RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23882, 9 August 1939, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

HIGH SCHOOLS' MATCH OTAGO TOO STRONG FOR TIMARU VISITORS DEFEATED 14—8 Although the football was not consistently up to standard, the match on Carlsbrook yesterday between the first fifteens of the Otago and Timaru Boys' High School was an interesting one. Otago won by 14 points to 8, after being behind 3 nil at half time. The local forwards played good football throughout the game, but in the first half their backs were not handling or combining well, and made a lot of mistakes. In the second half the forwards kept the visitors penned in their twenty-five almost continuously, and it was not until the last minute of play that Timaru's score was improved. Otago deserved to win because of the fine work of its forwards. The Teams The teams were:— Otago Boys' High School.—Backs— T. W. Somerville, B. E. McPherson, R. P. Partridge, R. J. Gough, J. M. Wilkinson, N. A. Frew, H. R. Leith; forwards—J. K. Moore, J. R. W. Logan, J M. Crawford, C. I. Overton, F. K Rer/nie, M. J. L. Phelan. T. R. Ellison. R. W. Pile. Timaru Boys' High School.—Backs —I. Gardiner, P. L. Weenink. A. W. Roberts, R. A. McKenzie. R. J. McLeod, A. D. Hunter, B. A. Neilson; forwards —E. A. Hornbrook, A. C. Houston, D. U. Kyne, D. H. McKenzie, R. W. K. Ainge, A. G. Tait, R. D. Milne. A. H Mouat. A long kick-ofr gave Otago an attacking position right from the start, and Partridge soon had a penalty shot at goal. He missed, and a break by Roberts took Timaru well clear. The passing of the Otago backs was not good, and it was only well-judged line kicking, mostly by Gough, that kept the side on attack. Phelan missed a p-ihalty shot at goal, and when the Timaru backs, with Roberts prominent, had changed the venue of play to the other end. Gardiner made a good attempt with a drop kick from a long way out. N Otago was holding a marked territorial advantage. Another chance was missed, however, when Phelan took a penalty shot in a good position, but again could not get the ball to rise. It was a patchy game, relieved only by the good ground fielding and kicking of the backs on both sides. The Otago scrum was getting a big share of th*? ball from all sources, and a try looked likely when Wilkinson cut through and raced clear. He tried to go all the way on his own, though, and Gardiner's tackle was effective. Despite the time they had spent on defence, the Timaru backs looked the more likely set, and when passing was started from a scrum near Otago's twenty-five line, there was an overlap when the ball reached the wing. Weenink swung inside the Otago fullback and went over for a good try. Hornbrook failed to goal, and Timaru led 3—nil. " A break by Gough raised Otago's hopes, but weak tackling by the home side enabled Timaru to be attacking again at half time. The football was still not up to the recognised standard of such matches. Second Half The Timaru .second -five-eighth, McLeod, did not come back after halt time, and his place .was taken by J. Rendall. A passing rush by the Otago backs ended in Partridge and Frew being stopped'near the line, and then a penalty kick by Partridge hit an upright. The Timaru full-back. Gardiner, was giving an excellent display of.fielding..kicking and tackling, and Somerville, the Otago full-back, also was,fielding- and kicking attractively. Otago was attacking hard, and,'at last the score was everted; Passing from a scrum swung right across field, and Gough finished off the rUslr with a' good try in the corner. Partridge missed the kick at goal and the score was 3—all. The ' Otago forwards, with Ellison, Overton and Phelan prominent, were, doing their job splendidly, and the Whites were penned on their line. Otago went ahead when the forwards piled in from a line out, and Phelan went over for a try. Partridge again missed, and the score was Otago 6—3. Timaru was still defending hard, arid wherf Gough came into passing from a scrum near the touch line in Timaru's twenty-five. McPherson was clear of defenders when the ball reached him and he went over for a try wide out. Somerville kicked a good goal to make the score 11—3. Otago continued to attack steadily. The forwards were still playing good football and the backs were showing a big improvement on their form of the first half. A penalty goal by Somerville from a fair angle looked as though it would end the scoring, but in'the last minute Timaru won clear to half way and Huriter cut through strongly After a run of nearly 30 yards he handed dn to Rendall, who finished oil with a good try.' Hornbrook kicked a goal, and the final whistle sounded: Otago Boys' High School 14 points. Timaru Boys' High School .8 points. Mr D. McKay was the referee. MINOR UNIONS' MATCH SaECTION OF SOUTH ISLAND TEAM Mr A. J. Geddes, South Island selector, was a passenger from Invercargill for Oamaru yesterday. Mr Geddes and the two other South Island selectors—Messrs R. R. Masters and A. A. Adams—will watch the game between North Otago and Manawatu at Oamaru to-day, and the match between North Otago and South Canterbury at Timaru on Saturday. On Saturday evening they will select the boutn Island Minor Unions' team to play against the North Island Minor Unions t°am at Christchurch on August.l9. This match will institute a new method for the selection of All Black teams, and will be the first of the series in preparation for the tour of South Africa next season. ATTRACTIVE FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY Two attractive matches are set down for Carisbrook on, Saturday. At 1.30 the final of the First Grade competition between Union and Southern will be played. Union has shown marked improvement during the latter part of the season, and its convincing defeat of Southern when they met recently is fatill fresh in memory. At 3.15 Otago will meet Bush in the first representative match on Cansbrook this season. Bush is expected to urovide solid opposition for .Otago. which will not have the services of the olayers taking part in the Union. Southern match. A eood side however, has been selected. The box plans will be opened at Charles Be.ee and'Co. this morning. SECONDARY SCHOOLS' MATCH At the Caledonian Ground to-day King's High School first fifteen will play its annual match with St. Kevin s College first fifteen.