BRIGHT AND OPEN RUGBY

Southland Times, Issue 23557, 11 July 1938, Page 4

BRIGHT AND OPEN RUGBY

Bluff Scores Over

Old Boys

BACKS HANDLE HEAVY BALL WELL

Bluff and Old Boys played good football in their game, and although there was not much interest shown in the fixture, it produced easily the best and brightest football of the afternoon. Both teams threw the ball about freely. Old Boys had the advantage of possession and set up passing rushes from almost every scrum and ruck Most of the rushes were driven across the field, but the handling of the heavy ball was good and more often than not the bouts were interesting. Bluff’s defence provided a good counter to the passing of the Old Boys backs. The smartness of the whole of the Bluff back line was commendable, and the centres showed resource in turning defence into attack. Old Boys scored two tries to Bluff’s one. Bluff’s kicking was better, however, and the game was actually won on goal-kicking. The teams were:

OLD BOYS (royal blue). —G. Anderson, C. Milne, N. Polson, E. Jackson, W. Spence, I. Wyatt, T. Mackie; A. Smiley, G. Lindsay, W. Fleming, W. Crawford, G. Baker, A. Marshall, D, McLauchlan, E. Gumbley. BLUFF (red and white). —W. R Sutherland, L. Nixey, T. Heads, J. Ballantyne, E. J. Calder, C. Mason, E. D. Calder; R. W. Urwin, H. C. Robjohns. D. Hamilton, J. Hamilton, J. Copp, S. Benfell, J. Burke, L. Harbord. Several smart passing rushes on the part of the Old Boys backs marked the opening stages, but the tackling of the Bluff backs was sound. A good line kick by Ballantyne placed Bluff in an attacking position and Heads beat several tacklers. Hamilton dived across the line, but lost possession. A penalty

brought relief for Old Boys, whose backs were opening up play at every opportunity. Hamilton again broke through, but was well tackled and a few minutes later E. J. Calder gained a big stretch of ground. The Bluff rearguard combined effectively in several movements, but they gained little ground. Calder was unlucky in losing the ball after cutting through the defence. Old Boys was penalized and Ballantyne goaled from a handy position. Bluff 3; Old Boys 0. Jackson placed Old Boys in a strong position by putting in a good run at the end of a passing rush. Mackie again opened up play for Old Boys and Milne was tackled a yard or two short of the line. From the line-out Bluff was able to clear. Polson cut right through the Bluff defence, but he spoiled a good effort by sending out a bad pass to Jackson, who had a clear field.

Bluff had the better of the following exchanges. Hamilton and then E. J. Calder were tackled just short of the line, but Nixey was able to add to Bluff’s score by kicking a good field goal. Bluff 7; Old Boys 0. Jackson and then Mackie were seen to advantage for Old Boys, which was attacking strongly at half-time with the scores:— Bluff 7; Old Boys 0. Both teams took every opportunity of opening up play and a fast pace was maintained. Hamilton made a good break which gained 30 yards and Bluff forwards carried on with the movement. Ballantyne attempted a field goal, but the kick went wide. Polson saved a difficult situation for Old Boys and Milne beat several tacklers in making a break of 40 yards. Milne had a clear field in front of him when tackled from behind by Burke. From a scrum in the Bluff 25 Mackie sent out to Crawford, but the latter’s pass went astray. In a scramble for the ball on the line, Smiley scored. Polson missed with the kick. Bluff 7; Old Boys 3. Old Boys again took up the attack and from a scrum on the Bluff line Wyatt was held up, but the ball got out to Anderson, who went over almost unopposed. Baker goaled. Old Boys 8; Bluff 7. From the kick-off Bluff forced play to the Old Boys line. Old Boys was penalized and Ballantyne goaled from well out. Bluff 10; Old Boys 8. Mason was tackled just short of the line, but Nixey made amends by scoring in the comer. Old Boys attacked strongly during the last five minutes of play, but the Bluff defence stood up to its desperate efforts. Old Boys had Bluff penned on its own line when fulltime sounded with the scores:— Bluff 13; Old Boys 8. Mr G. Frampton was the referee. SECOND GRADE INVERCARGILL v. MARIST Invercargill beat Marist by 11 to nil. For the winner Purdue and Johnstone (2) scored tries and Breen converted one. THIRD GRADE WAIKIWI v. HIGH SCHOOL Waikiwi beat High School by 12 points to nine. BLUFF v. INVERCARGILL In a fast, open game at the port, Bluff drew with Invercargill, both teams securing six points. The match was closely contested and at half-time neither team had scored. The home team had a slight advantage in the first half but in the second the visitors were the superior team. Ball and Williamson scored tries for Bluff and McBeath scored for Invercargill. Williamson (full-back) was prominent in the Bluff backs and Calder gave a good performance at half-back. Mcßeath and Couling were outstanding for Invercargill. Mr J. R- Bell was the referee.

STAR v. COLLEGIATE Star beat Collegiate by 19 points to seven. For Star tries were scored by J. Muir, L. Patterson, Niven and Williamson and Patterson converted two. McMullan scored a try and McArthur kicked a field goal for Collegiate. FOURTH GRADE TECHNICAL v. WAIKIWI Technical beat Waikiwi by 21 points to three. Tries for the winner were scored by Ward (2), Hicks, Woods and Newton, Muri converted two tries and Ward one. McCulloch scored for Waikiwi. INVERCARGILL v. COLLEGIATE Invercargill beat Collegiate by 18 points to three. For the winner Phol, Chilwell (2) and Frost (2) scored tries and Munnings kicked a penalty goal. Hunt scored a try for Collegiate. FIFTH GRADE INVERCARGILL v. HIGH SCHOOL Invercargill beat High School by 16 points to three. For Invercargill Smith (2), Barnes and Dixon scored tries, two of which were converted by Watson. Minty scored for High School. MARIST v. TECHNICAL Marist beat Technical by 17 points to three. For Marist Frampton (2), Beadle, Smith and Ford scored tries and Rutherford converted one. Valli kicked a penalty for Technical.