St. Andrew’s Beaten, 8-3, By Powerful Timaru Pack

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30499, 22 July 1964, Page 19

St. Andrew’s Beaten, 8-3, By Powerful Timaru Pack

A strong and experienced Timaru Boys’ High School team beat St. Andrew’s College, 8-3, at St. Andrew’s yesterday in one of the best school matches of the season.

Considering the conditions —driving, cold rain and a wet field —the teams played excellent Rugby. Superb handling, good forward play and some sprightly running, especially by the St. Andrew’s backs, made the spectators wish the match had been played on a dry ground.

Timaru owed its success to a powerful, well-drilled pack and the fine play of its fullback, J. G. Brown. The Timaru forwards drove and rucked with a precision not often seen in schoolboy Rugby. St. Andrew’s was not outplayed completely in the forwards, but its lighter pack could do no more than hold Timaru’s. Brown had a great match. His handling and kicking was first-class and he scored all Timaru’s points, from a try, a conversion and a penalty. Unmatched In Backs However, Timaru could not match St. Andrew’s in the backs. Well served by A. Murray, the St. Andrew’s backs ran and passed with skill and purpose. For 10 hectic minutes, when the College was five points down, it seemed that the St. Andrew’s hacks would win the match as they attacked repeatedly. But a good try to G. McKechnie was the only reward for their persistence in playing attacking and open Rugby. Teams:— St. Andrew's: A. Smith; G. McKechnie, P. A. Stubbings, L. Smith; G. Walkinshaw, B. Kain; A. Murray; B. C. Taylor; G. Rennie, M. Malthus, R. Hearn, W. Broughton; M. Arthur, C. Meurk, P. Ullrich. Timaru: J. G. Brown; N. G. Rowan, W. J. Brooks, R. L. Thyne, A. R. Park, G. Hurst; L. T. Tivi; R. F. Mahan; R. E. Falloon, T. L. C. Johnstone, R. L. Field, H. J.' C. Gardiner; G. C. Cochrane, L. A. Spence, D. H. S. Gardiner. Two Near Tries Playing with the strong wind, St. Andrew’s attacked immediately and twice tries were nearly scored in the corner from passing movements. But it was soon obvious that Timaru had a tight defensive pattern and that its forwards were going to be a force. Well led by Mahan and helped by the plentiful supply of ball from the line-outs, Timaru began to take charge.

Timaru had a decisive territorial advantage in the first half, but it was achieved only by the efforts of the forwards.

The backs were mainly used as a defensive measure and not once in the first half did they pass the ball along the lipe.

Using the wind well, Timaru attacked for most of the second half. Mahan nearly scored on two occasions and the St. Andrew's defence was always under a strain as the heavy Timaru forwards massed attacks near the goal-line until finally Brown scored. Brilliant Movements St. Andrew’s retaliated immediately and the best Rugby of the match was seen as the St. Andrew’s forwards, now showing more fire, and the backs ran and passed in some brilliant movements. A try by McKechnie from an orthodox movement narrowed the margin to 5-3 and St. Andrew’s almost

scored on another two occa sions.

But Timaru weathered the storm and a penalty by Brown made the- game safe.

Mahan, an intelligent and resolute No. 8, was the outstanding forward of the match and Falloon, Field and Cochrane gave him good support. Broughton, a very fast and determined flanker, Ullrich, a lively prop, and Hearn were the best of the St. Andrew’s pack. Brown was by far the best of the Timaru backs although Rowan and Thyne looked useful three-quarters. Murray, who gave a swift and accurate service, played excellently for St. Andrew’s and combined well with Kain. Referee: Mr B. E. Powell.