RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 160, 10 July 1939, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

Woodville Beat Bunnythorpe LUCKY WIN BY SMALL MARGIN Woodville footballers were lucky on Saturday to beat Bunnythorpe by three points to nil in a competition game at Bunnythorpe, the only try being scored quite early in the match. Bunnythorpe wero playing only 13 men, but they were enough to give trouble. Tho game was practically confined to the forwards, as the ball was too slippery for accurate handling and Bunnythorpe pack, breaking through, worried the Woodville backs when they did get a chance to run. The Woodville forwards did not seem to be able to get going and played lifelessly from the start. They won the majority of the set scrums but seemed unable to make use of the ball when they had it. They were letting the home pack through the line-outs. The teams were as follow: Woodville (blue and black): G. S. Bolton, Russell, Neketai, A. Skittrup, F. Ansin, E. McNeil, K. Hutchins, J Bryson, J. Burlacc, V. Birchall, W. Scott, J. McDavitt, Collins, E. Maclean, F. Hutching. Bunnythorpe (maroon): Anderson* McKenzie, Schou, Welshaw, M. Cheatham, Gee, Armstrong, Guy, Spall, Walker, Adamson, Wilds, N. Cheatham. Woodville went up after the kick-off but were sent back to inside half-way by the nicely judged kicking of Anderson. The blues, however, returned to the atack and reached the twenty-five, A series of scrums and line-outs followed, neither side making progress until from the loose McDavitt battled his way through to within ten yards of the line and managed to clear a pass to Skittrup, who went over in the corner. Ansin’s attempt to goal failed. Bunnythorpe attacked then and a desperate defence held them outside the Woodville twenty-five, play ranging up and down within a few yards each side of halfway. Breaking from a line-out, the red forwards worked play across the field and the ball crossed the line with Belshaw after it, but Skittrup beat him by inches for the touchdown and a drop-out was ordered. Half-time sounded with the visitors attacking somewhat more spiritedly, up tho left wing.

Woodville lost a number of opportunities to score in the second spell, although they held play in the home side’s territory almost throughout the period. It was some minutes before they mado use of their advantage and took play inside the quarter line. A dribbling rush took play to the line and Bryson picked up and crossed to touch down but was ordered back for a minor infringement. McNeil looked through once, but Belshaw forced in the nick ot' time. Awarded a penalty, Ansin kicked high for the goal but overshot the mark and the ball went out of play. In a scrum just short of the line a blue forward tried to pick up and was penalised. Thus the game ended without further score. Mr. A. Neville was the referee. RAILWAY RUGBY DRAW WITH NAPIER Woodville railway footballers drew with a Napier team at Woodville yesterday after a forward battle in conditions which were almost Arctic, sleet and snow falling intermittently during the match. The score was 3—3, one unconverted try being scored by each side. Napier had the advantage in the first spell, when their try was scored. There was a line-out just inside Woodville’s twenty-five from which G. Morgan, at first five-eighths, was served. He made a flashing run to score under the posts. Woodville played better in the second half, some hard forward work going in. The try came when J. Burlace and J. Hutchinson broke away with the ball at their toes from half-way. Hutchinson scored at the end of an exciting rush.

Le Bas made some impressive runs, but was usually “on his own.” Mr. F. E. Hosking controlled the game. Despite the extremes of the weather, there was a good gathering of supporters of both sides and all spare overcoats were commandeered.