RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 26 May 1927, Page 6

RUGBY

N.Z. UNIVERSITY TEAM

DEFEATED IN FIRST TEST MATCH.

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. SYDNEY, May 25. Sydney University defeated New Zealand Universities in the first test to-day by 31 points to 12. New Zealand lost the toss and kicked of with a strong wind and the sun in their faces. Sydney immediately attacked, but Pacev relieved with a well-judged kick. Flynn marked inside his own half and kicked down field. A likely Sydney passing, rush saw the ball out on New Zealand line. Loveridge and Lindsay transferred play to the Sydney line, but taking advantage of the wind, the ball went back to New Zealand territory.. From a line out, Sydney secured the ball and, after a passing rush, Foote scored at the corner. Ross failed to convert.

Sydney continued to press. Burge made a good individual run, but was unable to finish the movement. Loveridge made A couple of great runs down field, but Ross hauled him down. At length Webb secured the ball from the ruck, made a good run and kicked over Ross’ head. Webb followed on and Ross collared him when he did not have the ball, but Lindsay came up and scored. O’Regan’s kick against the wind failed. The New Zealand forwards came again. The ball was kicked out at the line. . Johnson intercepted a pass in the Sydney twenty-five and made a fine run. When near Butler he passed to Burge, who scored behind the posts. Sheehan converted. Two minutes later Ross secured the ball in a handy position and, with the aid of tli© wind dropped a field goal. Sydney was having the best of the rucks, and their backs combined well. Some nice passing movements were witnessed ten minutes before time, in which Dunne, Lindsay, Keegan and Childs participated, the latter scoring. O’Regan just missed the kick. From ragged, play, the ball passed through all the Sydney backs’ hands and Foote scored well out. Ross failed with the kick. A bad Sydney kick saw the ball well out on the Sydney line and, from a scramble, Dunne went over. O’Regan failed to convert. The spell ended a minute later. Sydney 15, New Zealand 9.

Seven minutes after the resumption, a. fine passing rush between Sheehan, Gibson, Burge and Foote saw the latter score at the corner. Ross failed to add the major points. Sydney continued to attack and several movements threatened the New Zealand line. Then Gibson’s pace enabled him to score and Sheehan kicked a. nice goal. Sydney hammered away, but line-kicks by Butler and Lindsay relived the position. The New Zealand forwards made some vigorous attacks, and Love kept them at it by means of short kicks.

Sydney came down again, the wind haiing * died down considerably. Hingst, who was playing a great game was responsible for Sydney’s next try, which lie secured after a determined run. Sheehan failed to convert. Burns showed up with a nice dribbling rush and took play to Sydney territory, but the Sydney defence was sound. Webb, on the wing, was weak.

Sydney was getting the ball from the linesjut and scrums, though New Zealand did its best- to keep the play tight Beautiful passing rushes, in which all the Sydney backs took part, saw Burge over and Sheehan converted. Five minutes before time Freeman replaced Loveridge. He immediately siored after a ruck on Sydney’s line. Dunne’s kick failed, and the game ended: Sydney 31, New Zealand 12. . Childs replaced Hindenach in the team. The attendance was 4000. New Zealand was outclassed in all departs ments of the game.

MID-WEEK FIXTURES.

WHAT! FRO A (11) v. OHANGAI (0)

A KEEN CONTEST,

From tiro kick-off till “no side” both Wharcroa and Ohangai teams strove hard for victory, and while Whareroa gained a well-deserved win, Ohangai pressed hard practically the whole game and had bad luck in not scoring on at least two occasions. The failure of their backs to put the finishing touch to their passing movements was where they lost points. Ohangai kicked off and Whareroa at once set up a hot attack, which-gave their opponents a busy time defending. Then Ohangai went up-field and Tidswell made a nice run, but a missed pass spoilt a likely opening. They continued to press, O’Shea putting in a pretty run with a feint and swerve that enabled him to get past several defenders. Then Whareroa replied with a strenuous forward rush, and' the ball coming to the backs, a clear opening was made, which only a forward pass spoilt. J. liijvga intercepted a pass and with Tidswc.ll went up-field to Whareroa’s quarters, where good defence by Ivirwan and French nullified their efforts. The Blue backs attacked and play went up and down the field in fine loose rushes. Hogan and Hunt headed a great forward rush for Ohangai, and taking 'the play to the line G. Hinga had a shot at goal and Wharcroa forced. They made the pace hot from the kick-out and play w r ent to Ohangai quarters, where from a loose rush French (Whareroa) secured and dashed over at the corner. The kick failed. Wharcroa 3, Ohangai 0. Ohangai hotly attacked from the kiek-out, O’Shea and .T. Hinga being prominent, and with Tidswell gave their opponents a hot time defending. At length Wharcroa cleared and went up-field in a loose rush, Kirwan and Simmonds putting in capital work. The second spell opened with strenuous play, both sides straining every nerve to score. Kirwan and Simmonds again got away in a pretty passing rush for Wharcroa,'but N. Lee intercepted and sent them back. But Whareroa were not to bn denied, and French, taking in his own territory, got away by clever fending and raced right through to score. Kirwan converted. Wharcroa 8, Ohangai Chi’. The Blacks set up attack after attack, O’Shea, Tidswell and Lee being specially prominent. In the opposing twenty-five Goodger got clear away, but failed to hold his advantage, was collared, and a great opening was lost. Whareroa then attacked again, and from a. loose rush French secured and dashed over to score his third try. The

kick failed. Whareroa 11, Ohangai 0. The losers continued to attack, but despite every effort they failed to score, and shortly after, the ball going out, "no side ’’ was called, leaving the score Whareroa . 11 Ohangai 0 Mr K. McNao was referee.

FRASER ROAD v. NORMANBY

This match, was played, at Normanby, and ended, in a win for Fraser Road by six points to nil. There was very little difference in the teams, the forwards being evenly matched, but the Fraser Road backs were superior, and indulged in several fine passing rushes.

The toss was won by Normanby. Play for some time hovered in midfield, where Normanby was penalised, and Pokau had a kick at goal, which failed. Shortly after play was shifted to Normanby’s 25, and Fraser Road looked like scoring, Normanby forcing twice within five minutes. For some time there was give and take play, until a fine bit of passing by Fraser Road backs enabled Hawe to score a try. Taniwha took the kick, which failed. Shortly after half-time was called.

On resuming, play continued about the centre for some time, when a good rush by Fraser Road backs took play to Normanby’s line, where Notman scored. Whareitu took the kick, which failed. From 1 this on Normanby held their own well, and came very near to scoring. It was only solid, defensive play by Fraser Road which held them. The game concluded without further score.

Mr George Hurley was referee.

TEAMS FOR SATURDAY,

OKAIAWA. Seniors. Team will be selected from the following: B. Cameron, I. Crawford, G. Pateson, J. Purvis, D. Johnston, M. Lynskey, M. Clarke, E. Griffin, Tib bett. A. Birchall. Ike, Parslow, R. Guy, R. Clarke, C. McDonald, H. Stoddart, E. McAllum. Thirds. Hooper (2) Crann. Johnston, Allen, Ngaia, Greenough, Blair, Evnon, Tui, Corrigan, R. Walker, Cox, Woller, James. Emergencies: C. Walker. Sharpe, Morehu. ’Bus will leave Okaiawa at 11.30 a.m. HAWERA. Juniors. Busing, Rubali A., Hawson, Jordan, Checvers, Walker (2) Hulbert, Phil lips, Anderson, Laing, Gould, Roberts, Murphy, Twist, Rockell, Poison, Rum'ball. ’Bus leaves P.O. at 1.30 p.m. Thirds. Nolan, Cox, Woolford, Nolan, Dymond, Wills, Foster, Maloney, Nolan, Harrison, Green, Vinten, Sehinkel. Harrison, Phillips, Brough. Team must be on the ground at 12.55 p.m.