SATURDAY'S RUGBY MATCHES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 123, 26 May 1913, Page 3

SATURDAY'S RUGBY MATCHES.

OP AW A v. CENTRAL.

The Rugby spirit where it really j exists is not easily daunted, and when ; the competitions made an un- : doubtedly belated start on Saturday j there was evidence that Rugby still : has attractions for many, despite pre- j dictions that the game was going to ; .: be "dead" this season. The Wave of j Northern Unionism, and the mis- j management of past controllers of the j sport have probably brought about a lessening in the Rugby ranks this year, but there is a compensating • influence in the fact that younger { players are being given opportunities {or displaying talent which might : hitherto have been latent—a result ' which is for the benefit of the game generally. Opawa and Central were the senior teams that met on the : Domain, and a surprisingly good game went in favor of the light Opawa oom- ; bination hy 11 points to 3. 1 The toss of the coin was in favor of ■ Opawa, and Central kicked off with ; the sun in front. The initial scrum j formations made it apparent that the ! weight of the Central pack would ; stand them in good stead, as they | pushed their opponents from the half- ; way locality into a-favorable position, : the efforts of several players in the 1 resulting passing rush being nentral- ; ised by Jackson's being tackledl when • matt-el's were assuming a somewhat I ominous aspect for Opawa. A long i kick from Opawa quarters again gave I the blue backs possession of tha ball, I and Opawa were kept busy clearing j their fine. What proved to be the • initiative of an ultimate Opawa attack was a long kick by Maher, the strain being thus relieved. An aggressive movement was set up as the result of a scrum in tbo middle of the field, and a fine passing bout ended in I touch in the Central 25. However, j Opawa did not assail the Central posiI tioii for long, as a dribbling rush saw I Forbes finally with the ball in his possession and the possibility of a score. His career was chocked by Pratt, who made a splendid tackle, and the ball went out of touch near the Opawa line. From the ensuing line-out Opawa took the ball up the field, and following on a long kick by Haines, Central wcro awarded a free-kick ; ■owing to a delinquency by an Qpawa ! backr The shot at goal was futile. } "Fio'i fcho kick-out Opawa. gained an. advantage by fast following up, and j tl'oir prospects of achieving their ob- j joct considerably improved when- ! Lines fumbled. The fates had de- . eie-tid that they should not score then, j and play returned to mid-field, half- ; time being called shortly after with- j out either side scoring. j In the second spell Opawa renewed \ their activities with vigor, and owing -i to a series of loose rushes the vicinity j of the Central line became the scene oil hostilities. After a valiant effort fco score by J>nmi the ball was passed to Maher from a scramble, and a try resulted, but the kick at goal was unsuccessful. . The maintenance of the Opawa attack necessitated defensive j ( tactics on the part of tlie_ Central | team, but this proved unavailing., as Penny scored for Opawa, shortly after. lliley converted. The play of the blues then became more spirited, and when in a favorable position Hodson made a glaring error which gave Central a free-kick, Jackson piloting the ball between.the uprights. Central wore not really dangerous again, and in the/closing stages a piece of concerted play on the part of several of the Opawa backs allowed A. Dunokley to score near the corner. The kick at goal was unsuccessful, and the game terminated shortly after in favor of Opawa by 11 points to 3. Mr C. N. Fisk refereed.