Shirley Boys Top In Winter Sports Matches

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30831, 17 August 1965, Page 16

Shirley Boys Top In Winter Sports Matches

A win in the first fifteen Rugby match, which ran the gamut of fast, exhilarating play to bumbling indecislveness, gave Shirley Boys’ High School a 3-2 win in its annual winter sports tournament with Rongotai College at Burwood Park yesterday. Shirley won the main Rugby match, 21-11, the hockey, 3-1, and the harriers event, 17-40. Rongotai's successes were in soccer, 3-2, and second fifteen Rugby, 3-0. Shirley gained a decisive lead in the first halt of the first fifteen Rugby match through its thrustful, hard-running backs, and the three-quarters line in particular. Wave upon wave of fast-handling movements had Rongotai hard-pressed to stop the score mounting at a ridiculous rate. However, in the second half, the Rongotai forwards, who had been held fairly well, gradually asserted their dominance, especially in the line-outs, and gave Shirley some worrying moments on the blind-aide.

The Shirley centre threequarters, J. Doyle, threaded through some weak defence beautifully in the first half and the left-wing, D. Cope, ran with power and determination for two fine tries.

The other Shirley tries were scored by C. Read and B. Roberts and W. Paulin kicked three conversions and a dropped goal.

K. Kelson and G. Braceficld scored tries for Rongotai and W. Sharp kicked a conversion and a penalty goal. The referee was Mr B. E. Powell.

The second fifteen match was very evenly contested and although both sides threw the ball around with spirit, fine tackling prevented any tries. Rongotai won through a penalty goal by K. Norris

The Rongotai soccer team, which has lost only twice in the last 10 years, won only after some anxious moments. The visiting side led 3-0 after 20 minutes, the result of splendid teamwork and crisp passing, but Shirley settled down In the sec ond half and dominated play.

P. Cowles, M. Mildenhatl and D. Graham scored for Kongo-

tai and J. Mathias (twice) for Shirley.

The two hockey teams turned on a poor exhibition on a bumpy ground. There was too much hard hitting and bad trapping but, because it at least attempted a short-passing game. Shirley deserved its win.

The Shirley goals were scored by K. Norton (2), and K. Mong, and N. Chapman scored for Rongotai. Fining the first four positions (the other two runners were seventh and ninth), Shirley had a comfortable win in the harriers which was held over four miles and a quarter of road and farmland in the Burwood area. A feature was the thrilling finish which saw the first two competitors separated by only a second. The first six placings were:— A. McNabb 1, J. Henwood 2, M. McLaren 3, G. Carpenter 4 (all Shirley), R. Velvin 5, J. Lucas 6 (both Rongotai) Time. 22:35.