CLOSE GAME, BUT POOR SPECTACLE

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31381, 29 May 1967, Page 16

CLOSE GAME, BUT POOR SPECTACLE

BELFAST 3: B. McFadden a try. UNIVERSITY • 3: B. Prestidge a penalty goal. Although subjecting the Belfast line to a sustained assault in the final 20 minutes, University B could not pierce a stubborn Belfast defence and had to be content with a draw. This period of play.rplus the closeness of the score, gave the game some interest but as a spectacle it hadUittle appeal. Poor handling negated the efforts of University B to run and pass, while Belfast’s kick-.

and-chase tactics were not sufficiently controlled to give results. The first spell was evenly fought and in this spell all the points were scored. The diminutive Belfast five-eighths, McFadden. scuttled 25 yards under the clutching hands of University defenders to score a welldeserved try and his opposite, B. Prestidge, kicked a goal from a handy position. The University B forwards, well led by R. Mahan and A. Davies, with M. Taylor doing fine work in the line-outs, gradually gained control in the second spell and towards the end of the game won the ball from line-outs, rucks and scrums almost at will.

As regularly as the ball was won it was dropped by the outside backs and the strong-run-ning wing, B. Kerr, was given little opportunity. Then University tried to run the bail close to the scrum but the Belfast defence never faltered. Although mostly confined in its own half, Belfast made several sorties and frequently had the University defence scrambling. McFadden and C. Cameron were always to the fore and R. Inwood was tireless, both on attack and defence. Referee: Mr J. R. Milnes.