyside-Spreydon A 25, Kaiapoi 0; Marist A beat Albion A by default.

Under 6st 71b B.—Sydenham 14, Marist B 3; Sunnyside-Spreydon B beat Belfast by default Under sst 101 b A. —Christchurch 3, Sydenham A 0; Marist A 20. Linwood A 0; Merivale 8, Sunnyside -Spreydon A 3. Under sst 101 b B.—New Brighton 23, St. Mary’s 6; Kaiapoi 3, Sydenham B 3. Under sst A—Christchurch 6, Riccarton Marist" 6; Merivale A 21, Albion A 0; Sydenham 3, Marist A 0; New Brighton A 0, Linwood 0. Under sst B.—Merivale B 6, Linwood B 3; Marist B 15. Kaiapoi 3; Sumner 9, New Brighton B 0.