RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 246, 16 September 1932, Page 12

RUGBY FOOTBALL

THE MERRITT CUP,

CONVENT SCHOOLS AT PLAY.

The annual Rugby match between the Palmerston North and Levin Convent Schools was played on the grounds of the local school yesterday, an interesting and at times exciting game closing with the honours resting with Palmerston North by 17 points to 12, and they thereby retained the Merritt Cup which they had won 12 months ago—the first occasion on which it was contested.

Both fifteens included sevoral big boys, but the majority, were small and there was a general reluctance to get down on the ball. The local forwards were superior, but the visitors displayed the better combination in the open and Mellor, who was the outstanding player, registered four crossings for Levin. This player early gave his side the lead, but Telford equalised the scoring when he secured in the open to race across to the opposite wing and get over. From a line-out, Gavin, who was a good leader for the home pack, broke through to cross and add the major points with a good kick. Levin failed to turn two penalty shots at goal to account and, although they held the upper hand to the close of the spell, they could not register a crossing. In the second half a breakaway enabled Murphy to put the local team further ahead. 'the visitors_ brought Timu, who had been putting in some brilliant bursts when in the roll of full-back, up to centre, and it was a return pass from him which brought Mellor his second crossing. Gavin replied with another solo effort from a line-out and with the scores 14: —ti, the trophy appeared to be safe. Awarded a free kick in his own twentyfive, Mellor short punted to recover and then lino out at the home corner. From the throw in he secured to force his way over, while, almost immediately following, a concerted effort saw the ball come back infield from the right wing for Mellor to register his fourth try. With the game in tho balance, the home forwards capped another rush bv a scoro right on time. Cooper being the contributor—Palmerston 17. Levin 12. Mr R. Merritt, the coach of the local team, refereed. At the conclusion of the game the teams were entertained at afternoon tea when the opportunity was taken to hand over the trophy to the captain of the local team. A miniature cup, which had been donated by Mr M. O’Brien, for the member of the Midget team gaining the most points during the competition, was presented to Pat Hickey.

SCRUMMAGE PLAY

INTERNATIONAL ANSWERS

BOARD

The Welsh international, Rowe Harding, in an article in the London Daily Express, criticises the International Rugby Board’s assertion that the fixed formation has caused forward play to deteriorate. He says the best answers to that were the All Blacks, Waratahs and Springboks, all of whom adopted fixed positions in the scrummage. What British Rugby wanted was the ruthlessness which the Dominions possessed, and also a disregard of the pious phrase, “The game for the game’s sake,” which covered slack training, lack of enthusiasm, thinking, and determination.