OLD BOYS SPRING A SURPRISE

Southland Times, Issue 24112, 29 April 1940, Page 4

OLD BOYS SPRING A SURPRISE

INVERCARGILL HELD TO A DRAW SEVEN PENALTY GOALS IN GOOD GAME Old Boys, with many young players in its ranks, caused the surprise of the day by holding a strong Invercargill team to a draw. This game was the best of the day’s fixtures. It was played before the rain started, and although the strong wind had its effect on the play, the form generally was of a good j standard. Many sparkling movements | by the Old Boys backs more than offset ; the solidity of the play of the Invercargill team. The outstanding feature of the game was the excellence of the goal kicking by D. Hamilton (Old Boys) and C. F. McKenzie (Invercargill). Hamilton, who is a brother of M. Hamilton, a former Southland representative, kicked four penalty goals from five attempts and McKenzie kicked three goals from four attempts. Only one try was scored in the game and it brought the last points of the match. The first 21 points were scored in goals. T. Mackie, Old Boys half-back, was the best back on the ground. His generalship was a big factor in the play of the younger backs associated with him. Mackie’s counterpart in the Invercargill team was R. G. Mahony, who made some dashing runs. The forwards who showed up were I. R. Miiirson, A. Smiley and J. Cameron (Old Boys) and W’. Richardson, O. McKay and S. Purdue (Invercargill). The teams were:—

OLD BOYS (light blue).—S. Richardson; E. Jackson, D. Hamilton, R. H. Mackrell; D. Gavan, F. Stewart; T. Mackie; W. Pittaway, A. Smiley, M. Patterson, T. Potts, I. R. Muirson, J. Cameron, J. Pickard, G. Anderson. INVERCARGILL (blue and black).— A. Breen; P. Johnson, R. G. Mahony, B. L. Tapley; S. Hillis, C. McKenzie; J. Marr; F. Withington, J. Lester, O. McKay, S. Purdue, I. Overton, W. Richardson, S. Ramsay, A. Baird. OLD BOYS BEGIN WELL

Old Boys, playing with the wind behind it made all of the play in the first five minutes and twice showed up in good passing bouts. Invercargill was

penalized twice and with his second attempt at goal D. Hamilton scored the first points of the season, a shot from 30 yards out going fairly between the posts. Old Boys 3, Invercargill 0. Invercargill rallied and passing by the backs ended when Mahony tried to “dummy” his marker, but was brought down in possession. Old Boys forwards were holding their heavier opponents well and the backs got a good share of the ball. Their handling was good and E. Jackson on the right wing was given room for two good runs. In the second he raced clear to Breen (full-back) and put in a centring kick which had Invercargill in trouble. Mackie followed up fast and was just beaten to the touchdown by C. McKenzie, who kicked the ball away from Mackie’s hands. A scrum, was ordered on the line and in the following play Invercargill was penalized and Hamilton kicked his second goal. Old Boys 6, Invercargill 0. Five minutes later Old Boys was penalized and McKenzie kicked a good goal against the wind. Old Boys 6, Invercargill 3. Old Boys was playing bright football; the backs always looked dangerous and once Mackrell got clear and passed in to Stewart who fell short of the line by a yard.

Hamilton scored the “hat trick” in goals by kicking a third from a penalty shot near the touch-line. Old Boys 9, Invercargill 3. Invercargill was penalized frequently for offside play and much of the good work of the forwards was spoiled because of infringements. Once again Invercargill was penalized and Hamilton kicked his fourth goal. Old Boys 12, Invercargill 3. Invercargill’s forwards were now going better and the backs were given more chances to show their paces. Mahony made several breaks, one of which gained 40 yards for his team. Mackie and Stewart (first five-eighths) were prominent in a counter movement and right on half-time Tapley (Invercargill) was given a chance on the left wing. It took four men to stop him from scoring. The half-time scores were:—Old Boys 12, Invercargill 3. INVERCARGILL IMPROVES

C. McKenzie kicked his second goal for Invercargill a few minutes after the start of the second half from a good position almost in front of the posts. Old Boys 12, Invercargill 6. The Invercargill forwards showed more combination and the strong wind, carrying a punt well into Old Boys’ 25, put Invercargill on the offensive. A clearing kick by Mackrell eased the position momentarily but Marr was responsible for taking play back into Old Boys’ 25. A minute later Old Boys was penalized and McKenzie kicked another good goal. Old Boys 12, Invercargill 9. Invercargill was making desperate efforts to take the lead and play was centred in Old Boys’ 25 for some time. Tapley, and later Johnson, made dashes for the line, but the solid tackling of the young Old Boys’ inside backs kept them out. Jackson (Old Boys’ winger) made a short run and found the line with a good kick. Play swung across the field and Mackrell was given a run, being caught in possession. A minute later Gavan cut in well and after making a run transferred to Stewart who fumbled. It was a promising effort by two promoted juniors. Although Invercargill made several more efforts it seemed, with less than 10 minutes to go, that Old Boys would hold it. However, a breakdown in an Old Boys passing movement let Invercargill through and B. McKenzie kicked the ball ovei’ the line. In a race for the ball Mahony got there first and touched down just inside the dead-ball line, scoring the first try of the match. C. McKenzie’s attempt at goal failed. Old Boys 12, Invercargill 12. In the last few minutes the Invercargill forwards tried hard to win the match, but Old Boys, although hardpressed, managed to keep its line intact. The final scores were:— Old Boys 12 Invercargill 12 The referee was Mr T. Riddell.