STAR SUPERIOR

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21127, 29 August 1938, Page 12

STAR SUPERIOR

FAST OPEN RUGBY Better combination in the back line and solid forward play accounted for Star’s defeat of Temuka. Fast off the mark, the Star backs had Temuka worried throughout the afternoon, only solid defence keeping the score cbwn. Neither side scored in the first spell. Star had a territorial advantage, hooking the ball from the majority of the set scrums, and in the loose they had Temuka’s measure. The country team have a well deserved reputation for good forward play in the loose, but on Saturday the Star forwards more than held their own. Early in the spell it was patent that Star’s tactics were to feed T. Morrison, but the ball very rarely reached the winger as the Temuka defence was solid, and Star’s rushes were smothered before much ground was gained. The thorn in Star’s side was A. Gaffaney, who at first five-eighths for Temuka extricated his side from difficulty, with long, well directed line kicks. Throughout both spells the Star backs appeared to suffer from “potitis” as at least six attempts at dropkicking a goal were made during the afternoon none of them being successful. A reorganisation of the Star backs straightened up the attack in the second spell, when Morrison came in to centre and Milligan went to wing three-quarter. The Temuka pack appeared to take new life also. Led by McCully they set up a series of hot attacks on the Star line, being robbed of a try several times by the bounce of the ball and minor infringements. Star countered the Temuka attacks with bouts of in and out passing, one such move taking them half the length of the field and bringing a moderate attendance to its feet. Early in the spell, G. Salisbury, who had been playing a good game in the line out for Star was carried off with an injured neck. Both Dawson and Morrison had attempts at goal from penalties in the first half. Keeping the ball to the forwards where their strength lay, Temuka took play to the Star line alter the interval, but Ford sent them back with long kicks to half way. From a scrum on the half way line, Grayburn broke through to send to Donaldson, who shot past Gaffaney to transfer to Cartwright, the centre racing upfield to send a long pass to Morrison who weaved a passage infield to again transfer to Cartwright, the latter touching down beneath the posts. Donaldson’s kick missed. A few minutes later Morrison snapped up in midfield to race through more than half the Temuka team and touch down near the posts. Donaldson converted. Undaunted Temuka returned to the attack but they were unable to find an effective counter for the brilliant bursts of the opposition, who did as they wished with the ball in the closing stages. The game ended:— Star 8 Temuka 0 Mr T. Grattan was referee.