Schools’ Rugby WEAK PASSING IN ST. BEDE’S 9-0 WIN

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30810, 23 July 1965, Page 18

Schools’ Rugby WEAK PASSING IN ST. BEDE’S 9-0 WIN

The fourth meeting between the Ist XVs of St. Bede’s College and Shirley Boys’ High School was one both back-lines would probably prefer to forget. It is unlikely any schools’ match this season has contained so many dropped passes and as much mis-handling. St. Bede’s managed to hang on to the bal'l long enough to score one try, by C. D. Day, and two penalties kicked by A. P. Jones gave it a 9-0 win. Teams: St. Bede’s.—J. A. Fenn; M. J B. O’ReiOly, R. Mangos, G. M. ConnoOIy: W. M. McKay, C. D. Day: A. P. Jones: J. J. Ryan: B. Ca’/.anan (captain), G. H. McDonneW. P. A. Parish, G. W. Diedrichs: M. L. Burland, K. A. Cowan, G. F. Smith. Shirley.—R. Paulin: B. Roberts. J. Doyle, D. Cope; W. Robinson. I. Whitehead: W. Chapped!: G. Woodley: C. Read. G. Pu-Key, J. Campbell. A. Eason: H. Anderson, G. Hood. M. Toner (captain). Referee: Mr A. F. Gurnsey. When St. Bede’s led only 3-0 at half-time after having had the advantage of a strong northeasterly, it appeared its chances of winning had faded But the forwards, who unti'Z ‘hen had been very lethargic, became more spirited and swept Shirley away with a number of concerted foot-rushes. Although Ryan (near the front) and Parish did some magnificent work for St. Bede’s in the line-outs, the home team's superiority in th 4 ® department was not as marked as exnected. Read, a tiger for Shirley in the loose, shifted hris position frequently and. with

Puffley, got a fair share of ball for his team. There wa® little consistency in either back-line but St. Bede’s was better served dose in. The sharpness of Jones’s passes compared very favourably with his opposite, Chappell, who was very Slow and appeared to have no liaison with his five-eighths. Although he had only a couple of runs, Cope sbone with some fine covering in the second half while of the two full-backs, Paulin was easily the better, Fenn showing a bad tendency to let the ball bounce. Jones kicked his first penalty, from in front, after 23 minutes. Day scored a quarter of an hour into the second half, and Jones sealed matters five minutes later with another easy penalty.