UNIVERSITY IN FORM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21617, 9 October 1933, Page 13

UNIVERSITY IN FORM

nrsn strengthens attack A remodelled University back line indulged in great scoring at the expense ill College Rilles in the curtain-raiser game at Eden Park, I diversity gaining a decisive victory by points to ;j in a game which produced Hashes of brilliant Rugby. The playing of Rush at second lite-eighths made all the difference. The starved thrcequarter line, which was almost powerless against Ponsonby the previous week, received excellent service and functioned perfectly. Although Collge Rifles is not the strongest of teams, Rush's play on Saturday suggested that, had he been plaved closer to the serum in the critical match against I'onsonby, I'nivrrsity might have been the undisputed champions of the season. lu the first, half, with University playing into sun and wind, College Rilles made a fairly creditable showing. Only brilliant defensive work by Bush and Caughey prevented several tries in the opening stages. The first score came when Milliken. in the College Rilles twenty-five, threw a long pass to Rush, ■who " potted " a neat goal. From a forward scramble in midficld shortly afterwards Stone broke away and passed to Watson, who scored posts for Wales to convert.

Willing play by the College Rilles forwards, led by Watson, Ross and Stewart, together with bright individual efforts by Thompson, an able deputy for S. Kirk in the halfback position, maintained this single-point lead until just on half time. Then Caughey, receiving a long pass from the base of the scrum when Ru h had been badly obstructed, made a splendid swerving run, which covered half the length of the field and ended in a spectacular try between the posts. Bush converted.

The second half was just a long succession of sweeping attacks by the I'niversity hacks. r l he College Rifles forwards could not stand the pace and I niversity started to win scrums and line-outs with unfailing regularity. It was then that Hush, with his strong running, made his presence felt as an attacking hack. Shortly after half-time he (-ut through brilliantly to send Caughey over for a try between the posts and then, when Lewis swung, an attack infield from the left wiitg, Hush brushed aside several opponents to score wide out. He scored, his second try when Caughey snapped up a weak" kick by Franklin 111 and passed infield Hush grounding the ball between the posts. Then Milliken secured in bis own Mf and made a fine side-line dash of 7oyds. to score between the posts. Hush scored another try when he cut through from a serum and. accepted a reverse pass from Sherwood., and at iho close of the game .Caughey rounded off a capital back movement- with a try in the corner. Of the six tries scored in the second half Hush converted two and Caughey one. College Hiflos was completely overshadowed..although Watson, in ihe forwards, played a tireless game throughout. Coign 11 and Stacev were outstanding in the University pack and Green provided a sound connecting link between Jngusch and Bush. "A feature of the game was Caughey's excellent backing up on defence. He also kicked a surprising length, at times almost rivalling Bush's colossal punts to touch. Mr. S. Hollander was referee. NARROW VICTORY TECHNIC A L DEFEATED In a game in which neither team contrived to produce anything like sparkling l'ugby, Manukau, ' after leading 9 —o at half-time, beat Technical Old Boys by one point. The closeness of the scoring and the willing nature of the tackling always sustained the interest of the spectators. Both sides scored two tries, Technical converting one, and Heazlewood kicked a penalty for Manukau. Technical held a distinct territorial advantage throughout. The forwards gained the ball cleanly from the scrums and lineouts. They were also good in the loose, but the Manukau defence was always sound. The Manukau backs nevertheless were a slightly better set,especially on defence,, while on attack, Hunter, halfback, combined splendidly with the elusive and clever Brimble. Berridge, at second five-eighths, made some fine openings, . while Poulton was very speedy and scored a good try. Heazlewood played soundly at fullback, and kicked a' considerable length. Among the Technical backs Arrow, n junior, at halfback, sent out good passes. The transfers of Harris to Murdoch were at times very poor. Nevertheless Murdoch,made some good openings. Common, on the wing, was dashing and D. E. Keane at fullback was sound. A. Keane. Savory and J. L. Nelson were the best of the Technical pack, while for " Manukau, Wiklund, Johnson and Kereopa were always in the picture. Tries for Manukau were scored by Brimble and Poulton. and Heazlewood kicked a penalty goal. For Technical, Common and A. Keane scored tries, one of which was converted by Murdoch. Mr. C. W. Henderson was referee. HIGH SCORING GAME WIN FOB GBAFTON In a fairly high scoring game, played at a fast pace. Grafton, after leading 19—G at half-time, managed to stave off a gallant Otahuhu second-spell attack and win comfortably by 24 to 10. Although ragged the play never lacked interest, especially in the second spell, with Otahuhu striving valiantly to re- i duce its leeway. Grafton was clearly superior in the first spell, although it ! rarely obtained possession from the set j scrums. Grafton held the advantage in { the lineouts and shared honours in the loose play. It was the Grafton hacks however, who made all the difference. They threw the ball about in good style as compared with the ragged play of the opposing rearguard, and were much superior on defence. In the second spell, Otahuhu set out determinedly to reduce its leeway and would undoubtedly have been closer to its opponents at the finish had not Gladding misjudged the dead-ball line and lost a certain try. After this Otahuhu appeared demoralised and Grafton had little difficulty in scoring a converted try which placed it in a commanding position. For Grafton N. Fraser, ihe former Grammar School wing, played well, being the outstanding back on the field, and like Moore, made some good openings. Pa ton, at fullback, played soundly, while among the forwards W. Fraser. Bunting and Crump were most promiiicnt. Otahuhu fielded a considerably disorganised fifteen, and under the circumstances made a good showing. Arnold, halfback, played well, going close to scoring time and again. Boloski made some good dashes at centre, and Gladding was dashing on the wing. Among the forwards .Tones and Heath were the best, while Clarke hooked with conspicuous success. Grafton's score consisted of, tries by N. Fraser, Finlayson, Halls, Stuart and Currey. Pa ton converted three tries and also kicked a penalty goal. For | Otahuhu Gladding (2), Arnold. .Tones and Heath scored unconverted tries. | Mr. C. F, Pnull was reieiee.