UNIVERSITY RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 281, 24 August 1944, Page 7

UNIVERSITY RUGBY

Victoria Beat Massey Possessing an advantage over their, opponents in both weight in the forwards and pace in the backs, Victoria University College beat Massey College at Rugby, by 11-9, on the Kilbirnle Reserve yesterday afternoon. Conditions were ideal for the game, and the slight cross wind caused little difficulty to the teams, who turned on a fast and exhilarating display of clean football. L From the kick-off Massey gave the ball plenty of air, and had Victoria defending strenuously. Five minutes from the start, after going very close to scoring. Anderson kicked a penalty for Massey. Victoria had a brief spell on the attack and Te Punga, who was playing a sound game at first five-eighth, retrieved a dropped pass and sent Brian over in the corner. The kick failed. Gaining the ball from the majority of scrums, Victoria tried to bring their backs into action. Ibut lack of co-ordina-tion among the inside backs nullified the play of the „men outside them. Massey were having the better of the play territorially, and from a great burst by Potaka round on the open side, Stewart, a supporting forward, went over in a handy position. Anderson’s kick failed. Massey 0. Victoria 3. . „ , , , As In tho first spell, Massey rushed play into Victoria’s territory right from the kick-off. But this epell their Initial attack was short-lived. Victoria’s hacks were beginning to find their feet, and the deep penetrating thrusts of Berry and Loverage were a constant source of worry to the Massey defenders. Both sides were throwing the ball about in grand style, and the line-outs were in short demand. As the spell wore on the heavier weight of the Victoria forwards became a more decided advantage, and they continued to keep -play in Massey territory. From a ruck iust inside the Massey half. Loverage, the Victoria centre, received the ball, raced past attempted tackles and hurtled across in tho corner for a great try. It was not converted. , . , Victoria now held the upper hand In both departments, but many a promising back movement broke down because or bad passing. Toward the end of the spell -Massey made a grand, rally, and peppered Victoria’s line with repeated forward attacks. From a serum five yards out, Gould, the Massey half, led his hacks away on a great rush, and Sterling, tho right wing, dived just short of the line. Gould continued to give good service to his backs, but wafi lot down in the five-eighths. Victoria returned to the attack and after going close several times, Tweed made an opening, transferred to Leverage, always prominent, who in turn in-passed to Barrowclough, who scored under the posts, for the try to’be converted. Massey made a last valiant attempt to pull the game out of the fire. They were awarded a penalty in a handy position, the conversion of which by iMcllraith, ended the game, tho score reading Victoria U, Massey 9. During the game there were two replacements on the Victoria side, Drummond replacing Loverage, and Todd replacing Berry. . PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ RUGBY TOURNEY WAffGANUI, August 2J3. The primary schools’ quadrangular Rugby tournament continued today in fine weather. The matches resulted:— Wanganui 16. boat Rangitikei 6; Taranaki 6, beat Manawatu 3. The tournament concludes tomorrow' when Wanganui plays Taranaki and Manawatu plays Rangitikei,