RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 249, 2 August 1937, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

KNOCK-OUT COMPETITION, t RAKAIA AND OLD BOYS WIN. The Ashburton Rugby Union’s senior knock-out competition was started on Saturday. The winning teams were Rakaia, who defeated Methven, on the Domain Oval, and Old Boys, who were too good for Public Works in the match at Winchmore. Judging by the first spell of the Winchmore game, in which there was no score, Public Works seemed likely winners. The tables were reversed in the second half, in the concluding stages of which the Old Boy 9 backs dominated the game and scored som'o run-away tries. Results at a Glance. Senior— , Old Boys 22, Public Works 3. Rakaia 10, Methven G. Third Grade — Allenton 15, Technical Old Boys 14. Old Bovs 14, Methven 3. Fourth Grade — Allenton 16, Technical A 16. Methven 8, High School 3. Rakaia, 10, Methven 6. Rakaia got the ball from scrums and the backs worked down to Methven’s line in passing rushes. Rakaia pressed near the post, but the defence held. Methven gradually pushed the attacking team back to midfield but Rakaia came back again, and looked like scoring, but a forward pas 9 spoilt the effort. Rakaia was awarded a penalty for offside play, and I. Bchrnes put over a good kick. Rakaia 3, Methven nil. Good team work by the Methven players enable them to push Rakaia down field. Kelly (Methven) secured and ran to the twenty-five lino

where he lost possession, but the Alethven forwards carried on to the corner. A scrum was awarded but the Rakaia defence was sound. Offside play by Henderson (Rakaia) gave Methven a free-kick, which did not go over. The Rakaia forwards hooked well in the scrums and the backs opened out in passing movements which enabled them to work down to Methven’s territory. The ball was sent out to Behrnes on Methven’s twenty-five line, and he made good use of it by kicking a field goal. Rakaia 7 a Methven nil. Soon after, Rakaia was given another penalty for an infringement, and Behrnes was successful with his kick. Rakaia 10, Methven nil. Rakaia kept the game in Methven’s territory and was awarded a further penalty in front of the posts, but Behrnes’ kick went wide. A territorial advantage was maintained by Rakaia until the spell. Methven was pushed back to the twenty-five, where play remained for a short time. In a loose movement in midfield Methven secured, the ball going to Kelly, who transferred to J. Lilley, the wing. This player made a fast run from the twenty-five and although tackled near the line carried on to score. The kick failed. Rakaia 10, Methven 3. Play was taken up to Methven’s twenty-five, but Rakaia did not keep up the pressure and Methven pushed Rakaia down to the line. Offside play spoilt Methven’s chance of scoring. The Rakaia forwards broke away and P. Doig picked up near the Methven posts and sent the ball out, but Rakaia could not break through. The Rakaia back line was fed with the ball and an easy try was lost through the Rakaia left wing failing to take a high pass. Methven forced. A fast movement by Methven in midfield saw J. Lilley and Harrison get away with the ball at their toes, the latter scoring in the corner. Kelly’s kick just missed the posts. Rakaia 10, Methven 6. Up and down play followed until the final whistle. Air F. Kennedy was referee. * Old Boys 22 v. Public Works 3. Old Boys hooked from the early scrums, D. White sending V. J. Petersen away into Public Works territory, where a penalty was awarded, but a long shot from well out did not go over. Old Boys maintained pressure keeping play in the Public Works twenty-fi ** line. A breakaway by E. Peck saw the Public Works forwards go upfield, Old Boy 9 forcing. It was Public Works turn to attack and in a series of scrums they kept Old Boys in their twenty-five. Some sorties to the line followed, testing the Old Boys defence. Old Boys cleared to between the twen-ty-five and the half-way, where they were penalised, but Hood’s kick was not successful. Old Boys gradually brought play upfield again, and G. Braxton sent S. Duncan away in a good run to the Old Boys twenty-five. The Public Works forwards brought the ball back and Hood had another unsuccessful kick at goal. Shortly after he put Public Works on the Old Boys line with a good kick, but the ball was forced. The Old Boys backs moved upfield and Duncan went awaj but was called back for an infringement. Public Works attacked once more, Old Boys forcing. A scrum on the line followed, Public Works being given a free-kick in a handy position. The ball went near the post, and no score was allowed, although the line umpires gave a decision in favour of it. Old Boys carried the ball back to the Public Works line, but Fleet cut iu and saved. Another Public Works attack was cleared by Newton and Stevens dribbling upfield. Hood took another penalty from outside the twentyfive just before half-time, again without success. After mid-field play at the beginning of the second half a loose Public Works rush started by I. Scott carried all befor it, compelling Old Boys to force. Public Works were then awarded a penalty on the twenty-five and Hood sent the ball between the posts. Public Works 3, Old Boys nil. Stevens broke away in a dribbling rush which carried him down to the Public Works line after the kick-off., but the ball went out behind the corner flag. Then from outside the twen-ty-five Old Boys were give a free-kick, Burgess making no mistake. Public Works 3, Old Boys 3. Newton dribbled through to the Public Works line, where a scrum was awarded under the posts. D. White secured, handing on to Burgess, who dived over the line for a try, which he failed to convert. Old Boys 6, Public Works 3. Public Works dribbled through to the Old Boys corner, where scrums were awarded. After Hood took an unsuccessful penalty from over by the line Old Boys dribbled up to the opposite end of the field where Hood kicked over the dead ball line. The next score came when Murphy fumbled the ball. Duncan secured and made a good run down from the half-way lino to go over. D. White’s kick struck the upright and rebounded. Old Boys 9, Public Works 3. Public Works attacked, Murphy securing well but falling over. Public Works were given another penalty, but Hood did not put it over. Old Boys cleared to half-way, where Stevens broke away a.nd made a good run to score under the posts. Old Boys 14, Public Works 3. Public Works pressed again, but could not go over. The Old Boys backs moved up to half-way, where Duncan broke through for a run-away try. The kick failed. Old Boys 17, Public Works 3. Shortly after Stevens, following up, secured the ball from a tackle, and had a clear run over from near halfway. He converted hi» try. Old Boys 22, Public Works 3. Air S. Pennall was referee.