BY 21 POINTS TO 3

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 11 June 1945, Page 3

BY 21 POINTS TO 3

RIVAL DEFEAT COLLEGE Rival defeated College by 21 points to three in a senior Rugby match at Trafalgar Park on Saturday. In the first spell College held their own against their heavier and more experienced opponents, but after the' change-over Rival dominated the game. Rival were without the service of N. Avery, who broke a small bone in his hand in the match against Buller on King’s Birthday holiday. They had a good set of inside backs, however, with Kotua and Vass at five-eighths and Christmas at centre. McKenzie, on the wing, went well and gained three of Rival’s five tries. Hill was one of the best of the Rival forwards, being well supported by Cuthbert, Burn and Bonnington. In the first spell the College forwards regularly outhooked their opponents, but the backs were unable to break the defence. Houlker, Best, Bamford and Meadowcroft were College forwards who were always prominent. Of the backs, Savage was outstanding, opening the way for frequent attacking mpvements and being very sound on defence. Boyes showed promise, but spoilt a number of movements by holding on too long. Kimberley played a very sound game at fullback once he realised his mistake in waiting for the ball to bounce instead of fielding it on the full.- The teams were:— College: Kimberley; Griffith’, Kershaw, Hunt; Boyes, Veysey; Savage; Lowes, Meadowcroft, Colleson, Bamford, Best, Donald, Houlker, Boyd. Rival: McConchie; Sundborn, Christmas, McKenzie; Vass, Kotua; Elkington; Raruku, Bonnington, Burn; Mayers, Cuthbert, Steere, Heath, Hill. Houlker and Meadowcroft handled in a College forward rush and the ball went to Savage, who ran round for a try under the posts. Rival attacked and from a ruck on the College line Kotua sent on to Christmas, who ran McKenzie into position for the winger to race across for a try. Kimberley failed to take a high-kicked ball on the full and McKenzie followed up fast, gained possession and scored his second try. \ Shortly after half-time Elkington ran round ' a scrum near the College line for another try. Rival continued to attack and Kotua scored when he broke through on the blind side of a scrum. A field goal by Kotua made the score 16-3 and before the end of the game McKenzia scored his third try when he received a long pass near the College line and ran round to ground the ball under the *posts. Kotua converted. making the final score: Rival 21, College 3. Thj referee was Mr A. Croucher.