RUGBY FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 22294, 9 April 1934, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SATURDAY’S GAMES “KICK-OFF” FOR SEASON. On Saturday afternoon the Southland football season was ushered in . unofficially with a number of practice 1 games and friendly matches. 5 Invercargill travelled to Gore and in- , flicted a heavy defeat on Albion, while < Limehills came to Invercargill to j meet Star, the home side proving far too strong in all departments for the . weak visiting team. t BLUES v. ALBION. 1 The standard of play was not very ■ high in the Blue-Albion match, which 1 took place on the Gore Showgrounds ' and resulted in a win for Blues by 30 1 points to 9. 1 Both sides endeavoured to throw the ! ball about, but with the new ball many mistakes were made. However, this ' was offset by some very bright _ in- ; dividual movements. Burke (Albion) made some excellent runs. Among the ■ Blues’ backs Stanway was solid and at ■ times enterprising, while McKay was ■ as usual very dangerous on attack. ’ Nisbet broke through well on occasions, but was inclined to lose contact. Naylor was the best forward on the ground and was at the head of all Albion s rushes, while Southern worked hard to keep the scrum together. The Blues’ forwards were lighter than their opponents, but were very much fitter. Clark, a newcomer from Nelson, impressed the spectators with all-round play, while Blue was a very fit and dashing hooker for his size. The teams were: — Invercargill: J. Purdue, Grant, McKay, Marshall, Nisbet, Stanway, C. A. Johnson, Blue, Esquilant, R. Purdue. Clode, C. Johnston, Clark, Tapley, Bailey. Albion: G. Martin, Major, Wylie, Easton, Burke, Wallis, Ussher, Spittle, D. and I. Agnew, Southern, R. Henderson, Columb, Naylor, Penny. Blues won the toss and Southern kicked off for Albion. A loose dribbling rush by Albion ended on Blues’ line and a scrum was formed. From a loose scrum Ussher got over fairly well out. Don Agnew missed with the kick. Albion 3, Blues 0. From the kick-off loose play took place at half-way. Blues, led by R. Purdue, went to Albion territory. Ussher was getting the ball, but the Albion backs could not get going. Blues lined with a nice kick and took play into Albion’s 25. Southern led a clearing rush which was held up by Nisbet. Purdue gained 40 yards with a good kick and play was on Albion’s 25. Martin cleared with a good kick and play was back at halfway. J. Purdue marked in Blues’ 25, but Wallis returned. Nisbet and Clode led a loose dribbling rush and a scrum was formed in Albion’s 25. Blue was almost over, but was ruled offside. Play was fairly scrambly. McKay attempted a pot, but was unsuccessful. Wylie broke away, but was grassed by Purdue in Blues’ 25. After some desultory play Esquilant cleared to halfway. Wallis gained ground with a wellplaced kick and play was in Blues’ 25. Elues got going, but Nesbit missed his pass and from ensuing play McKay lined beautifully in the comer. From the lineout Stanway secured and sold a smart dummy to go over under the posts. McKay goaled. Blues 5, Albion 3. Southern was prominent in a loose rush and Blues were awarded a free kick under their goal posts. McKay punted high from halfway and Tapley followed up well to bustle the fullback and kick over the line for a try. McKay missed with the kick. Blues 8, Albion 3. Ussher was handing out well and the Albion backs got going, Major being pushed out at the corner. Albion went away again, but Wylie fumbled and the ball went out of bounds. Albion charged down a kick, but Marshall cleared. Albion were becoming dangerous again. Naylor forced himself over for a good try at the corner. Wylie failed with the kick. Blues 8, Albion 6 Wylie punted high from the kick-off and Stanway marked, but failed to line and the ball came back to J. Purdue, who lined. I. Agnew and Spittle led a fine loose rush to Blues’ line and Blues conceded a five-yard scrum. Blues cleared, and good play by McKay took the ball to Albion’s twenty-five. Blues’ backs got going and Blue made a jinky run and passed in to C. A. Johnston and out again to Marshall who went across at the comer. McKay just failed with a good kick. Half-time came with the scores: Blues 11, Albion 6. Tapley kicked off for Blues on the resumption. Johnston was replaced behind the scrum by Montague. Naylor made a good dash, but a knock-on pulled Albion up on Blues’ line, where a scrum was formed, and then another. Blues were then awarded a force down, whereupon they took play to Albion’s twenty-five. Penny broke away and kicked, but J. Purdue returned and play was taken to Albion’s line. Blue was hurt, but resumed. In-

vercargill got going, but Easton intercepted and cleared. D. Agnew gained 25 yards with a good kick and play was at halfway. Marshall then from loose play secured and lined well near Albion’s line. Nisbet tried to break through, but Albion forced. Herron lined for Albion and play went to halfway. Martin broke through well, but his pass went astray. Albion pressed hard. Grant and then Johnston cleared to halfway, however. Albion were offside and Blues lined. Albion got away well, but Blues rushed back and Clark dribbled well from halfway to pick up and go over for a very good try. McKay converted to make the scores 16—6 in Blues’ favour.

From the kick-off Burke made a good run for Albion and had Blues in trouble. Grant and Bailey returned play to halfway. Albion rushed back and a scrum was formed in Blues’ twenty-five. Nisbet intercepted and Bailey carried on to Albion’s twentyfive. Nisbet was injured, but carried on. Clark was almost over from a loose rush and Grant nipped in behind him and bullocked across at the corner. McKay's kick failed. Blues 19, Albion 6. , Play was at halfway when Blues’ backs got going and McKay cut in to beat two men, and go over fairly close in. Nisbet converted. Blues 24, Albion 6.

The Albion backs moved into action and rushed play to Blues’ twenty-five, where Clode was caught off-side. Wallis turned the kick to advantage for Eastern. Blues 24, Albion 9. Ussher with a jinky run took play to half-way. Nisbet broke through well and kicked, but from the carry-on the ball was kicked too hard and went out of bounds. From the kick-off J. Purdue secured and ran up well to Nisbet, whose pass went astray. Blues started to attack,- and eventually Stanway broke through and Bailey, Esquilant and Blue carried on for the last-men-tioned player to score well out. Nisbet missed with the kick. Blues 27, Albion 9. The ball travelled to Blues’ 25 where Clark broke away with the ball at his toes, but kicked over the line. Blues went away again and McKay topped off by diving across at the corner. J. Purdue’s kick failed and time was called with the scores: Blues 30, Albion 9. Mr D. Grant was referee. STAR v. LIMEHILLS. Star met Limehills at Biggar street and even for the commencement of the season tha match was disappointing

from the point of view bf competition, for the visitors fielded a scratch side and at no stage looked like extending Star. Star endeavoured to throw the ball about and rattled on 27 points, but Limehills scored only two tries, so that at the call of time Star were leading by a margin of 21 points. All things considered the visitors put up a fair struggle. STAR JUNIORS DEFEATED. A Star junior team travelled out to Riverton, where they were defeated by the local senior fifteen, the scores being Riverton 13, Star 3. Though rather ragged, the game was closely contested, and played at a fast pace, despite the heat. The Riverton forwards had a great advantage in height and weight and dominated play in scrums and line-outs, though the Star pack held its own in the loose. Neither rearguard showed to advantage, the seasiders making more of their opportunities than did the town backs. Southern and Carson were the most prominent Riverton forwards, and A. McKay was the best of the backs. Agnew and Adamson played well in the Star pack, Riddell being the outstanding back. For Riverton, tries were scored by Carson (2) and McKenzie, two of which were converted by McKay. Star’s points came from a penalty goal. Mr E. Marshall was the referee. PRACTICES HELD. At Rugby Park there was an excellent muster of Pirates players of all five grades, about 60 being present. A friendly game was played. The club will commence regular training on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. A number of the other clubs also held practices on Saturday afternoon, i and there is no lack of keenness in evidence. MATCHES IN BRITAIN. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) London, April 7. Rugby Union football matches resulted:— Birkenhead Park 5 v. Leicester 13; Blackheath 3 v. Newport 6; Cardiff 18 v. Richmond 11; Devonport Services 3 v. Gloucester 0; Harlequins 8 v. Bristol 14; London Scottish 20 v. Bath 16; Northampton 10 v. Roslyn Park 21;

Aberavon 14 v. Guy’s Hospital 0; Swansea 11 v. Coventry 6; Torquay Athletic 10 v. St. Bartholomew’s Hospital 10; Waterloo 5 v. Headingly 15. A HARD FOUGHT GAME. The freshest player in the closing stages of a hard fought game is the man who wears boots that give the greatest comfort combined with lightness and speed. For this reaspn leading players wear the “O.B.” (patented) Football Boot. . . “The studs cannot hurt the feet.” Price 23/6. If not stocked by Sports Depots or Shoe Shops locally, write O’Brien and Co. Ltd., Christchurch for nearest stockist. —Advt.