FIRST DEFEAT OF OLD BOYS

Southland Times, Issue 24764, 8 June 1942, Page 6

FIRST DEFEAT OF OLD BOYS

MARIST-BLUFF PACK’S SUPERIORITY

Expectations of some bright Rugby in the senior games at Rugby Park on : Saturday afternoon were fully realized. The principal draw was the game between Marist-Bluff and Old Boys-In-vercargill. Old Boys had gone through , the first round without defeat, but the good showings of the Marist team in recent games gave rise to a prediction ( that if Old Boys were to suffer defeat : it would be at the hands of Marist. And so the prediction was proved. Marist won a bright and interesting game, at times exciting, by 21 points to 9 and thus joined Old Boys at the top of the senior competition. The football was of a good standard. Both teams were well trained, but it was clear in the first half that the superiority of the Marist forwards would be a deciding factor. The lighter Old Boys forwards stood up well to their bigger opponents until the persistency of the attack asserted- itself; and then is appeared to be a matter of how many points would separate the teams. Decisively beaten as they were, however, the Old Boys backs and forwards made a good foil for a better all round combination. They were not disgraced in defeat. It was a good game. Each team now has a win against the other, and the third meeting should be as good a game as any of those thrilling pre-war games which did so much to promote the enthusiasm for which Southland Rugby is noted. The game between the Army and Pirates-Star, which resulted in a draw, was also an interesting match. . The playing conditions were fairly good and the attendance was an improvement on that of other weeks. The results were:— Marist-Bluff 21, Old Boys 3. Pirates-Star 9, Army 9. FLEMING CUP TABLE The following table shows the position of teams: — Points

MARIST-BLUFF v. OLD BOYSINVERCARGILL The game opened brightly. Old Boys’ backs quickly got going and one rush just failed to materialize. The forwards were well matched at this stage and ball possession was fairly even. At the end of 10 minutes play Marist made play in Old Boys’ half and following a scrum outside the 25, Forde got the ball in a passing rush and cut the defence in two. He went through the gap in a flash and scored brilliantly at the posts. Small converted. Marist 5, Old Boys A few minutes later Marist was penalized and McLean kicked a goal. Marist 5, Old Boys 3. . , , , Old Boys took the lead five minutes later when D. Sutton snapped up the ball after some good forward p'ay and scored wide out on the right flank. The kick failed. Old Boys 6, Marist 5. S. West (Marist forward) retired hurt and was replaced by Thompson. For the next 10 minutes Marist had the run of the play and Forde, Williams and Brown put in good runs which threatened Old Boys’ line. The forwards were getting more ball now and the backs were making good use of it. Small found touch with a well-judged kick to the left corner and following the throw-in. Thompson (forward) scored. Small kicked a good goal. Marist 10, Old Boys 6. Marist was frequently penalized and McLean had his fourth attempt to goal from a penalty. It failed, but Old Boys scored a minute later. D. Sutton, who was playing dashing football, charged down the drop out by Forde, and quickly gaining possession, he sent out to McLean who scored wide out. The Marist backs were caught napping. McLean’s kick failed and the scores at halftime, called a minute later, were: Marist 10, Old Boys 9.

Marist scored a runaway try five minutes after the start of the second half. _ Old Boys were on the attack in Marist s 25 when the Marist backs got going and Brown cut through the defence and ran to halfway before passing to Williams, who showed a surprising turn of speed and scored between the posts. It was good football. Small converted. Marist 15, Old Boys 9. Marist made all the play now. The forwards established a definite superiority and the backs were given many opportunities. R. Thompson (right winger) was the next scorer. He recovered a kick in Old Boys’ 25 and went over for a good try. Small’s kick from the touchline landed on the cross-bar and bounced back. Marist 18, Old Boys 9. . Old Boys rallied and a race over Marist s line ended in Small heating Blackie to the touchdown. Marist soon returned to the attack and Brown put the finishing touches to a fast and exciting game by scoring a try at the left corner. Small failed to goal and the game ended: Marist 21, Old Boys 9. Mr E. J. Barron was referee.

The teams were: — OLD BOYS.—Spriggs; Gillan, McLean, Blaikie; Agnew, Marr; Walker; D. Sutton, Mclnerney, R. Sutton, Mason, Wilson, Green, McNee, G. Sutton. MARIST-BLUFF.—SmaII; R. Thompson, A. Shand, Brown; Forde, Williams; Dean; Connolly, Mcßae, Ennis; Cournane, Raymond, Ward, West, Boyle. PIRATES-STAR v. ARMY Pirates took the field with 12 men and was without a full complement for the first quarter. In that time Army had all the better of the exchanges but failed to finish off, some likely movements. After 15 minutes’ play Nieper dribbled clear from a ruck and scored in a fair position for goaling. Nieper failed to convert. Army 3, Pirates 0. Pirates’ forwards rallied and some good work was rewarded when Maslin scored cleverly at the left corner. Maslin had little room in which tc work, but he beat his marker well and got over at the corner just as he was threatened. Campbell kicked well but failed. Pirates 3, Army 3. Fox (Army Centre) was injured and retired, and A. McKenzie replaced him. Army scored an unconverted try before half-time, and at half-time. the scores were: Army 6, Pirates 3. In the second half Army added three points and Pirates scored two unconverted tries. Smeaton and McKay were the scorers for Pirates. The game ended: Pirates Star 9, Army 9. Mr D. McKenzie was referee. The teams were:— ARMY.—Richardson; Henderson, Fox, Shallard; Robertson, Johnston; Anderson; McEwan, Spittle, Sherriff, Cournane, Rodgers, Boyd, Ward, Nieper. PIRATES. —Campbell; Maslin. Edwards, McKay; Adam, Hodge; Wilson; Cushnie; Renshaw, Brown, Findlay, Wright, Smeaton, Fisher, Muir. JUNIOR RESULTS Second Grade.— High School 12, Collegiate 6. Fourth Grade. —Invercargill 11. Borstal 3; Technical 6. Pirates 6; Bluff 13, High S< F°fth **Grade.—Pirates 26, Bluff 0; Marist 6, High School 3; Invercargill 9. Technical (L

W L. D. F. A. Pts Old Boys-Inver-1-96 8 cargill 4 51 Marist-Bluff 4 1 - 100 33 8 Army Pirates-Star 2 1 2 1 88 3 1 51 54 82 5 3 Military Reserve - 4-18 133 0