Xavier Trounced

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31084, 13 June 1966, Page 16

Xavier Trounced

By

B.H.S.

It takes a fine team in any class to score 300 points by the middle of June. Christchurch Boys’ High School has scored 303 and one of its players, the first five-eighths and captain, L. Legge, has the remarkable tally of 125. Both were able to add to their totals substantially on Saturday when the side beat Xavier College by 37 points to 3 at Straven road. The teams were:— Christchurch Boys’ High School.—R. Anderson; S. Jolley, P. Jones, L. Brown; H. Joseph, L. Legge; D. Phillipson; W. Lee; L Henderson, I. Armstrong, A. Boulton, Robinson; J. Richards, M. Bain, A. Smith. Xavier College.—T. Emery; P. Brown, S. Preston, P. McGlinchy; P. Anticich, M. Campbell; I. Cox; W. P. Brown; P. Doody, N. Langenberg, R. Trowland, B. O’Byrne; M. Durney, R. Clough, P. O’Connor. Brown was replaced by T. Foley at half-time.

Xavier began each half with surprising ferocity and played the entire game with considerable courage. But matched with such efficiency, sometimes brilliance, it gradually succumbed each time. It had neither the skill nor the strength to cope with the continual pressure, and it was only towards the end that th* backs made a few con-

certed runs. Then the movements ended tamely in midfield when Christchurch Boys' High School had plenty of tacklers available. The match could only be heartbreaking for the Xavier five-eighths, M. Campbell and P. Anticich. They had the impossible job of marking Legge and H. Joseph respectively. Legge had another great game: he seldom makes an error. Phillipson passed well but some of his dives sent the ball very low. Legge was able to flatter him by picking up anything. Legge’s subtle change of pace allowed him to elude clutching hands. At other times he passed perfectly for Joseph’s speed and strong running to carry the second five-eighths through. And the fieet-footedness of Jolley, on the wing, was the backs’ other main asset.

If the chain passing was to be marvelled at, it was a supremely competent job by the forwards that made it possible. They were always pressing, led by Boulton and Lee. In fact, Boulton found the prospect of defence so undignified that when he got into his own half, he told his forwards: “Up the other end in a hurry." Richards was another determined, barging forward. They all knew their role well as shown when six of the seven thrilling tries were scored by backs. Gallant Side

Spectators could not help feeling sorry for Xavier, but they would be the last to ask to be patronised. It was a young, light and gallant team that never stopped trying to halt the onslaught. There could have been more tries but for the efforts of Emery, McGHnchy and Preston stifling movements sometimes right on the line. Campbell and Anticich could not stop the opposing backs from getting a considerable early impetus,

but they played the game out and even attacked briefly just before the end. At half-back, Cox, a brother of a previous Xavier half, stood up gallantly to a drubbing and often saved his side. The forwards were a battered bunch, but they leapt in the line-outs to the end and the Hankes, O’Byrne especially, and Doody, were fit and game. O’Byrne kicked a fine penalty goal from about seven yards inside half-way to gain the team’s only points. The pack was extremely unlucky to lose the number eight and captain, Brown, at halftime. He set a good example and was always to the fore. For Boys’ High School tries were scored by Jolley (2). Joseph (2), Legge, Phillipson and Henderson. Legge converted five tries and kicked two penalty goals. O'Byrne kicked a penalty goal for Xavier. The referee was Mr C. J. Taylor.