SCHOOLS RUGBY

Evening Star, Issue 16515, 29 August 1917, Page 7

SCHOOLS RUGBY

CHRISTCHURCH v. SOUTHLAND. In the secondary schools' football tournament at C'hristchurch Ohristchurch High School defeated Southland High School by 23 points to 7. These teams were the losers in Saturday's contests. For the winners Rowes (2), Graham (2), and Mehrtens scored tries, and Mehrtens kicked two penalty goals. For Southland Jefi'coat potted a goal and Whyborn scored a try. The C'hristchurch lads outclassed their opponents in all departments of the game. TIMARU v. OTAGO. [Special to the ' Stab.'] OHRISTCHURCH, August 28. There was loud cheering when the Tirnaru and Otago High School boys took the field this afternoon for the deciding match of the interhigh schools tournament. As on Saturday, the Otago team treated their opponents to a haka ere the ball was set rolling. Penalties against both sets of forwards were frequent in the first spell, Timaru being the worst offenders in this respect. The Otago forwards played spiritedly for three-parts of the game, but the sturdy Timaru pack gradually wore them down. Timaru played fine football all through, and well deserved their win. The teams were :

Timaru (White): M. Fahey, R. Shackleton, H. Scott (captain), W. Rothwell, G. Aitken, J. H. Fahey, 2f. Williams, P. Sevb, D. Stewart, S. Crawford, S. Cabot, A." J. King, W. Taylor, F. W 7 ithel, W. Irwin. A __ ~ _. Otago (Blue-and-white) : A. Marslxn, P. Sim, G. M'Kav, K. Keiha, G. Fairmaid, F. Treahy, J. Burton, M. Smith, H. Ray, J. Hunter, C. Smith, J. Gray (captain), D. Cameron, F. Campbell, J. Anderson. Timaru kicked off against the wind, and after a short spell on the offensive Otago were driven back by a long kick by J. Fahey. A penalty against Otago gave Scott a chance, but the ball was taken wide by the wind. J. Fahey was again prominent for good work, and another free kick against Otago saw Scott take a second shot at goal, which also failed. A great dash, in which Treahy did fine work, put Gta<*o on the offensive, but a counter-rush bv the Timaru forwards, in which Stewart and Cabot were prominent, sent play back again to the Otago end. Following a great loose rush, Williams set his backs going, and a pretty bout of passing ended in Shacldeton running across between the posts. Williams converted. Timaru 5, Otago 0. The Otago forwards were doing great work in the loose, and these rushes invariably gained a lot of ground. In checking a rush Aitken lay on the ball, and, bsing penalised, Treahy kicked a goal. Timaru 5, Otago 3. A brilliant passing run, in which Burton, Ray, and M. Smith participated, took play trp to the Timaru goal, where, from a breach in front, Treahy had a shot which went wide. Superiority in the line-outs gave Otago a big advantage, Timaru being kept within their own' 25. A passing rush by the Otago backs looked like resulting in a score, but Sim put his foot into touch at the corner before getting across. From the resulting lineout Timaru cleared their line. Powerful kicking by J. Fahey drove Otago back to their 25, -where several scrums took place. Repeated dashes for the line by Williams and Scott gave Otago something to do in keeping them out. A long kick by Burton, followed by another by Treahy, brought relief to Otago. The ball was fumbled in an Otago passing rush, and J. Fahey and Scott came through. The bounce of the ball beat the Otago fullback, and Shackleton, kicking on, followed up, gathered the ball, and ran over unopposed. Williams kicked a goal. Timaru 10, Otago 3. Half-time arrived with plav at the halfway line. On resuming Otago set up an attack which, however, was short lived, .Scott and M. Fahey coming to the rescue of their fide. Making good use of the wind, Timaru i.: - adually worked, their way down, and in a, loose scramble near the Otago line King got across. Williams failed to improve the try. Timaru 13, Otago 3. A Timaru passing rush broke down, and Ray and C. Smith dashed up, and the former beat Rothwell for possession. The Timarn wing, however, effected a good tackle; but Smith, backing up, picked up the ball and fell across near the posts. Treahy missed the easy kick. Timaru 13, Otago 6. This success appeared to put new life into the Otago boys, who set up a strong attack. Fairmaid took a mark right in front, and Treahy landed a goal. Timaru 13, Otago 9. Timaru now took a turn at attacking, but the Otago forwards with a very fine rush came back. A penalty for obstruction pulled them up, and J. Fahey's kick transferred play once more to Otago*s half. Hard kicking enabled Otago to get out of difficulties by forcing. A pretty cut in by J. Fahey beat the opposition, and when tackled he passed to Scott, who beat a couple of opponents before sending the ball ori to Stewart, who crossed the Otago line, putting the finish to a splendid movement. J. Fahey added the extra points with a good kick. Timaru 18, Otago 9. From now till call of time Timaru had much the better of the nlay, and it was solely due to over-eagerness" that they did not wcreaso their score. The Rev. W. B. Scott was referee. Notes ox the Plat.

i Timaru won by reason of the fact that they possessed the ability to vary their play more than the Otago' team. Had the Otago forwards been able to keep the plav tight, as they did in the second t-pell of their match with Christchurch, they would have had a good chance of being returned winners; but they struck something pretty soM in the Timaru pack, who fairly wore their opponents down. Some of the loose rushes of the Otago forwards were very fine. This and m line-out - play w r as where the strength of the team lay. The Timaru boys were also good in the loose, and held their own in the scrums and tight work. The Timaru backs received plenty of chances, and easily outclassed trio Otay:<> rearguard. J. Fahey played brilliantly all through, and Williams, Scott, and Shackleton also displayed fine form. Scott is to be congratulated on leading such a fine all-round combination to victory in the 1917 tournament. j