NORTH ISLAND HAS A NARROW WIN IN VARSITY RUGBY MATCH

Wanganui Chronicle, 22 June 1950, Page 6

NORTH ISLAND HAS A NARROW WIN IN VARSITY RUGBY MATCH

DUNEDIN, Last Night (PA).— North Island defeated the South Island by eight points to six in the annual Universities Rugby match at Carisbrook this afternoon. The game was marred to a considerable extent by a high wind, but a crowd of about 1200 witnessed some bright football, more particularly by the North Island backs who showed some attractive passing. J. M. Tanner, Auckland, and a former Otago representative, played brilliantly at second five-eighth for North and was the best back on the ground, while the young Massey College player, J. Hotop, also impressed greatly at first five-eighth. The South forwards had the advantage of possession, but the backs lacked speed and combination. E. N. Roberts, North, was also a capable half back, though not quite so adept perhaps as Savage at getting out of trouble. M. J. Tanner, North, and G. J. Moore, South, both played well as respective fullbacks and Tanner’s fielding and kicking were of very high order. The best South Island back was C. Moore, in centre, and he gave the attack considerable edge. B. Doherty, W. A. Hargreaves, Z. Dalzell and E. H. White were the pick of the South forwards and the best of the North pack were B. Hutchinson, G. S. R. Macdonald, W. Clark and D. B. Rope, the last-named retiring with a shoulder injury m the second spell. For North, Clark and G- G. Gilmour scored tries, one of which was converted by Gilmour, and for South D. R. Wightman scored a try and C. Moore kicked a goal from a penalty. The referee was Mr. J. Garthwaite.