Victory to C.B.H.S.

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32966, 12 July 1972, Page 34

Victory to C.B.H.S.

Christ’s College supporters might have felt that the collapse of the Christchurch Boys’ High School banner soon after kick-off in the big inter-school Rugby match of the season at Straven Road yesterday was a propitious omen. But they were doomed to disappointment because the efficient C.B.H.S. first XV added to its long list of successes against College by winning convincingly, 21-0. It was not a particularly good day for Rugby—the heavy field and thin drizzle made the ball progressively harder to handle, and because of this some wellconceived moves broke down. But players on both sides applied themselves industriously and the game was one of constant movement, at a good pace. School won the game because of greater control by its forwards and the competent play of its inside backs. Its defence met all demands, and this, too, had a significant bearing on the result because the College forwards had the greater amount of second-phase possession. R. Stewart, the School first five-eighths, was his side’s most penetrative attacker. He missed one try on the blind side by putting his right foot over the side-

line during his run, but quickly soon after cut infield deceptively to leave the College cover-defence high and dry and score. FINE MOVE His second try capped School’s brightest movement. A. Hume made a superb midfield break before scissorpassing with the left wing, J. Dunbar. Held up on the goal-line, Dunbar released the ball at precisely the right moment for Stewart to score. College’s best back was also a first five-eighths, C. F. H. Rhodes—an exceptionally good handler and a boy with an in-built sense of when to pass and when to kick. He made one particularly good blind-side run which had the School defence in trouble, and showed sound, over-all judgment. The School captain, B. Stanaway, was an excellent forward leader and covered well, and M. A. Harding revelled in the tight. G. Broughton played a leading rol. ii the line-outs, in which School won twice as much possession as College. A. Bailey was a businesslike little half-back who handled a trying assignment capably, and T. Oughton, the powerful right wing, confounded spectators by kicking the difficult goals and missing the easier ones. R. R. H. Orme was conspicuous for his strong, driving play in the College pack, and he was well supported

by R. P. Polson, in particular. J. H. Wanklyn, the half-back, was cool under pressure, and the full-back, C. G. H. Newton, was full of enterprise and fielded surely. Stewart scored two tries for School, and Oughton scored one try and kicked three penalty goals. The referee was Mr K. G. N. Orsboum, who awarded 10 penalties to College and six to School.