Second Division. BACKS GET POINTS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 187, 7 May 1934, Page 11

Second Division. BACKS GET POINTS

Easy Win for Varsity University defeated Berhampore by the comfortable margin of 17 points to nil in a scrappy game played under unfavourable conditions,at Wakefield Park. The University back line was in fairly good form, though difficulty was experienced in handling the greasy ball. ■ The second spell saw some pretty movements culminating in scores. The Berhampore pack kepi University fairly busy. Most of the first spell was ragged, and no score resulted until near half-time, when McKenzie scored a try that was not converted. In the early part of the second spell University went to the attack with zest, and a pretty back movement saw Burn score a good try. Rae converted A”ter further, attacking, the hacks got away again. Hislop, the winger. touching down. A minute later A. McKenzie, at the head of a dribbling rush, added three more points for University, giving them a 14 points lead. Feltham scored the fins' try. Mr. R. Paton was referee. GOOD DRIBBLING Oriental Shade Onslow Suiting their play to the conditions, Oriental made a hard forward battle of the game against Onslow at Kelburn Park, and, by virtue of a heavier pack, who showed good form in dribbling rushes, won by six points to nil. It was a good game, although almost wholly a test’ between the forwards. The first three points were scored in the first spell, but in spite of this Onslow showed a slight' margin of superiority up to half-time. With the wind behind them and having the advantage in most of the line-outs and scrums, their forwards did some hard grafting and kept play in the opposite half for most of the time. Meadows kicked a penalty goal for Oriental fairly early. The Onslow backs barely felt the ball during the game. Oriental’s remaining points came in the second half when, after the backs had been foliovying a policy of playing eloselj' with their forwards and only occasionally picking up, they began to throw the ball about, the rest of the line handling for Baldwin to score. For the remainder of the game Oriental held a good territorial advantage, but Onslow, with the smaller pack playing splendidly, narrowly held them in check. Mr. G. Heley was referee. COMFORTABLE WIN St. Pat.’s Beat Melrose St. Patrick’s College Old Boys defeated Melrose-Selwyn by 21 points to nil at Prince of Wales Park. The ground was very muddy, surface water lying on it in places, and spectacular play could not be produced. After K. O’Connor had opened St. Patrick’s Old Boys’ score with a goal from a penalty kick, a passing rush was executed and P. McCarthy scored a try, which O’Connor converted. Changing ends. St. Patrick’s Old Boys had the wind behind them in the second spell, and adopted the tactics of kicking high and following up. Sarsich, W. C. Hart and J. McCarthy scored tries, the latter two being converted by K. O’Connor.

The play was not as one-sided as the scores would suggest, but the winners had the territorial advantage for most of the second spell, finally beating their opponents in the forwards and securing the upper hand. The tactics they adopted W’ere the most suitable in the conditions. Mr. C. H. Jenkins was referee. A SOLITARY TRY Johnsonville Play Well Nothing spectacular was witnease.! at the meeting between Johnsonville and Miramar at the Miramar Polo Ground, although Johnsonville exhibited their best form this season. The ball was hard to handle, but the ground remained in fairly good condition. Miramar had a slight advantage in the first spell, although Johnsonville asserted themselves from time to time, some smart forward work all but securing tries for the visitors. Late in the spell Johnsonville, who started out with only 14 men, were augmented by Burns, a fourth grade player. There was no score in the first spell, but early in the second Johnsonville forwards gained control, Round scoring the only try of the day. The V's : *ors continued to hold the advantage, and most, of the play took place near the Miramar line, but Johnsonville's failure to penetrate lost, them a number of chances. Mr. J. Wilson was referee. Two All Blacks in Lilburne and Page opposed each other in the Hutt-Welling-ton game, and Page got away witli fewer of his .spectacular runs than usual. Had the day been fine, the duel between the two very fine inside back divisions of these teams would have been worth watching.

Ball. Hutt winger, put in a number of spectacular runs, and there were occasions in the second half when, had Minns got a chance, the course of the game might well have been altered in Wellington’s favour.