CLOSE FINISHES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24296, 13 May 1940, Page 5

CLOSE FINISHES

INTERESTING RUGBY UNION BEATS UNIVERSITY A SOUTHERN HARD PRESSED In weather that was fine and mild and on grounds that had recovered well from the rain during the week, the Otago Rugby Union’s First Grade matches on Saturday provided excellent competition. The feature of the day was the excellent exhibition at Carisbrook by Union and University A, Union won by 12 points to 6. Taieri created a surprise by holding Southern to a 6—3 win. and Zingari-Richmqnd pleased its' supporters by beating Kaikorai. Pirates had a hard battle against Alhambra, and Dunedin had the only easy win of the day. against University B. Southern and Union head the competition with 6 points each, University and Pirates both have 4. Dunedin and Zingari-Richmond 3, Taieri and Alhambra 2, and Kaikorai and University B nil. Saturday’s results were as follows: — Union .. .. 12 University A 6 Southern 6 Taieri • ■ 3 Pirates .. .. 16 Alhambra • 13 ZingariRichmond .. 6 Kaikorai . - nil Dunedin .. 30 University B .. nil All lower grade matches were postponed. UNION’S HARD FIGHT FINE FORM BY UNIVERSITY A It would not be doing justice to Union to say that it was lucky to beat University A; but it is fair to say that the score of 12 points to 6 makes its win appear more definite than it actually was These two teams provided a crowd of about 2000 aCarisbrook with a first class exhibition. The ground had made a remarkable recovery and offered no handicap to handling and little deterrent to fas. moving. Union owed Its win to its splendid pack of forwards. Except in set scrums, in which the University forwards did exceedingly well, it played football of a very high standard indeed. University’s strength was in its back line, although the forwards were entitled to praise for their determined scrummaging and the manner in which they hunted in the loose. They packed honestly and gave the Union forwards as difficult a task as they are likely to experience. > L. Simpson got his passes away quickly from the scrum, but they were often high, and .T. Berghan. at first five-eighth, made a grand job of opening up play for the men outside him. It was one of his best displays and right up to All Black form. P Skelley was effective on attack, but it was Morrison, at centre, and Green, on the right wing, who showed most thrust and pace. Foote, Murphy and Logan provided a sound foundation fqr the scrum, and Thompson’s supporting of his backs was clever. Anart from L. Werner, who took advantage of a temporary weakness in defence to score a determined try, the Union backs did little attacking. Their defence" was good, with the full-back R. Silver, fielding and kicking well F. Vorrath’s leadership of the pack was outstanding. He showed up a good deal in the loose, in which department D. Slyfield also did valuable work/In a very even scrum. J. Walker E. Morrison and A. Reid clayed highclass football. In addition to Werner’s try. Union scored as the result of quick thinking by Werner and Slyfield. A long throwin - almost - on the line gave the fast forward an easy try Two penalty goals by Silver—one. from 40 yards out, in the first five minutes, and the other, a “ sitter,” in the last five minutes —brought Union’s total to 12. For University, Foote kicked a penalty goal from the touchline after 10 minutes’ play and Green evened the scores at 6-all early in the second half by taking a pass at the end of a rush, stepping out of a tackle and then swinging inside two would-be tacklers to score an excellent try well out. From that stage until Slyfield’s try put Union in front 10 minutes from the final whistle, the University backs made repeated onslaughts and kept the crowd on its toes., The final score was: Union 12 points. University A .. 6 points. , Mr S. Gibson was the referee. A NARROW VICTORY SOUTHERN BEATS TAIERI Taieri put up an excellent showing against Southern at Tahuna Park on Saturday, the country forwards dominating the play all through the match. Until a late stage of the game it appeared that Taieri would hold the Southern team to a draw, but Black’s speed gave Southern a try in the closing stages of the game/ Black scored both the Southern tries, but was not successful with his kicking. Murray’s try for Taieri resulted from a wel] carried out attack by the country pack. The greasy ground prevented accurate kicking and penalties awarded to both sides were without result. Blackie played a good same for Taieri, getting the ball out from the scrums consistently Taieri had the advantage throughout and deserved to win on the showing the team put up The match ended with the scores:— Southern .. • .. . • 6 points Taieri 3 points The referee was Mr T. Burton. AN EVEN TUSSLE PIRATES DEFEATS ALHAMBRA It was just the ability to produce a superior dash in the closing stages of the game that gave Pirates a three points victory over Alhambra at the Caledonian Ground. The teams were very evenly matched and on the whole it was Alhambra that played with better combination ■but it could not combat the pace shown towards the finish bv the Pirates backs. The heavy state of the ground made anything in the way of smart back movements difficult, and to a large extent forward play predominated, chiefl> in the first half. * For the greater pari of the game Pirates were iust a little ahead on points, but on both occasions when Alhambra equalised there was no reason, going on the run of the nlay why- they should not' have gone into the lead eventually. Making good use of tns speed. McLennan, who was playing a good

game for Pirates on the wing, scored two tries early, and just before half time McGrath went over following a forward rush. Alhambra’s only try in the first spell was scored by Treewick, while a penalty goal was kicked by Broadfoot, who was doing useful work at full-back in addition .to kicking well. Pirates’ half-time lead of 13—8 was soon wiped out when Brown went over for Alhambra early in the second spell. But Pirates led again when Perriam dived across after a long lineout right on the Alhambra line. Alhambra came near to scoring once or twice after that, but the Pirates defence held, and the game ended:— Pirates 16 points. Alhambra .. .. 13 points. Mr R. Caradus was the referee. ZINGARI-RICHMOND WINS HARD BATTLE WITH KAIKORAI Zingari-Richmond provided something of a surprise bv decisively defeating Kaikorai by 6 points (a penalty goal and an unconverted try) to nil in the match on the Tahuna Park No 2 ground. Although in the first half Kaikorai held the advantage territorially, principally as the result of fast and penetrating passing rushes, the Zingari defence, particularly when the position appeared most dangerous, was inspired, and the attackers met with solid tackling and hard packing which completely nullified their efforts. Shortly after the game commenced Kaikorai was penalised on its ov/n twenty-five yard line, and Mason, at second five-eighth kicked a fine goal. Kaikorai tried desperately to make up leeway, and Scott, at half-back, fed his back line freely, but although the handling was excellent and much ground was covered in the rushes, the Zingan forwards, headed by White, put up a great defence and the spell ended without furtheh score, The second spell, although very hard-fought, was more ragged than the opening half both sides being content to kick rather than to handle the ball The Zingari forwards put plenty. of dash into their work and frequently had Kaikorai struggling to stave off some determined attacking movements. In the final moments of the game White intercepted a pass at about half-way and made a great dash for the Kaikorai line, the ball eventually going to Pockson, who scored The kick failed. The game ended with the scores:— Zingari-Richmond .. 6 points Kaikorai Nil Mr D. McKay was the referee. DUNEDIN’S EASY WIN UNIVERSITY B OUTCLASSED Playing with greater dash and more cohesion than its opponents, Dunedin defeated University B by 30 points to nil in the early game at CansbrooK. Spiliane, the Dunedin second five-eighths, played an outstanding game, and scored no fewer . than 21 points, made up by four tries, a penalty and the conversion of three tries. ; . The Dunedin forwards, led by Treacy and Marshall, were all over the University pack, which sadly lacked cohesion. The result was that the Dunedin backs got a good share of the ball and. well fed by O’Connell, they turned on some bright play Dougan at full-back played a sound game, his kicking being excellent. Broughton was the best of the University backs, and Falvey got through a heavy day s work with credit at full-back. Spiliane ophned the scoring with a penalty from 40 yards out, and a few minutes later crossed for a try from a passing rush. He scored two further tries, which he converted, and then Davidson picked up in a scramble ana scored wide out. Dougan kicked a penalty from 40 yards out to open the scoring in the second half, and then Spiliane scored after a good Piece of work with' Strathem. He added further to his tally when he converted a trv by Scully, making the final score; Dunedin .... ~30 points. University B .. .. Nil. Mr A. Parker was the referee. AUCKLAND Ponsonby 27. Technical 3 • Grammar 14, Papakura Artillery 9. Otahuhu 19, Marist 12. Grafton 9, Training College nil. North Shore 25. Papakura Infantry 8. WELLINGTON Four teams, Wellington, Athletic, Johnsonville and College Old Boys are still unbeaten at the end of the third series of seven Rugby matches. Results:— Wellington 14, Oriental 9. Athletic 14, University 10. Johnsonville 6, Poneke 6. Petone 16, Hutt 12. St. Patrick’s College Old Boys 8, Marist Brothers’ Old Boys 6. College Old Boys 11. Eastbourne 3. CHRISTCHURCH New Brighton 8. University 8. Christchurch 6, Sunnyside 3. Technical 13 Merivale 3. Southern 22, Old Boys 8. Linwood 18. Athletic 6. Air Force 3 ml. INVERCARGILL Marist 22. Pirates 5, Invercargill 16, Winton 6. Bluff 19, Star 13.