RUGBY FOOTBALL

Evening Star, Issue 24287, 31 August 1942, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

ARMY IN THE LEAD Army, with 21 points, is now loading in the senior Rugby competition, University (Medical) being next with 20 points, followed by O.M.R. (18), University Combined Faculties (17), and Dunedin (17). Some of the sides had difficulty on Saturday in filling their teams, but the games were quite interesting. AN EASY WIN. There is little to say about the main match at Carishrook except that Dunedin who were hard put to it to raise a team, were hopelessly outclassed by University (Combined Faculties). The students were far too speedy and nippy for the' Dark Blues, who, however, stuck pluckily to their task ami now and again actually stormed the Varsitv citadel, but the only success which came their way was when they surprised themselves by opening Hie scoring shortly after the kick-off with a try by Dwan, who, from a ruck, scored on the blind side. Roddcn missed with the kick. Varsity were fumbling a good deal, but gradually took command, and the hacks, Saining possession consistently, did pretty much as they liked, which was, usually, to play orthodox but entertaining football. In the first spell Wilson, Klvidge (2), and Peeti scored, and Smeeton kicked a nice penalty goal and converted two of the tries. In the second spell Dunedin were even more helpless, and the students added another 19 points, tries being scored ■ by McDowell (2), Smeeton (2). and Elvidge Smeeton converting his own. All the Varsity hacks were in the play at one, time or another while the forwards, particularly Vosalaigi and Peeti, were frequently in the picture, which was certainly a moving one. Todd (full-back) was Dunedin’s best hack, and Roddcn worked hard. T. Wallace and Treacy did their best as forwards. The final scores were. Varsity 38, Dunedin 3. Mr W. Hollander was referee. O.M.R.’s FORWARDS. The handful of spectators who were present to watch the early match at Carishrook were not thrilled by the exhibition given by O.M.R. and Zingari, although the soldier forwards were occasionally very effective in loose rushes. Zingari backs threw the ball about freely, but made little ground, and lost several opportunities of scoring when they did get within range. The first spell ended without cither side° gaining any points, but in the second spell O.M.R. forwards, again assuming superiority, were rewarded when they led a loose rush to the line for tlio wing threequarter, Bovle, to go over. He missed the kick. Shortly afterwards, Hamilton, a forward, squirmed over, and, Boyle converting, O.M.R. led 8-0. Thereafter Zingari played with some semblance of combination, and Mason kicked a penalty goal, and, changing from full-back to second five-eighths, scored a try. O.M.R, won by 8 points to 6. Ledingham was consistently sound at full-hack for the winning team, and Ward, McKenzie, Whyte, and Paul led the forwards. A. Mason defended stoutly and kicked well at full-back for Zingari, W. Mason and F. Paton also doing good work, with Grant and Waldron the best forwards. Mr J. Frood was the referee ARMY’S CLOSE CALL. Both Army and Union had difficulty in raising full "teams when they met on the North Ground, but after an even game Army scoured a narrow but well-deserved victory by 11 points to 9. Army's backs handled bettor than their opponents, Hannah, behind the scrum, giving Ward, McGibhon, and Finlay plenty of hall. The first spell was well advanced when Ward secured the hall in the .loose and dodged through a gap to score in a handy' position for Dawkins to convert. Almost immediately afterwards Freeman kicked a penalty goal for Union, and just on half-time he scored a try. In the closing stages Ward and Fraser each added tries to Army’s total, while Duke scored for Union after a bright passing movement among the backs. The tries were not converted. Mr W J. Duff was referee. DRAWN GAME. Kaikorai and University (Medical Faculty) met at Bishopscourt, and provided one of the best displays seen on that ground this year. The match ended in a draw, 5 alt, with Kaikorai having the better of the play. The Kaikorai forwards started off at a great pace, and harassed the opposing rearguard ail day. Kaikorai opened the scoring when P. Reid picked up the ball from a loose scramble in his own twentyfive and made a fine run before sending out a pass to Gerric, who scored under the posts. Barnes added the extra points, and Kaikorai had a 5-0 lead at half-time. In the second spell Payton, W. Davie, and Reid led the Kaikorai forwards in some strong assaults on the University line, but Beetham and Pacwai drove them back. Fox, Gudex, and Murphy, who were playing well at this stage of flic game, carried play to the Kaikorai twenty-live line, where from a scrum Paewai made a jinky run through the Kaikorai backs and scored a fine try under the posts. He had no difficulty in converting. Both sides made strenuous efforts to secure victory, hut- an exciting and hard match ended without further score. Mr J. 'B. Burton was the referee. ARTILLERY BEAT AIR FORCE. In an interesting and open match at Bathgate Park Artillery proved much too good for Air Force, winning by 17 points to 0. Johnson, who was shifted from the three-quarter line to half-back, gave a good display for Artillery. Marlin, following a tussle in front of the Air Force goal line, narrowly missed kicking a field goal, the ball striking, the cross-bar. .When it bounced back ho retrieved it and went over to score. The kick at goal failed. A try was scored by Richards from an opening made by Johnson, Brown converting. Henderson, Chamberlain, and Martin also scored tries, the last two in the concluding stages of the match. The referee was Mr D. A. Kilgour. WANGANUI BEAT TANK BRIGADE (P.A.) WANGANUI, Aug. 31. The Wanganui Rugby representative icam beat the Tank Brigade by 16 points (two converted tries, one unco"verted try and a penalty goal) to 14- (one converted try, two unconverted trios, and a penalty goal) on Saturday. ASSOCIATION GAMES 1 ARMY A DEFEAT MOSGIEL By its defeat of Mosgiel in the senior Association football competition on Saturday, Army A wrested the lead from the former team, which has held that position almost from the start of the season. The match was played at the Oval. Mosgiel, with only two of its original players, was no match for the strong Army side, but did well to hold its opponents to a three-goal lead. The scorers for the Army were McLean, Groves, and Skinner. In the other match, which was played at Tonga Park, Caversham defeated Northern. The latter team displayed little cohesion throughout, and Caversham’s team work gave it a load of four goals af half-time. In the second period the winners added three more goals, while Northern scored twice. In order to complete the third round, Army A has yet to meet Caversham, and Mosgiel is to play O.M.R. Army A now has a lead of two points from Mosgiel, Caversham being next on the list, but the premiership is likely to be decided between the first two mentioned teams. Saturday’s, matches resulted as follows: Seniors.—Army A 3. Mosgiel 0: Caversham 7, Northern 2 Fourth Grade.—Maori Hill 8, High School 1; Kittyliawks 3. Caversliam 1.