WAITAKI AND BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL DRAW

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29269, 29 July 1960, Page 7

WAITAKI AND BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL DRAW

Although it did not bear comparison with the dramatic exchanges in last year’s game, the annual Rugby match between the Waitaki and Christchurch Boys’ High Schdol yesterday was always interesting, often exciting. It was drawn, 12 points all, each side scoring two tries and kicking two penalty goals. A draw could be regarded as a satisfactory result for both parties. The teams were:— Waitaki: T. Dykes; D. K. Mitchell, J. Watts, F. leriko; O. Malava, R. Mitchell; M. Emerson; T. Lister; G. Anderson, D. Palmer, R. Jack, B. Benson; A Blalkle, R. Berry, M. J. Williams. Christchurch: M. L. Pearce, R. Grenfell, M. R. Gregg! L. A. Bates; A. N. Bradbury, D. Johnson: M. L. Ryan; P. Murray; L N. B. McNeill. C. R. Burns, M. J. Millar, K. Hill; I. S. TeHer. A. R. O’Callaghan, M. Sharman. The surface at Rugby Park, If holding, was remarkably good, and the players did their best to play open and constructive Rugby. There were flashes of brilliance by both teams, but it was a rather ragged game, and as a spectacle it was not improved by the extraordinary number of knock-ons which stopped play. Some of them were barely recognisable as knock-ons, but they kept on occurring. Christchurch looked the better team in the forwards, but Waitaki was dearly superior in the backs. Both teams set their backs moving at every opportunity and when the passes were being held, the Waitaki five-eighths, R. Mitchell and Malava, looked infinitely more dangerous than those opposite them, and the Waitaki centre. Watts, badly beat his opposite several times. But there was some very weak tackling by the Christchurch backs on occasion. and they were saved frequently by Pearce, who gave another superlative display. Twice in the second spell he saved what seemed certain tries. Each time he had two men to tackle, and each time he managed to force the pass and then get the outside man by the heels with flying tackles. Millar led the Christchurch forwards with spirit, and the pack enjoyed just suffident superiority to keep within reasonable limits the activities of Waitakl’s inside backs. Christchurch probably had somewhat the better of tile play territorially in each speri. but in the last few minutes Waitaki was doing most of the attacking, and Christchurch (looked a very tired team.

It was a confusing game, and a wearying one for the forwards, with the play breaking down and starting again without much pattern. By and large, Waitakl’s tackling was sound, but there were sufficient errors by both sides to keep the game moving, between knock-ons. Dykes, after a rather Shaky start, played coolly and well at full-back for Waitaki, and the other backs were strong and resolute in their running. In the second half particularly, R. Mitchell played splendidly, and both Malava and leriko showed pace and purpose. The Waitaki forwards sometimes seemed to be getting in each other’s way, and they seldom drove together as a unit. But in the line-outs Benson at number three or four, Lister at the back, helped win the ball often, and Anderson was often prominent in the loose. Christchurch was admirably served by Pearce, and Ryan behind the scrum was sound and sure. Bates had no chances, Grenfell did well, but those inside handled and tackled badly, and the tactical kicking was rather over-done, and often inaccurate. In a good pack. Millar and McNeill again stood out. Bums also distinguished himself with some very effective tackling in the broken play. Soon after the start a good Christchurch movement was carried on Jjy Grenfell centre-kicking, and from a ruck near the Waitaki line Johnson ran on the blind, sold a dummy, and scored a fine try. Dykes kicked a penalty goal, a very fine one but for much of the first spell the Christchurch team held control, and an excellent passing movement among backs and forwards which swung to the right and back across the field ended with Sharman scortoAlmost immediately. Dykes kicked another penalty goal, and Waitaki took the lead before the Interval when R. Mitchell made a sharp break, there was some crisp handling and beautiful running, and D. Mitchell scored. Waitaki scored again early in the second spell, when Watte burst part the defence, sent leriko away and Malava, taking an in-pass, left everyone well behind in the run to the line. Waitaki was then under heavy pressure for a considerable period, but Millar, who had missed with three previous efforts, landed a very fine penalty goal from about SO yards out. He made the scores level with one from an easy position, but Waitaki was clearly gaining the upper hand, with the pace of ite backs telling more with the passing minutes. Christchurch’s defence rather creaked and groaned for a while, but Pearce helped it through to the end. The referee was Mr R. Taylor.