Score Flatters University

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32323, 15 June 1970, Page 14

Score Flatters University

UNIVERSITY A 14: H. Missen a 1 try; W. J. Lewis two penalty i goals, a conversion and a l dropped goal. SUBURBS 3: M. Blackwell a try. J University A looked a confi- t dent and competent team, but , energetic cover defence by j Suburbs and the dropping ofj some vital passes prevented j University from scoring more i than one try. Line-out posses-[ sion was evenly shared, and if ] the Suburbs forwards were oc-i; casionally dangerous in loose ■ rushes. University’s pack was , better in concerted driving play, / particularly when it was angled / to permit profitable switches inn the direction by the backs. |i Both sides ran the ball regularly, but Suburbs lacked sufficient pace to test University’s: defence seriously more than two: i or three times. It was a pity j there were so many infringements: there were 33 penalties. 18 in the first spell. Suburbs were level, 3-all, at the interval, having scored a try to a penalty, rather against ; the run of play. The half-back, M. McCosker. made some penetrating blind-side runs and one of them was followed by a grubber kick, another kick ahead, and Blackwell, who looked likely to win a race for the

line, had his task lightened when the ball hit a post and bounced straight into his arms. University scored 11 points in the second spell, although Suburbs did much more attacking than in the first half. Suburbs would have worried University if A. Direen had been in goalkicking form. He missed all of his six attempts, and M. Jones missed another. A well-drilled University pack had G. Meredith and M. Taylor as pace-makers. They are both strong and determined forwards. both drove hard, and Taylor was sometimes used effectively to double round the end of the line-out to commit the Suburbs forwards. M. Brown, at half-back, was outstanding for the length and speed of his passes, for his running and for his general tactical play. S. Bowater was sharp at second five-eighths and Lewis had a good day at fullback. G. Blair and D. Mahony were valuable line-out jumpers for Suburbs and P. Cron had some bruising runs. McCosker gave very good service, but the Suburbs backs lacked much dash, although N. Winsloe put in a couple of determined runs. The referee was Mr T. F. Doocey.