RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24634, 16 June 1941, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SOUTHERN WELL BEATEN PIRATES GO DOWN TO TAIERI For the first time this season, grade Rugby football in Dunedin on Saturday was played in really wintry conditions. A blustering wind, a driving rain at times, and greasy playing surfaces made it difficult to play bright football. Nevertheless University A was responsible for a first rate exhibition in overwhelming Southern in the second half of a hard game. Most of the wins were by good margins, the only exception being Taieri's narrow victory against Pirates. The results were:— University A 22, Southern 13. Taieii 3, Pirates nil. Union 8, Zingari-Richmond 3. Dunedin 17, University B 3. Kaikorai 28, Alhambra, nil.

With the two University teams still to play their postponed match (it is to be played on the University Oval on Wednesday). Southern still has a one-point lead in the championship competition. It has 11 points, University A and Dunedin 10, Zingari-Richmond and Taierl 9, Pirates and Union 8, Kaikorai 7, University B 4, Alhambra 2. University's Good Display.—Proving themselves superior to the conditions, the University,A forwards and backs gave a convincing exhibition to beat Southern at Carisbrook by 22 points to 13. After being behind at half time, the Light Blues swept everything before them in a second halt of bright and fast football. The Southern forwards did well in the first half, and their solid scrummaging, together with the good use that their backs made of the wind, kept University defending. J. Craig, a promoted junior full-back, opened the scoring when he fielded a clearing kick just outside the Light Blues' twenty-hve line arid kicked a neat field goal. The University backs staged one or two dangerous passing rushes, in which N. Lino was prominent, before another movement swung across the open side and J W Green scored. M. N. Paewai's good goa put University ahead 5—4 A penalty goal by C. Inglis regained the lead for Southern, and then hard kicking by the Southern forwards led to a scramble in the corner, in which S. Robert scored Changing ends with a five-points deficit the University backs immediately staged a brilliant rush. L. W. Broughton made an opening at halfway and R. W. McNeur sent Green away for a very fine try Southern's lead was now 10—8, but the gap was widened again when a Southern forward made a strong ™n and threw high pass to H. J. Tyrie. The big fellow had his heels tapped just short of the line, but the übiquitous R. Nieoer was there to dive over for the try. The University scrum was winning the ball consistently at this stage, and enabling their backs to play aggressive football, it was Paewai who placed his side in front He ran from a scrum near the I'P® .JJIE struggled over for a try. and a minute or two later kicked a penalty goal. The Light Blues were defying the conditions now and the pace of their rushes and theTr handling had Southern n serious trouble. D. Murdoch made the score 17-13 with a smart try after a Ion" break started by Green Southern attacked hard for a *ew minutes, but again the Light Blues swept downfield. and this time Lino raced round for a try. Pae wai's goal made the score 22-13. , Craig wis hurt early in this was the third'Southern player to be carried on. the other two being C. Irvine and J Walker? Mr,L. Millar was the> referee Murnhv Trophy Match.— Snowing con side?able y superiority in all departments of the game and mastering the difficulties of a heavy and greasy ground. Kaikonn easily defeated Alhambra by 28 points to nil in the annual Murphy trophy match at mshopscourt. In the first half in wh eh Kaikorai had the assistance of the wmq and scored 12 points, it appeared that the game would develop into a mud scramble but. after the change-over, the hill side threw the ball about with remarkable success, and backs and forwards combined in many attractive movements Alhambra was completely outclassed and seemed unable to do anything right on the wet ground. No fewer than six tries and an obstruction try were included in Kaikorai's score, those crossing the line being Cox (2). Burns. Austin, Williams and Calder. W. Davie was awarded the obstruction try. Jaffray kicked a penalty goal and W. Davie converted two tries Mr J R. Caradus was the referee. Sensational Finish.—The game between Union and Zingari-Richmond, played at Caledonian, provided a sensational nnisn Union had the advantage of the wind in the first half, and the forwards at once settled down to a stern struggle in the mud. The Union forwards hookrd the ball well to their half-back, B. Samson, but it was not a day for the passing game Union were leading at half time by a penaltv goal by T Freeman. In the second spell the Zingari forwards had their opponents under pressure for a lengthy spell. D. Innes was almost over in a fine solo "effort, and then A. Watson, following up well, beat Freeman, the Union fullrback, to the ball and scored. A. Mason missed the kick at goal. The struggle between the mud-soattered forwards continued, with the Zingari pack having the better of the exchanges. Union carried play to halfway, where the ball struck W. Mason in the chest and rebounded into E. Preston's hands The Union centre shot through the defence—A Mason had been brought from full-back into the threequarter line to assist the attack—and finished up a 50yds' run between the posts. W. Glengarry kicked a goal, and Union finally ran' out winners by 8 points to 3. Mr D. Kilgour was the referee. Dunedin Backs Superior.—Dunedin had little difficulty in running up 1,1 points to nil with the assistance of the wind in the first half of play at the University Oval against the students' B team Dunedin's backs were functioning much better than those of its opponents, and honours were about even in forward play. Poor handling nullified the chances of the University B backs on the few occasions when they penetrated, but the Dunedin back line kept play moving well. In the second' half University was more dangerous, and the backs combined and handled more certainly, assisted by the wind and by getting most of the ball from the scrum. Dunedin rallied towards the finish, however, and scored again, making the final score 17—3. For Dunedin, A Manion kicked two penalty goals, and scored a try, which S. F. Easton converted. Easton also kicked a penalty goal. D. Rodden was the other scorer. O. H Marshall went over the line for University B. Taieri's Narrow Win.—Steady rain made good handling impossible in the match between Taieri and Pirates at. Taieri. and play was confined almost entirely to the forwards The two packs were evenly matched and a draw would have been a fair indication of the run of play. Once again, however, K. Giles's boot won the game. A fine penalty goal kicked by him early in the game gave Taieri a threepoints lead which it held until the final whistle, the score being Taieri 3, Pirates 0. • Both full-backs, T. Webster (Pirates) and B. Wilkins (Taieri) gave sound displays and handled the greasy ball in great ttyle. The referee was Mr J B Burton. IN OTHER CENTRES Auckland.—Takapuna 19; Papakura Camp 12; Grammar 18, Marist 11; Training College 12, University 3; Otahuhu 9. Technical Old Boys 3. Manawatu.—Old Boys 5, St. Patrick's nil; Feilding and Old Boys 9. United 3; Kia Toa 17, University 3, Wellington.—Athletic 21, Poneke 3: Marist Brothers Old Boys 9, Hutt (Army) nil; Hutt 8, Johnsonville 6; Eastbourne 20, Wellington College Old Boys 16; Wellington 20, Air Force 8; Petone 17, St. Patrick's Old Boys 11; Oriental 6, University 5. Christchurch.—Canter' ury 16, Army 12.