RUGBY NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26776, 20 May 1948, Page 3

RUGBY NOTES

Leading Teams Meet

Next Saturday some bright open football should be seen on the Oval when the two leading teams, Excelsior and Athletic, will meet. Excelsior at present holds top place in the Citizens' Shield competition with 8 points, followed by Athletic with 6 points. Old Boys are next on the list with 2 points, and Maheno has yet to open its account. When the leading teams met in the first round of the competition Excelsior won by 14 points to 3, but next Saturday’s game should be more evenly contested. Last Saturday Old Boys forwards dominated play in the loose in the game against Athletic, but faulty passing and lack of cohesion in the backs nullified this advantage. F. Daly, at half-back, cleared the ball from the scrum repeatedly, but the inside backs were often caught unprepared, and failed to gain much ground. This line would do better if it stood deeper when on attack and began to move when the ball left the scrum. The packing in the scrum showed much improvement on that of recent weeks. Although on paper Athletic fielded the best set of backs so far this season they failed to reach expectations. The two inside backs, Collins and Blacklow, lacked thrust and were merely links for the outsiders, and through running across the field cramped the style of the others As a pack the Athletic forwards were disappointing, although they were superior In the line-outs. J. Halvorsen scored 14 of his side’s 23 points to take his total so far this season in competiion and club games to 39. Maheno, playing its first game of the season in Oamaru on Saturday, gave a good account of itself against Excelsior. The forwards, although not packing tightly, hooked the ball consistently in the first 20 minutes of play, after which Excelsior settled down and became slightly superior. Moran and Wilkie, Maheno’s breakaways, gave the Excelsior inside backs no latitude and they were responsible for stemming many movements. Maheno’s backs did not get many opportunities because of the consistent kicking of the half-back, H. Muldrew. Muldrew would have done well to pass the ball on. The Excelsior backs worked in perfect harmony, and on numerous occasions I. Nuttall. fullback, moved up into the back line to give an overlap, one such movement resulting in a score. In the ruck work Excelsior's forwards packed particularly well. Ovens again led the forwards in some good movements. The draw and referees for Saturday are:— Senior.—Athletic v. Excelsior, Oval, 2.45 p.m. (Mr F. Williamson); Old Boys v. Maheno, No. 2 ground, 2.45 p.m. (Mr J. Cossens). Junior.—Excelsior v. Old Boys, No. 2 ground, 1.15 p.m. (Mr J. Macmillan); Athletic v. Enfield, Oval, 1.15 p.m. (Mr J. May); Waitaki v. St. Kevin’s, at a later date. Third. Grade.—Excelsior v. Maheno, No. 3 ground, 2.45 p.m. (Mr E. Lapslie); Old Boys v. Athletic, No. 3 ground, 1.15 p.m. (Mr C. Diver); Waitaki A v. St. Kevin’s, to be played later; Waitaki B v. Waitaki C, to be played later. Fourth Grade. —Athletic A v. Athletic B, No. 4 ground, 2.45 p.m. (Mr P. Hanley); Enfield v. Waitaki, No. 4 ground, 1.15 p.m. (Mr R. Tempero). Sub-union Draw The Waitaki Sub-union draw for Saturday is:—Kurow v. Tokarahi, at Kurow (Mr R. L. Hill); Ngapara v. Georgetown, at Ngapara; Otekaike v. Duntroon, at Otekaike (Mr H. Tempero). Kurow team: W. Foster. R. Robinson, Mclntyre, Grainger, Newton, Mercer. McAughtrie, O. Foster, Tiddy, Warwick, McGregor, D. Weir, G. Robinson, Browning, Irving; emergencies—H. Robinson. Stewart. L. Warwick.