Otago B.H.S. Beats Christ’s College

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30191, 24 July 1963, Page 5

Otago B.H.S. Beats Christ’s College

Otago Boys’ High School yesterday won its first game against Christ’s College at Christchurch since 1953, by 21 points (three goals and two tries) to 9 (two tries and a penalty* goal) at the College ground.

But the margin of 12 points did not reflect correctly the difference between the teams. Two of Otago’s tries, which were converted, came from interceptions, and for most of the second half the visitors were defending desperately.

It was a bright match, marred, however, by some very poor handling and passing by the backs. College was the worst offender and it cost the side dearly, not only in 10 points presented to Otago, but also in many scoring chances lost. For Otago, tries were scored by A. L. Walsh (2), B. B. Collie, D. Kennard and G. Clayton. A Porter converted three. J. Ward and R. Bromley scored tries and B. Andrews kicked a penalty goal for College. The teams were:— •

Otago Boys’ High School: G. Bain; A. L. Welsh, B. B. CoUie. D. A. Madden; D. Kennard, T. Bruhns; A. Porter; C.'Brown; M. Grennell, B. H. Lunn, D. R. Marsh, G. R. Clayton; P. E Nelson (captain), J. H. Wilson, N. Baker.

Christ’s College: J. Ward; R. H. Black, S. J. Blakely, N. R. McKay; B. R. Lake.* R. C. Bromley; R. J. Miller, T. Gudsel; S. J. Hunt. ’M. E. Clark, R. Austin, B. Andrews (cap-

tain); p. B Whittle. P. B Shield. R. L. K. Wilson. College Flattered The half-time score of six-all greatly flattered College. The powerful, and much heavier Otago pack controlled the lineouts. was more forceful in the loose, and by "gaining a large share of possession, allowed ite backs to make many dangerous thrusts. That Otago scored only two tries in this half was to the credit of the College defence, but was rialnly attributed to bad passing and handling, and on at least two occasions, selfish The Otago backs were far more dangerous than their opposites. Bruhns, a sound first five-eighths, and Collie, a tall and strongly-built centre, made some dangerous breaks. Capitalising on the work of the ten-wards, who were well led bv Nelson. Bruhns made tie first try when he went through a small gap and enabled Kennard to draw the full-back for Welsh to score in the comer.

A 45-yard penalty kick evened the score but Otago went ahead again, Clayton diving over the line in a forward scramble. Against the run of play, College scored just on half-time when Ward, who had been playing well, joined the back-line and went over near the comer.

Scoring Spree The second half opened disastrously for College. In the space of 10 minutes. 15 points were added by Otago. Kennard scored from a kick 'ahead by Bruhns and then followed two opportunist tries when College was on attack. Collie picked up a dropped pass on his own twenty-five and ran 60 yards before passing to Welsh who scored under the posts. College came straight back on attack and McKay had the line open when he dropped the final pass. The ball was picked up by Welsh and Collie completed a 100-yard movement under the posts.

Led by Andrews, who was the outstanding forward of the match, the College pack kept Otago penned in its owm half for the last 25 minutes, but their backs frittered away ample opportunities by some atrocious handling and passing. Some recompense for the work of the forwards was gained when Bromley scored after a tap-penalty but the errors continued, and twice tries were missed by bad handling in the last five minutes. The referee was Mr R. O. McDowell.