School, College XVs Heavily Beaten

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32073, 22 August 1969, Page 13

School, College XVs Heavily Beaten

Christchurch Boys’ High School and Christ’s College were both heavily defeated in their Rugby matches yesterday.

Otago Boys’ High School had a well-deserved win by 11-0 against C.B.H.S. at Dunedin, and Christ’s College lost the third place play-off, 8-20, to Wanganui Collegiate in the quadrangular tournament at Nelson.

Wellington College won the tournament, beating Nelson College, 19-17, in the final. Although trailing, 6-16, at half-time, Nelson played with great spirit in the second half and earned honours in defeat. In the match for third place, the powerful Wanganui Collegiate forwards paved the way to the side’s win against Christ’s College. The match was not notable for consistently exciting play, but it had its moments, highlighted by fine individual performances.

Handling in both back lines was erratic, but Wanganui’s strength was in the ability of the forwards to link with the backs from line-outs. Prominent in this phase were E. T. Nesbitt, a flanker, and J. T. Baines, the No. 8. Wanganui took control in the first half to lead, 14-0, at half-time. Christ’s College made a strong revival in the initial stages of the second half to score eight points quickly. Solid play by R. D. Gordon, the No. 8, M. R. Wal-

ton, a prop, and S. J. Carson and A. N. Hay, the locks, gained their side the upper hand in this period. In the Christ’s College back line, the centre, M. B. Thompson, and the first five-eighths, A. O. Wilder, showed enterprise. Thompson scored the side’s only try as the result of quick thinking; he kicked a mishandled ball, caught it on the bounce, and scored after a 20yd run. R. W. Fulton kicked a dropped goal and a conversion. Christchurch was outclassed by Otago at Dunedin. Being used to playing on a much firmer ground, the Christchurch players were at a disadvantage as they slipped and slithered through the mud.

Otago showed its usual fire and capitalised on the inability of the Christchurch team to handle the conditions. Otago kicked the ball ahead and immediately followed through to gain ground. These tactics forced its opponents to kick for touch most of the time.

Also, unlike Otago, Christchurch failed to play as a team, each man contributing to the failure by too much individualism. Although in the second half Christchurch players did produce some shortlived spirited bursts, the Otago forwards were their masters.

For Otago, tries were scored by G. J. Williems, D. Cochrane and G. T. Stewart. T. Law kicked a conversion.