RUGBY TROPHY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22424, 21 May 1936, Page 9

RUGBY TROPHY

UNIVERSITIES' MATCH AUCKLAND TEAM'S SUCCESS VICTORY OVER WELLINGTON THIRTY POINTS TO EIGHT After a lapse of some years the Auckland University College and Victoria College (Wellington) Rugby teams met at Edon Park yosterday afternoon in fine weather under ideal ground conditions and in the presence of a. large gathering of spectators. The first spell was evenly contested, but in the second the Auckland team was always on top and it eventually won by 80 points to 8. The first half of the game was too keen 1 j contested tc be productive of spectacular play. The tackling on both sides was excellent. Auckland had lead of six points at half-time. Wellington scored shortly after the interval, and, when the try was converted, and there was but one point difference between the teams, it looked | the result might eventually be close. However, the Auckland team, especially the backs, showed a definite superiority from this point onwards and it ran out a winner. The outstanding feature of the match was the great display given by R. G. Bush, the Auckland fullback. His handling of the ball, tackling and kicking were excellent. What pleased the crowd most, however, was his ability to move up quickly into the threequarter line and thus make an extra link in the ; backs. One try was the direct outcome of this forcsightedness, while on an- ; other occasion he forced his way right j through the opposition to score a specj tacular, and popular try. Mulvihill's Good Game Next to Bush the best back on the field was D. Mulvihill, Auckland's second five-eighths. His handling of the ball was almost faultless, while his heady play and quickness to see an opening enabled him to frequently beat the opposition, and to gain much valuable ground for his side. It was an exhibition reminiscent of his form of three or four seasons ago. Inglis, Hayinan and Kirkland all played good games in the winning team's back division, while Drake, Thomas, Morgan, Dal ton and Lange were always conspicuous among the forwards. The Wellington back division did not see as much of the ball as the opposition, but, nevertheless, it was not a very impressive combination. Rae, the halfback, and Ekdahl, on the left wing, were the most prominent for good allround play. The forwards played well as a pack throughout, but the inability of the backs to give them reasonable support spoiled their efforts to a great extent. Blacker was an able leader, and Desborough, Wilson and Simpson were also prominent.

Auckland Scores Early Aukland kicked off with the advantage of the sun, and Kirkland early made a strong run down the left wing. A loose forward rush developed shortly afterwards and Thomas Bcored in a handy position. Bush missed the shot at goal. Auckland, 3; Wellington, 0.

Victoria attacked for some minutes; 1 * but passing rushes by the backs wero checked with solid tackling. Mulvihill ' J made a tricky run through the opposing backs, only to see Kirkland drop his pass with a clear run in. Both sides attempted to open up the game, but the tackling was too sound to enable much headway to be made. Russell, a visiting forward, retired with an eye injury, being replaced by Simpson. Auckland's second try was scored when Bush went up from fullback and made an ■? extra man in a passing rush. He sent on to Hayman, who fended off Rae and raced past Hoy to score. Bush again missed the shot, and at half-time * the score was: Auckland, 6; Wellington, o. Wellington scored three minutes after ' : - : resuming. From a scrum near Auck- r ■' land's line the ball was smartly sent out and a snappy piece of passing ended p in Irving scoring near the posts. Rae converted. Auckland, 6; Wellington, 5. ; Tries Scored Quickly

The Wellington backs were now dis-' playing better combination, while the 1 forward? were seen in some good dribbling rashes. O'Regan was nearly 7 across, following loose play, being pushed against the corner flag. It was then Auckland's turn and passing be-' tween backs and forwards caught the opposition out of place and Drako scored near the posts. Bush converted. Auckland, 11; Wellington, 5.

A minute or two later Mulvihill - snapped up the ball in the loose and - raced through the visiting backs to "" score wide out. Bush's kick just missed. Auckland, 14; Wellington, 5. Bush again joined in a passing rush. • ~ brushed off several would-be tacklers and crossed wide out for a fine try. He took the kick himself and the ball hit * the crossbar and rebounded. Auckland, r 17; Wellington, 5. Thurston then had equal misfortune with a penalty shot from near tho twenty-five at a fairly wide angle, the ~ ball striking the far po3t and rebounding. An opportunity a minute later saw , the same kicker miss by a wide margin from an easier angle, and Bush • found touch with a punt from his own goal-line to five yards beyond half- Vs way. Auckland attacked strongly and . 1 a scrum was formed a yard or so from Wellington's line. The visitors were pushed back and Newman fell on the ball for a try. Bush converted. Auckland, 22; Wellington, 5. An Auckland passing rush, in which £* Mulvihill broke past his opponent, ended in Kirkland scoring near tho cor- r ner. Bush failed at goal. Auckland, 25; Wellington, 5. Another try resulted when from a _ scrum in the visitors' twenty-five Inglis went round on the blind side and scored after a 15 yards run. Bush con- ■■<* verted from near the touch line. Auckland, 30; Wellington, 5. Right on the call of timo Wellington was awarded a penalty in front of the posts, but Thurston missed tho shot. Then a loose rush beat the defence and 3 Lango scored at the corner. Thurston "" tailed at goal and the game ended:— Auckland, 30; Wellington, 8. Mr. A. A. Lucas was referee. TROPHY FOR WINNING TEAM PRESENTATION FROM JAPAN The teams lined up in front of the main grandstand at the conclusion of the match and a trophy was presented to R. G. Bush, captain of tho winning team. This was a handsome engraved rose bowl, presented by Mr. S. Tsuda, president of the Kanswai Rugby Union, ' Japan, in commemoration of the rec<;nt visit of tho New Zealand University team to that country. A similar trophy was presented for competition between the Otago and Canterbury University fifteens in the South Island. The rose bowl was handed to Bush by Mr. Frost, president of the Aucklaud Rugby Union, who congratulated both teams upon their exhibition. The Wellington team was subsequently entertained at a korero in the tearooms at Eden Park, many past rep- ' resentatives of both colleges and New* " Zealand University players being present. A cabaret evening followed. •*'*;