RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21645, 16 May 1932, Page 10

RUGBY FOOTBALL

FIRST GRADE MATCHES SOUTHERN BEATS ALHAMBRA TAIERI GOES DOWN TO ZINGARI Fine weather favoured the continuation of the Rugby First Grade competition on Saturday, although the grounds, for the most part, were on the heavy side after Friday night’s rain. Southern stored a somewhat lucky win over Alhambra by six points to three, after a fast and exciting game in which the losers had all the better of matters after the change-over, while Zingari downed Taieri by 25 points to six. Union scored their first win of the season by defeating University B by 19 points to 10. and Kaikorai beat Pirates by 17 points to five. The results of the matches were as follow:

Southern .... 15 Alhambra .... 3 University A ..19 Dunedin 0

Zingari-Rieh-mond .. 1. .. 25 ,Taieri 6 Kaikorai .. .. 17 Pirates 5 Union 19 University B .. 10

POSITIONS OF TEAMS

The positions of the teams in the First Grade competition-are as follow: —

SOUTHERN v. ALHAMBRA

The game between Alhambra and "Southern, played on Carisbrook, provided a fast and interesting tussle, and although Southern emerg’ed victorious by six points to three, the result, on the run of the play, might just as easily have been reversed. The ground was a little on the heavy side, hut despite this fact both teams kept up a fast pace throughout, a notable feature of the game being the bright play of Alhambra in the second half. Both forwards and backs put forth their utmost efforts, the backs especially combining in some pretty passing movements, with the result that Southern were on the defensive fpr the greater part of the spell. The'teams were as follow: — Southern: Backs —Bolton, Morrison, Smith, Casey, Chooquee, Wilson, Simon.Forwards: Inglis. Hore, Edwards, Turner, M'Donald; .Niven. Carnegie, Strachan. Alhambra:,', Lacks—Buswell, Wilson, Flint, Griffn, Harris, Callander, Didham. Forwards: Frood, Souter, King, Miller, ■Binnie, Walker,. Earle, Garbutt. Alhambra kicked oS from the Hillside end, Simon returning to midfield. Offside play gave Alhambra a penalty a few yards inside ’halfway, but Buswell’s kick . fell short. From a scramble near halfway Morrison secured and inpassed to Hore, and the forward gained a few yards and. returned the pass to Morrison, who was thrown but on the twenty-five. The Southern forwards, with Hore and Inglis in the van, set. up a solid assault on the Alhambra line, but Callander lifted-,the, pressure with a long kick which found the line near halfway. Again the Southern pack went to the attack, but a penalty in favour of the Red and Blacks saw play once more centred around midfield. From a scrum near halfway, Simon sent his backs away and the ball went to Smith, who drew the defence and sent out to Morrison. The last-named ran a few yards, but threw a wild pass infield, where the ball was snapped up by Wilson, who took an unsuccessful snap at goal. Hardly was the ball in play again than an infringement gave Southern a penalty which Niven put over from near the twenty-five. Southern 3, Alhambra nil. Simon broke away from a scramble and took the ball at his toes nearly to the Alhambra line, but no support was. forthcoming, and Griffin managed to clear. A solid scramble ensued in front of the Red and Black goal, with Southern keeping up a stern pressure. Offside play by an Alhambra forward saw the Red and Blacks penalised right in. front of their own' goal, and Sitrion took aft easy kick to notch a further' three points. Southern 6, Alhambra nil. Spurred by this reverse the Alhambra pack swept down the field and got to the Southern twenty-five, where Buswell had an unsuccessful shot from a penalty. Play worked back to halfway, where Callander secured from the ruck and put in a great solo run to Southern’s quarter line before he was brought down. A long return upfield by Bolton transferred play to halfway, and here the Alhambra backs came into the picture and set up a nippy passing movement which ended by Wilson, the Alhambra winger, being pushed out when within striking distance. Smith sent up a long line-finder to the centre of the field, and from the ensuing line out the Red and Black pack came away and tore through the opposition almost to the Southern line, and for the next munle of minutes the Black and White defence was well tested. Simon cleared, and the ball, smartly fielded by Flint, went to. Wilson (Alhambra), who put in a jinky run -and got well inside the Black arid white quarter-line; but his pass went into-the hands of ri Southern forward, who sent the'' ball well out of danger. Again the Alhambra backs swung into action and Wilson made another good run, but his effort was unsupported. The Alhambra forwards launched a determined attack and drove their opponents back to their quarter-line, where Buswell had another unsuccessful attempt to goal from a penalty. The Southern pack broke away ip a loose rush and transferred play to halfway, where the backs, set in motion by Simon, took up the running and carried the ball to the Red and Black twenty-five. The play remained, there until the spell ended with the score: Southern 6, Alhambra nil. The'second spell opened with a bright combined movement by the Alhambra backs and for a few minutes the Black and Whites were defending in their own quarter. Bolton put his side on the attack with a long return, and Niven headed a speedy loose rush deep into Alhambra territory, where Didham snapped the ball up from his toes and transferred to Harris, to Wilson, who got nearly to halfway before he was thrown out. The Red and Black pack followed up the advantage and pressed clown on to Southern’s twenty-five where Simon initiated a passing rush which returned play to midfield. ' Strachan broke through at the head of a loose rush and dribbled well down the field before the movement was checked. A penalty to Alhambra nullified the advantage, and Callander brought the backs into action. A pretty piece of passing between Harris, Flint and Griffin say the last-named sprint down *the line and gain a good slice of ground for his side, but doggedly the Southern pack pushed their way back to the halfway line. The Alhambra backs wore now getting plenty of the ball, but although rush after rush was opened up, the movements were marred before the ball had time to roach the wings. A- long-range line kick by Buswell put Alhambra on the attack almost on the Black and White goal line, but a mark by Wilson lifted the pressure. Alhambra returned to the attack, and the backs swung into action, what looked like a promising movement being spoiled by a bad pass. Immediately afterwards Harris whipped the hall over to Callander, who passed to Flint. Flint sent a low pass to Wilson, and, coming round in time to get the winger’s return pass, heat the opposition badly to score a beautiful try near the corner. The kick at goal failed. Southern 6, Alhambra 3. Alhambra now began to play with a dash that appeared to take their opponents by surprise, and for the next few minutes the Black and Whites had to strain every effort to keep their line 1 intact. Gradually Southern worked back 1 to tlie halfway line, but the Red and Black backs were getting all the ball, and : a succession of bright combined move- | meats in which Callander was always j prominent hail the Southern defence eonj stantly on the alert. From a scramble | just outside Southern’s twenty-five Cali lander sprinted away on his oVn, being i well tackled by Bolton with only a yard i or two to go. Smith cleared, but again | flic Red and Black hacks got going, a : flashing movement, ending by Wilson being thrown out at the twenty-five.

Southern made a final desperate rally just on the call of time, but the ball went out near Alhambra’s twenty-five, and the game ended with the scores: Southern ~ .. .. 0 points. Alhambra .... .. 3 points. Mr J. Aitcheson was referee. KAIKORAI v. PIRATES The match between Kaikorai and Pirates, played at Tahuna Park on a heavy ground, provided a hard tussle among the forwards, the backs on neither side doing particularly well until the second spell, when the Kaikorai rearguard made one or two attractive moves which just fajled to reach completion until just before the finish, when they achieved their objective. The teams were as follow: — Kaikorai.—Backs: D. Sullivan, N. Johnston, I. Ross, J. Salt, R. Laing, Cameron, A. Francis. Forwards: E. Chettleburgh, W. Lucy, G. M'ardy, R. Allan, J. Barron, H. Perry, C. Sonntag, J. Delahunty. Pirates. —Backs: Symonds, Tapley, Allen, Easton, Trevathan, Hill, Todd. Forwards: Statham, Manning, Stuart, Glendining, Waddell, Gordon, Duff, Roberts.

Neither side had a very definite advantage at first. Kaikorai were superior in the tight, but the Pirates forwards were breaking through fairly often, Roberts and Glendining being prominent in* the loose rushes. The hill pack, however, outclassed the Pirates forwards, Sonntag and Allen. being well to the fore in the tight play. After some fairly loose play Todd sent the Pirates backs away,, but the sally broke down. Easton, however, beat Sullivan for the ball and ran across, Allen converting. Pirates 5, Kaikorai nil. Ten minutes of up-and-down play followed, and. gradually the Kaikorai forwards forced their opponents into their .own twenty-five, where from a loose rush Chettleburgh scrambled over oh the corner. Francis missed with the kick. Pirates 5, Kaikorai 3, Pirates had the advantage for a while, • and a promising passing movement among the backs broke down, Johnston, the wing three-quarter, fumbling the ball. Laing got possession, but knocked on, and Francis,.taking the penalty kick, sent the ball over, making the score; Kaikorai 6, Pirates' 5. Not long before half time Duff retired injured and was replaced by Spencer. A little while after this the Pirates - forwards came, away from a scrum near the line in a great rush led by Roberts. The ball went to Trevathan (first five-eighth), who dived for the lirje, but fell short. Play was fairly loose, sweeping up and down the field, early in the second spell, with Kaikorai doing' practically all the attacking and the Pirates’ forwards playing very lifelessly. The Hill backs made one or two efforts to get. away, but their movements collapsed after a few yards. A series of scrums close to the Pirates’ line followed, and frorfi one of these Francis shot round and scored, converting his own try. Kaikorai 11, Pirates 5. The Hill forwards returned to the attack, and several times Pirates found themselves in a precarious position. After withstanding a persistent attack, a scrum enabled the Pirates’: team :to clear.' Play was held up for a while to attend to an injury to Allen,, and ' on the. resumption Laing got possession from a scrum and dived over the corner. Sullivan failed to convert. Kaikorai 14, Pirates 5. A few minutes later Allen went off and was replaced by Watt. Kaikorai kept up a persistent attack, and Salt nearly got over, knocking down the corner flag. Sympnds, the Pirates’ full-back, went off injured and was replaced by Pitches. Several promising efforts were initiated by the Kaikorai backs, but invariably the passing broke down just } when they looked like getting through, so that the game resolved itself into a forward tussle once more. Just before time, however, the Hill |iacks got going properly and a nice passing rush was completed by Salt, who was collared just after he had touched down. Sullivan failed with the kick. The game ended with the score: Kaikorai 17 points. Pirates 5 points. Mr I. Grant was referee. UNIVERSITY A v. DUNEDIN The match between University A and Dunedin took place at the University Oval at Logan Park, which was in fair order. The teams were as follow:-r-University A. —Backs: Ruff, StevensonWright, M‘Kenzie, Dunne, Gillies, Tuck, Pryde. Forwards: Macfarlane, Service, Benson, Strapg, Hartnell, Sutherland, Chapman, Hamilton. _ Dunedin. Backs:. Hayes,. M'Shane, OliVbr, Dawkins, Lindsay, > '‘o’Cbhnell, Treacy. Forwards: Parsons, O’Reilly, Beard, Herbert, Marks, Burgess, Jackson, M'Laughlan. ... ...Dunedin kicked off against the l sun and a slight breeze. Play hung about halfway for a time until Treacyj/ Dunedin’s half-hack, cut in nicely and carried the ball to University’s line, where he was brought down; The Light Blues relieved the position, and for a good while midfield play took place. University was then awarded a free kick, but Ruff’s shot at goal from well out failed. The Light Blues were getting the ball from the greater number of scrums at this stage, and the backs went away in several promising movements into Dunedin territory, but the Dark Blues were putting up a stubborn defence. Following a series of University attacks, Pryde sent the ball out on the blind side, and Dunne scored on the corner. Ruff converted .with a fine kick. , University .A 5, Dunedin nil. University continued to attack, and in all departments were, superior' to their opponents. From a ; scrum rifearvjDunedin’s twenty-five Pryde sent' the ball, out to Stevenson-Wrigfat., who made a' good run and passed in to Hartnell, the last-named going over. They were brought back to a five yards scrum, however, and the remainder of the spell was spent with the Light Blues largely on the attack, the Dunedin forwards breaking through on one or two occasions without result.

The play was in midfield for a con-, siderable time after the resumption, with neither side gaining any material advantage. Dunedin then pressed into University’s territory, where several attempts at goal failed. The Light Blues swept up the field again, and from a scramble near halfway Hartnell broke away and scored against stiff opposition. ' Ruff's kick was successful. University 10, Dunedin nil. University kept the game well in Dunedin’s territory, and from hear the. twenty-five Stevenson-Wright dashed away for a good try, which Ruff failed to convert. University 13,_ Dunedin nil. Although several Dunedin players were going well, notably Treacy and Dawkins in the backs and Parsons in the forwards, the team as a whole was fading, and could hot hold University. From some tight play near Dunedin’s twenty-five M'Kenzie went away well to score near the corner. Ruff again failed with a difficult kick. University 16, Dunedin nil. At this stage Lee went on for Dunedin in place of M'Laughlan, who was suffering from a leg injury. The next few minutes were characterised by bright flashes of play on the part of the University men, who were “ all over ” their opponents. Pryde sent his backs away several times in swift rushes, but Dunedin’s defence proved effective, until M'Kenzie broke away from near halfway, and, with a great run, beat off three attackers and scored. Ruff missed with the kick. University 10, Dunedin nil. With a few minutes to go Dunedin rallied, but to no effect, and the game ended with the scores: , , University A .. .. 10 points Dunedin Nil Mr R, Herd was the referee. UNION v. UNIVERSITY B In a fairly even contest on the North Ground Union succeeded in defeating University B by the comfortable margin of 10 points to 10,. In the earlier part of the game the University backs worked well and made frequent excursions into their opponents’ territory, some of which were successful. In the second half, however, Union adopted very effective spoiling tactics and also instituted some good back play. The teams wore as follow:- — Union.—Backs; Silver, jU'Lennan, Werner, Stokes, Hay, \urgcss, Garden. Forwards: Morgan, M’Quccn, Collier, Duff, Lang, Grant, Nome, and M'Cullough. University B.—Backs: Nicholson, Tlawkesworth, Dovi, Jones, Uttley, Henderson, J?lyth. Forwards: Lopdell, Bannatyne, Smith, Harrison, Platts, Ross, Hardic-Neil, Porteous. After the kick-off play was confined to neutral ground for a period until the University rearguard broke away and succeeded in gaining a considerable amount of ground. The Union forwards

packed strongly and forced play back | towards the University twenty-five, but j the University defence was equal to the j occasion and play once again went back |to halfway. A period of somewhat uninteresting play was followed by a good I loose rush by the University forwards, J and from a scramble in Union’s twentyfive Uttley snapped up the ball and dashed across in a handy position. Hawkesworth kicked a good goal. University 5, Union nil. Shortly afterwards the Union pack instituted a loose rush which penetrated the University defence and Collier rounded off a fast movement by scoring a good try. Silver failed with the kick. University B 5, Union 3. The spell ended with the scores unchanged. On the* resumption of play University attacked in determined fashion, and for a time play was confined to Union's twenty-five, Hawkesworth finally gaining possession and diving across at the corner. He converted his own try.with a splendid kick. University B 10, Union 3. Spurred on by this reverse, the Union men began to put more dash "into their play, and for the greater part of the remainder of the game kept University on the defensive. Two infringements by University were turned to good advantage by Silver, who kicked two good penalty goals. University 10, Union 9. Soon afterwards the Union backs swung into action. Stokes gaining a lot of ground before passing to Werner, who transferred to M‘Lennan, the last-named player dashing across the lino. Silver kicked a good goal. Union 14, University 10. Towards the conclusion of the game Stokes secured from a line-out and passed to M'Lennan, who again scored. Silver converted the try. The game ended without further incident, the final scores being: Union .. .. 19 points. ' University B ~ .. 10 points. Mr A. Hay was referee. ZINGARI-RICHMOND v. TAIERI Zingari-Richmond met Taieri at Montecillo on Saturday, and in a game mostly confined to the forwards, but enlivened by some brilliant back play by Zingari, especially Procter, who scored three tries after running the length of the field, emerged victorious by 25 points to 6 points. The margin of points in Zingari’s favour, however, was no indication as to the respective strength of the two teams, as the Taieri forwards territorially had the better of the game. The /teams were as follow: Zingari-Richmond. Backs Foote, Procter, Caradus, J. Stevenson, Lucas, Cranefield, Rapson; forwards—-Sturgeon, Mac Natty, Fleming, Sanderson, Donnelly, Morrison, M'Donald, and Douglas. Taieri.—Backs—Pearce, Ives, D, Stevenson, G. Murdoch, Bathgate, Stevens, Geary; forwards —Burt, Moffatt, W. Murdoch, Findlay, Phillips, Finlayson, Scott, and Broadly. Bathgate kicked off for Taieri, and play immediately went to the Zingari fine, Procter working play back to halfway . with a good line kick. The Taieri forwards, led by Findlay and Finlayson, carried play back to Zingari territory, and the Colours' line was in danger for several minutes. From a scrum near halfway Rapson received. and passed to Cranefield, to Caradus, to Procter, who beat several Taieri backs to go over at* the corner and round behind the posts for a beautiful try, which Foote had no difficulty in converting. Zingari 5 points, Taieri nil. This reverse woke up the country team, and Bathgate received at midfield and made a determined run for the Zingari line, Foote taking him in fine style. A few minutes later Taieri were awarded a free kick in a handy position, but Bathgate failed to open the score. After some give and take play Geary sent his backs away, Ives, after passing, being forced out at the corner. The Taieri forwards were playing vigorously at this stage, only determined tackling by Zingari keeping them out. Rapson, however, lifted the pressure with a good line kick, and a few minutes later the same player made a tricky solo run to the Taieri line. After scrambling play in Taieri territory Procter picked up, and when blocked passed infield to Sanderson, who forced himself over for a try. Foote added the major points with a good kick. 10—nil.

The Taieri forwards, with Finlayson, Findlay, and Broadly in the van, rushed play to the Zingari line, where some solid scrummaging took place, Zingari being hard pressed for some time. From a set scrum on the Zingari twenty-five Bathgate secured possession and cut right through the defence to score a welldeserved try. • The same player failed with the kick at goal. 10 —3. Enlivened by this success, the Taieri backs and forwards set up a continuous attack on the Zingari line, only over-eagerness keeping them from scoring. From a scrum on the Colours’ twenty-five Bathgate received and passed to Stevens, who short punted. Procter, taking the ball five yards from his own goal line, made one of his characteristic dashes, and beating half the Taieri team, finished off a brilliant run behind the posts. Foote had no difficulty in goaling. A few minutes later the half time whistle sounded with Taieri on attack, the scores' being: Zingari-Rich-mond 15, Taieri 3. The Taieri forwards made most of the play upon resuming, and bad Zingari penned on their line for several minutes. D. Stevenson went to full-back and Pearce to centre, while Stevens changed places with G. Murdoch in the Taieri team in the second half. After 'Zingari had mpmeutarily cleared their line, the Taieri forwards, led by Scott, Phillips, and Findlay, worked play back, and from a scrum near the corner Findlay picked up and crossed for a try. The kick at goal, taken by the scorer, went wide. 15—6. A period of ragged play followed until the Zingari forwards, with the. ball at their feet, made a dash to the Taieri line, where, from scrambling play, Fleming picked up and went over unopposed at the corner. Foote again converted with a beautiful kick. Zingari-Richmond 20, Taieri 6. Spurred on by this reverse, the Taieri forwards once more set up an attack on the Colours’ line, but the defence held. Taieri hooked the ball from a scrum on the Zingari twenty-five, and Bathgate sent the ball out to Pearce, who, when threatened, threw a wild pass, which was intercepted by the übiquitous Procter, who set sail for the Taieri line, and although half-tackled by Stevens, managed to break loose and run round behind the poets for his third try of the day, which he also converted. In the _ closing stages of the game the. Taieri backs essayed passing, but they gained no ground, tlie movement going straight across field. After J. Stevenson and Procter had both made dashes down the sideline the Taieri forwards again took command, and the final whistle went with them still on attack. The final scores were; Zingari-Richmond .. 25 points. Taieri 6 points. Mr W. Jenkins was the referee.

SECOND GRADE. Training College 15, Ravensbourne 3, THIRD GRADE. Zingari A 30, Dunedin 5, Union 20, Zingari B 0. Kaikorai 11, Brighton 0. FOURTH GRADE. Taieri 24, Union 3. Alhambra A 16, Zingari 0. FIFTH GRADE. Zingari 35, Kaikorai 0. IN OTHER CENTRES AUCKLAND GAMES. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 15. University 26, Training College.il. Ponsonby 13, College Rifles 6. Grammar Old Boys 10, Manukau 8. Marist 6, Technical Old Boys 6. WELLINGTON MATCHES. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 15. SENIOR A. Petone 13, Iljntt 8. Wellington 12, Athletic 6. Eastbourne 20, Bcrhampore 3. Old Boys 9, Marist 4. Poneko 18, Miramar 3. Oriental 22, University 6. SENIOR B. Porinia 9, Hntt 6. Poneko 17, Melrose-Sehvyn 6. Petone 35, Onslow nil.

CHRISTCHURCH COMPETITION. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 15. Sydenham 14, Merivnle 14. University 16, Christchurch 11. Albion 9, Linwood 6. Old Boys 18, Athletic 8. NEW SOUTH WALES DEFEATS QUEENSLAND. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, May 15. (Received May 15, at 5.5 pan.) At Toowoomba New South Wales defeated Queensland by 16 points to 8.

P W Pts. Pts. Flag t: D. F. A. Pts. University A 4 4 — — 90 23 8 Southern .. 4 4 — — 58 6 8 Alhambra .. 4 3 1 — 52 21 6 Zingari .. 4 3 1 — 83 29 6 Kaikorai >. 4 3 1 — 63 25 6 Pirates .... 4 2 2 — 36 41 4 Union .. .. 4 1 3 — 33 107 2 Taieri .. .. .4 — 4 — 15 60 — Dunedin 4 — 4 — 8 64 — University B 4 — 4 — 22 84 —