PATRIOTIC DAY AT RUGBY PARK

Southland Times, Issue 24824, 17 August 1942, Page 2

PATRIOTIC DAY AT RUGBY PARK

SUNSHINE, BANDS AND FOOTBALL

Sunshine, bands and a variety of football formed a good combination for a worthy cause at Rugby Park on Saturday afternoon. It was the Southland Rugby Union’s effort for patriotic purposes, and judged by the entertainment provided, the results achieved and the satisfaction of the public, it was a highly successful project. Four football matches were played. The feature games were those between Otago Mounted Rifles and Invercargill Army, which resulted in a draw, 12 points each, and the teams of the Invercargill and Dunedin squadrons of the Air Training Corps, won by Invercargill by 12 to 6. In all of the games good football was played in excellent conditions. „ , ~ The Civic Band, the O.M.R. Band, the Pipe Band of the Base Training Depot and the Battalion Bands supplied the music during the afternoon. A V formed by the Army teams made, an attractive introduction to the principal match. There was an excellent attendance of the public and it is expected that about £lOO will be available for patriotic purposes.

O.M.R. v. ARMY The teams were troubled by the bounce of the ball—lt was lively—and there were many ragged patches in the first half. Play improved considerably in the second half and the spectators were entertained to some fast football. O.M.R. scored a moral victory. It scored three tries and Army failed to cross O.M.R.’s line. R. Nieper kicked four penalty goals for Army. His was a good performance and it drew attention to the possibility of a win for Southland against Otago the week before had he taken the goal-kicks for Southland. About’ 10 minutes after the start, O.M.R. was penalized about 35 yards out and straight in front of the posts and Nieper kicked a goal. Army 3, O.M.R. 0. Play was fast and open and each side had its chances. Repeated scrum infringements tended to hold up the play, the referee ordering scrums to be reformed more than once. Army was penalized twice within goaling range and Boyle kicked a goal for O.M.R. with his second kick. Army 3, O.M.R. 3. Ledingham, the 0.M.R., full-back, entertained the crowd with two good runs up the field. He was unsupported and Miller started a counter-attack for Army which just failed to materialize. Army had an advantage in the last 10 minutes of the first half and after a good passing rush, ■which was checked by good tackling, O.M.R. was penalized and Nieper kicked a good goal. Army 6, O.M.R. 3. With two minutes left to complete the half O.M.R. rallied and Broadley scored a good try from a line-out. The kick at goal failed. At half-time the scores were: .

Army 6, O.M.R. 6 NIEPER GOALS AGAIN

As in the first half, Nieper, the Army captain, opened the scoring of the second half with a penalty goal. Milne made play in the right wing and O.M.R. was penalized. Nieper kicked a goal from the 25 line. Army 9, O.M.R. 6. For the next quarter of an hour O.M.R. played all over Army and several times went close to scoring. Army tried passing rushes, but failed to get very far and O.M.R. returned to the attack with the best rush of the game. The ball went through the chain of backs to the left wing (Boyes), who outpaced Milne and scored at the left corner just as he was collared. It was a good try. No goal was kicked. O.M.R. 9, Army 9. The remaining play was exciting and willing. Hannah made a run up the grandstand wing and Sherriff carried on right to the posts, where a defending back was penalized a few yards from the posts. Nieper kicked his fourth goal and Army again took the lead. Army 12, O.M.R. 9. O.M.R. was not finished yet. The forwards swept to Army’s line and in a bright piece of passing D. McKenzie made a good qpenlng for J. Hamilton, who dived over for a try which delighted the crowd. Ledingham made a great attempt to goal from well out, but his kick struck the crossbar and rebounded into play. That was the finish to a highly interesting second half. The teams were:—

O.M.R.—L. Ledingham; E. J. Boyle, A. T. Home, S. Y. Boyes; N. Harper, A. Smart; G. D. Revle; D. McKenzie, J. Hamilton, A. L. Murphy, L. Whyte, L. Paul, P. Watkins, J. Robertson, D. Broadley. ARMY.—T. Gold; C. Milne, R. Williams, J. McKay, W. McKenzie, R. McLeod; J. Hannah; J. Kean, D. Renshaw, A. G. Rogers, H. Raymond, W. Miller, R. Nieper, W. G. Sherriff, L. V. Baird. C. Pittaway replaced Baird in the second half and R. Williams (centre) changed places with the second five-eighths in the second half. Mr G. Agnew was referee. SENIOR GAMES The senior games resulted as follows:— Marist-Bluff 26, Military Reserve 6; Old Boys-Invercargill 9, Pirates-Star 6.