EASTER RUGBY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27059, 19 April 1949, Page 9

EASTER RUGBY

CATHOLIC TOURNAMENT

WON BY CHRISTCHURCH MARIST

Tlie South Island Catholic Rugby football clubs’ third annual tournament, was completed before a good crowd at Carisbrook yesterday, Christchurch Marist becoming the holders of the Catholic Tournament Shield by defeating Dunedin by 11 points to 3 in the final game. The three matches were played in perfect weather, and, with the ground in excellent order, the teams produced bright Rugby, the standard of play being surprisingly good for so early in the season. Christchurch Marist thoroughly deserved its win, the side as a whole displaying better combination than the local team, Whose backs lost many opportunities through faulty handling..

The results were:— invereargm marist ii, st. Mary's (Hokitika) 3. Ashburton Celtic 6, Timaru Celtic 3. Final. Christchurch Marist 11, Dunedin 3. Christchurch v. Dunedin

Christchurch Marist owed its win against Dunedin in the final to a lively' pack, of forwards and to the pace and combination of a back line which was superior to the opposing rearguard. The Dunedin forwards held their own in the tight play, and their solid rucking was a feature of the game. The Christchurch pack, on the other hand, excelled in the line-out work, and many of their best passing movements were initiated from this phase of the play, while in the loose such forwards as J. Mullins, who led the pack ably, H. Kearney, and D. Hodgins were often prominent. Kearney gave a first-class exhibition of all-round forward play. P. Kearney, the Christchurch centre three-quarter, was the best back on the ground. His first try was a gem, the ball being sent infield by the wing threequarter, B. Simpson, to enable Kearnev to side-step the Dunedin full-back, M. Kerr, and score, J. Maybury, at first five-eighth, gave an impressive display, and made several fine openings, while Simpson showed pace and determination on the wing. M. F. Scully gave a good service from the base of llie scrum and varied his play smartly.

The Dunedin forwards played with plenty of vigour in the tight, but lacked the concerted effort of the visitors in the loose. F. MacPherson and D. Lowe did good work on the line out. and the latter was always in the thick of the play. J. Riach played solidly, and E. Fitzgerald shaped promisingly as the hooker. B. Haig gave a good display at half-back, and, having regard to the amount of mishandling that occurred further out, he showed judgment in making several breaks up the middle of the field. Haig and L. Lawrence had a good understanding of each other’s play, and the latter gave a clever and resourceful exhibition. Marist led by 3 points to nil at half time after having considerably the better of the spell. In the second half, however, Dunedin went close to scoring on a number of occasions, but lacked the ability to finish off.

Tries for Marist were scored bv P. Kearney (2) and Simpson, P. Kea'rney converting one try. Dunedin’s points came came from a try by Haig after an excellent combined move with Lawrence. Mr R. Marshall was the referee. Invercargill v. St.,Mary’s Invercargill Marist, last vear’s Southland premier side, proved 'too solid and experienced for the youthful St. Mary’s team from Hokitika, and was the winner by 11 points to 3. The Hokitika forwards played with plenty of dash in the loose but could not match the heavier Invercargill pack in the tight, and there was always the suggestion that the Invercargill team had something in reserve. The All Black, L. Connolly, playing well above his normal weight, was, nevertheless, usually at the head of the Invercargill rushes, in which T. Cahill, F Ward and F. Boyle were also prominent. Most of the Invercargill attacks developed from L. F. Ward and D. J. Lyons, the former North Island representative, in the centre, while P. Griffin also played solidly at first five-eighth. R. Breeze (second five-eighth) and P. Nutting (centre) were the pick of the St. Mary’s backs, the former making several good openings, which Nutting was usually quick to turn to account. A. Dobbs was a serviceable half-back, and L Connors, P. Punch and P. Tinnetti impressed among the forwards. Invercargill’s points came from a try by Lyons in the first spell and tries by L. F. Ward and Griffin in the second spell, one try being converted by Ward. Nutting scored for St. Mary’s in the second spell. Mr W. Lowe was the referee. Timaru v. Ashburton

Timaru Celtic and Ashburton Celtic, premiers in their respective competitions last season, had a closely-contested game, Ashburton winning by 6 points to 3. The Ashburton backs and forwards played with better understanding than their opponents, but Timaru might have won had the handling of the backs been surer. On several occasions when J. Taylor, their strong-running wing three-quarter, was in scoring position, weak passing bv the inside men prevented him from using his speed to advantage. R. Green, a promoted junior player, gave a promising display at half-back for Timaru, and J. O'Brien made some strong runs in the centre, sometimes spoiling his otherwise good work, however, by faulty passing. The best of the Timaru forwards were P. Leigh (a bard worker in the tight), D. Mulcahy and B Fitzgerald.

The Ashburton pack was strongly led bv J. Small, and F. Hill was often noticeable. Tire backs were well served by H. Cullen behind the scrum, and W. Slaven, at second five-eighth, was the spearhead of most of the attacks. The handling of the Ashburton backs generally was cleaner and crisper than that' of their opponents, and this largely represented the difference in the two teams.

G. Blacklow and J. Bradley scored tries for Ashburton, and the scorer for Timaru was O’Brien. Mr S. McConnell was the referee. South Island Team Chosen

With a view to a match being arranged against the North Island Catholic Clubs. the following South Island Catholic Clubs' team was announced after the tournament ;

Fuli-back: C. Flattery (Christchurch Marist). Three-quarters: J. Taylor (Timaru Celtic), D. J. Lyons (Invercargill Marist), K. Davidson (Christchurch Marist).

Five-eighths: L. F. Ward (Invercargill Marist). second, captain; W. Slaven (Ashburton Celtic), first. Half-back: B. Haig (Dunedin), Front-row: L. Connolly (Invercargill Marist), C. Todd (Dunedin), H. Kearney (Christchurch Marist). Middle-row: B. Fitzgerald (Timaru Celtic), F. Hill (Ashburton Celtic), J. Mullins (Christchurch Marist), vice-captain. F Ward (Invercargill Marist). Back-row: J. Small (Ashburton Celtic) Reserves: Backs—P. Creedy (Invercargill Marist), P. Nutting (St. Mary’s. Hokitika): forwards—F. Boyle (Invercargill Marist), P. Hansen (St. Mary’s, Hokitika).