RUGBY FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 23159, 29 March 1937, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

FIRST MATCH OF SEASON INVERCARGILL DEFEAT TAIERI In the first Rugby football match of the season at Rugby Park on Saturday Invercargill defeated Taieri by 41 points to 6. The game was played in ideal weather and attracted a fair crowd. For a friendly game at the beginning of the season the players showed fair fitness, but the handling was poor, particularly among the visiting players. Invercargill exhibited good form and the fast backs made a strong attacking unit, which harried the poorly organized opposition. Of the many tries most were scored between the posts, the visiting team being outpaced. .When Taieri did take up the attack it was usually the result of individual play and few attacking movements proceeded any distance. ■ Injuries were frequent and several replacements were necessary among the visitors. A. Cursey suffered a leg injury and was taken to hospital.

The teams were: Blues—Ruff; Henderson, McKenzie, Sutherland; Grant, Calder; J. Purdue; forwards, Lester, Wilson, Roberts, R. Purdue, Scott, Dunstan, Richardson, Purdue. Taieri—Grant; Murray, Scott, Stewart; Lindsay, Johnston; Findlay; forwards, Cursey, Moffitt, Giles, Barnes, Barron, Bisset, Boyd, McLellan. In the opening stages the handling was erratic and several energetic movements on both sides failed through dropped passes. After a few minutes Blues took up the attack and from a scrum at the twenty-five in front of the posts J. Purdue secured the ball and dived over for a try which Ruff was unable to convert. A moment later the score was doubled when Sutherland opened up a good movement and handed the ball on to R. Purdue, who scored. Ruffs kick failed. A back passing movement almost immediately after resulted in Sutherland scoring. The try was again unconverted. A series of scrums in front of Taieri’s goal followed, Invercargill setting up strong attacks from which Sutherland again scored. J. Purdue s kick was wide. Blues 12, Taieri 0. Taieri took a turn on attack, but could not conclude the movementsand several breakaways had the team in trouble. A smart Blue passing movement resulted in Henderson running round with a good burst of speed for a try behind the posts. J. Purdue converted. Invercargill hooked from a . scrum in midfield and the ball passed out to Sutherland, who raced down the sideline with Ruff in support, the latter beating the opposition and scoring behind the posts. Purdue converted and the first half ended with the score: Invercargill 22, Taieri 0. In the second half Dempster substituted for Johnston, who had retired in the first half with an ankle injury. The kick-off was followed up smartly and Sutherland made a good run, handing on to J. Purdue, who scored and converted his own try. Taieri set up an attack and kept Invercargill busy defending. Eventually Taieri was awarded a penalty under the posts and Findlay kicked a goal. J. Purdue opened a passing movement immediately after the kick-off and Sutherland scored, but failed to convert. Invercargill 30, Taieri 3. Cursey retired at this stage With a leg injury. The visiting team was beginning to show more dash and a strong forward attack resulted in a scramble under the goal, Murray finally touching down. The kick failed. Henderson received the ball in midfield and put in a great run before scoring behind the posts. He converted his own try. A moment later he scored again, Ruff’s kick failing to add the extra points. Invercargill kept up a strong attack in Taieri’s twenty-five and after a few moments a further try was scored by Henderson. J. Purdue’s kick failed and the game ended with the score: Invercargill 41, Taieri 6. Mr A. E. Austin was the referee. . KAIKORAI DEFEATS PIRATES INVERCARGILL TEAM BEATEN IN DUNEDIN (United Press Association) DUNEDIN, March 28. The Easter Rugby match between Kaikorai and Pirates (Invercargill) on Saturday was won by Kaikorai by 11 points to 6.

BRITISH EMPIRE GAMES

(Received March 28, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 27. Rugby fixtures resulted:— Bristol 11 v. Leicester 0; Cardiff 16 v. Barbarians 3: Gloucester 15 v. London Welsh 0; Llanelly 20 v. Devonport Services 8; Neath 32 v. Northampton 3; Plymouth Albion 6 v. Old Merchant Taylors 14; Swansea 18 v. Harlequins 13; United Services 14 v. Richmond 39; Aberavon 15 v. Abertillery 10; Bath 11 v. Sale 3; Bedford 8 v. Wakefield 5; Birkenhead Park 11 v. North of Ireland 8; Coventry 16 v. Waterloo 5; Gateshead 0 v. Blackheath 3; Newport 12 v. Bridgend 3; Glasgow Academicals 26 v. Hawick 11; ' Stewartonians 0 v. Heriotonians 14.