Collegiate too good for Marist in first round of Invercargill rugby 1963

Collegiate had little resistance from Marist in the curtain raiser of the first game of the season.  The game was won by the classy Collegiate backs, A. McKay and L. Brandon.  Collegiate also had a slight edge in the forwards but had to work hard to contain a lighter Marist pack.

Up front Marist was led well by Brian O'Neill with the forwards starting well and matching the Collegiate forward pack.  The Weakness for Marist though was in the backs where half back R. Lauren did not have a particularly happy game therefore his first five eight received some poor ball putting pressure on the backline.  With Gordon Ward getting bad ball the Collegiate forwards made his life a nightmare and he was hammered all day.  
After the initial Marist attack, Collegiate realised their was a weakness in Marist's inexperienced backs and forced them into mistakes.
R. McDonald received a great pass right near the Marist line and scored under the posts. H. Harris converted.
A 30 metre run from a ruck by Barney O'Neill saw Collegiate score again.
A penalty was awarded to Marist when they were on attack and this was kicked by A. Hughes which was the only points they got for the day.
Collegiate A. McKay began to show the crowd his fast pace and with a lot of jiggling and jiving from the base of the scrum started a great back chain movement which resulted in a try by Brandon who outpaced the opposition.
Early in the second half, Collegiate's No 8, A. Wright took a charge down and charged round the front of the lineout to score in the corner.
The game evened out and neither side play constructive football.  With 15 minutes left, McKay darted round the side of the scrum in Marists 25 to score.
Five minutes later Marist's backs played basketball, in front of their own posts until the ball was dropped and the waiting Brandon scooped it up and dived over to score.  Harris again converted.
Brandon scored again quickly and just before the whistle blew for full time J. Fitzgerald put the final nail in Marist's coffin with another try to make the final score 25-3.

Reference - The Southland Times April 1963

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