UNIVERSITIES’ MATCH

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27096, 20 July 1953, Page 6

UNIVERSITIES’ MATCH

NORTH ISLAND BEATS SOUTH, 26-9 (Neto Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 19. North Island Universities easily beat South Island Universities in their annual match on Saturday. North Island won by a goal, six tries, and a penalty goal (26 points) to a try, a penalty goal, and a dropped goal (9 points).

South’s affection of the inside backs for the punt ahead as a means of mounting an attack was a weakness which became even more grievous as the latter stages showed their three-quarters to be resolute and fast. A consequence of the style of play was that the team as a whole was sadly /put of joint. North Island Universities was not a great team, but by comparison It looked one. Two of the North players, R. M. Harris (Auckland) the first five-eighths, and B. W. Battell (Victoria), the right wing, were particular successes. Auckland’s D. W. Reeves, at centre, also had a good day, and J. M. Tanner more than once, made a break-through. If R. A. Jarden, on the left wing, played with a trace of langour, he nevertheless was genuinely brilliant in two magnificent pieces of defensive work late in the game. Behind them was P. C. Osborne, also of Victoria, a fullback as sturdy as he was cool. North’s loose forward play caught the eye more often than the tight work. I. M. Stuarts, as a prop forward, and R. W. Wall, in the line-outs, commended themselves. The loose play was often brilliant, whether in the close following of B. A. Nepia, adopted son of George Nepla, the speedy running of W T . H. Clarke, the ruggedness of B. D. Rope, or the closefollowing D. J. Reisterer. South's forwards lacked nothing in vigour, especially D. W. Ludbrook and J. H. Major, the locks, P. W. Tapsell, a fine flank forward, and H. C. Burry, an Otago prop. Burry seemed somewhat unlucky not to win a place in the New Zealand University team. South's indifference in back play could t blam «d upon L. Townsend, the half-back, whose pass was rather longer than that of L. T. Savage. The main responsibility rested upon G. R. Falloon, of Canterbury, and B. Valentine, of Otago. « one did not punt the other generally smith, the centre, and E. S. Diack, the right wing, both of Otago, looked extremely promising, and R. W. L. Averm, though beaten at times by Batten, scored a good try himself. Behind ■nother good player, in D. Wright, of Lincoln, a full-back of genuine capabilities. North Island scored»within the first minute from a brilliant opening by Harris. FhVW by Jarden. It; led:l2-3 at half-time, with fruther tries by D. M. McHallick, Rope and Reeves, to a dropped goal by Smith. In the second half, Jarden kicked a penalty, Battell scored a try, converted by Jarden, Reisterer scored another, and Reeve* scored nine minutes from the end. Meanwhile, Averill scored a try and Smith kicked a penalty goal for South.