Rugby Victories For C.B.H.S., St. Bede’s

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31449, 16 August 1967, Page 18

Rugby Victories For C.B.H.S., St. Bede’s

Christchurch B.H.S. and St. Bede’a Collego won the Rugby matches yesterday, Christchurch beating Otago 8.H.5., 18-11, at Dunedin, and St. Bede's defeating St. Patrlck'a (Wellington), 9-6, in the televised game on the college ground. Persistent rain and a soft ground kept the St. Bede's match mainly to a forward struggle, and the bustling, vigorous St. Bede’s pack gave a splendid exhibition of forward play. For the winner, J. R. Peters kicked two penalty goals, and J. Milla scored a try. P. Lumber and G. Cameron scored tries for St. Patrick’s. The match had an embarrassing start for St. Beds's. From the kick-off a haka swelled from the schoolboys; it wss just in mid-chant as St. Patrick's scored. A few brave souls kept on - the haka. but there was dead silence as the teams relined at half-way. But St. Bede's came back well. The forwards crashed into the rucks and the backs, If not particularly penetrative, made few mistakes. A penalty by Peters levelled the scores, but some fine play by the St. Bede’s forwards was frustrated by the sound defencs of St. Patrick’s. In their very occasional runs the St. Patrick's backs looked most effective, and Cameron scored a good try to regain the lead for his team. . Just before half-time It seemed that St. Patrick’s was beginning to control the game. Its larger forwards had a slight advantage in the tight, and the backs looked far more dangerous But in the second half the St. Bede’s forwards, superbly led bv B R. Kettle, dominated the’match. They won the line-outs, were far more purposeful In the loose and rucked purposefully. _ „ , G. E. Henry and D. D. Foley combined well in the inside

backs, and their steady combination meant that St. Patrick’s had few chances to start attacks from broken play. A push over try to J. A. Mills and a penalty by Peters gave St. Bede’s a 9-6 lead, and it held this three-point margin fairly comfortably.

HANDLING ERRORS At Dunedin, the game produced some good play on both sides, but basic handling errors and a failure to capitalise on mistakes by Christchurch cost Otago victory. Otago looked dangerous In the first two minutes when an attempt at goal from a penalty by the fullback, R. Rollo, hit the upright, and the Otago forwards caught Christchurch in possession. The Christchurch second fiveeighths, H. Joseph, managed to clear from the ensuing ruck. Much of the first half was characterised by near misses, both teams going to within a few feet of each other’s goal--11 ne but being unable to make the touchdown. It was not until shortly before half-time that R. Roy scored the first points for Otago. R. Rollo converted. In the second half Christchurch gradually won the upper hand and began to dominate play by running with the ball from set and loose play. The flanker, S. Purdon, was particularly impressive, covering intelligently, working diligently in the tight, and showing a remarkable turn of speed for a forward. For Christchurch, J. Mathews ran well on the wing and kicked accurately to score nine points from conversions and penalties. Purdon (2) and D. PhllMpson scored tries, and Mathews converted all three and kicked a penalty. For Otago, Roy and S. Lunn scored tries, and Rollo kicked a penalty and a conversion.