SATURDAY'S MATCHES

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12850, 8 July 1907, Page 8

SATURDAY'S MATCHES

Ohristchurch footballers were once again favoured with tino weather for iSaturdny's matches, and as no rain had fallen during the week the various grounds wtro in splendid order. Owing to Sydenham, the leading team for the championship, having'a bye, but little interest was tuken in the senior matches it Lancaster Park, the takings at tho gate only amounting to JL'l!) lOt. !M. which i* the lowest record on a Saturday this season. The. grounds ixMiig dry were all in favour of the backs, and they made such good use of their opportunities that in the thrre matches no less than 97 points •were t><orc<l. Tho Merivale-C'hrist-ohurch was given the post of honour of playing in front of the stand, and the former, after failing to score in the opening epell, created o surnrLso by winning by 25 points to 8, while the Old Boys defeated Canterbury College by 22 points to 8, and Albion triumphed over Linwood by 31 points to 3. The following table shows the position of each club in tho senior championship contest: — h . c a i. f 3 Club. &"? g -3 5 .8.. .S-S 2.S ,2— £ °i; ooc tea o Sydenham ..10 9 1 0 102 21 9 Albion .. 10 8 2 0 129 54 8 Chrietchurcli. .. 11 7 4 0 118 73 7 Old Boys ..10 5 4 1 122 95 5J MwivaJe .. 10 4 5 1 88 81 44 Linwuod ..10 1 9 0 46 140 1 Cant. College.. 11 1 10 0 45 186 1 SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. MERIVALE v. CHRISTCHURCH. This match was played on the east ground at Lancaster Park, when Merivale won by 25 points (2 goale from tries, a goal from a mark, and 4 tries) to 8 (a goal from a try and a try). .Merivale (Blues) kicked off from tho south, and Cotton returned to (in,idficlcl, wherb the opening scrummages were tought. Tho Blue forwards soon worked tho ball into their rivals' twenty-five, and it was kicked over the line, the Reds (.Christchurch) being forced down. After tho kick out tho Blues returned to the attack, and exciting scrummages wero fought in front of the goal. Walter hoaded a Red forward rush to the centre, but the Blues soon had the leather back again. Read marked, and had a shot at goal, but tho ball fell short, and McGregor kicked to mid-field. Morivale, who were having the better of tho play, soon hnd the oval back in their opponents' quarters, and a few minutes later Christchurch wero again forced down. Following the kick out good Sicka bj Cotton and Burns placed tne Blues on the defensive, but tbb danger was soon removed, and even play followed for a time. A kick by Mackey took play to past tho Reds' twentyiivo, and Christchurch wero forced once more Even play followed, and then the Reds rushed the ball to their antapoi.ists' goat line, and Turtill had a fruitless pot at goal, Merivale being forced. Give-and-take play in noutral territory followed, and then tho Rode again invaded their opponents' twenty-five, and Al'Gregor lost a <<(xxl chance of scoring by a bad pasa. It mattered little, however, as from a loo*o scrum immediately afterwards the ball was kicked, over tho line, and Walter scored a try, which Turtill converted. After t.he kick out a Jong kick by Ollivier forced the Blues, and » moment or two later they wero again forced by a kick by Joins. The Reds qiiicklv returned to tlu> attack, but Thomas made a good kick to the oentre, and a couple of free kicks to ihe Blues enabled them to further improve their position. A free kick to.Cnristcliurch rolieved the. pressure, and .or> some littLo time the hall hovered between the two twenty-fives. Just uofoio half time, a fumble by Thomas placed the Blues on the defensive, and M'Urogor had a pot at goal, which forced Merivaie. down. Christchurch soon returned to the attack, and neat passing between Jones, EyjgLstone, Outton, MGregor, and Burns enabled th* last-named to score, but Ttmi'i's K.'ck at goal was a failure. Half I,'ii'» was then called. On changing on 1s Ch 'istchurch kicked off, and after a few scrummages in noutral terriforv the Blues rushed tho ball into t.heii - .)f----ponents' territory. Tho latter wero momentarily relievexl by n free kicK, but Merivale came, ugaiu. and the ball being kicked over the line, Fuller scoicd, Read's attempt at goal, from a ditiicult anyle, tailing. Score— Christchurch 8 points, M«rivale 3. On thn ball bring kicked out, the Blues quickly ictiirn-d to tho attack, and from a ecr'tm on the linn Bond'scored, Fuller adding tho major paints. Merivale M>on hud their opponents busily dcfetuliiy; their line again, and Fuller scored his second try, but Read failed to convert, tdtjiougli tho place was nearly in frout ot tho yo.il. A few iiHitutf-s l«tei Thomas mat kfcj o'Usjclo the lU\W twenty-live, ami the ball was placid tor Fuller, who kicl.ed a goal iroin neaily hallway, making Mcrivalo 14 points to their (ippononts 8. Even play in neutral territory was then witiiffcsed until a clever piece of play by Fuller eii'ud in his coring another try. which he. converted from a difficult angle. The Wm* were now completely over-running their rivals, but it was somo little time b.fore they .added to their score, Fuller eventually scoring ills fourth try. Read's attempt at goal being result less. Merivale quickly returned to th<? attack, but Christi/hurch worked the ball to the centre, whoie it remained until just on time, wuou Ford scon-u. Fuller failing at goal. M~ G. S. Matthews was referee. OLD BOYS v. CANTERBURY COLLEGE. The above gamo was played on the West ground, where the Old Boys obtained an easy win. The College vacation was again responsible for a weakness in the team, and Bishop, boing on the injured list, further weakened tho students. The Maroons, kicking off, instituted a College rush, and interchanges removed play to the Old Boys' quarters, where Ryder made a fruitier attempt from a penalty, further play amongst tne forwards gave Cook possession, and he scored for the btudenis, Hopkins placing a goal. The school backs, led by Byrne, instituted a pretty passing rush, and J. Guttirie wound up trie effort behind the posts, Shirriffs converting. Shirriffi again placed the College on the defence, and a faulty pn.ss to Guthi'ie allowed tho Maroon forwards to clear. Good kicking by Ryder repelled lurlher attacks, and an

injury to Twyr.cham caused a cessation ; Seed, by good footwork, forcing the Maroons on resuming. G. Gray was prominent in renewing the attack, and Shirriffs had an ineffectual shot from a pe-naltv. Keeping up th» pressure tho Whites' backs essayed another fine passing rush, and Lawrence, scored, Shirrifle failing with the kick. Further play amongst tho forward-, saw G. Gray lead a dangeious rush to the college line ac half-time sounded. On retiming, good kicking by the Old Boys' backs gave them the advantage, a bad pass by Woledge letting the Maroon forwards clear. The School forwards returned, and a loose rush let Hollis over, the kick failing. A passing rush between Byrne, Woledge, and Lawrence again placed the College on deleiice, and smart fielding by Guthrie enabled him to touch down behind the posts, Shirriffs converting. H. Gray again set tho Whites' backs going. Lawrence losing an opening by misfielding. Revell was prominent in transferring play to the School half, and passing between Reid, Hopkins, and Ilyder gave the latter a try, which he failed to improve. After another futile attempt from a penalty by Shirriffs, the forwards monopolised play for a long period, bad fielding by the Maroon backs giving their opponents an opening, and passing between Byrne, Woledge, and Guthrie saw the latter obtain his third try. Shirriffs failing with the kick, a long kick by Guthrie went to the Maroons' line, and obtaining possession, Byrne dodged over. Kinvig making a futile attempt to improve, another passing rush by the .School backs let Lawrence over, but losing tho ball lost a good try for his side, a forward rush by the Maroons ended in Ryder making a fruitless effort from a penalty, shortly before the whistle sounded, leaving the Old Boys victorious by 22 points to 8. Mr T. E. Saxton was referee.