B.H.S. Beats Xavier, 17-3

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29851, 18 June 1962, Page 18

B.H.S. Beats Xavier, 17-3

Although one half of the Xavier College sports ground was rather like the Estuary at low tide, the college Ist XV and Christchurch Boys’ High School played good i football in their annual match there on Saturday. Boys’ High School. with (stronger forwards and more penetrating backs. won by 17 points to 3. Both sides | handled a heavy ball re- • markably well, and as an (entertainment the match was all the better for the unusu- ! ally large number of scrums each hooker won on the tight head. The teams were: Xavier College: A. Amos: B Consedine. W. Nelson. A. Dyhr-i berg: K. Rhodes. B. McAlister; P. Sexton; P. O'Malley; R. O’Leary (captain), P. Consedine. J. Peoples. A. Ma-nticich; K. Gallagher, M. Harnett, W. O’Leary. Christchurch Boys’ Hi£h School: W. Barbarel; K. Anderson. G. Gainsford. G. McClatchy: M. Brown, T. Mehrtens: R. Ms rks; D. Smeaton: K. Hill (captain). K. Thacker, P. England. L. Mclntosh: M. Collins. R. Wright, W. Harrison. Boys’ High School scored five: tries, and at all stages of the. game looked the more likely | side to finish off its chances... But it was a very even struggle in the forwards. Neither side had a dominating figure in the, line-outs, and clean takes were; rare. Although Boys* High School had an advantage in weight. Xavier rucked with tre- : mendotis spirit and in the second spell, during an in-spired period of about 15 minutes, threatened to take complete charge. The Xav>r forwards made a sol end id effort. Although they were well served by Sexton, the backs lacked thrust, and when Sexton was injured, a,bout half-way through the second spell. Xavier wisely confined its efforts to its forwards, who were superbly led by R. O’Leary. Others who showed up repeatedly In, j an eager eight were P. O’Malley and P. Consedine. The Boys’ High School forwards had a shade more finish than their opponents. At the end of the game they had* held fast through Xavier’s most! determined bid, and were on top. Hill ord MclnUbsh were; i swift and efficient, and in the I tight Collins and England were 1 I particularly solid. - The Boys* High School first! (five-eighths, Mehrtens. has all the attributes of an outstanding player. Sure and safe on defence, his fine handling, speed: off the mark and elusiveness, gave those outside some excellent opportunities. Mehrtens was given good service by Marks, who was often under strict pressure, and the fiveeighths ended the gsme with an extraordinary try. flitting past six or seven defenders, each of whom seemed to be within inches of him. Earlier a swift, elusive run had brought G. Gainsford a good try. McClatchy also made some bold runs. The School backs gave the opposing full-back a very' 1 difficult time with some wellplaced tactical kicks. For School tries were scored by Garnsford, Smea-ton. Collins. Hill and Mehrtens. One try was converted by Barbarel.i Xavier’s try was scored by PJ Consedine. Mr H. P. Kearney was the referee.