Xavier beats St Kevin’s

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32676, 4 August 1971, Page 18

Xavier beats St Kevin’s

Maintaining a more eultable tactical approach in the windy conditions and making the most of limited chances, Xavier College beat St Kevin’s College (Oamaru), 8-3 in their annual First XVs Rugby match at the Gambllns Road grounds, yeeterthe wind advantage in the first half, St Kevin’s, whose bigger forwards had the better of their opponents in scrums and rucks for most of the game, attempted to run the ball, but was not able to penetrate the solid Xavier mid-field pair of G. Consedlne and R. Cunningham. Somewhat against the ran of play Xavier led 5-3 at half-time, after the half-back, M. Debenham, had scored under the posts for the best try of the game. The centre, Cunningham, began the movement when he swooped upon a dropped St Kevin s pass on half-way, ran, and fed Debenham, who feinted to pass to the right wing, M. Ny, and then propped inside two defenders to score. ■

Xavier employed a covering forward In the back-line in the second half and used the strong, wind many times in thwarting., the St Kevin’s attacks. The St Kevin’s forwards won’, greater ascendancy later in the game, although Xavier’s P. L Malone continued to win good line-out ball. With its hooker, T. Corkoran taking several tightheads. and the loose men, *• Hughes and G. Mackie, and the prop, G. Murray, Initiating manydriving thrusts, St Kevin’s could have scored. However, many, attacks again , founded in mid-field, when. sharper running by the inside baduT close to their forwards, might have produced greater dividends. Instead, it was Xsvier which gained the only try of th« half. . For Xavier Debenham and hl Qulnllvan scored tries and A Martin kicked a conversion. K Fahy kicked a penalty for St Kevin’s. ■