RUGBY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16958, 23 May 1929, Page 3

RUGBY

INTER-'VARSITY GAME WIN FOR AUSTRALIA A TRIUMPH FOR PACE (Per Frees Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. The Australian universities Rugby team considerably surprised 0000 spectators at Athletic Park this afternoon by defeating Victoria University, last year's champion Wellington club team, by a try and a penalty goal to a try, in the opening match of their Dominion tour. The game afforded an interesting comparison between the orthodox game as played by New South Wales and the New Zealand system of play. It was a triumph for pace. The youthful Sydney University team, which included one Melbourne man in Nair, who played wing-threequartcr, owed their victory to their pace. Victoria College, who are considered to have exceptionally fast backs,, appeared slow by comparison, and each time the local rearguard attempted passing, the visiting backs pounced upon therii like sparrow-hawks. There was no score in the first spell, but Blakeney scored a try in the second spell from a lincout, Ramson's attempt at conversion being forfeited.because the ball was handled twice. The Australians equalised the score shortly afterwards by one of the prettiest concerted movements imaginable. From a scrum, Lomport shot the leather out to Nicholas, who handed on to Barker, and D. Kennedy, the other centre, came like a Hash to take the pass, and leave the opposition standing. MeMullen put over a penalty goal from in front of the posts about the quarter mark. Victoria College strove frantically to equalise the scores, but Ransom failed with two long-distance penaltykicks, and the visitors scored ft welldescrved victory. The visitors played the same brand of Rugby as the New South Wales team, which so delighted everyone by their open play in New Zealand last season. To-day these visiting youngsters, several of whom are only 17 years of age, frequently started passing rushes by shooting the leather to ,the scrum half from the lincouts. The team left by the ferry steamer to-night for Christchurch, where they play Canterbury University College on Saturday. MeMullen, 'the visitor's full-back, is as solid as a rock on defence. His fielding and gathering were faultless to-day, and his accurate and powerful line-kicking had the applause going frequently.