A POOR DISPLAY

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

A POOR DISPLAY

WAIMATE BEAT OLD BOYS Playing on me No. 2 ground, Wainiate beat Old Boys in the last quarter of an hour by 8 points to three after a very poor display in which faulty handling on both sides marred numerous passing rushes. The match was most uninteresting and only a small but loyal band of supporters watched the game, and even then their attention was divided with the far more exciting Star-Temuka game on the adjoining ground. Although the first spell was fast, play ranging up and down the field bad handling on both sides nullified all the attacks. The spectators soon lost interest, and the only bright spot was a nice passing rush from midfield in which all the Waimate backs participated, and which saw the left winger. Murphy snap up to score in a good position. His kick failed. A few minutes earlier Murphy just missed with a penalty from a fair way out. In the loose and the line-outs, Waimate if anything, had the better of the game, but honours were even in the scrums. Both forward packs worked hard, but the faulty handling of both sides, and the similar failing which assailed the backs, soon ruined the prospects of an interesting game, and it was evidently an ‘“off day” with both teams. Half-time came with no alteration in the score. Although territorially Waimate had the better of the game in the first spell. Old Boj ? s reversed this state of affairs in the second spell. Waimate being kept within their own twentyfive for the greater part of the time. Waimate won most of the loose scrums, but faulty handling again ruined their prospects. Murphy again made a good attempt at a penalty from wide out. The Old Boys backs got going and a fast rush looked hopeful, but a faulty pass spoilt the opening. From a scrum Parsons sent his backs away and K. Hall outpaced the opposition and thrust his way over in the corner. Thomson’s kick just missed. Play livened up and Old Boys forwards forced their way through, but the ball rolled out in the corner. From then on Waimate were left on the defensive, but with a few minutes to go Bartlett sent the ball well down to cross the line. The full-back, Rollinson. attempted to force, but Bartlett and Wright fell on him, the latter scoring a lucky try. Murphy made no mistake with the kick, and the game ended — Waimate 8 Old Boys 3 Mr C. Harding was the referee. DISAPPOINTING GAME LACK OF FITNESS ON BOTH SIDES Lack of fitness and enthusiasm was evident on both sides when Geraldine defeated Celtic at Geraldine by 15 points to nil. Any efforts to open up play were lost by dropped passes and penalties. Geraldine won the majority of the scrums but K. Brown, at half, lacked thrust and many good movements came to nought. The brightest movement in the game occurred when Callanan, the Geraldine custodian, took possession from well out when a long speculator was kicked through by a Celtic forward, and dropped a beautiful goal. The green forwards lacked weight in the scrums and several of Geraldine’s points came from this weakness. R. Craig was outstanding in the visitors’ pack. McPhail at centre made several good openings but lacked support. Judkins, McShane and McPherson were the pick of the Geraldine pack, the last named being most prominent. Brown at half did not give his backs much chance to get going by lobbing his passes. Geraldine opened their account when Taylor snapped up and sent to Loach, who passed back and Taylor dived over. Mackintosh made no mistake with the kick. Celtic missed a chance when McPhail broke away and was well tackled by Payne, who was penalised for not playing the ball. Delury missed the kick from a handy position. Callanan added further points when he dropped a goal from well out. The Geraldine forwards dominated play for some time, and McShane picked up from a scramble and dived over. Mackintosh failed to convert. Celtic made several desperate bids to cross the line but the defence held. Geraldine were holding the advantage when Simpson snapped up and sent Judkins over. Taylor missed the kick and the game ended:— Geraldine 15 Celtic 0 Mr C. J. DeJoux was referee. A GOOD TRIAL HAWKE’S BAY BEAT SOUTHLAND By relegipph—Press Assnclaiioi. INVERCARGILL, August 27 Hawke’s Bay put up a good Ranfurly Shield trial against Southland to-day, winning a bright and fast

game by 21 points to 15. Conditions were perfect and the pace of the exchanges found the Southland team wanting at the finish. At one stage Southland led 15 to nil, five penalty goals being kicked by Ballantyne. Hawke’s Bay was penalised 24 times to Southland’s four. In the first half Southland, playing in the face of a strong sun, had a good territorial advantage but it was clear that the Hawke’s Bay backs, when in possession, were a strong attacking force. Much of their play was curbed, however, by insistent scrum infringing. Southland being awarded 14 penalty kicks from which Ballantyne goaled four out of five attempts. The Southland pack had the advantage in the set scrums, winning 11 to eight, but it was | the Hawke’s Bay forwards who won most of the line-outs, the margin being i two to one. | Hawke's Bay revelled in the glorious I weather conditions of the second half. | and opened up the game in refreshing style. Once again, however, most of the good play was nullified by the repeated off-side play of the forwards, Bowman being the principal offender. At the finish the Hawke’s Bay backs and forwards threw the ball about with I delightful abandon, and had the | handling been accurate must have put lup a big score. The Southland for- ! wards again held their own and with I fair support from the backs might | have won the day. It was the hardest game Southland has had this season, . and marked Hawke’s Bay’s first victory at Invercargill. The scorers in the second half were a penalty goal by Ballantyne (Southland), two potted goals by Bradley (Hawke’s Bay), tries by Clothier and Bowman, two conversions by Clothier and a penalty goal by Fox. SHIELD MATCH NORTH OTAGO’S CHALLENGE STAVED OFF j By Telegraph Associate DUNEDIN, August 27. In a game below provincial standard. Otago repulsed by 12 points to nil the first challenge for the Ranfurly Shield ever made by North Otago. A strong gusty wind made conditions difficult. Otago, weakened by the withdrawal of Trevathan and Gillies, played without l life in the first half, but improved in j the second. The visitors concentrated on spoiling tactics, and in this were I successful in holding the opposition. ! Except for the early stages. North Otago were persistently on attack in the first half. Bustling tactics and the judicious use of the line, especially by the visiting half, McLaren, kept Otago penned in their own territory, but lack of good backs to finish off movements was the chief factor in their failure to score. The first try came when Black, in clearing the line, ran to halfway, evading several tacklers, handed on to Berghan and the whole back line raced into action for McCartney to score a fine try in the corner. Taylor ) missed conversion, but soon after kicked a penalty from a difficult angle. Both teams continued to play disappointing football until half-time. Otago livened up in the second spell, but although they had the better of the game lack of cohesion in addition to the spoiling work of the visitors nullified much of their efforts. McDonald 1 scor I after a loose rush by the forwards and McCartney scored his second try after good work by Neiper, Berghan and Spillane caught the defence out of position. Taylor failed to convert, the game ending 12-0. * In the junior representative match. Southland defeated Otago by 11 points to 6. TO MEET HAWKE’S BAY | i SOUTH CANTERBURY TEAM The following is the South Canterbury Rugby representative team to play Hawke’s Bay at Timaru on Saturday next:— | Front row: McCully (Temuka), Golumb (Waimate), Greer (Macken- | zie). Second row: Fitzgerald (Celtic), Ivey (Star), Gale (Temuka). J. Bryce (Waimate). Back row: G. Adkins (Star). Half back: D. Parsons (Old Boys). Five-eighths: K. Bly th (Geraldine), Cartwright (Star). Threequarters: T. C. Morrison (Star), K. McPhail (Celtic), W. Murphy (Waimate). Full back: C. Rollinson (Old Boys). The following players are also to practise during the week-end: P. McShane (Geraldine), T. Polhill (Temuka), F. Dawson (Temuka), B. Cox (Celtic), J. Donaldson (Star), N. Ford (Star), J. Grayburn (Star).