BERHAMPORE BEAT OLD BOYS.

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 120, 25 May 1925, Page 9

BERHAMPORE BEAT OLD BOYS.

Altogether outweighed in the scrum and behind, Old Boys played pluckily up. to Berhampore at Petone, and held their own quite up to half-time, when the game was even without a score. In the second spell tho avoirdupois and speed of the Berhampore pack ■ began to tell, and in spit of a sturdy defence, Old Boys twice saw their line crossed, once through a failure to tackle effectively at an earlier stage in the attack. One of- the tries was converted Agains the Old Boys had hard lines in not getting over at least once. Malcolm gave them. some satisfaction for their' efforts' by' a-; beautifully, "kicked penalty goal, .making: the final score: Berhampore 8, Old Boys 3. The Ri^by was of respectable quality throughout aild'the"game nevfcr degenerated into a scramble. Tho leading feature was the oxcellont play of Malcolm at full-back. He quite outshone the redoubtable. Walters at tho other end on the day's play. The learns were: —

Bcrhampore: Walters, Mathcson, Bennett, Taylor, Lang, Charles, Fuller, E. Brown, Standen, Christie, Deore, Duncan, Brown, Gunion, M'Carthy.' • Old Boys : Malcolm, Xamason, Bedell Grenfell,,Warwick, Mansfield, Bramwell, Barclay, Dormer, M. Francis, Hum, Jones,' Claridge, Carmody, Menzics. Conditions were even enough in the first spell, both sides having their phases of attack and defence. Berhampore got most of tho ball in the scrum, with the veteran Starden hooking well, but Barclay intervened successfully in the passing', movements, and the Old Boys' tackling was good. When they got the ball, Old Boys' backs showed better form in getting tho ball away, and in this the light-weights, Bramwell and Mansfield, were conspicuous in 'the teeth of the strong Blue forward rushes. Berhampore were more dangerous on the whole, but Malcolm's defence proved insuperable up to half-time. His linefinding was splendid. There was no score at half-time.

In the second spell the interest of the spectators was raised to a higher pitch by the extermination of both sides to force the pace. Old Boys pressed hard in. the first stages, and close following up disturbed the equanimity of the Blue full-back. Twice Barclay had a pot-shot at g0a1,., the second effort just falling under tho bar. ' R. Brown, when Berhampore took up the attack, had a shot from closer quarters, but the ball struck an opponent. Old Boys were now hard beset, and when an attack blocked at one corner swung over to the other wing, the defence was beaten, and Taylor scored at tho corner. Dcere'a kick failed. 3-0. From tho kick-off, the Blues; again took up the running, Duncan leading a trio, of big forwards. Gaining possession, Duncan eluded a weak tackle by Bedell/ passed to Matheson, who centred, and Deere got over. Jiang converted. B—o.

The last.stages of the game were in favour of Old Boys, who brought off some nico passing rushes, and were, once nearly over at the corner, from a movement started by Bramwell, with an interception, and carried on by Mansfield and Warwick. While dofending, Berhampore were penalised, and Malcolm landed a fine goal. When the whistle went Old Boys were again attacking. Bevhampore 8, Old Boys 3. Mr. G. Bradley was referee.