RUGBY NOTES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 56, 13 April 1914, Page 2

RUGBY NOTES.

EASTER MATCHES. Although the Rugby football season of 1914 was ushered into Christchureh on Saturday, with matches between some of the Ohristehureh dubs and teams belonging to other centres, there was little in the play as a whole to indicate the probable standard of the season. True, the Sydenhan team showed better form than was expected of it against the Dunedin Club's fifteen. But the holiday spirit and the scrambling play usual so early in the season prevailed toonmuch in the games in general to allow of any satisfactory calculations of the form likely to be seen during the season. Of course, these Easter matches are really social affairs, and much should not be expected of them.; v «;At the same time, they serve as a "breather," and help a little .in the worlc of the club selectors. But I doubt whether the men who have to choose the Christchurch Club's senior fifteen obtained much assistance from that club 's match with the Wellington Club, at Lancaster Park. The holiday spirit certainly prevailed in that .game, and, from a competitive football point of view T , .it gave the Christchureh Club's selectors very little to go upon. The Wellington team owed its. 8 points to nil victory to superiority in the forwards. There were too many '' passengers' ''-fri the-Christchurch pack, and too little combination. Moat of the Red-and-Blaek forwards showed a decided disinclination to get round behind the ball again after they had got past it —they preferred to walk back leisurely. There was another striking difference between the two sets of forwards. Wellington had an excellent leader, Miller, but Christchureh had none. Morgan J and Ormond werfe not playing. They j will make a Ipig difference in the Christchurch pack *|plien the competition 'starts, but the club will need some senior forwards with more knowledge of [the game than a few of those who played on Saturday showed—men, too, jwith some energy:'' C. Murray was the only forward who grafted all the time. |One or two others worked well at ir>- ! tervals.

The Wellington forwards had more combination and more energy, and thev were better in both the tight work and the loose. Miller, the Wellington representative ''lock}'' led them well; jhe was the best forward on the ground., S. Weir was a good second, with the other forwards all playing well. . Until Tosswill went into the Christchurch five-eighth line at half-time-iE. O'Brien, full-back,-had retired, backs were re-arranged—the two sets of backs were much the same, and tbey were not very good—their methods were stereotyped. Tosswillpresence greatly improved the Christcliurch attack, and the Christchurch backs became a little the better of the two sets. But they were only a collection of units, instead of a combination, and so their attacks always broke down. Tosswill played well, but. received very little support. Unfortunately for the club, his presence on Saturday did not indicate that he will take his own place in the Christchurch backs when the competitions .start he is. in Christchiirch only on a visit. Wallace was next best to Tosswill, lie plaj'ed verv well in defence.

Although so early-in the season, when lack of training and combination are generally apparent, the SydenhapiDunedin match was an extremely well contested affair, the local club securing a well merited victory. The Carding on their showing are a much stronger combination than was generally siTOposed. H. Watson and E. Eraser,' am oil'? the backs, were a host in both appearing to have "struck form.-.'!' At one -or two periods of the game thesfe two last year representatives seemed to exercise a monopoly of the ball, th<jif heady work keeping the opposition inji continual state of bewilderment. Doepl although rarely "bustled," plavfid -1 good game, exhibiting in patches somfe of his old-time brilliancy. E. FjMsimmons, a promoted junior, will evijdently retain his position in the team, his display at "half" being well up to first grade form. On .Saturday his keenness neaxiv proved his undoing; he fchpuld remember that a player can only fill one position at a time. Sale, at fiveeighths, is promising, being particularly good in attack. The Cardinal forwards, however, are hardly yet up to concert pitch. They are a light pack, and, op-

posed to the heavier Dunediu van- j guard, did not show to advantage. It | should, however, be remembered ' that j they are mostly composed of last season j junior players, and they .should show 1 considerable improvement during the' season. E. Hatchings, who, I -believe,, is a brother of L.. Hutchings, the erst- ; while representative five-eighths, is a; solidly-built player, with a fair turn ol ! speed. He showed a special proclivity for .joining in passing rushes, the final • try'by Watson being the culmination: of a great run through the opposition' by this versatile forward. .Johnstone 1 and Kennedy shaped well, while Booth,' the ex-liockeyite, is in every respect an acquisition to the Rugby ranks. It was pleasing.to see the well remembered,: ever green ".Jimmy" Duncan, of New, Zealand representative fame, officiating: with the whistle, his control of the" game being worthy, of commendation, i

The Albion Club w T ill hold a euchre party in the club rooms on Wednesday evening.