Australian Side Beats Xavier

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31985, 12 May 1969, Page 20

Australian Side Beats Xavier

Looking potentially brilliant, the touring Australian Marist Brothers' College team <Ashgrove) had the second win of its tour when it beat the Xavier College first XV. 11-8, in a secondary schoolboys’ Rugby match at Gamblins Road on t . Throughout the game, both sides threw away good scoring opportunities. The Ashgrove backs often mishandled in cru cial situations and the Australian forwards were frequently penalised for being off-side in the line-outs. The team effort was often spoilt by minor infringements such as off-side and failing to kick penalties over the mark. If these elementary mistakes had been minimised, Ashgrove would have won more convincingly. Some brilliant variation in back play by Ashgrove, which frequently resulted in an over lap was often without return as Xavier’s defence, which im £ roved throughout the game, ecame quite devastating. Both sides spun the ball in anv situation and as a result the fast, open game was most exciting for the spectators. The final score was a true indication of the closeness of the game. Although Ashgrove; having the wind advantage in the first spell, was leading, 8-0, at half-time, Xavier lifted its game in the second to add eight well deserved points and only desperate defence by Ashgrove stopped Xavier drawing the match on, full-time.

For Ashgrove, tries were scored by P. Batch and K. Vandeleur. M. Talbot kicked a penalty and a conversion. K. O’Bryne and M. Hoskin scored tries for Xavier and N. Rogers kicked a conversion. A. Borie, the Ashgrove first

five-eighths, looked the complete footballer, while Batch and J. Van Hecke displayed real pace and determination on the wings. Of the Ashgrove forwards, P. Fleming and W. Andrade jumped well in the line-outs, and Vandeleur was never far from the ball. For Xavier, O’Bryne was a courageous second five-eighths and R. Foote gave efficient ser- , vice at half-back. Hoskin and B. Bateman gained good ball in the line-outs for Xavier, and Rogers, the captain, played and led his team well throughout the game. Referee: Mr F. B. Campbell.