RUGBY LEAGUE.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20909, 17 July 1933, Page 14

RUGBY LEAGUE.

THACKER SHIELD GAMES. A WAY IN THE Ml'D. Results: — Addington 5, Sydenham i. Hornby 16, Pirates 7. Riccarton 8, New Brighton 7. In the first round of the Canterbury Rugby Football League's Thacker Shield competition players had their first try-out in the mud. The conditions were all against open play, and as a consequence the scoring was low. Addington and Sydenham had an even tussle with one try each, a penalty goal turning the scale in favour of the former. New Brighton forwards went well against Riccarton, the western icc.m just getting home by one point. Pirates beat Hornby in the first round for the McKeon Cup and set off so briskly again on Saturday that at the interval the scores were level. After that, however, the country side showed its superiority and had tne best win of the day.

i ADDINGTON (51 v. SYDENHAM (3). Conditions at Sydenham Park were almost impossible for good football. After about 10 minutes the players were almost all one colour, with the referee's white jersey standing out, it seemed, incongruously. Both Addington and Sydenham backs tried valorously to open up passing rushes—::oinc of which were very good—but as !it needed only a touch to make a ; player Jose his feet, most of the rushes did not, go very far. Remi and Brimble handled better than most of the others, and Boniface was seldom at a loss in his taking of the ball. G. Farmer was very sound at half-back for Sydenham, leading most of the attack. Among the forwards the main battle was waged, and a dour fight it was, lightened with snatches of laughter at various desperate slides. Sparks was the most noticeable. He played a very good game. The teams were as follows: Sydenham—V. Blackler; N. Farmer, W. Meadows, P. Remi; T. Thin, SV. Rastriek; G. Farmer; C. Saunders, J. Madden, W. Sparks, N. Waghorn, E. Bamberger. E. Sherlock. Addington—\V. Boniface; C. Brimble, L. Clegg, E. Barbnrel; B. O'Connell, Jim Amos; E. Ashby; L. Wehncr, W. Cox, C. Bateman, J. Barnard, L. Evans, Jack Amos. Sydenham did most of the attacking in the first spell, keeping Addington i:> its twenty-five for a long time, but the interval arrived without any score being registered. Soon after Remi broke clear from a black and white attack to take the ball well down. Mauden carried on almost to the line, where, in saving, Brimble slipped, the ball sliding over the line for Rastriek to score beside the posts. He failed to convert. Now attacking vigorously, Addington gave the blue defence a severe trial. Reward came when Jim Amos kicked a penalty. Another siege was not lifted till Barbarel had placed his side in the lead with a hard try in a corner. It was not converted, so the final score was: Addington j, Sydenham 3.

; Referee, Mr W. Desmond. , HORNBY (16) v. PIRATES (7). | At Hornby neither team was at full j strength when Pirates and Hornby ■ took the field. During all the first spell, and for a part of the second, tfce game was far from spectacular. It was not till the closing stages that Hornby asserted its superiority, Drury and Palamountain notching tries in quick succession. From the kick-oft' the home team attacked, and C. Wilkie picked up to dodge over near the posts for Standeven to goal. The next score came when fumbling took place on the Hornby line, and Carroll, following up fast, dived on the ball, and Forbes goaled. The ensuing play was generally ragged until the interval. It was not long before W. Vivian added to Hornby's tally when he bullocked across for an unconverted try. Pirates now took a turn on attack, and T. Carey scored with a penalty, j Thereafter Hornby was definitely on top, and W. Drury scored an unconverted try. Palamountain finished the match with a spectacular effort which ended under the posts for Wilkie to convert. Hornby kept up the pressure but nothing resulted, and the final whistle sounded with the score: Hornby 16, Pirates 7. Referee: Mr P. Kirton. RICCARTON (8) v. NEW BRIGHTON (7). The Riccarton men were back at full strength for the first match of th* new competition, but although both backs and forwards did everything well, considering the state of ihe ground. New Brighton gave them a good match. Unlike the Riccarton passing, the handling of the seasiders left a lot to be desired. It was noticed, too, that when their team was on defence and in need of straight thrustful running, the New Brighton backs stood flat-footed, and attempted to kick. This probably lost them the game. The Riccarton back linp Ovcrend, Preston. Thomson, and c' Shackel, made several good passing rushes, but Shackel too often attempted to cut out a man, and cam" to grief. Most of the New Brighton forwards, like their reaguard, were spasmodic in their efforts, but some telling work was put in by J. Crawford and W. Sparkes. For Riccarton, S. Shackel and B. Vine were always prominent.

New Brighton scored two points very early in the game, J. Tini kicking a penalty goal. The score was soon equalised, B. Murray putting one over. Another chance came to Tini, and from a long shot the ball hit the upright, and bounced over. The Riccarton backs then gave a glimpse of good football. Overend snapping up from a scrum and sending a crisp pass to Chaston, to C. Shackel, who scored The kick failed.

The Riccarton men looked as though they were going to have the better of the second spell, but territorially their ascendancy was short-lived. Preston ran over for an unconverted try, and then New Brighton swept play to the Riccarton goal line, and held it there. J. Nuttall, the half-back, dashed round the scrum several times, and finally scored a try. Tini did not convert. There was no further score. Riccarton 8, New Brighton 7. Referee, Mr H. King. SECOND GRADE. Sydenham 8, Linwood 3. THIRD GRADE. Pirates 3, Sydenham 0.

I NORTHERN UNION CUP. ITIU.SS ASSOCIATION TET.EGHAM.) AUCKLAND, July 15. In a match for the Northern Union Cup, South Auckland (holders) beat Auckland by 14 points to 0. The heavy ground gave the South Auckland forwards an advantage, and they dominated the game. The winners scored four tries, one of which was converted.