RUGBY School Beats Christ’s; Other Matches Drawn

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29878, 19 July 1962, Page 18

RUGBY School Beats Christ’s; Other Matches Drawn

Two of the three inter-school Rugby matches played in Christchurch yesterday were drawn. In the other one, Christchurch Boys’ High School beat Christ’s College, in a series which began just 70 years ago, most convincingly. Xavier College drew with Shirley Boys’ High School, 3-3, and there was no score between St. Bede’s College and St. Andrew’s College.

! Scoring seven tries. Boys’ High School beat Christ’s College by 23 points to nil 1 on a good ground at Straven road, and thus won for the fifth year in succession. College tried desperately hard for most of the match, but School’S fast, clever backs were always dangerous. and on at least half a dozen occasions tries w’ere missed by minute margins. School gave a very attrac- | five display of attacking ■Rugby. The’teams were:— I Christ’s College: R. G. I Kay; R. L. Cordery, R. H. Black, H. W. Thomson; B. R. 'Lake, H. C. Cottrell; H. R. I Ensor; B. Andrews: J. M. | Nurse. R. D. Carmichael, B. i H. Hutchison, J. D. Davis; M. I van Staveren, P. B. Shield, i J. G. Pattulo.

1 Boys’ High School: J. Breb- ; ner; K. Anderson; G. GainsI ford. W. Barberel. G. McClatchy; T. Mehrtens; R. ! Marks: L. Mclntosh: K. Hill. . P England. R. Doell, D. Smeaton: K. Thacker. R Wright. M. Collins. Opportunities for Backs Although the School fiveeighths and centre were very closely marked, they contrived to make some delightful openings. and the speed of the School forwards in gettmg the ball back from rucks allowed the backs many opportunities to run. In other respects, the forwards were evenly matched, with School having only a slight lead In the decisive lineouts, and College winning five scrums against the head, and conceding none. College showed particular interest in the School first fiveeightihs, Mehrtens. and this attention was partly responsible for the freedom the School half-back. Marks, enjoyed in running from ruck and scrum. He did not overdo it. but made some decisive breaks, and, in other respects, too. played admirably. i Mehrtens. with swift acceleration and changes of direction, was often able to evade desperate and dedicated defenders. Outside him. both McClatchy ■ and Gainsford did well. McClatchy's determined running and deceptive swerve beat the defence several times, and Gainsford’s speed off the mark was also effective. In a very good pack of School forwards, Collins. Mclntosh and Hill were perhaps the best, although England, a lock, won much admiration for his wholehearted efforts in the tight. Smeaton’s quick eye for an opening was rewarded with two tries. Lack of Speed College. playing with the wind and the sun in the first half, soon found that the backs ’could make little progress from ' orthodox movements, mainly through lack of speed. It was .-'irprislng that more effort was not made to worry School with tactical kicking, the only course which seemed likely to bring results. In defence. College was excellent for a long period. School scored two very good tries in the first half, ’but led .only 8-0 at the interval. However, two more brilliant efforts in the first five minutes of the second spell both brought tries and for a while College seemed to lose heart. But the side rallied quite strongly. It was only stout tackling which stopped School on the College line time and again. Andrews led his forwards with great spirit, and the line-out forwards. Carmichael and Hutchison, both played good, sound games. The backs had few opportunities, but many of i the large crowd would have liked the wing. Thomson, to have had a chance or two for he looked very fast. Kay. coming in as a replacement at full-back, snowed courage and coolness on a trying day. The game was played in the proper, customary spirit: only eight penalties were awarded. For School, tries were scored by Smeaton (21, Mehrtens (2). Gainsford, Anderson and Barberel. Brebner converted one tryThe referee was Mr R. W Phizacklea. No Score In Even Game The scoreless draw between St. Bede’s College and St. Andrew’s College, at St. Bede’s College, fairly represented the merits of both teams. It was a hard struggle, mainly confined to the forwards, but there was enough back play to make the match a thrilling one. The teams were:— St. Andrew’s College.—G. W Stone: P. L. Sturge. J. D. Maze, J. G. Sutherland: C. W. Farnsworth. J. G. Walkinshaw: M. B. Maxwell: P. D. Woolev: A. R. Smith. C. R. Ensor. J R Mars (captainl, S. V. J. Fox. M. H. Anderson, A. H. Young. G. D Turner. St. Bede’s College—M. J Forrest; P. A. Pask, M. J Riddell, B. M. Teen: D W Nevin, F. P. O’Donnell: C. J. Frank; A. J. Collins (captain); A. T. Elgie, M. O. Morgan. M Giera P. A. Thwaites: J. Ryan P. L Higinbottom, R. J. Ward. St. Bede’s College had the better of the first spell, mainly through the efforts of a vigorous pack which was giving away about 101 b a man, and a backline which showed considerable promise in the threequarters. But St. Andrew’s College defended stoutly, and after the interval, its forwards gained control for long spells St. Bede’s often had to call or. all its defensive resources to keep its line intact. The taller St. Andrew's forwards. with Smith and Mars prominent, controlled the ball admirably in the line-outs in the second spell and if the backs had possessed a little more penetration and polish. St. Bede’s would have been in difficulties more often. But to St. Bede’s credit it always fought back and the determined efforts of the St. Andrew’s pack achieved little in the face of some grand covering by the opposing forwards and inside backs. Passing Superior The St. Bede’s backs were much better at passing and the strong three-quarter line of Riddell (centres, an aggressive runner. Pask and Teen, made several spectacular runs. Past's weight made him a difficult proposition near the line and Teen used a change of pace effectively. To curb the activities of the St. Bede’s line, St. Andrew’s moved its flanker. Fox, into the middle Of the field from the line-outs. His attention certainly upset the rhythm of the

attacks, but swift passing generally solved the problem. Both half-backs, Maxwell and Frank, impressed with their swift clearing from the scrums and mauls. The two full-backs, Stone and Forrest, carried out their tasks imperturbably, saving time and again in the face of some ferocious rushes. St. Bede’s had, five attempts at penalty goals." three reasonably easy shots by Nevin, second five-eighths, and two by Ward, a prop. Two of Nevin’s just missed the posts, but both of Ward’s long attempts fell short. St. Andrew's, obviously lacking a kicker of ability, preferred to use the short tap to the backs when St. Bede’s was penalised and these tactics, especially when the ball was placed in the air, sorely tried the defence. Mr A. Taylor was the referee. Grim Forward Struggle Xavier College and Shirley Boys’ High School struggled grimly for a 3-all draw at the Shirley grounds. This was the first time that either team had played in the "College Day" fixtures, but there was little of the open football normally associated with high school matches The match was notable for its solid forward play, with both teams fielding eager and determined .packs. Shirley, with more weight at its disposal, held a slight edge in the tight, but Xavier, ably led by its captain. R. L. O'Leary, were tigerish in the loose. O’Leary played an outstanding game‘at No. 8. His cover defence was faultless, and when in possession he proved a very hard man to stop.

The Xavier backs showed more penetration on attack.

with P. A. Robertson providing most of the thrust at second five-eightfis. • Robertson scored a fine try in the first half, after Xavier liad been pressing continually. Tlie ball was spun out from a scrum in front of the posts, and Robertson, weaving and side-stepping his way past several defenders, crossed wide out. B. T. M. Marra, on the right wing, was given few opportunities, but he also impressed on attack.

Shirley's points came from a beautiful 45-yard penalty bv the half-back. R. Gearry. This was Gearry’s first attempt. Previously G. Fraser had had several unsuccessful kicks. Gearry played a fine game and sent his backs away with long accurate passes. He ran well from the base of the scrum "b™ the occasion warranted. The Shirley backs had an unhappy day. B. Gardener, at first five-eighths, either ran too far or kicked too often M Olsen seemed to forget that he was blessed with two fast and capable wingers outside him. G. Fraser, at full-back, displayed a safe pair of hands, and kicked extremely well. He played an excellent game, and found the line with several raking touch-finders. R. Knight leapt well in the line-outs, and D. Anderson and A. Ferguson showed much fire in the tight. The teams were:—

Wavier College: A. J. Amos; K. B. Rhodes, W. W. Nelson. B. o' a B. J. McAlister. P. A. Robertson; P. J. Sexton; R. L. O Leary (captain); P. F. Conseciine, J. J. Peoples, G L Huston, P. D. O’Malley; K. J Gallaeher, D. R. O'Connor. W. r,,, A. Pender replaced O Connor.

Shirley Boys’ High School: “. Fraser; A. McDonald. N. Olsen, P. Ferguson; R. Bell. B. Gardener: R. Gearry; W. Swal- !? w ' Anderson (captain), R. Knight. P. Davis. A. Ferguson: B. Bampton, R. Parlane. D Cowan.

Tlie referee was Mr A V Langford.