EASTER RUGBY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27058, 18 April 1949, Page 7

EASTER RUGBY

CATHOLIC TOURNAMENT DUNEDIN CLUB’S SUCCESS ATTRACTIVE DISPLAYS Dunedin and Christchurch Marist will meet in the final of the South Island Catholic Rugby Football Clubs’ annual tournament, which began at'Tahuna Park on Saturday. Most of the games provided bright football and the standard was generally high, although some of the teams later felt the strain of playing two matches on the one day so early in the season. The following are the results:— Invercargill Marist 13, Ashburton Celtic nil; Dunedin 17, St. Mary’s, Hokitika, nil; Christchurch Marist 9, Timaru Celtic nil; Dunedin 8, Ashburton Celtic 3; Timaru Celtic 9, St. Mary’s (Hokitika) nil; Christchurch Marist 3, Invercargill Marist nil. Invercargill v. Ashburton

Better combination in both backs and forwards gave Invercargill Marist their win over the fairly strong Ashburton Celtic team. The packs were evenly matched in the first half, but the heavier Invercargill forwards gained the ascendancy later and supplied their speedy back-line with a feast of (he ball. L. Ward, the Southland representative, gave an outstanding display at second fiveeighth, and he was given excellent support By his inside man, ,T. Burke, and the centre-threequarter, D. Lyons. T. Creedy maintained a steady service from the scrum, which was ably led by the All Black lock, L. Connolly. He was well supported in both the tight and loose play by the hooker, T. Cahill and F. Ward.

Although they could not match their heavier opponents in the tight work, the fast-breaking Ashburton forwards gave little away in the loose, and their bustling tactics were a leading factor in holding Invercargill to a scoreless first half. They tired later, however, but the veteran, J. Small, was a tower of strength until the final whistle. K. Rushton also played soundly, his line out work being a feature. The backs had few opportunities, but H. Cullen, at half-back, and the first five-eighth, W. Slaven, did their best to keep the play open. Tries were scored for the winners by Creedy and Lyons, Ward converting two as well as kicking a penalty goal. The referee was Mr R. Marshall. Dunedin v. Hokitika

Dunedin proved too strong for the young St. Mary’s (Hokitika) team. Fourteen of their 17 points were scored in the first half, however, and it was a highly creditable performance for the St Mary’s players, whose average age is 20 years, to hold their heavier opponents to three points in the second half. Dunedin started oil in a business-like manner, and maintained the pace until the final whistle. The forwards worked as a pack throughout, C. Todd, J. Riach, and J. Little being outstanding in the tight, w-hile F. MacPherson was a constant source of danger in the loose. B. Haig, at half-back, wasted little time in getting the ball out, and L. Lawrence, at first five-eighth, made the most of the opportunities offered him. He varied his plav cleverly, exploited the in-pass to his forwards with some success. R. Matchett, who scofed the only points in the second half, proved a strong-running three-quarter.

Hokitika could not match the Dunedin pack in the tight, but L. Connors, P. Punch, and P. Hansen were a hard-work-ing trio. The backs had few opportunities, but the five-eighths, G. Davidson and R. Breeze, were constantly looking for work. D. Ryan, at centre, was very sound on defence, and used his speed to effect in stopping many of the Dunedin forays. , . , The winner’s points came from tries by MacPherson, Haig, T. Gillick and Matchett. Lawrence converted one try and kicked a penalty goal. Mr S. McConnell was the referee. Christchurch v. Timaru

Christchurch Marist defeated Timaru in a scrambling but lively game. The forward packs were fairly evenly matched, but the Christchurch rearguard showed more penetration, especially in the latter stages of the gagae.

A hard worker in the Christchurch pack was J. Mullins, the former Dunedin Training College player and a Canterbury representative. He displayed considerable dash in the open, and often linked up effectively in passing movements, with the .backs.

The most prominent player in the Christchurch rearguard was the centre three-quarter, P. Kearney, who played a clever and resourceful game. He was well supported by his inside men and wing three-quarters,- Dempsey in particular showing himself to be a strong-running three-quarter. The half-backs of both teams, M. Buckley (Timaru) end P. Hodgins (Christchurch), sent out welldirected passes and varied their play intelligently. For Christchurch Marist, K. Davidson and J. Ryan scored tries and P. Kearney kicked a goal from a penalty. The referee was Mr W. Lowe. Dunedin v. Ashburton Celtic

More vigorous work among the forwards was a leading factor in Dunedin’s defeat of Ashburton Celtic. In the first half the Dunedin back line showed a decided superiority, displaying good combination and thrust, but after half time, when the five-eighths L. Lawrence and R. Matchett, went off the field, the handling became erratic, and the back line less dangerous. J. Riach, who was always at the head of the Dunedin pack, played an outstanding game, and the hooker, E. Fitzgerald, monopolised the ball in the .scrums. A. Beck, who replaced B. Haig at half-back for Dunedin after half time, gave a sound display, making several sharp breaks from the scrum as well as giving good service to his outside backs. M. Kerr was reliable at full-back.

R. Prattley, the Ashburton first fiveeighth, played a sound game both on attack and defence, and the full-back, C. Bradley, was reliable. For Dunedin, M. McKerchar scored a try, which was converted by L. Lawrence. Lawrence also kicked a goal from a penalty. C. Bradley kicked a goal from a penalty for Ashburton Celtic. Timaru v. Hokitika

Although this was a. “ losers’ ” match, both teams attempted to keep play open. By the second half, however, the efforts of the earlier games began to tell, and play became ragged. Timaru established an early lead from a penalty and showed a slight superiority throughout so that its win of 9-nil was a fair indication of the teams’ respective merits. B Fitzgerald, in the Timaru pack, and J. Taylor, at centre, both gave solid displays, and R. Breeze, the St. Mary’s second five-eighth, made an occasional bright dash. His defence was also sound. L. Connors was once again the outstanding forward, and he was well supported by P. Punch and P. Tinnetti.

For Timaru.C. Durning and C. Fitzgerald kicked penalty goals, and J. Fitzgerald scored a try. The referee was Mr R. Marshall. Invercargill v. Christchurch

Both teams obviously realised the importance of this match as the winner will play in the final to-day, but lack of training told in the later stages, and the standard of nlay consequently dropped. Christchurch Marist gained an early lead from a penalty and managed to withstand all the Invercargill attacks. Honours were even between both sets of forwards and although Invercargill had a speedier back-line, the Christchurch defence held on grimly to its advantage and qualified for the final, which will be played against Dunedin. J. Mullins, the Christchurch breakaway, was the outstanding player on the field, his covering work playing no small part in his team’s success. H. Kearney and R. Mercer were very sound in the tight work. F. Ward, P. McCranich and L. S. Connolly, who shifted from lock to back-row man. were the pick of the Invercargill pack, and T. Creedy, J. Burke and L. F Ward were constantly dangerous in the backs. Considerable interest was shown in the duel between D. Lyons, the Invercargill centre, who has had a brilliant career in the North Island, and P. Kearney, the Christchurch player, who showed much promise two years ago. Because of the tight nature of the play, neither had many opportunities, but Lyons rooked more dangerous on the day. The Invercargill wing-threequarter, F. Rutherford made some spirited attempts to level the score late in the match, but the defence was too sound, and Christchurch qualified as tne result of a good penalty kick by P. Kearney in the first half. The referee was Mr M. J. Davidson. Young Team’s Enthusiasm At a social tendered the visiting clubs during the week-end the past president of the association, Mr C. Collett, congratulated the ieams on the spirit with which they had entered the tournament. “ The voung Hokitika team, which entered for the firsi time this year, provides ample evidence of that spirit,” Mr Collett added, “ for it will have travelled more than 700 miles by the time it returns home.” Proposing the toast of “ The South Island Catholic Football Clubs’ Tournament Association." the Rev. Father G. Hussey said that although the movement was still young, it had already established a great tradition. Other toasts included“ Marist and Christian Brothers,” Mr N. Jolly; reply, the Rev. Bro. Lynch; " Otago Rugby Football Union and Referees’ Association," Mr A. L. Manion; reply, Mr H. G. Munro. Items were given by Messrs R. Marshall, R. Waterson, L. Lawrence, W. Pollock, B. Wilkins, and S. Mee.