RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24255, 25 March 1940, Page 12

RUGBY FOOTBALL

ANNUAL EASTER GAMES VISITING TEAMS DEFEATED HOT,WEATHER CONDITIONS The football season for 1940 was opened on Saturday with the usual Easter games, which are annually recognised as the prelude to the club competitions. Two games between Dunedin and visiting teams were played at the Caledonian Ground, and in each instance the home teams were victorious. The sun shone brightly all the afternoon, and the heat was no doubt felt by the players, many of whom were not in sufficiently good form to see out a fast game. - Under the circumstances, it was wise to play 35-minute spells. That the game has lost none of its popularity was demonstrated by the fact that, despite the summer-like conditions for the winter game and the many other sporting attractions, there were some 500 spectators present. DUNEDIN BEATS CELTIC THIRTY-ONE POINTS TO EIGHT The first match was between Dunedin and Timaru Celtic, and it did not present many attractive movements. Dunedin played right through with 14 men, yet, despite this handicap, they had no difficulty in holding the upper hand. Playing against the wind in the first spell, Dunedin were seldom out of their opponents’ territory, and they scored 17 points to 3. The game was ragged, and with few combined movements. P. Fitzgerald, who has represented South Canterbury, was the outstanding forward on the ground, and Manion was always prominent for Dunedin. The teams were as follows: — Timaru Celtic. Backs—Goddard,. Houlihan, Sullivan, Roundhill, C. Fitzgerald, Christie, Mclntyre; forwards — Butler Mulcahy, O’Sullivan, Cowles, Smallridge, Ryder, P. Fitzgerald, O’Connor. Dunedin.—Backs—Black, Reynolds, Davidson, Strathem, Manion, J. Roddin, D. Roddin; forwards—Fulton, Curran, Breeze, McCartney, Brittenden, R. Marshall, L. Marshall. * Tries were scored by Strathem (2), J.. Rodden, D. Rodden, Reynolds (3) and Breeze. J. Rodden and Manion converted two tries, and J. Rodden kicked a penalty goal. P. Fitzgerald scored two tries for Celtic—one try by forcing his way over in a forward rush in the first half, and the other, in the second half, by hard ground kicking which took him from one end of . the field to the other. Goddard converted the second try. Dunedin won the Collins Challenge Cup when it was first presented in 1936, and Celtic in the three following years. Dunedin are now again the holders. Scores: — : Dunedin 31 points, Celtic .. .. .. 8 points. Mr A. C. Halligan was the referee. SOUTHERN BEATS ALBION SEVENTEEN POINTS TO THREE Play in this match was of a much higher standard than in the first game. Each team had a solid set of forwards, but the Southern pack secured the ball mostly from the set scrums. T. Graham, the ex-Pirates and Otago hooker, who is on final leave from Burnham, played in the front row for Albion. Although Trevathan was played at full-beck, he several times moved. up to take part in passing movements, and with some effect too. Black made one or two strong runs, but Churchill, on the other wing, attracted most by his determined running and football judgment. H. Smith, a junior player, shaped well behind the Southern scrum, but the handling of the Southern backs after he passed out from the tight play could have been better, as no doubt it will as the season wears on. Nevertheless, the game was always open and interesting, Albion, on their part, also doing their best to get their backs going and to keep them going. Albion have a solidly-built half-back m Preston, who showed, despite the fact that he was not yet in form, that he knows what is required of a half-back. The teams were as follows: — Southern.—Backs D. Trevathan, Churchill, Nieper, Black, Roberts, Walker, J, Smith; forwards—Scoles. Lawson, Hodge, McDonald, Oliver, D. Smith, Fullarton, Douglas. Albion.—Backs —Wilson, Wickham. Stout, Jarvis, Wood, Hobson, Preston; forwards-Ormby. Grahaip, T. O Gorman, Beasley. Love, Willman, J. Smith, Davies. Churchill was the first to score for Southern —from a good bit of passing and a determined dash for the line. Nieper was handy at the end of another good passing movement by Southern. Trevathan missed both snots at goal and the first spell ended in favour of Southern 6—o. Good work by Preston and a thrust by the Albion backs saw play at the Southern twenty-five. Trevathan failed to get his hand on a bouncing ball as it went over the dine and Ormby scored. Wilson missed the kick at goal. Walker and Trevathan broke through the defence and Churchill went over for his second try. D. Smith came away in a forward rush to score a well-deserved try. and then Churchill scored his third try. Of the five tries scored only one was converted by Nieper with an easy shot from m front of the goal. Scores;— . Southern .. ~. 17 points. Albion ...... 3 points. Mr J. B. Burton was the referee. ALHAMBRA BEATS MERIVALE CLOSELY CONTESTED GAME (Special to Daily Times) CHRISTCHURCH Mar. 24. The first Rugby match of the season between Alhambra (Dunedin) and Merivale (Christchurch) was played at Lancaster Park on a hard ground, and was won by Alhambra by 11 points to 8 The teams were as follows: Alhambra.—J. Broadfoot. C. Seaward, B Taylor, J. Tappin, S. Robinson. C. Winter, M. Boyes, J Mathieson R. Mathieson, J. McDonald, Mockford, T. Hansen, H. Montgomery, A. Brown, and A. Billsbrough. . . Merivale.—S. Lapslie, W. Bnen, J. Maxwell, A. Earl, R. Norrie, F. Roberts, A. Didham, L. Marra, C. Murray, L. Grant, M. West, W. Drake, A.O’Roarke, R Downie, and C. Barker. Breaking through from a loose scrum at halfway the Alhambra forwards attacked first in sweeping style led by R, Mathieson, McDonald, and Mockford. Didham. the Merivale half, flung himself on the ball when it threatened to go through, and tried to start a counter movement. This gained ground until Roberts found further progress barred by hard tackling. Vigorous forward sorties by both sides, with dribbling surprisingly good, ended in snappy work by Broadfoot, the Alhambra full-back. Racing across the field at top he picked up a rolling ball, fended off an opponent or two, and ounted high to touch at the twentyfive, but Merivale, gaining combination in the forwards, kept on pressing. Grant, West. Drake and Downie were prominent in the pack, and Brien, after side-stepping, made a tricky run on the right wing. This attack was repulsed by the fast Alhambra inside backs, wifh Robinson outstanding. The Merivale scrummagers came back, and from a press of opponents Murray dived across for a good try. Lapslie’s kick fell short. Merivale 3, Alhambra nil-

Within a minute or two the Alham- “ bra backs really showed their paces, with Robinson again supplying the Y fireworks. There was some bright in-and-out passing helped on by Taylor (centre) and Seaward (right wing), and after a spectacular rush Robinson flashed over for an excellent try. Seaward converted, the half-time score being: Alhambra 5 ; Merivale 3. . vr: ... Alhambra, led by Hansen, Montgom- '. ery, and . Brown, made things warm for Merivale at the start of the second spell. Twice they were within inches of scoring under the posts. Later Winter was held up at the corner flag as he tried to touch down. A . dodgy run by Brien gave Merivale relief. and the visitors had to defend sternlv to kedp the home side in check. At 'length Boyes, the Alhambra half, sent- h]s men away,,again, and Tappin sprinted hard oi£- -the - right-.swing. Bowled over once, he was quickly on his feet again to veer in and send Brown acrbss for as spectacular a try a s the first, right under the cross bar. Broadfoot missed an easy kick. ' Alhambra 8, Merivale 3. There were three changes in the Merivale side for this spell. Prouting. Johnson, and Hemingway replacing Lapslie l , Norrie, and Marra. Snap and combination were lacking until Roberts, joining in a passing rush, cut in and scored by the posts. Brien converted. Alhambra 8. Merivale 8. Alhambra had the better of the sue. ceeding plav. and R. Mathieson got their third try by fast following, up, - the final score being; Alhambra. 11, Merivale 8. t