Mud Bath On No. 1 Ground

Northern Advocate, 11 July 1938, Page 2

Mud Bath On No. 1 Ground

* Scoring opportunities were few and far between on No. 1 ground where Old- Boys and City staged a mud bath. So heavy and treacherous was the ball that it was difficult enough to kick it, much less handle. 1 Roos landed two penalty goals which made the game safe for City. The first was a splendid effort, right from the sideline and about 30 yards out. A few minutes later he was given a presentation kick right in frdnf of the posts, but had the mortification of missing, so that the halftime score rested at 3 —o in favour of City. a Rods’ Second Penalty, * Old Boys lifting in the scrum gave the City skipper another opportunity, \vhich he turned to account. With the City forwards going great guns in the loose and every man working, they held the' upper hand in this department and frequently swept right down field to camp on Old Boys’ line. Old Boys, however, succeeded in either holding the ball in the scrum Or hooking it—although possession Under such atrocious conditions meant practically nothing at all. i; Obstruction Try. with Bradley, Whiteman, Scarborough and Foote in the lead,"" the ex-scholars too, burst through with ball at toe, and one of these movements undoubtedly would have' resulted in a try had not a City player interfered with Whiteman as the tall Old Boy player was diving for the ball. The referee awarded a penalty try, Masters failing with a kick which rivalled Roos’ earlier duff as the easiest ever missed at Rugby Park. Only three points behind, Old Boys made great efforts to retain their say in the championship, Sam Alison, at this stage, emerging to confound his critics by making several telling runs, using his weight and kicking with good judgment. Try From The Blue. With a try from the blue, City clinched the issue. It would not have been scored if F. Tapper had gone down on. the ball, but as it was Clotworthy was there to finish off a loose rush by touching down wide out. The kick was ineffective.

Facing a position which was now hopeless. Old Boys refused to admit defeat and Rika and Collins, who both

turned on good games, joined the forvvards in some telling work. In desperate attempts tc repulse the invaders, H. Taylor, whose resourcefulness was a City standby, and H. Robinson, a useful member of the pack, were both slightly injured. A game which was surprisingly eventful, under the condition, rarely degenerating into pure soccer, ended with City ahead 9—3. Mr E; A. Harrison refereed.