COLLEGE RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 36, 11 August 1936, Page 17

COLLEGE RUGBY

FAST AND HARD GAME

RONGOTAI BEAT STRATFORD

, In a fast.and hard game at Kiljjirnie Recreation Ground yesterday afternoon, Rongotai College defeated Stratford Technical High School by 21 points to 12. The teams were very evenly matched and use was made of the backs at every opportunity to open up play. Although a number, of the Stratford boys starred as individualists, Kongotai- played better as a team and well co-ordinated movements frequently had Stratford on the defensive. The keen game was distinguished by tackling which, with a few exceptions, was of a very high order, and many dangerous movements were stopped in this manner. The Rongotai backs handled with confidence and were well supplied by the ' half-back, R. Wall, who not only, scored three tries, but passed cleanly throughout the game. The Stratford backs appeared to be .handicapped at times by nervousness; Clifford-Jones was several times seen in good solo efforts. The Rongotai. forward A'Court placekicked well, and both packs were fast and evenly matched, both in line-ouls and in scrums; The teams vJere:— , Stratford Technical High School.— G. Lewis; A. Gawith, B. Whyte, S. Lethbridge; A. Hall, B. Clifford-Jones; J. Anderson; E. Benfleld, Mf. Bourke, B. Brown. R. Drake; C. Lanplough, P. O'Carroll, N. Cave, and G. John. Rongotai College.—A. Ingram, W: Boyd, L. Grey, S. Rea; E. Parker, J. Wall; R. Wall;:H. Bruce, J. Journet, R. Chorlton, J. A'Court, G. Dawson, W. Smith; K. -Brown, and A. Davidson.

Halfway through- the game, Lewis, the Stratford full-back was injured, and S..Lethbridge went to. that: position, his place being taken by. A. Floyd.

THE PLAY DESCRIBED. Stratford kicked off against a strong northerly wind; Ronsotai attacked and from a scrum infringement A'Court kicked a line penalty. Rongotai 3 Stratford 0. Stratford fought valiantly against the strong wind and several times had Rongotai defending hard, but the Rongotai defence was sound. A'Court led a fast' forward rush, but was brilliantly collared by CliffordJpnes. Play shot down to the Rongotai end again; Ingram ran with the ball when he should have scored, and from theresulting ruck A*nderson went over in the corner. The kick failed. Rongotai 3. Stratford 3. The Stratford forwards were doing well in the lineouts, but Rongotai got their share of the-ball in the scrums. From a scrum on the 25-yard line R. Wall, the Rongotai half, secured and cut through to score a line try. A'Court converted I Rongotai 8, Stratford 3. The Rongotai backs were handling well and several assaults were launched on the Stratford line. From- one of these Grey missed a certain try by attemptine <o pot from under the posts. Stratford

were rapidly improving but could not break through. From a penalty-in a handy position, A'Court added three more points to the Rongotai total, and half-time went with the score: Kongotai 11, Stratford 3.

■ Soon after the resumption of play, from a scrum under the Stratford posts, R. Wall went over again. A'Court converted. Rongotai 16, Stratford 3. Ingram saved ,two dangerous Stratford movements, in one of which CliffordJpnes, with a swer.ving run, beat six of the opposition. The Stratford forwards were breaking quickly and secured from four scrums in succession, but could not get through. From a scrum near half-way, Anderson broke through and sent to Floyd, who scored. The kick failed. Rongotai 16, Strat?F d fa^,,.Soou afterwards, from a penalty, Clifford-Jones dropned a vfine goal. Rongotai 16, Stratford D. Rongo- ;? 1 f°u£ht back and from a scrum on the Stratford line R. Wall dived over. A Court converted. Rongotai 21, Stratford 9, Clifford-Jones retaliated with an excellent penalty, the game ending: Rongotai 21, Stratford 12..