UNIVERSITIES BEATEN

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28927, 22 June 1959, Page 14

UNIVERSITIES BEATEN

Forwards Impress: But Baeks Fail

“The Press'' Special Service DUNI.DIN, June 21. The New Zealand Universities Rugoy team, in ns lirst lull cress lenearsal oeiore its match against the British isies, was sounaiy beaten py lo points to 12 by Otago, ut Dunean on Saturday. Each side s-ored three tries. Strangely enough it was the Universities’ backs and not the forwards , who let the team down. Otago's win was based on sounder back play. Tile Universities’ forwards won the line-outs by a three-to-one margin, although much of the possession from tnis phase was gained by tapping tiie ball back. In the set scrums, the hooker, J. N. Creighton, backed by the heavier pack, gave a good exhibition of f«st striking, although only one tight head came his way. In general forward play the Otago pack more than matched the Universities’ pack, showing more drive than their opponents. Even so the Universities’ forwards gave their backs more than a fair share of the ball. It would have been greater but for the fact that Canterbury’s K. R. Tremain was unable to play because of an injured knee received at practice, and the South Island representative, M. R. Dunne, was not available. The Universities’ inside back combination—N. J. Brown and W. A. Davies—made little use of the possession received, their handling and positional play, especially that of Davies, being indifferent. As a result. the ball rarely travelled out to the wings. With play breaking down behind the Universities’ forwards, the Otago pack was able to drive forward to increase the pressure put on the team by its own errors

By the time the team steps out against the Lions at Lancaster Park it is expected that the faults in the inside backs will have been rectified. Davies is a player with a great reputation and could be out of form only temporarily. When running with tiie ball he looks the part. The pack could become one of the finest, if not the finest, to represent New Zealand Universities once Tremain and Dunne take their places in the side. With these two players included, the average weight will be almost 15st, with practically every forward particularly fast. Although the team was rather unexpe: tedly beaten on Saturday, it still showed it had quality. Otago appeared a much better side than that which represented the province last season. The forwards went in with a will in their first match together. and some of their play was reminiscent of the Otago packs of the post-war Ranfurly Shield era.

The Otago backs, too, plaved well, particularly the half-back. W. Batchelor. and the five-eighths, H. Edwards and T. Jopson. These three engineered two of Otago’s three tries. The other came when Universities attempted a passing rush and a pass went astray.

But if Universities was beaten, the honour of scoring the finest try of the match and one of the best seen in Dunedin for many years went to the side. It was a glorious effort initiated by the half-back. C. G. Henderson, on his own twenty-five after h’s forwards had won a ruck. He went on Pie blind side, and practicMlv everv Universities forward fanned out in supnort. Everv forward handled before the ball w-’s sent out through the line of backs for H. C. Praln tn score -''’ter he had doubled around E. S. Dmck. A «!milar movement ,r ns cheeked by OUgo two yards s’’ort of the line after Universities had covered 75 yards in the attack.

Southland Team To Play Universities

(New 7'”iin-"ri Press Association) INVERCARGILL, June 21. The Southland Rugby team to piay New Zealand Universities at Invercargill on Tuesday is:—D. L. Ashby; R Todd. J. G. Allison. K. F. Laidlaw: W. R. Archer (first), W. J. Archer: J. Dawson; A. J. Soper; K. Fyall, A. Gorton. J. Porteous, I. M. Miller: G. Spencer. R. O. Jackman. H. O'Neill. Emergencies: R. Hampton, P. Lyons, L. Smith, P. Haves, and D. Jack.

SOUTH CANTERBURY MATCHES

Mackenzie Nearly Cause Upset

“The Press" Special Service TIMARU, June 21

A Mackenzie team which tackled splendidly and played with fire and vigour in the forwards, almost caused a major upset against Celtic'in the mam Rugby match at Timaru on Saturday. Witti the score at 19-8 and only 20 minutes of play remaining, Celtic seemed to have the game well under control, but two converted tries by Mackenzie made the final score 19-18.

Celtic fielded the much faster backline. but. deplorable handling in the second half gave the fast-breaking Mackenzie forwards their chance to burst through in several foot rushes. R. Neill. J. Hand and M. Casey were a line trio in the Mackenzie pack. Celtic’s best forwards were G. Groves. P. Angland. and V. Derning. At Waimate, the competition leaders. Geraldine, had a 14-9 win over Waimate. It was one of the best games of the season.

Temuka regained winning form with a 9-6 win over Zingari. Star, Which has been an unlucky side this season, had its second win of the season over Old Boys, 16-13 A feature of this game w r as a brilliant solo try by the Old Boys centre three-quarter. P. O'Shaughnessy.