SCHOOL AND PLAYGROUND

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19070, 15 May 1930, Page 16

SCHOOL AND PLAYGROUND

By

“DEMONI."

RUGBY FOOTBALL. Last week, owing to the fact that all the secondary schools have now commenced their term holidays, there were no games in the Secondary School Competition, whilst only two of the four senior teams were engaged in matches under the C.R.U., the other two, St. Bede's I. and College 1., forfeiting their fixtures, both of which were against Technical Old Boys. St Andrew’s I. met High School Old Bo\ r s and the result was a draw 11-11. St Andrew’s fielded a very “scratch” holiday team, and in consequence, there was little or no combination amongst the rearguard, and the game throughout was a little bit scrappy. For the first thirty minutes, there was no score and then Jamieson, who on Saturday was playing at centre instead of in his usual position at full-back, made a nice opening and then passed out to Judson, who crossed the line for a try which was converted by Jamieson. A little later another attack by St. Andrew’s was successful in adding to their total. F. Symes, who was playing at half-back, worked the blind side rather nicely and the ball went to Gossett (wing three-quarter) who dashed over for a try. This, however, was not improved and half time was called with the score B—nil8 —nil in favour of St. Andrew’s. Almost immediately after resumption, a movement developed which was perhaps the best of the game. St. Andrew’s hooked from a scrum and Sj'mes got the ball away smartly for it to travel right through the line of backs to the wing, when a timely inpass saw Jamieson score. The kick again failed and, with a lead of eleven points, the game looked an almost certain win for St Andrew’s. Old Boys, however, assumed the offensive. Their forwards broke away in a penetrating loose rush and, as none of the opposition would fall on the ball, the rush was completed with a good try which brought the score to 11-3. This success appeared to awaken the Old Boys’ vanguard and, keeping up the pressure, they had St Andrew's on the defensive for the remainder of the game. In the concluding stages, two more tries were notched by Old Boys and as the major points were added to one of these, the final whistle sounded with the game a draw. For the St. Andrew’s backs, Jamieson played a great game, saving his side time after time. Judson also showed good form at first five-eighth, a position which is strange to him, whilst, amongst the forwards, G. L. Symes and J. Minson went well, although the latter was rather inclined to hang off for opportunities instead of “mixing” in in the tight. School I. also met High School Old Boys but in a higher grade than the previous match, and once again a really first class struggle ensued, the final whistle sounding with the score 14-12 in favour of Old Boys, this being the first defeat that School have suffered this season. Throughout, the play was very closely contested and, on the whole, there was not much to pick and choose between the two fifteens. The handling of the School backs was again rather faulty, but when all is said and done they had very few opportunities of opening up passing rushes. Old Boys, throughout the game, were eithei

breaking up quickly cr else screwing the scrums, with the result that the School half, R. Cook, very seldom got the ball away at all cleanly. It must, however, be said that, at times, he was far too slow in his work behind the scrum and this, coupled with the fact that 11. E. Cook (first five-eighth) was frequently out of position, prevented any concerted movements by the School rearguard. Brittenden played quite a good game at second fiveeighth, but was too much inclined to go for the intercept. Neither wing had many opportunities and, although both of them played satisfactorily in defence, generally speaking the School tackling was not as good as it might have been. The vanguard, however, showed much better form than their backs. Their packing, after the first ten minutes in which it was a trifle loose, w r as superior to that of the opposition, whilst their hooking was quite satisfactory in so much that they almost invariably secured the ball when they wanted it. In the loose, however, Old Boys were superior, their loose raking rushes frequently having the opposition backs in difficulties. Rankin was the outstanding forward for School. He showed especially good form in the loose as did Lee (wing) and M’Neil. Thacker showed considerable improvement and scored a good try. The best back for Old Boys, without doubt, was Henry, who went really well at . first five-eighths and, at times, “so’.d the dummy” to effect. Stevens, at half, also got through a good dav’s work but the outstanding member of the team was one of the forward?, Berry, who toiled tirelessly throughcut. The more prominent of the other forwards were Stanley and Dawe. The game was one of changing fortunes. Old Boys, in the early stages, drawing first “blood” by way of an unconverted try scored by Dawe as the lesult of a solid forward rush. They, however, did not maintain their lead for long, for after M’Clelland had levelled the scores with a fine goal from a penalty, the School forwards staged ■ a strong attack from which Thacker broke away to score a good try almost under the posts. The kick, however, proved abortive and, when half-time was called shortly afterwards, School held the lead by 6-3. Not long after ; resumption a nice movement by the ' Old Boys' rearguard had its reward. The ball travelled right through the chain of backs to the left wing and then was passed back- infield, eventually reaching Henry, who scored, and the scores were again even. Soon afterwards, Henry staged a determined solo effort which found the School 1 tackling wanting and when close on the line he passed to M’Kenzie, who dashed across for a try which was con- ; verted by Stanley with a fine kick. Loose rushes by the Old Boys’ forwards kept School on the defensive, and it was not long before Berry dived over from a scramble, bringing the score to 14-6 in favour of Old Boys, ' who now commenced to use the line as : much as possible. A penalty against them enabled M’Celland to add to the total and in the concluding stages, a fine loose rush by the School forwards ended in Rankin going across for a try'. With a conversion required for a draw, the kick fell short and, although School continued to attack fci the remainder of the spell, time was called without any change to the score.