LOCAL RUGBY

Evening Star, Issue 25169, 8 May 1944, Page 5

LOCAL RUGBY

SENIOR COMPETITION FOUR UNBEATEN TEAMS The local Rugby season was continued on Saturday, when the weather conditions wore not so favourable as on the opening day. The grounds were in good order, howover. A noticeable feature of the play was that in the whole series of matches the forwards scored almost as many points as the backs. In most cases, a fairly strong wiud was responsible for the scoring being largely confined to the teams which had it behind them. With two matches played, only four of the 14 teams remain unbeaten; these are Training College, University Combined Faculties. Zingari-Rich-mond, and Pirates. Dunedin Win Well. Although Dunedin showed all-round superiority over Kaikorai in the main fixlure at Carisbrook. it was quite a lively and interesting game. Both sides displayed pienty of dash, and the pace was well maintained. Combination between forwards and backs, the forwards hooking the ball consistently and putting in effective loose work, kept Dunedin attacking solidlv for most of the first spell. Within a quarter of an hour C. McHerron had scored eight points for the Dark Biu'es, going over for a try, for which K. Thompson made the opening, and adding the extra points, and a few minutes later putting over a- nine penalty goal from 40yds. Later, MnHerron added another good penalty goal, and just on half-time G. Kelly alined a try, the spell ending with the scores 14-0 in Dunedin's favour. Kaikorai's play improved in the second spell, but as Dunedin was still getting the ball from (lie scrum, the hill team's backs were sorely handicapped. The forwards persisted with ioose rushes, however, and at length J. Williams, bustling through with the ball at i-is toe, fell on it to score and I. Murray converted. Before the final whistle went N. Mullin grabbed a try when a defensive kick was charged down, McHerron converted, this making his contribution in the match 13 poinis. He and L. Connolly, K. Thompson,' and Kelly were a solid quartet of forwards, ami I. Gray (half), H. Martin 'full-back), and Mullin (second five-eighth) w :e the pick of the backs. A. Foster, R. Mcintosh, and J. Williams (forwards), and A. Chapman and F. Barnes (backs) tfere Kaikorai's best. Mr E. Prebble was leferce. Southern's Better Form.

Showing a slight improvement on its form in the previous Saturday's match, Southern won by 21 points to 11 against University C in the game at the Caledonian Ground, and mainly because of the high wind rattled on 18 points in the iiist session. The heavier Southern pack stormed the University twenty-five for moat of this spell, and two of the forwards —Tipa and Wallace —crossed. The other two tries in this spell were scored by Mortpn, the fust five-eighth, who on each occasion whipped over the line from close in after tight play. He is. a promising back. Varsity settled down more in the second spell, and .held the territorial advantage. All the side's 11 points were scored by Drake, a useful forward, who converted his own try and kicked two heat penalties. Southern's other points were made up of the converting of three tries by Hellyer, who arlso kicked a penalty. The referee was Mr H. Paletiski. Training College a Fit Side.

The speed and thrust of the Training Coilege backs, who were supported solidly by the pack, was responsible for a handsome win over Union by 12 points to 0. However, the steady wind was of great assistance to both teams, and Training College was lucky enough to have the benefit of it in the first spell, when nine of the .College points were scored. Though the 1 Caledonian Ground was on the heavy side, play from the start was fast and open, with the College backs handling the ball adroitly and keeping it for most of the spell deep in Union's twenty-five. Two clever tries were scored by Wheelan in quick succession 20 minutes after the start. This forward has a fine turn of speed, and his second try especially was a very nimble .effort. He ran half the distance of the fiold after receiving the ball from Dickson, first five-eighth, and he was assisted in his burst because of indifferent tackling, which ?-was a weak point about Union's play in the first session, at the end of which College led 9-0, the other try being scored by Toomey. Union had a chance of doing better in the second spell, but, though the pack severely tested the defence for -most of it, the fitter College team staved off all attempts to score, and had tired Union badly towards the end. The only score in this spell was by R. Williams, who played a grand game. None of the font tries was converted, and College won 12-0. The referee was Mr J. B. Burton,

Not Inspiring. The early match at Carisbrook between Zhigari-Richmoiid and Alhambra was not a particularly good exhibition of Rugby, the hacks of both' sides handling poorly and Showing no cohesion whatever. Zingari's bustling forwards, led by R. Laing, A, Alexauuer, and T. McQueen, kept the. Bamas defending most of the first spell, but the only score before half-time came when Alexander kicked a penally goal for Zingari. In the second spoil Alhambra began in better form, and A. Winter scored when W. de Bazin speculated and missed m the face of a forward rush, But Zingari retaliated immediately, T. Little scoring in a crush of forwards. Another try was thrown away by a forward pass when the held was clear for a run in. Just on time G. Barbara put over a penalty goal, and Ziugari won 9-3. T. Campbell was thel winners' best back, and W. Coutts, W.Stewart, and W. Williams, all forwards, were Alliaiwbra's pick. Mr A. Halhgan was referee. Air Force Defeated. Taking advantage of a favourable wind on the University Oval, University Combined Faculties rather overwhelmed . Air Force in the first spell, scoring 14 points to 0 before the interval arrived, despite sterling defensive play on the part of the Air Force full-back, R. Masters. Tries were gained by T A. O'Hara (2) and I. C. Isdaie, D, Murdoch converting one and kicking a penalty goal. Up to this stage the students had shown excellent combination and skill in penetrating the defence, but in the second spell Air Force improved considerably in its play, and, although it wa3 unable to cross its opponent's line, Masters kicked a penalty goal, while just before the final whistle R. Elvidge added a try for the Combined Faculties, the game ending: University Combined Faculties 17 points. Air Force 3. Mr N. Larkins was the roferfie. Pirates' Comfortable Win.

Though University D had many opportunities of scoring in the second spell after Pirates had established the comfortable lead of 11-0 in the opening session, there was a raggedness about the Students' movements that spoilt _ several likely chances when they were within striking distance. However, the Varsity forwards were in good form towards the end of the game, and Pirates had some anxious moments, Fastier opened the scoring for Pirates with a dash that disorganised the defence, and McAuliffe also made a strong burst to cross. The best try of the game came a,fter most of the Pirates' backs had handled the ball, and Dawson scored. One of the tries was converted by Bell. A penalty goal by Vance brought Varsity's points, and Piralos' other try, the only one in the second spell, was scored by McAuliffe just at the end of the game. Bell converted. The referee ws Mr J. Westland. Port Chalmers Overshadowed.

After a sluggish first spell, when University Medicals and Port Chalmers had both 3 points on as a result of penalties kicked by Howes and Peek. University reorganised its attack and ran out easy winners by 17-3. The match, played on the Port ground, illustrated the fitness of the Varsity side, the forwards linking up well with the backs in several speedy movements that kept Port constantly on the defence. The scorers for the Medical team in the second spell were T. Kawe, who converted his own try, T. Savage (2), and 11. Howie. In the first spell two University players, R. Langley and W. Uttley, retired injured, being replaced by G. Campbell and S. Elder respectively. Mr W. J. Duff was the referee. Lower Grades. Third Grade.—Alhambra 11, Zingari 5; Taieri 22, Union 0. ,„.,«,, Fourth Grade.—Otago Boys' H>gh School 16, Pirates 80. . Fifth Grade.—Taieri 14, Kaikorai 5.