COLLEGE RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 280, 22 August 1933, Page 11

COLLEGE RUGBY

Victory for Wellington

CHRIST’S BEATEN 9—6

Play on Heavy Ground

NELSON BEATS WANGANUI

The annual quadrangular interCollege Rugby tournament between Wellington College, Christ’s College, Wanganui College, and Nelson College concluded on the Wellington College ground yesterday In a victory for Wellington College, who defeated Christ’s College in the Anal by 0 points io 6.

It' was unfortunate that poor' (weather conditions prevailed for the concluding day’s play, as it was generally admitted that the standard of play this year is as high as it has probably ever been, and had ground and ball been dry brilliant play such as was witnessed on Saturday would have been seen. As it was, rain yesterday morning had rendered the ground very heavy and greasy, and play naturally was almost entirely confined to the forwards. Both packs Btiick to their work valiantly and performed prodigies of valour in the mud. Wellington owed their victory to the game way in which their forwards stood up to the heavier Christ’s College pack. Had the Christchurch team kept the ball on the ground more Instead of attempting to bring their backs into play in the last quarter of an hour they would at least have made a draw of it,. •

The teams took the field in the presence of 3000 spectators' as follow:— Christ’s College: R. E. Alexander; T. A.' Harpur, H. F. Elower, C. A. N. Broad; C. T. B. Pearson, S. B. Thompson; J. E. Crisp; J. N. Buchanan-Mat-son, J. R. D. Eaton, F. W. Brandt, T. M. V. Bain, T. H. Fisher, A. R. W. Ormond, I. E. S. Orbell, and H. B. Hay. Wellington: P. M. Gray; E. K. A. McClune, M. L. Binning, M. Watt; D. L. Hurdley, M. H. Linklater; K. Lees; R. W. Milne, H. A. Reynolds', C. C. Gotlieb, T. H. Verry, V. J. Gotlieb, E. J. Cornes, R. N. Akel, W. E. Crawley. Christ’s College had the advantage of the opening exchanges, and passing by Crisp, Pearson, Broad, and Alexander looked dangerous, but good defence by Hurdley and Binning held up the attack, and a powerful kick by Gray drove play back to centre. Christ’s College were attempting to bring their backs into play, but the Wellington lads wisely kept the leather bn the ground, and kicked it every time they could reach It. Considering the heavy conditions, the play was fast, and some great rucking duels were witnessed. Speed Brings Score. Old boys of both colleges were present in force. “Keep it down, Wellington,” advised a supporter. “Keep it up, Christ’s,” at once came the retort. The first score came when Crisp, the clever Christ’s College half-back, got the ball from a scrum, and sent his backs away. Broad travelled fast to give the feather to Bain, and the sturdy forward hurled himself over in the corner. Alexander made a good attempt to convert. This reverse only served to nerve the Wellington lads to renewed activity. Using their feet cleverly, forwards and backs combined to take play right on to Christ’s line. At last a defender got offside right under the posts, and MeClune evened the scores with a penalty goal. t Earlv in the second spell Christ’s College drove into Wellington territory, and a back, in stopping a rush, hung on too long, and was penalised, Alexander placing Christ's College in the dead with a good penalty goal. Enthusiasm Kuns High. Fast and exciting play followed, and had the cheering going lustily. It was as much as the players could do to keep their feet, but, grimed with mud, they stuck to their work with great heart,, and charge and counter-charge raised enthusiasm to a high pitch. Christ’s were nearly in, when a defender, with a rare burst of speed, picked the ball off the toes of the forwards and ran behind his own goal to clear to / the quarter mark. That Wellington could use their backs was proved when Lees started a movement which ended in Watt streaking over in the corner. McClune made a bravo effort to convert from the sideline. With the scores level. Interest flamed up afresh, and play continued to a roar of cheering. In defending, a Christ's College player got offside, and McClune placed Wellington ahead with another penalty goal. Christ's College tried desperately to save the day, and almost succeeded.

Crisp proved himself a regular little Benny Osler with his smart kicks to the line from the scrum. Christ’s College hammered at the Hn« in the last few minutes, but the Wellington defence held, and the final whistle sounded with the scores reading:— Wellington College 9 Christ’s College 6 Mr. J. Gilchrist was the referee. SILVERSTREAM WINS Holly Shield Retained DEFEAT OF ST. BEDE’S

Greasy ground and a heavy ball made playing conditions difficult in the match between St. Patrick’s College, Silverstream, and St. Bede’s College, ChristChurch. yesterday, when St. Patrick s were victorious by 20 points to nil. thus retaining the Holly Shield. The game resolved itself for the most, part into a struggle between the opposing packs, with occasional flashes of play among the backs. St. Patrick’s were not long in establishing their superiority, and the issue never remained in doubt. The teams St. Patrick’s.—Vile, K. O’Connor, Palno, Hampton, Wilson, Reid, Cropp, R. O’Connor, Hart, Mariu, Donoghue, Morgan, Manahlra, McDonnell, Caulton. St. Bede’s.—Hendran. McEvedy, Sheehan, Simpson, Sullivan, Scully, White, OMalley, Dew, Heffernan, Quinn, Dando, Daly, Scott, Smith. Silverstream kicked off into a fairly strong northerly wind. Sheehan retired hurt, and was replaced by Flattery. St. Patrick’s first score came ten minutes after the start, when, from a line-out, the ball travelled over the line, and Hart galloped up and dived on it. K. O’Connor missed the kick. St. Bede’s replied by hammering at the line, and St. Patrick’s had to force, but they reversed the position, and Hampton followed up a dribbling rush to fall on the ball. Wilson’s kick fell short. A hot attack, by St. Bede’s followed, but Silverstream cleared with a penalty. St. Patrick’s initiated a strong attack in the second spell, and from a scrum five yards) from the line Cropp handed on to Reid, who beat two men to sopre. K. O’Connor missed with the kick. S r . Bede’s then carried play down the field, and White took a penalty, which went just outside the posts. Smart paeising among the home backs brought play over the St, Bede’s Un*» but.

the ball was forced. Within a minute, St. Patrick’s had renewed the attack, and McDonnell cut through nicely and grounded. Wilson converted. The next score came when K. O'Connor kicked through from a forward rush, and Reid dived on the ball. K. O’Connor missed with the kick. From the kick-off, Reid started a dribbling rush, and Cauilton. who sprinted up fast, fell on the ball. Wilson’s kick missed, and time was called. Mr. J. S. King was the referee. NELSON JUST WINS Wanganui Plays Stoutly Nelson and Wanganui met on the upper college ground at 1.30 p.m. Pools of water Jay upon the field, and before long the dihite costumes of the Wanganui • players had assumed a chocolate hue. A good wet-weather game resulted in a narrow victory for Nelson by 6 points to 5. The teams were :— Wanganui: J. R. Price; A. B. Horrocks, M. W. B. Knight. D. P. Beckett- A. F. Harding, W. L. Elllngham; H. D. Orton; D. .T. Nilsson; J. M. Hare, M. J. Hewitt, G. N. Barron. G. B. Gibbons, G. L. Mason, B. K. Kirkcaldle, P. M. Murphy. Nelson: 11. L. de C. Martelll; M. R. Cook. R. K. Karsten, A. W. Grindle; B. G. B. Overton. R. L. Annand-Smith ; D. E. McArthur; P. S. Rishwortli. E. B. BoydWUson, A. C. Wood, D. R. Fraser. R. H. M. Craighead. F. E. Eustace. B. de J. Clere, C. C. Melkle.* The players slithered about on the greasy ground, and frequently disappeared in pools of muddy water. Both sides got into the fray with might and main, and gave a really good display under the adverse conditions. The first score did not come till play had been in progress for over half an hour. Wanganui then picked the only bit of clean turf on the field and a snappy passing movement by the backs saw Knight score in the corner. Barron converted with a great kick from the sideline. Nelson did better in the second spell, in which the half-back, McArthur, proved himself a really clever player in this position. He was not only responsible for the try scored by Grindle, but hopped round a serum to score himself. Neither try was improved, and a hard game ended with the scores standing:— Nelson 0 Wanganui 5 Mb, R. J. Paton was the rvferer-