RUGBY

Evening Star, Issue 26081, 21 April 1947, Page 7

RUGBY

VARSITY BEATS BLUFF After what had been an interesting and, at times, exciting game, Varsity A got home by the narrow margin of 9 points to 8 at the University Oval on Saturday against the visiting Bluff team, played under perfect conditions, the'match attracted a surprisingly large - attendance of spectators, the st&na being full, and the number present totalling approximately 2,000. They were rewarded by play that reached a high standard for so early in - the season, the playere mainatining their form throughout the two 30-minnta-.spells. .In fact. as the game progressed and the Bluff side mage up its, small deficit in points and took the lead, only to lose it in the last five mlhutes of play,. both teams played with even more vigour. Varsity scored within three minutes of the opening of the game, J. Gwynne going over after a chain of passing. The superior speed of the Varsity three-quarters' was early evident, but unsure handling spoilt a couple of movements. Towards, the end of the spell Moore handed on to Sotting, who.’ though tackled, 'went over 4yds inside touch. Varsity led. 6-0 at halftime, and it seemed at this stage that they might run up a good score if the inside' backs were able to penetrate the defence. In the second half the Bluff forwards excelled themselves, and after 0. Ball 5 had scored a try, which E. D. Oalder Converted, they were shortly besieging the VafSity line again; Ball went over for his second try. But Varsity took the lead again when Moote intercepted and passed to Dotting, who ran round behind the post!).;- • The referee was Mr J. Briggs. In the curtain-raiser Varsity 0 beat Varsity B by 23 points to 8.

OTHER GAMES

Unofficial games in Dunedin on Saturday resulted : Training College 5, Port Chalmers 0. Taieri 0, Toko 3. ; Union 11, Ranfurly 11,