HIGH SCHOOLS’ RUGBY

Evening Star, Issue 22683, 24 June 1937, Page 4

HIGH SCHOOLS’ RUGBY

SOUTHLAND BEATS OTAGO AN ATTRACTIVE EXHIBITION An attractive exhibition of Rugby was given by the first fifteens of the Southland and Otago Boys’ High Schools at Carisbrook yesterday afternoon, Southland winning a fast and eventful game by 12 points t<f 6. They were the hotter side, and won. on their merits. Tn the early stages of the game the visiting forwards outshone the Otago pack, hut later there was little between them. The Southland backs handled better and showed more pace, thrust, and initiative than the Otago rearguard. The two full-hacks gave first-rate displays. The tackling generally was excellent. The game was made very lively and open. The pace was a cracker throughout, and at the end both teams were tiring badly. The teams :—■ Southland. Backs: Robertson, M'Clean, Lindsay, ' Ritchie, Fyffe, Swale, Grant. Forwards: Cameron, Cocklin, Muirson, Smyth, Mayhew, Bremer, Connolly, Berry. Otago.—Backs; Paterson, Matheson, Gough, MTherson, Morrison, Wilkinson, Scott. Forwards: Hunt, Cotton, Titehener, Bagley, Overton, Phelan, Hay, Rennie. The game started off at a. very fast clip, and was opened up immediately by tho two sets of backs. Otago were nearly over when M'Pherson streaked through the Southland twenty-five and passed into Paterson. The full-back kicked through, and the attack was only held up on the Southland line. A few moments later Titehener, an Otago forward, was carried off with a dislocated knee, Ferguson coming on in his iplace. Otago drew first blood when Gough passed in to Hunt, the latter completing a good rush by scoring wide. Phelan failed. Otago 3, Southland : 0. Southland drew level five minutes later, Fyffe kicking a fine penalty goal. Southland 3, Otago 3. 1 Southland attacked from the kick-off in the second spell, and their persistent offensives were rewarded after 15 minutes’ play. The ball was kicked over the Otago line, and Connolly, coming up fast; was the first to get there. Lindsay faired. Southland 6, Otago 3. The visitors’ tally went up again when another bright passing rush, in which Fvffc and Ritchie were the principals, swept play to the Otago line, Ritchie scoring in the melee that followed. Tho kick failed. Southland 9, Otago 3. Otago came back with a determined rush deep into Southland territory, where Scott worked the blind side, found a hole in the defence, and scored. Hunt failed. Southland 9, Otago <3. Otago fought hard to take tie lead, but tho Southland defence was too solid. Just on time Southland clinched the issue with a good try, their backs catching Otago right out of position. Fyffe was the scorer. The kick failed, and tho game ended; Southland 12 Otago 6 Mr J. M. Briggs was referee.