NARROW WIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27078, 12 May 1949, Page 8

NARROW WIN

AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES RUGBY AT WELLINGTON PA WELLINGTON, May 11. The Australian Universities, with a last-minute try. gained a victory by 17 points to 15 over a combined Vic-toria-Massey University Colleges’ team in a Rugby match at Athletic Park this afternoon. The visitors opened their New Zealand tour in rain squalls which washed out any prospect of good Rugby. The combined team showed more initiative in the first spell and led 12—nil at half time, with tries by Macleod and Shannon and two penalties by E. Roberts. They carved holes through the Australian defence in a fashion which suggested that the visitors had little knowledge about wet-weather play. In the second half, however, Australia were aroused, and the tall forward, Taylor, crashed over for a try, and the centre, Solomon, scored twice, once almost on the dead-ball line after a long sprint. A conversion and a penalty by Wileman brought the Australians to 14 points. Leading 15—14 after a penalty by Roberts, the Combined forwards tried to carry the game beyond question nearing time, but were met by a few counter-moves by the Australians, including a determined, though eccentric short-passing effort which ended with Taylor again scoring' a try. The teams were:—

Australian Universities. —W. Wileman, W. Gainer, J. Solomon, R. A’Heam, V. Carroll, N. Emery, K. Walsh. Masters, R. Gow, W. Erickson, R. Newman, R. Elwood, H. Dunn. D. Brockhoff, R. Taylor. Massey-Victoria.—H. Tamo (M.), A. S. Macleod (V.), J. Mclvor (V.), S. Jones (M.),- I. N. O. Thomas (M.), J Hutton (V.), I. E. Roberts (M.), I. J. Stone (V.), C Shannon (V.), J. B. Ellery (M.), I. R. T Shannon (V.), H. Young (M.). R. J. Smith (V,). W. Drake (V.), J. F. Waddell (M.).