Christ’s College and St Bede’s draw

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32958, 3 July 1972, Page 10

Christ’s College and St Bede’s draw

The Christ's College Ist XV is having a difficult season. For the third Saturday in succession it led in the middle of an inter-school match, but could not win It. Its strongest efforts have been in the first half each time, but it has been unable to sustain them. St Bede’s College and Christ’s College faced one another at the Christ’s College ground on Saturday with very similar records in the competition—St Bede’s won five, lost five, drawn one; Christ’s College, won four, lost six. Even they proved to be. Christ’s College led after five minutes from a try by F. P. Milson, converted by A. D. J. Bolting; St Bede’s evened not long before half-time from a try by T. Murdoch, converted by V. O’Loughlin; and the score remained 6-6 to the end. St Bede’s had a marked territorial advantage throughout the second half but could not finish off; at the same time, Christ’s College produced quite the finest movement of the match towards the end and looked briefly as if it could snatch success.

The teams were:—

Christ's College.—C. G. H. Newton; F. P. Milsom, C. G. H. Atkinson, A. D. J. Botting; P. R. W. Ryder, P. F. Hatherley; J. H. Wanklyn; G. S. Gardiner; S. A. R. Prattley, D. J. H. Rhodes, R. P. Polson, R. G. T. Smith; R. R. H. Orme, N. F. Kerr, R. A. Jarman. St Bede's College.—D. Grice; D. O’Connell, I. McAlpine, J. Anderson; V. O’Loughlin, T. Murdoch; K. Ford; C. Brunel, J. Smith, M. Coleman, C. Douglas; C. Aiken, J. Fox, T. Peterson.

Mr B. Fifield was referee. When these two teams also drew last year it ended a series of five Christ’s College wins, and another draw this year was a fair result.

When Christ’s College made its early push it appeared the better side. Milsom and Botting were formidable wings, who backed up strongly, and it was by ranging from the other wing that Milsom got his try after Botting had slipped past a man. However, there were problems inside which prevented tries. Hatherley. Ryder, and Atkinson were seldom able to combine adequately and their passing and handling again let them down. Later in the game Newton unflinchingly bore the brunt of some formidable assaults, and Wanklyn also cleared well. Orme and Polson were diligent tight forwards, and Prattley shone in the loose. It was Orme who figured prominently in the second half movement which swept the field. Orme, Botting and Newton first took the ball from within their twenty-five to over half-way. and when that sortie broke down, Orme got things going again, the ball moving out the lin* to Milsom. with Atkinson breaking through in the middle. It was a thrilling rush. Defending for a great deal of the first half. St Bede’s improved in the second half. Considerable possession was won from the line-outs from throws to Brunel at the end for him to knock back to Douglas, moving quicklv round from second. After that, Murdoch was an intelligent tactician whose deep kicks kept Christ’s College steadilv under pressure throughout the half. O’Loughlin made some penetrative runs, and McAlpine ran Anderson into position. But in spite of those onslaughts, the Christ’s College defence held.