SCHOOL RUGBY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 148, 25 June 1931, Page 4

SCHOOL RUGBY

TECHNICAL COLLEGE WIN COLLEGIATE FIFTEEN BEATEN TRIUMPH OF RIGID DEFENCE SPOILERS SHOW THEIR VIM. Rigid defence was the main factor which gave Technical College victory over the first fifteen of the Wanganui Collegiate School in yesterday’s annual Rugby match. A comprehensive view of the play left the impression that the teams were fairly evenly matched. There was hardly an eight-point margin between them as indicated by the scores. College had the better finish it, li true, ami it showed out against a defence lacking in contrast to that of tho other side. So far as actual attacking movements were concerned the teams shared honours fairly evenly, but what a difference there was in the ability of the backs on defence! In the second spell, when School battled with as much vim as their opponents had shown earlier, tho College hoisted in front of them a solid wall of low tacklers. It was that rigidity which proved them victors in tho end. School had to come away from a dogged battling to fall back, in the dying stages of the game, with hopes forlorn. Time and again Wishart, on the College last line of defence, stood up with schoolboy gameness and came off best against a fast charging white van. School, on.the other hand, badly missed Bunny in tho custodianship. Christie made a game showing of it, but ho lacked tho School skipper’s accurate handling and kicking ability. Both teams did not handle as well as the crowd expected them to. The nature of the day may have been the cause, but a good deal of tho trouble came from fast spoilers, and in this phase of play, Hutchinson, the College rover, was outstanding. Both half-backs played well. R. Mainwaring, of College, shading his vis-a-vis slightly. Rogers was tho solid man in the College backs, but McLean, reserve wing three-quarter, who took the field in the first spell, was the most dangerous attacking player on the field. In pack work there was little to pick and choose. If anything, the College hookers carried honours and their scrum gave the ball to tho half a little bit cleaner than tho opposition. At certain periods the whites dominated tho scrums, but they fell away in this departure often anil there was a tendency for tho back-rangers to hold the ball up and play on tho half’s nerves. The blues were a better side at lineout play. As a spectacle tho match did not rise to anticipated glory. It lacked that brightness associated with fast interchanging of passes. Backs were often eaught in action and the handling fell from grace too repeatedly to produce these clean movements from half tn wing which have been a feature of School Rugby for tho past decade.

College, profiting by a penalty, lined in the white twenty-five, their for wards holding the ball tight following the throw-m. Twice in succession R. Mainwaring sent Gregory away and on one occasion he was almost over. The white forwards, with Martin in the van camo through the attacking blue backs, carrying the play just clear of the twenty-five. College hacks moved into action, the whites' defensive ab.iit.y being called upon for low tackling which was applied to break the attack at. the centre. Willock (mi.) placed his team on the attack for the first time since the kick-off by lining. It -was evident at this stage that the wnite van, given the slightest chance, would prove troublesome. They took uth a?, tage of a dropped pass ’ to force the game into tho blue twenty-five. A free kick was awarded the attackers. Christie failing to profit. Hutchinson was proving a dangerous man' to School and it was he who brought College. out of their defensive role for ‘he time being, kicking and following through until Christie lined. Gregory was injured and had to leave tho field. McLean, the newcomer, took the left wing position, facing Smith. The rearranged College back lino then read. R. Mainwaring, Melekingi. Kogers. Pargeter (centre;, and Simpson on the other wing facing Moore. Willock (mi.), aided by his pack, made several attempts to get his line moving ami on each occasion Hutchinson, the opporing rover, was too quick at spoiling. A penally enabled the blues to got deep into their opponent’s territory. A cross kick following the subsequent throw-in looked dangerous for School but a mark was taken l>v Moore to stem tin* tide. White forwards asserted themselves again and th • gaiiW swuii!!' back for College to till a rale as defenders. When the white backs came away Pargeter closed with his man Io break the chain and let Simpson down the line. Christie tackled him close to the goal and a bnd thrown forward brought a scrum. Po cisive hooking initiated the movement j which led to tho first trv of rhe dav.l R. Mainwaring. Melekingi. Roger.'. 1 Pargeter* and McLean handling in a i

typical College Rugby rush, the winger gaining the merited reward. Simpson’s kick curved in to find the bar—College 5, School 0. Another Try. When Wishart lined nicely over the full-back’s head, College were back in a favourable position. McLean got possesion mid-day between half-way and the twenty-five. Eluding his vis-a-vis in a jinking run, his strong pace carried him beyond the full back to an other great score. The kick failed— College 8, School 0. The whites were on the attack just prior to half-time, an unsuccessful pot by Gover sending his wings up into the goal. Wishart was across in time to force. The scores were unaltered when the interval was taken. School moved into an attacking position immediately after resuming, breaking into a chain of College passing at the second live-eighths. The forwards held the blue opposition and Willock (mi.) passed to Moore and then camo round to back him up. College tackling saved a try, and from the subsequent throw-in the School backs tried again to pierce a resolute defence. College cleared jnomentanh’, only to find the whites back again, this time trying the kick through. Jackson was replaced by Blackie in the College team. Reward came School’s way as the result or a College infringement which let Martin goal—School 3, College 8. School’s Altered Attacks. Playing the slab-point tactics School kept the opposing backs on the defensive. It was only elever footwork at the pysiologieal moment that kept the College goal intact. Metekingi gathered in a kick through from the srum and sent Kogers away. The last-named drew Christie and. passed tu Simpson, the winger failing to take the ball when the goal lay ahead unprotected. The whites infringed in a des perate moment of defence, but Metekingi failed to goal. College wore now giving School what they had been giving their opponents a few minute.' before. A penalty ckiaged the scene to lilt’, blue twenty-live. Martin made an unsuccessful attempt, to gain points from a penalty, the ball falling short, enabling College to change the scene again. Hutcjiison broke through aad spoilt the white backs. Christie was not up in time ami the opposing rover kicked thj ball beyond him. Before ihj defenders c'*uld rally the on-coming blue van had them smothered. R. Mainwniing, Metekingi and Rogers handled tor another try. Simpson’s kick missel— College .11, School 3. There was only one team in it. to wards the last. Che Svhool van ma le one do-or die dash, only to test tgaiu a defence that gave away nothing. Col lege seemed to hold the bethn- condition towards tho end and w ir? tftarling when play ceased, the final score* reading:--TIK'IIMi.AL COLLEGE . .11l COLLEGIATE SCHOOI I Mr 11. * . Hamilton was rei’e-ee.