AMONGST THE JUNIORS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10060, 11 June 1898, Page 3

AMONGST THE JUNIORS.

fßv TntjK Blue.]

The flag match played at Lancaster Parkon Saturday between Merivale and Cliristchurch caused a lot of interest, and there was a goodly number of spectators watching the game, which was practically a battle for the lead for the Junior championship. The gume, though well contested, was not a good display of Rugby football, both sides seemingly being afraid to open out and play with confidence. The Christchurch forwards in the first half were superior to those of the opposing team, while the play of the Merivale backs was better throughout the contest than that of the Christchurch men. However, in the second half, the Merivale vanguard put more life into their work, "which no doubt won the match for them, the score at the sounding of "no side" by Mr Nixon being 6 points to nil in favour of Merivale, made up by a penalty goal and a try.

W. Fraser, the Merivale full-back, had my little to do, but his kicking was very serviceable. Austin, the captain of the winners, had not many chances, but he made eorae good dashes in the second spell, and his try was an excellent piece of play. Voyce. in the centre, played well, very well indeed at times, his great kicking powers being very useful. Lowe, the other wing three-qunrter, had a good share of work, which he did well, his sprinting being very useful to his side. The five-eighths, Smith, did fairly well, and Burrell, the half-back, was very brilliant in his all-round play. The best of the forward division were Lewis, tho brothers Marriner, Cornish and Cook. Jester and Farquhar both played well on the wing.

Tho Christchurch full-back, Fearon, was only moderate, he seeming somewhat nervous. Garsia's best point was his kicking; in fact, he did too much of it for my Hiring, as he could have run on several occasions with far better results than some of his kicks brought about. On the other hand, Smith did far too much running, and he would do well to kick oftener, notwithstanding his good sprinting powers. Pope, at fiveeighths, was hampered a good deal by bad passes from Lynskey, the half, but the latter did some good work in tackling and stopping rushes. Lewin was a better wing forward than Moir, but both were slow in getting round the scrummage. In the pack, C. Cooke. Walters and Moore were about the best of an even lot.

The MerivaJe B—Linwood match calls for little comment, the superiority of the Blues being too pronounced for Liivwood, who had a very weak forward team. Of the winners' backs Woods. Fraser and Green were the best, whilst Knight, Cockayne, and W. Chapman playod well in the forwards. For Linwood, Lawrence, Wilson, Hale ar.d Byrne of the backs, and Watson, Hervey and Nicholls were the best of a poor lot of forwards.

Sydenham had a weak team in the field fgainst Albion in the Flag contest, and, as is usual with scratch men, they lost, the ecores being 17 points to 4. The game was not of an interesting character, and the Albion team had a very easy win. Billcliff, Weaton, Gray, Baxter andCrawshaw showed good form for the winners, and Muir and Gasson were about the best of the borough team.

A well-contested and well-played game *as that between the two Albion Cup teams, *hen the A's won by a try, scored by Squires, to nothing. Sumner scored another win in the Cup contest on Saturday against Sydenham B. •Toe team from the seaside is a very heavy one, too heavy, in fact, for some of our Cup k&uis. They should go very near to winB] ng the trophy this season. Sydenham A wen their match by default against Richmond in the Cup contest. This w the first game that has been forfeited this «ason, but the Richmond Club found it impossible to get a team together for last balurday. Both the Merivale A and Christchurch teams had byes on Saturday. . There was far too much talking going on «i the Merivale-Christchurch Flag match on Saturday. Teams should remember that they have a captain to appeal for them, and

that the referee is there to see fair play. Merivale were the greatest offenders in this respect.

Mr F. T. Evans was so struck with the bad treatment received by junior referees in a stroll he had round the North Park last Saturday week, not only by players, but also the spectators, that he mentioned the fact at the committee meeting of the C.R.U. last week. The executive decided that any offenders brought before them would' be severely dealt with. I trust this will be t-ikert as a warning by the juniors, for if they have a grievance there is a proper place where they can air it. Surely they can see that there is nothing to be gained by mis-., behaviour on the field of play, and there is only one thing storing them "straight in the 'ace if they p*T-i«t in the course indicated, and that is disqualification. The spectators also must not think that they can get off "scot free," for the C.R.U. can deal with them whether members of clubs or not. I fancy both players and spectators only want to stop and think a little. If they consider the sacrifices a man who gives his time up to act as referee makes for the good of the game, they will surely use a little sense and see that it is better to assist rather than hinder the official in trying to keep good behaviour both on the field and the "line."

10. Marriner made his reappearance in the footb.ill arena on Saturday, playing for his old club, Merivale, against Christchurch. This is his first game since he injured his ankle when playing for his senior fifteen at taster. I trust we will see him "on- the ball" every Saturday now. C. Cooke is one of the most dashing forwards in the Ci.ristchurch Flag team. In fact, he was the only one that put "life" into his play all through the game on Saturday.

Cornish, the lock man in the Merivale Flag scrummage, is a first-rate forward, both, in the open and the pack.