KNOCK-OUT CONTEST

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28661, 11 August 1958, Page 11

KNOCK-OUT CONTEST

Three Matches . Played The first round in the senior Rugby knock-out competition began on Saturday. University, winner of the club championship, is not entered and five of the 11 teams had byes. Four teams played friendly games. There was little interest in the competition and the standard of football was not high. Results werej Technical 22, Merivale 12. Belfast 16, New Brighton 3. Albion 9, Sunnyside-Sprey-don 6. In the two friendly games Linwood beat Marist by 15 points to 11 and Old Boys beat Sydenham by 14 points to 6. EARLY LEAD Technical Ola Boys established a big lead early in its knockout competition match at Lancaster Park Oval on Saturday and beat Merivale by 22 points (two goals from tries, three tries, and a field goal) to 12 (two tries, a penalty goal and a field goal). Technical had the more reliable back line. It handled well, showed more thrust and tackled better. Merivale gained the ball from its forwards enough tunes, but weak, tackling and an over-indulgence in kicking by its inside backs cost much ground. Both teams were depleted, but Merivale was particularly hardpressed for sufficient players, and after two of its team had to leave the field with injuries, the coach, Mr D. Doake, former Canterbury representative full-back, had to come on in that position. T. Egerton and L. Langston were prominent in line-outs for Technical and also played well in the tight. B. Nunan showed pace in loose play and supported his backs well to score two tries. J. Turner and D. Skelton showed up in the loose for Merivale and R. Luscombe was one of the best of his pack in the tight. K. Howison teamed well with B. Richards in the Technical backs, and both handled well. Howison’s deceptive changes of pace also confused the defenders several times. B. Logan was an efficient wing, and L. Ewen was safe at full-back. R. Watson, at half-back, was the best Merivale back. He gave long, well-directed dive passes from the scrum and varied his play intelligently. For Technical, B. Nunan (two), B. Logan, J. Turner and J. Howison scored tries. B. Richards kicked a field goal and Ewen converted two tries. I. Anderson and Doake scored tries for Merivale. I. Thompson kicked a field goal, and Watson kicked a penalty goal. Mr L. S Kirk was referee./ POOR STANDARD Although Belfast and New Brighton played a very hard brand of football at Jellicoe Park, the standard was far from high. Passes for tne most part were of the basketball variety, both teams kicked too much, and the handling was mediocre. Belfast was tar superior to New Brighton and won by 16 points (a goal from a try, a goal from a penalty try, and two penalty goals) to 3 (a penalty goal).

Both sides attempted to play open Rugby, and to a large extent they succeeded. The ball was certainly thrown about—but with a kind of wild and reckless abandon that more often than not got the side in possession in trouble It was extremely rugged in the forwards'. Periodically fists flew and once three fights were in progress as the referee called for order. On this occasion he warned both' packs and also spoke to a New Brighton forward For Belfast, N Radford. C. Cassidy and E. Williams were the pick of the backs, and in the New Brighton back line. B. Rossiter was sound on defence and W. Harris got all too few chances on attack. The outstanding Belfast forwards were G. Fechney and R. Odgers (normally a back), who was always to the fore in the loose. P. Law and B. Rogers played hard in the tight. B. Duncan. T. Milesi and R. Connelly were the best New Brighton forwards. Belfast’s points came from a try by B Rogers and a penalty \try to R Odgers both of which E. Williams converted. Williams also kicked two penalty goals. B. Rossiter kicked a penalty goal for New BrighMr C. R Austin was referee. EXTRA TIME PLAYED After 10 minutes' extra time was played, Albion beat Sunnyside-Sprey-don by 9 points to 6 at Sunnyside. Neitner team was at full strength and this was reflected in the average standard of football. Albion looked like scoring more than the combined team, but poor handling and over-enthusiastic Kicking prevented much success.

There was little between the two packs, but B. Hopping played really well for Albion and often was the I only forward chasing the loose ball. W. 'Garlick and R. Fearon were slightly more energetic than the rest of the forwards, who appeared to be in a perpetual state of lethargy until the extra 10 minutes was called. The combined forwards were no worse than their opponents. D. Kerr and D. Kane were seen occasionally! in the loose, and D. Russell was prominent in the lineouts. E. Neave. who seemed to take the game less seriously than the others, was the best of the Albion threequarters. He was very dependable and scored the winning try. K. Morrison, first five-eighth, was elusive and made several penetrating runs. R. Templeton, at half-back, threw out long, straight passes and varied his play intelligently. He was the best of the combined backs and saved his side several times with good cover defence. P. Owen was sound at full-back. His kicking was long, and accurate, especially from near the touch-line. For Albion, M. Hawke and E. Neave scored tries, and K. Morrison kicked a penalty goal. G. Telfer scored a try for Sunnyside-Spreydon and Owen kicked a penalty goal. Mr E. N. Penlington was the referee. French at Durban.—The French Rugby Union touring team beat South African Universities 36-16 at( Durban today. The French led 18-5 at half-time.—Durban, August 9.