BRIGHT RUGBY AT PARK

Southland Times, Issue 25737, 30 July 1945, Page 3

BRIGHT RUGBY AT PARK

OLD BOYS DEFEAT BLUFF Although teams were again not at full strength, plenty of interesting football was produced in the senior games at Rugby Park on Saturday. The highlight of the day was the defeat of the competition leaders, Bluff, by Old Boys. In a game packed with incident, Bluff had victory snatched from them in the last few minutes of play. In the other games Pirates defeated Winton and Marist defeated Collegiate. Bluft, Pirates and Old Boys are now leading the Galbraith Shield, competition with 13 points each. The results were:— Old Boys 14, Bluff 13. Pirates 9, Winton 0. Marist 11, Collegiate 8.

The grounds were in good order except for a few sticky patches and the weather was fine until about 4 o’clock, when rain set in for a period. The attendance of the public was good considering the interest that was taken in the representative game at Balclutha. The scores in the Southland-South Csago match were recorded oh the score-board at the east end of the ground and the crowd was able to follow the progress of the match. The position of the teams is now as follows:—

OLD BOYS v. BLUFF

The Old Boys-Bluff game was one of the brightest seen at the park this season. Both sets of backs threw the ball about freely and gave an entertaining display. There were many sweeping movements from one end of the field to the other. Honours were even at halftime; neither side had scored. The teams made up for this in the second half, scoring a total of 27 points before the game ended. With six minutes to go Bluff were leading by 13 points to 6 and appeared to have the game won. However, victory was snatched from them in the last few minutes of play, Old Boys scoring the seven points required for a win. It was an exciting finish to a bright game. In some ways Bluff were unlucky to lose. They took the field with a weakened pack compared with the one which has represented the port side in recent weeks, but in spite of this they gave a spirited display. Their forwards showed plenty of dash, showing up to advantage in the loose play. Their backs combined well and showed better penetration than in previous games. On the other hand, Old Boys put up strong opposition. The Old Boys’ pack did its best work in the line-outs and in the first half gained more than their share of the ball. The youthful halfback, J. McKenzie, was a little slow in getting the ball away in the early stages and this hampered the back line. However, he later improved and gave a good service. When in possession the Old Boys backs were always dangerous. J. E. McClean (Old Boys centre threequarter) gave a sound display. Showing plenty of speed, he frequently had Bluff in trouble. At one stage he broke clean away at about the half-way line and came within an ace of scoring. R. H. Mackrell (wing) also played a useful game. His try was the result of determined running. S. R. Pittaway, W. R. Keast and C. Snow worked well in the pack. For Bluff C. Cross gave a useful display behind the scrum. L. Craw was a sound full-back. In the pack P. Phillipson was prominent. Bluff’s first points came shortly after the beginning of the second half. Calder attempted to pot a goal from about Old Boys’ 25 line. The ball went wide and Anglem, who was in support, secured possession and dived over near the corner. The kick at goal missed. The half had been in progress 17 minutes when Old Boys evened the scored. From a line-out near Bluff’s goal-line Old Boys secured, the ball going out to Mackrell on the opposite wing. Mackrell beat about five men and scored wide out after a determined run. Doake failed to convert.

Old Boys took the lead about 10 minutes later when Keast scored after a forward movement. The kick missed.

Then Calder scored a try near the | posts for Bluff, Poutu converting. Shortly afterwards Craw scored and I Poutu converted. This made the score, Bluff 13, Old Boys 6. Before the end of the game McClean and Walker scored for Old Boys, McClean converting Walker’s try. The final score was: Old Boys 14, Bluff 13. Mr E. Barron was the referee. The teams were:—

Old Boys.—D. B. Doake; G. Rogerson, J. E. McClean, R. H. Mackrell; I. Ritchie, S. Walker; J. McKenzie; C. Snow, A. Redpath, J. Bath, S. R. Pittaway, L. McAlister, A. Mill, W. R. Keast, G. Lmdsay. Bluff.—L. S. Craw; W. Anglem, C. Preston, L. Nixey; G. Johnston, E. J. Calder; C Cross; D. Morton, F. Flutey, R. Poutu, J. B. Cross, P. Phillipson, E. Robinson, C. M. Calder, A. Fletcher. MARIST v. COLLEGIATE

In the early game on No. 2 ground Marist and Collegiate played an even-ly-contested match, Marist securing their win margin in the last minute or P1 The inclusion of some Invercargill players—Marist had difficulty m fielding a side—gave’ Marist a weight advantage in the scrums. However, the lighter Collegiate men put up a good fight and were more than a match for their opponents in the loose play. Collegiate had the better of the first half and at half-time they were leading by eight points to three. Their backs proved to be a good combination and they opened up the play at every opportunity. The first five-eighth, H. Wilson, was inclined to use the punt through too often and would have been better advised to have passed to his .outside man on some occasions. However, he frequently gained much ground with his kicking. One of the best displays was given by the Invercargill player, Couling, who played at second five-eighth for Marist. He showed a good turn of speed at the right moment and gave a display oi good straight running. His only fault was that he attempted to cut in too often. In the first half he scored a spectacular try. , ■ , Within a few minutes of the start of the game Collegiate scored. The movement started on Marist’s 25 line, Collegiate securing possession from a scrum. McPhedran got the ball away to Wilson who passed to McArthur, the latter shooting through a gap and scoring behind the posts. Wilson converted. Collegiate 5, Marist 0. After 25 minutes of play Couling scored a spectacular try for Marist. He was travelling at top speed when he took a pass from Thompson. He broke through the defence and raced for the line. He was hotly pursued by a Collegiate man, but beat him to the line, diving the last three yards. The kick failed. Collegiate 5, Marist 3. Wilson kicked a penalty goal for Collegiate before half-time. After 10 minutes of play in the second half Kynaston scored for Marist. The kick missed. Collegiate held their lead until within a minute of the end of the game. Then Muir, G. Cameron and Kynaston broke away from about the half-way line and dashed upfield in a movement which ended in Muir scoring. Couling converted. The final scores were: Marist 11, Collegiate 8. Mr J. Aitken was the referee. The teams were:—

Collegiate.—J. Randle; D. Kidd, R. Williams, G. McDougall; R. McArthur, H. Wilson; J. McPhedran; D. Skinner, Mclnerney, L. Chapman, I. Walker, J. Smith, J. Thomas, Findlay, I. Carmichael.

Marist.—W. Cameron; Hishon, P. Eccleton, Thompson; Couling, Kynaston; Branks; Booth, Crooks, G. Cameron, W. Stewart, P. Connolly, Baird, D. Muir, Ryan. PIRATES v. WINTON Pirates did not have much difficulty in defeating Winton. Neither side was at full strength and the combination of the teams was not of the best at times. It was mainly a battle of the forwards. At half-time Pirates were leading by six points to nil, a try by A. McLachlan and a penalty goal by G. Campbell. Campbell kicked another goal in the second half. Mr I. Mills was the referee. The teams were:— Pirates.—G. Cleveland; K. Young, A. McLachlan, R. Calvert; R. Risley, I. McKenzie; H. Fraser; I. Buchanan, I. Duff, N. McEwan, D. Thomson, F. Fowke, G. Campbell, E. Shepherd, D. Dickson. Winton.—G. McCrostie; N. Fallow, M. R. Waldron, Blackman; I. McDougall, J. Mcllwriek; H. Walker; J. Mclnerney, F. Cunningham, C. Mason, M. McDowell, I. Kincaid, C. Robertson, L. Cairns.

LOWER GRADE RESULTS SECOND GRADE.— Ohai 14, Marist 6; Pirates 11, Borstal 3; Hawthorndale 11, Invercargill 0. THIRD GRADE.— High School 6, Old Boys 3; Collegiate beat Bluff by default. FOURTH GRADE.— High School 14, Marist 3; Collegiate beat Borstal by default and Pirates beat Hawthorndale by default. FIFTH GRADE.— High School A 8, Collegiate 0; Pirates 17, High School B 6; Technical 6, Invercargill 6. TEAM TO PLAY OTAGO Match At Dunedin Next Saturday There is only one alteration in the Southland team to play Otago at Dunedin next Saturday. W. Stewart, the Invercargill forward, has now been included in the team and will take up the back-row position in the scrum in place of W. Thornton. The team is as follows:— Full-back—R. Waldron. Three-quarters.—R. Campbell, A. G. Sutherland, N. J. Bennett. Five-eighths.—M. P. Grace (captain), E. G. Walker. Half-back.—G. Watson. Front Row. —D. Ford, J. A. Mcßae, E. W. Ennis. Middle row.—J. P. Newell, S. E. Purdue, T. Fordyce, H. Budd. Back row.—W. Stewart. Reserves.—W. Thornton, H. McCulloch, R. Grenfell, J. A. Weavers. The backs will practice at Rugby Park at 5 p.m. tomorrow and on Thursday; the forwards will practice at Rugby Park at 7.15 p.m. tomorrow and the whole team will assemble at Rugby Park on Thursday at 7.30 p.m. This will be the 100th representative match between Otago and Southland. Provided the ground is in a fit state two curtain-raisers will be played, Otago v Southland referees, and Alexandra District High School v Otago Boys’ High School. The box plan for the match will open at Charles Begg and Co. today. Southland and country patrons can book seats by writing Begg and Co. and enclosing postal notes for seats required and a stamped addressed envelope. A special souvenir programme will be on sale for this match. MATCHES POSTPONED IN EASTERN SOUTHLAND Because of the weather and the state of the grounds, all matches in the Eastern Southland Rugby Football competition were postponed on Saturday. MARLBOROUGH DEFEAT ; BULLER (P.A.) WESTPORT, July 29. Buller, the Seddon Shield holders, were decisively beaten by Marlborough, the first challengers of the season for the trophy, yesterday by 6 points to nil. It was a keen game.

mostly dominated by the visiting forwards, who, led by C. Hegglun, F. Bennett and T. O’Sullivan, played a magnificent game. The last-named, with the assistance of a heavy pack, outhooked G. Orman, and the Buller backs never had much chance to get moving against the keen opposition. WIN TO AUCKLAND (P.A.) AUCKLAND, July 29. The Auckland Rugby representatives defeated Waikato by 15 to six. Waikato had the better forwards, but the speed and cleverness of the Auckland backs won the game.

W. L. D. Pts Ch Pts F. A. Bluff 6 3 1 88 49 13 Pirates 6 4 1 101 80 13 Old Boys 6 4 1 101 86 13 Invercargill 4 3 3 71 60 11 Marist 4 5 1 82 88 9 Collegiate 3 5 2 64 82 8 Winton 2 7 1 52 114 5