Linwood, University Can Make (Or Mar) Top Game

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30495, 17 July 1964, Page 17

Linwood, University Can Make (Or Mar) Top Game

The Rugby match between Linwood and University A tomorrow could be like early September: one hopes, rather (ihart expects, it will be a bright early Spring day but it is more than likely to be cold and cheerless.

University and Linwood lead the senior competition, they are the leading points and try scorers, and both teams have ample players of ability. Therefore the match should, on the face of it, produce Rugby of a good standard.

But that is unlikely to happen.

For one thing this is virtually the decisive match for the championship. That alone will bring some tension to the -game. And for another, the intense rivalry between the clubs could also mitigate against open Rugby, neither being prepared to take many chances. The drawn match in the first round was a prime example of defensive Rugby. Linwood, by flat, fast throwins, stopped the line-outs from being used to open up play by either team and its use of a forward standing in the backs was another defensive measure.

University, once it gained a five-point lead, proceeded for 25 minutes to kick for touch: helping materially to swell the number of line-outs to the deplorable total of 122. Probably it is too much to expect the teams to alter the attitude which characterised the first match. But Linwood always looks most dangerous when it is attacking in loose play, its forwards and backs combining in passing and foot rushes.