Old Boys Lead In Club Competition

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28951, 20 July 1959, Page 14

Old Boys Lead In Club Competition

With several of the top teams without their best players, there was little interest in the senior Rugby competition on Saturday. Before a crowd of a few hundreds at Lancaster Park, Old Boys went into the lead in the Harewood Trophy when they overwhelmed Christchurch, the joint leaders. University beat Merivale by a point and SunnysideSpreydon drew with Linwood. In the D.C.L. Shield competition, Marist beat its closest rival Technical, and now has a lead of 2j points. Results were:— University 15, Merivale 14. Old Boys 36, Christchurch 10. Sunnysitde-Spreydon 6, Linwood 6. Marist 19, Technical 9. Belfast 9, Albion 6. Sydenham 12, New Brighton

RUN-AWAY WIN OLD BOYS 36. R. J. Rirkland (2), D. S. Richards, R. Young, B. Matthews (2), R. Dalton (2), D. Hill tries; Dalton a penalty goal, three conversions. CHRISTCHURCH 10. C. Devine, R. Wainahu tries; G. Wattereus two conversions. This was a bright match, if only because of the numerous back movements—mainly by Old Boys—and the large number of tries scored. Old Boys completely overwhelmed Christchurch, especially in the second half, when their backs, often with the blind side wing and the full-back in to make the overlap, broke through a bewildered defence time and again. Both teams were without several of their best players, but the absence of D. J. Graham and S. K. Henderson did not - affect Old Boys, as it has done several times this season. The half-back, R. Young, threw his first five-eighths, A. J. Krisnic, some good passes, and Krisnic ran more determinedly than he has in recent games. As a result his outside backs received the ball at top 5 ace. The second five-eighths, L. ohnsen, always a steady player, was very good, knowing when to pass and kick and run. He did not score, but his quick passing gave his centre, R. Dalton, several chances, which he accepted willingly enough to score two excellent tries. In a pack which subdued the onposition almost from the start, D. S. Richards and R. J. Kirkland stood out. Kirkland ran like a back, and almost as quickly for his two tries, and Richards dominated the lineouts and burst through the rucks as often as he pleased. M. Hern was less conspicuous than usual, but his tackling was as hard and .as swift as ever.

The hooker, D. Hill, struck quickly in the scrums for three tight heads, and there were times when the Christchurch backs had to fall quickly on the ball to stop Hill s dribbling rushes. Christchurch was well beaten and there was little that was meritorious in its play. Although the backs failed badly on defence, they at least tried on attack and scored two good tries. The best was the left wingthreequarters, C. Devine, who should have been further infield to give the penetration that was sadly missed Devine’s try was a result of his initiative and a masterly side-step when the position looked hopeless. The half-back, D. Harding, tried desperately to give his backs every chance and it says much for his service. that he was mainly successful. The Christchurch forwards played spasmodically and there were times when their determination brought several foot rushes. But the flankers were lethargic and there was too much undecision when Od Boys were o.t». the rampage. G. Burgoyne did well in the tight and W. McCallum and A. Leslie were reasonably successful in the lineouts. i The referee was Mr R. W. Phizackerlea. UNIVERSITY SUPERIOR UNIVERSITY 15. E. Young, M. J. Murtagh, D. Davison tries; J. Dalmer three conversions. MERIVALE 14. P. Smith, R. Young tries; T. Gallagher two penalty goals, one conversion. Notwithstanding the closeness ot the scores. University had the better of the game and looked a more polished side. The University forwards, perhaps a little taller, but lighter than their opponents, were much more determined in the loose and only a desperate defence prevented them from breaking through in the second half. The University backs had more of the ball for most of the game and the second five-eighths. J. Pask, made several good runs as did the left wing-threequarters, D. Davison.

In the University forwards, M. J. Murtagh and T. H. Moynihan did more than their share in the open and were often at the head of the determined foot rushes which kept Merivale on the defence for much of the game. In the last few minutes the Merivale backs produced several enterprising movments. The centre threequarters, J. Patrick, used his speed and a side-step to beat some halfhearted tackles and the second fiveeighths, N. Williams, made one of the tries with an excellent 40 yard run. The full-back, T. Gallagher, kicked two penalty goals, but his all-round play, especially his handling, was not good. The best of the Merivale forwards

In the loose, M. Bourne, was taken off the field half way through the second spell with a suspected broken leg. University was severely penalised by the referee, Mr R. Cameron. 6-ALL DRAW LINWOOD 6. J. Havill, G. McConchie tries. SUNNYSIDE-SPREYDON 6. B. KUwortny a try, R. Payne a penalty goal. Linwood and Sunnyside-Spreydon drew in a bright match in the Harewood Trophy competition, played at Rugby Park. Linwood was on attack for most of the match, and could be considered unlucky not to win. Determined tackling by the combined team's backs kept the score down. E Tiplady was the best of the Sunnyside back-line. From the first five-eighths position he made some good jinking runs, and showed more initiative than any other back on his side. He was aided by a consistently good service from R. Templeton behind the scrum. The goalkicking of R. Payne was first-class. He goaled one from 55 yards, and narrowly missed two others of that length. P Harris was by far the best loose forward on the ground. He was on the ball for the whole match. G. Kinzett impressed in dribbling rushes. C. Ellis was again tricky and elusive in the Linwood back-line, running well with the ball and kicking with purpose. G. MeConchie and D. de Felice looked for chances in the three-quarter line, but had to make most of their own play. In the Linwood pack J. Havill was outstanding, and his try was no more than a just reward for intelligent play. A. Mansfield and D. Couch were also to the fore in a good Linwood pack. Mr R G. Condliffe was referee.

UNINTERESTING MATCH MARIST 19. K. J. Brown, J. G. McCort, W. S. Collins tries, J. M. Collier conversion and penalty goal, L. H. Geange conversion and penalty goal. TECHNICAL 9. A. W. Jamieson, D. Turner tries,, B. Richards penalty goal. Marist went further into the lead in the D.C L. Shield competition with a comfortable win over its neaiest rival. Technical, at Rugby Park. The display given by both sides, however, was scarcely that expected from senior teams. Loose play by the forwards of both teams, and uncertain handling by some of the backs, oontributed towards the scrappy play. Technical led 6-0 soon after the start, but could not score again until the last minute of play. In between, Marist scored three tries and kicked two penalties for a comfortable win. K. J Brown and J. G. McCort were the best of the Marist backs. Brown took the ball well and gained large stretches of ground with his kicking. McCort' handled well and did his best to open up play, but L. H. Geange at centre was a weak link with poor handling. B. R. Mann was the best forward on the field and P J. Burns and I. Taylor gave him good support in the Marist pack. D Taylor was the best of the Technical line, tackling well and running strongly when he had the chance. J. Waine showed glimpses of good form, but was handicapped by an exceedingly poor service from the base of the scrum. In the Technical forwards J. Taurua played a typically energetic game, which he spoilt, by getting off-side persistently. A. W. , Jamieson followed the ball consistently and was rewarded with a good try. Mr B. J Drake was referee. PENALTY KICKS

SYDENHAM 12. G. Wade try, B. Williams three penalty goals. NEW BRIGHTON 8. R. Bo wick try, B. Rossiter penalty goal and conversion. An easterly blowing down Lancaster Park south and goal kicking were the deciding factors in this match. D Gallop, full-back for Sydenham, made excellent use of the wind with long touchfinders and up and under kicks which had Brighton sorely pressed. Wade's try came from a well-judged cross kick by Williams, who also landed two penalty goals for Sydenham to lead 9-0 at half time. Brighton used the same tactics in the second half but Rossiter missed two reasonable penalty kicks at goal before putting his third attempt over. Bowick scored a good solo try which Rossister converted, leaving Sydenham only a point in front. However, J Moorhead rallied the Sydenham pack, and Williams’s third penalty goal, a good kick against the wind, decided the issue. Mr T. A. Smith was referee. CLOSE GAME BELFAST 9. E. Williams a penally goal; N. Bradford and G. Don tries. ALBION 6. E. Neave a try; N. Edgington a penalty goal. Belfast scored all its points in the first half. The backs combined well in several enterprising rushes and the forwards bustled the opposition and were quick to the loose ball. Albion tried to break through in the second half, but the defence was too good. E. Neave. the Albion wing-three-quarters, who had always looked for work, scored Albion’s first points when he made a spirited dash down the side line and went over near the corner. A few minutes before full-time, the Albion full-back, N. Edgington, kicked a penalty goal. The referee was Mr L. M. West.

8. Competition points are:— Harewood Trophy P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. H.S.O.B. 13 9 3 1 182 117 9*,2 Uni ver. 13 7 2 4 119 81 9 Choh. 13 8 4 1 205 142 8'i Lin. 13 7 3 3 130 110 8’i Meri. 13 7 5 1 121 93 7‘4> S;-Spr. 13 6 4 3 119 97 7>,i D.C.L. Shield P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Marist 13 8 4 1 160 104 8*,a Tech. 13 6 7 — 126 118 6 Syden. 13 5 8 102 134 5 Albion 13 3 10 i z 103 156 3 N. Bri. 13 2 9 2 74 144 3 Belfast 13 2 11 - 115 260 2