RUGBY FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1932, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

ELEVENTH HOUR VICTORY OLD BOYS JUST BEAT ATHLETIC. TEAMS HAVE PLENTY OF VIM. Perfect weather enticed a fair sprinkling of spectators to Pukekura Park on Saturday to see the double attraction of the New Plymouth Boys’ High School first fifteen and Old Boys’ juniors, followed by a senior grade match between Old 'Boys (New Plymouth) and Athletic (Hawera). In a rambling game characterised by plenty of vim but little polish Old Boys beat their opponents on the call of time by I’s points to 14. W. Robinson was as consistently in the van as ever in the Athletic pack, and Old Boys’ forwards seemed to be sturdier than for some years. The Athletic rearguard was a sound combination and had one or two good runs. Galbraith was brilliant but patchy for Old Boys, whose back line was strong as far as the.centre three-quar-ter but weak on the wings. The teams were:— ,

Athletic: A. Nolan; Matthews, Morrissey, Paterson; Blyth, Dymorn'. Dowdle; Tuki; M. Nolan, Young, Archer, Davidson, McLean, Malcolm, W. Robinson.

Old' Boys: Priar; Rutherford, K. Fookes, Billing; Galbraith, Mace; Olsen; S. Fookes; McLean, Evans, Perry, Thomson, Drader, Insull, Clarke.

Athletic attacked first but Galbraith relieved with a spectacular cut-in, and from a line-out Mace cut in neatly to score in a handy position. Priar could not goal, nor could he goal from a penalty in a good position shortly afterwards. Dowdle, Dymond and Blyth combined in a pretty, dodgy movement ■from which they nearly scored. Mace kicked the ball offside, and Morrissey landed a nice goal. Galbraith made a good opening and Old Boys touched down in the corner after Drader had been obstructed, but the referee had already awarded a free kick for the obstruction, and Old Boys could not goal. From a scramble in Athletic’s corner Clarke scored an, unconverted try. In Old Boys’ territory Athletic opened up a very nice movement, the whole back line handling in snappy fashion for 'Paterson to score a good try. Morrissey again converted with a good kick, giving Athletic the lead at half-time by eight points to six. In the second spell several changes were made in the teams. Galbraith provided the first thrill by hoodwinking the opposition with a jinky sidestep, and Priar lined neatly in. the corner. In a scramble Old Boys forwards tumbled over and Athletic dallied, Billing seizing the opportunity to dive in for a try. The kick failed. Old Boys then •staged a spectacular movement. Morey, who had replaced Olsen at half, dived through on the blind, side and passed long infield, where Perry picked up and 'gfrung the ball out for the backs to handle in turn, K. Fookes crowning the movement by running round behind and scoring under the bar. Galbraith missed the easiest of kicks. Athletic bustled downfield again, and in Old Boys’ corner Morey threw a try away by passing for Paterson to intercept and > tumble over the line. The kick failed. In a ■fasit Old Boys’ rearguard attack Galbraith nonplussed his opponents with a magic change of direction, but S. S. Fookes dropped his in-pass. Athletic retaliated, and in a loose passing rush McLean secured and scored near the posts. The kick failed. Right on time Old Boys forwards broke through from a line-out and Thomson scored near the posts, but 'Priar made a poor attempt to goal, and the game ended: — Old Boys 15' Athletic 14 Mr. F. J. Eggleton refereed, JUNIOR GRADE MATCH. SCHOOL DEFEAT OLD BOYS. In a junior grade match played as a curtain-raiser to the Old Boys— Athletic match at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth Boys’ High School first fifteen defeated Old Boys by 32 points to I's. As the scores indicate the players threw the ball about freely. Finish was lacking, but was hardly to be expected so early in the season. School played the 3 —2 —3 scrum and Old Boys the 2—3—-2. In the first spell School hooked with monotonous frequency, but in the second spell Old Boys held their own in hooking. School seemed to have the making of their best team for four or five years. Catran on the wing gave promise of being a valuable player, and LeithWatt, Potts and Carroll, the three inside backs, were nippy and resourceful. Birch led his forwards splendidly. Grace played a fine game for Old Boys, his goal-kicking 'being a feature of the match.