SATURDAY'S SPORTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16204, 6 May 1918, Page 9

SATURDAY'S SPORTS.

FOOTBALL. RUGBY UNION. OPENING OF THE SEASON. Tie Canterbury Ru-bv Union's grade com«(iliou matches v.'ere commenced on Saturin fina weather. As is usually the case in* first of the sea.«on matcht3 most of the tttms placer short of the full complement. Tie Merivale-Marisl Bros. match at the cjott Grounds was very fas! for an opening naie. Pcmbcrthy's fine kicking was a. big Jjctor in (ho success of the Mcriral© team. Jia-srood, who were not represented at full (irenptb, defeated C'hriitchrrch alter an interesting pa me, while Old Boys experienced little difficulty in accounting for a scratch Aibion team. Results: — UEBIVALE (20) v. MARIST BROS. (8). Merivale and Marist Bros, wet at the Show Grounds in tho presence of a moderato attendance of tho pubiic. Marist Brofi. had t;i« advantage of tho wind in tho first spell, s'nd for th- first icw minutes had Merivale on tho defensive. Good kicking drove ibrist Bros, back, however, and from a p«nilt7 I'emberthy kicKed r. good goal from icar the twenty-five line. Marist Bros, carried play to the Merivalo twenty-five and from a Rcmm near tho lice, Fitzgerald sent out » p»«, which wl'9 dropped. Fitzgerald, Jiorover, snapped the ball up ugain and <iiv«d over tho line near tho posts, Muiiina converting. Half-time sounded shortly afterw»rds. Merivale, with the advantage of the nind in tho second half, kept Miuist Bros, briskly defending, and from a scramble near the line, Sisson scored at the corner, Pemberthv converting. From tho kick off Marist Bros, carried play to tho Merivale t*cnty-fivc, Fitzgerald snapping tho bull up from a loose rush and scoring near the posts. Mnllins failed to convert. Tbe next ecoro tamo from a frco kick, from which Pcmbsrthy kicked a good goal. Shortly afterwards, from ft mark by Jones, near the totich-liro at half-way Pemborthy landed a great goal. From now on Merivale had matters much their own way, and from a scrum near the Marist Bros, lino Jones sot his bulu in motion, Donaldson transferring to Wood field, who Bcore.l near tho corner flag, Pemberthjr's kick just failing. From a Jjote rush by the Merivalo forwards Henry fcorcd, Pembertby making a. good attempt to convert. The whistlo then sounded, the final Kores being—Merivalo 20, Marists 8. Mr 0. Buchanan was referee.

OLD BOYS (26) v. ALBIONADDINGTON (0). This match was played at Sydenham Park, Old Boys being two men short and Albion one. The latter had tho slight cross wind at their backs in the first half, but only tT.icc during tho spell did they send tbe bill across Old Boys' lino. Good line-kick-ing by Mehrtons and Tench placed Old Boys in an attacking position, and a nice bout of pissing ended in Mehrtons getting across botwten tho posta. Tcnch converted. MilJikin broke awoy from a line-out at half way and reached tho Albion full-back, where he iras cheoked. Getting the ball again a moment later ho dashed across near the corner, Tonch failing with the kick. There was no further ecoro before the interval. Old. Boys scored early in tho second spell, a crosskick by Down enabling Otley to get over tho line, the kick at goal failing. Passing rushes ended in Boag scoring a couple of tries in quick, succession, neither being converted. Tho next addition to tho score waa a very fine dropped goal by Mehrtens from well out. The final try was scored by Chtjstall, Bickmott adding the extra points, and tho scores read:—Old Boys 26, Albion-Addington 0. Mr W. Duggan was referee. LINWOOD (8) v. CHRISTCHURCH . (3). Last year's champions met Christchurch at Linwood Park. Both teams were shorthanded at first, Christchurch being, tho worse off in this respect. The game .waa fairly evenly contested, but Linwood had somewhat the better o! it. Chrietchuich kicked off against the wind and a strong Linwood rush ended in Cox scoring. Yates conwted with a fine kick. Christchurch had ft cood chance of scoring, but over-eagerness spoiled it. From a freo kick Yates then forced Christchurch. Selfish play on the part of the Linwood centre three-quarter lost Linwood a scoro, .and then a pot at goal just went under the cross-bar Even plav .followed till the end of the spoil. With tho wind behind them in tho second spell, Christchurch hotly attacked and matson forced Linwood with » futile shot at goal, jfisudgment by Cooko Jet HiTßt away and ho scored, but Yates failed to convert. A fine Christchurch passing rush took play • igajn to the Linwood lino, and from a «tnalty Matson kicked a good goal. Christ- ' 'dirch made strenuous efforts to add to their but were kept out by good defence, tho rtM ending: —Linwood 8 points, Christtjnch 3. Mr F. C. Atkinson was referee. H . SECOND GRADE. •>f ,01d Boys defeated Christ's College at the •Bhbw Grounds by 9 points "to nil. Thompion>(2) and Henshaw scored tries, none of them being converted. Mr J. F. Peake was rtferee. . Boys' High School met and defeated Lintolij College on Albion ground, by 14 points .to nil. Allen and Bowes scored tries, Reese converting the' latter try ond kicking two 'penalty goals. Mr H. C. Watson waa referee. ' Menvale v. 'Varsity, played at Carlton corwr ground, resulted, in a drawn game, «ioh side scoring 3 points. The scorer for 'Varsity was McKenzio (a penalty goal) and "for Merivale Hunter scored a try. Mr L. fielwood waa referee. Xinwood defeated Marist Bros, by default. —— * ; : ; THIRD GRADE. Stli&st played Christchurch at Belfast.'ground, and won by 15 points to 3. The ■cows for the winners wore C. Clarke. W. Vootjon, and W. Henderson, C. Huston converting all the tries. For tho losers 0. .Henderson scored a try. Mr F. Schmidt was rtferee, i Linwood defeated Old Boys at Old Boys' Ground by 27 points to 8. Tho scorers for Linwood were T. Round (five tries), Moore (I), and Vail once (1). Rigby potted a goal •nd Sound converted one try. For Old Boys 8. Burns scored two tries and converted one. Hr- W. Harm an was referee. ' Technical College beat Albion at Elisor's load ground by 12 points to 3. Williams (2), Wd Sisaon (1) scored triee for the winners,

and Stevens kicked a penalty goal. Watt ecrocd for Albion. Mr J. Mercer was referee. FOURTH GRADE. Playing at Christ's Collego ground, ChristV College A beat Technwal College by 15 points to nil. Tapley (3) and Fes scored fries, and Kelly kicked a penalty go:.l. Mr Iv. Hardie was referee. Boya' High School A ran over Maris! Bro*. on 'Varsity ground, tho final score being J1 points to nil. MY W. Britten was referee. At Boys' High School B ground the home team defeated Christ's College B by 11 points to 9. Fot the winners Plunkett, McInnes, and Baird scored tries, Powell converting one. For College Lcckie, Johnston, and M. F. Macfarlano each scored a try. Mr H. C. Harrieon was referee. Albion beat St. Andrew's by 13 points io 11. Tho scorczs for v. ir.ners wero Pen.ing'.-on, McCormick, and Richardson, Pcnlington and Irving converting one each. For St. Andrew's Rainey, Macdonald, and Schlutor scored tries, Rainey converting one. Mr E. G. Kcato wae referee. FIFTH GRADE. West Christchurch beat Albion-Addington at South Park by 61 points to nil. The scorers were Penlington (4>, Robeon (4), Boon (3), Clarkfon, Clayton, Fr.rrunt (2 each). Penlington ar.d Farrant converted two tries each, and Ingley one. Mr H. C. Wilson was referee. At South Park Marists bent Boys' High School by 21 points to 9. Scorers for the winners were Goodman- (2), Dobbs (2), Brittenden (2), and Granger (1). Goodman also kicked n penalty goal. Montgomery, Parham. and Howard scored for High School. Mr J. H. McGuffog was Teferee. Sydenham were beaten at South Park by Christ's College by 84 points to nil. The scorere for the winners were Mai&on '8), Worthy (71, Talbot (2), Reeves (2),® Grant, McLeod, and Johnston. Talbot converted six tries and Johnston converted three. Mr A. Doy was referee. OTHER MATCHES. In a match played at Rangiora the local High School defeated a team composed of Kaiapoi Cadets by 22 points to nil. The Rangiora backs played well, Brown potting i a couplo of goals. Mr Cockroft was referee. NOTES AND COMMENTS. The Show Ground was in capital order for play on Saturday, and tho game between Merivale and Marist Bros, was worthy of a much larger attendance. Tho strong counter-attraction at Now Brighton was no doubt responsible for the small attendances at tho various parks on Saturday.

The gtimo botween Merivale and Marist Bros, was fast and open, tho Merivalo forwards being superior to their opponents, especially in tho sccond half, when they had a slight assistance from tho wind. The Merivale backs, too, handled the ball well.

Pemberthy'a place-kicking for Merivalo was very fine indeed, and it must have pleased the club's supporters greatly to eee him in such good form so early in the season. Fitzgerald was the outstanding player on the Marist Bros.' side, scoring both tries for the loseirs. Playing behind a beaten pack, he gave a capital all-round exhibition.

Albion-Addington plaoed a scratch team in the field to meet Old Boya, and though the former had a man more than Old Boya, they weTe never in tho hunt. Old Boys oommenced well, hut with a few points ap they wero content on their laurels.

The place-kicking in the Old Boys-Albion-Addington match was in direct contrast to that in the' Show Grounds game, only two of the six tries being converted, and they were easy shots in each instance.

Old Boys have a fast and clever set of backs, but the forwards need stiffening up. They are too small and light. Linwood, last year's champions, were not nearly up to their former strength, but with a hard-working . pack and fair defensive backs the team proved a little too good for Chris tchurch, whose players arc good individually, but lack effective combination.

Conspicuous absentees from the Linwood team of last year were W. and E. Cummings whose familiar figures were missed in Saturday's match. A. Buckley * ha» also "given the game beat."

Christchuroh have a team which should do better as the season progresses. The veteran "Jock" Walter could not see his team stuck, and waß persuaded to don tho jewey once again.

RUGBY LEAGUE. SATURDAY'S MATCHES. As tho Competitions Committee had postponed tho first division fixtures on Saturday, tho principal attraction waa tho Avon and Sydenham second division match at Sydenham Park, a closely-contested game resulting in a win for Avon by a penalty goal, two. points.. . Each side had scored a try and a goal from a penalty until Tust before time, when a bad obstruction by one of the Sydenham forwards enabled D. Stevenson to place a fine goal that gave his club success. On the North Park a good game resulted between Addington ' and Hornby, but towards the concluding ertages the. effectiveness of training .enabled tho Addington hacks to outpace their opponents. Results: — SECOND DIVISION. Avon defeated Sydenham by 7 points to 5. Mr T. Madden waa referee. Addington beat Hornby by 14 points to 3. Mr C. McLachlan was referee, THIRD DIVISION. Addington beat Sydenham by 21 points to 2. Mr H. Read was referee. Linwood B defeated Hornby by 21 points to 19. Mr C. Eaton was referee. Woolston beat Avon by 16 pointa' to nil. Mr W. Campbell waa referee. FOURTH DIVISION. ' Woolston A defeated Sydenham..by 16 points to 6. Mr H. Dann was referee.. Tho Linwood-Federal fixture was postponed till later in the season. MEETING OF COMMITTEE. A meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Rugby League was held on Saturday evening, .Mr A. E. Hooper presiding. Correspondence was receivod from the Referees' Association in referenoe to a question ■ submitted, which asked the nature of .the decision when a defending team heeled the ball back over their goal line during a scram on the goal- line for their half-back to force down. The Association decided that all players be notified that the force would not be allowed, and the scrum would be reformed.

The Woolstcn Club applied for permission to enter two teams in the fourth grade competition, and for the reinstatement of J. Carey, which were granted. It was decided to obtain a report on the question of training rooms, and the Sydenham Club were granted a permit to obtain funds towards their own insurance fund for their younger members. The classification of 30 new members of various clubs was left to the Classification Committee, and the application of tho Federal Club to play J. Tikao was granted. It was decided that an official be appointed to bo in control of .each ground during fixtures, and • the chairman and treasurer were appointed to St. Albana Park for Saturday nest. SATURDAY'S FIXTURES. Tho following are the fixtures, grounds, and referees for Saturday next:— First Division—Sydenham v. Federal, St. ATbans Park, Mr A. Morris: Linwood v. Hornby, Linwood Park, Mr H. F. Garrard. Second Division—Sydenham v. Wools ton, Woolston Park, Mr C. McLachlan; Avon v. Addington, St. Albans Park, Mr T. Madden; Hornby a, bye. Third Division—Sydenham v. Linwood A, Sydenham Pork, Mr C. Tilleyshort; Addington v. Hornby, Hornby, Mr H. Dann; Avon v. Linwood B, Linwood Park, 1.40 p.m., Mr Ormandy; "Woolston a bye. Fourth Division—Sydenham v. Linwood, Sydenham Park, 1.40 pjn., Mr T. McClelland; Federal v. Woolston A, St. Albans Park, 1.40 pan., Mr Falgar; Woolston B a bye.