CENTRAL (Blenheim) v. RIVAL (Nelson).

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13082, 17 April 1911, Page 1

CENTRAL (Blenheim) v. RIVAL (Nelson).

WON BY THE VISITORS. I Tho amateur Rugby season was j launched into existence by the above I match at Trafalgar Park on Saturday. There was a fair attendance, including a good number of ladies. Both teams were moro or less scratch ones, and the players displayed a. considerable amount of staleness, no doubt owing to this being the first game. The Central forwards were heavier than the Rivals, and thus had command of the scrum work, but in the loose tlio local forwards were superior. The Rivals kicked off and play was centralised for -some time, the local team being awarded several successive free kicks. Branton, the Central half, then opened up play, and some passing rushes took place between Mclsaa Murdock and Rogers, but the Rival defence was spund, the collaring of Hargreaves being first class. The Rivals then followed suit, and tho backs indulged in isomc passing, tli« whole of the backs participating, and McGavin looked like- scoring, only being stopped by the Central full back. Till this period the game was fairly even, but later the play cased off considerably and for a considerable time tlio Centrals kept up an attack on the R.ival line, but repeatedly lost chances by hard kicking and arcr-eagernef-s, and tho first spell ended without score. The second half opened with the Rival forwards dribbling to Central territory, but this was neutralised by the Central full back. The game again opened up somewhat, the Central backs, by good passing keeping up a constant attack, but it was not | till time was well on that the scoring | commenced. The first points were registered by Murdock, being tho outcome of a good run by Lambert. Play was soon again in the Rival territory, and a good dribble by Whiting, the Cbntral wing forward, ended in Ills' scoring the visitors second try. The Centrals kept up a constant attack from this time, and a third try was

won by Murdock in the corner. Tha attempts at goal were very poor, neither of the tries being converted, and the game ended in favour of tho Centrals by nine points to nil. 1 I The visiting forwards were a pretty i even lot, Payno and Bush being prominent in loose work. The full-back, Ryder, was very sure and kicked well. Lambert was the best of tho other ■ backs, being well supported by MurI dock and Mclsaac, while Branton, at | half, performed well. In the local forwards, Watson, McCabe and AVoodward wer© tho best. In tho back division McGavin, Bumip, and Har- ■ greaves were prominent, the latter bei ing particularly strong in defence work.