OLD BOYS FALTER

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30497, 20 July 1964, Page 14

OLD BOYS FALTER

Good Win To Sydenham SYDENHAM 22; A. E. Dunlop, K. Tucker and B. Smith tries; A. Howard, two conversions and three penalty goals. OLD BOYS 11: D. Mather, T. Mehrtens tries; M. J. Millar, a penalty goal and a conversion. Three interceptions leading to splendid tries gave Sydenham its handsome winning margin. Old Boys, only a point behind for a good part of the second half, matched Sydenham in gaining possession but lacked the verve displayed by its opponent. A stiff, chilling breeze which swept diagonally across Denton Oval played no little part in the fortunes of the game. Howard, displaying a passing knowledge of aero-dynamics, coaxed three out of six first-half penalty kicks between the posts to put Sydenham well clear. Then it was Old Boys’ turn with the breeze; Sydenham was rolled back and forced to concede two’ tries. But Old Boys faltered on the brink of establishing a match-winning lead and Sydenham swept back to victory. Sydenham’s assets were the effectiveness of its forwards when the ball was loose, the soundness of D. Gallop at fullback, and the liveliness on attack of Dunlop and his threequarters, Smith, G. Bartlett and G. Hay. But the side’s line-out play was untidy in the first half and in the second there was some ill-conceived kicking into the wind. D. Hill and B. Turpin were industrious tight forwards for Old Boys and in harrying, cov. ering or thrusting ahead with the ball D. J. Graham was in a class of his own. But the back line seldom realised its potential. Much hard won ball was wasted through P. O’Malley’s persistence in probing the defensive qualities of Dunlop. ' Referee: Mr A. G. Duckmanton.