ANOTHER DRAW

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21863, 17 August 1936, Page 7

ANOTHER DRAW

SUNNYSIDE HELD BY CHRISTCHURCH LEAD OF HALF A POINT IN CHAMPIONSHIP Results at a glance:— Sunnyside 6, Christchurch 6. Albion 20, Old Boys 9. Christchurch, fourth team in the senior Rugby championship competition, held Sunnyside, the leader, to a six-point draw at Lancaster Park on Saturday afternoon. In the only other game played, the second team, Albion, beat the third team, Old Boys, by 20 points to 9. Sunnyside thus retains its leading position by half a point, and whether or not it will now be declared the competition winner will be determined by the Rugby Union tomorrow evening. The game between Christchurch and Sunnyside, played as a curtain-raiser to the North v. South match, was more solid than brilliant. Both teams made determined bids for victory, but both were sound on defence and neither could gain a points advantage. The Christchurch team’s performance was a meritorious one. as nearly all the leading players in the side were absent. It will be remembered that Sunnyside played to a scoreless draw with Albion a week ago, so that Saturday’s was the second draw in two successive matches. The positions of the four leading teams in the competition are now as follows:

SUNNYSIDE (6) v. CHRISTCHURCH (S) Although the Christchurch team was without several of the players who have been conspicuous throughout the season for leading their side both on attack and defence, it played valiant Rugby to hold Sunnyside, leader of the competition, to a six-point draw. There was little between the teams on the day, and the result was probably as satisfactory as could be wished. Christchurch’s score was up of a penalty and an unconverted try, and Sunnyside’s of two unconverted tries. Where Christchurch suffered most by depletion was in the back line. With one winger, Wright, having left the province, the other, Hart, playing in the representative team, arid the centre, Pawson, the half-back, Inglis, and one five-eighth, Gaskin, also absent, there was a certain lack of thrust and combination which was all that was needed to turn some of the attacking movements into scoring ones. Black, who has played several games at half-back for Christchurch this season, got the ball out smartly whenever his forwards heeled it to him, which was from a fair proportion of the scrums, but with the exception of Neame, on one wing, the mep outside him were not able to do much with it. Neame played a very forceful and determined game, and looks like developing into a winger who will be more than useful. Whatever their weaknesses on attack, however, the Christchurch men were exceedingly game and effective on defence, and their tackling must be given as the final factor in keeping the Sunnyside score down to six. Special mention should be made of the play of I. C. Campbell, who was in good form at full-back and repelled many a Sunnyside rush with well-judged kicking. Although the Christchurch forwards looked to be lighter than their opponents they were holding their own In scrums and line-outs, and generally giving their backs a reasonable number of opportunities for attack. Mahoney and Stonehouse did much effective individual work, and two others who could usually be seen at the head of forward rushes were Leonard, a new man in the Christchurch senior team, and Rhind, who has played consistently good football throughr out the season.

The Sunnyside team was practically at full strength, but, as indicated before, found the Christchurch tackling an effective counter for most of the attacking movements it was able to set up. Its defence was much assisted by the able play of the representative full-back. JBehrns, who could never be bustled, and was always sound in his running and kicking, while the three-quarters, particularly Chinnery and Greer, were always lively enough to keep the opposition thinking. Probably the most dangerous men on attack were Moran and Hart, the fiveeighths, but they were never able tc rip the defence wide enough open to sccre. As usual, Pablecheque played a battling game in the forwards, and others who were conspicuous were Newton and McLeod. The Teams The teams were:— Sunnyside—l. L. Behrns; R. Chinnery, W. K. Greer, W. Oliver; L. Moran, P. Hart: J. R. Masters: G. Newton, R. Burke, W. McLeod, J. Hartland. G. J. Howell, L. A, Mahoney, K, Asher, C. Pablecheque. Christchurch—l. C. Campbell; E. Neame, W. Fleming, Busfield; P. Grofski, Cocks; A. Black; Batchelor, D. Almond. J. Mahoney, G. Mills, P. Rhind, Hogg, W. Stonehouse. Leonard. Christchurch was the first to score, Campbell kicking a good penalty goal from well out. The only other points gained by Christchurch came from a try scored by Mahoney after a melee near the line. Campbell missed the kick, which was from a fairly difficult position. For Sunnyside, Pablecheque scored a try in the first half by seizing the ball from a scrummage and fending off would-be tacklers. Moran missed the kick and the score at half-time was Christchurch 6, Sunnyside 3. The only points scored in the second spell came from a try by Greer, the Sunnyside centre, after a back rush. Final score:— Sunnyside 6, Christchurch 6. Referee: Dr. D. McK. Dickson. ALBION (20) v. OLD BOYS (9) In a game of rather scrambling play, Albion beat Old Boys on the south ground at Lancaster Park on Saturday. There were a few concerted back movements, but for the most part both teams adopted kick and follow-up tactics, for-

players were no better than Hattersley and Quaid in the tight, but their speed, dash, and clean handling In the loose are strong recommendations. Of the locks. Tori Reid showed that he is as good as ever, and Ron King, of the West Coast, was a magnificent battler in the lighter southern pack. Fraser Smith and Milllken, though, were not much inferior to the All Blacks on Saturday’s form. The best of the side forwards were Lockington, the improving Auckland man, and Ward, who fully justified the praise he has received this year from southern critics. Both excelled in the loose and were prominent for good work In the line-outs. Green, who is a light man for the position, was seen at his best toward the close of the game, when he headed some fine southern loose rushes. Wells, although small, showed himself to a keen and energetic forward, always up with the play. Rankin was decidedly superior to McNeile as a loose forward, and he gave a splendid exhibition on Saturday. His keen anticipation of the trend of play enabled him to do much effective spoiling work among the Auckland backs, and he was one of the best of the South Island team on defence. Rankin must have made his position in the test team secure. Only one of the emergencies was called on—C. H. McPhail, of Canterbury, who took Mann’s place at centre after the second spell had been in progress for some time. He did not have many chances to show his ability. The Teams Following were the teams:— North Island Full-back: H. R. Pollock (Wellington). Three-quarters: J. Dick (Auckland), J. Sullivan (Taranaki), L. H. Edwards (Wellington). Five-eighths; B. A. Killeen (Auckland), J. L. Griffiths (Wellington). Half-back: L. Russell (Waiktao). Back-row forward: J. McNeile (Taranaki). Middle-row: J. Wells (Wellington), S. T. Reid (Hawke's Bay), F. H. Fraser Smith (Wellington), T. Lockington (Auckland). Front row: E. Jackson (Hawke’s Bay), W. Hadley (Auckland), D. S. Dalton (Hawke’s Bay). Emergencies—Backs; C. le Quesne (Hawke’s Bay), B. S. Sadler (Wellington). Forwards: C. O’Dowda, (Taranaki), A. Lambourn (Wellington). South Island Full-back: G. D. M. Gilbert (West Coast). Three-quarters: G. F. Hart (Canterbury), W. Mann (West Coast), W. A. Black (Otago). Five-eighths: C. C. Gillies (Otago), G. Gaffaney (South Canterbury). Half-back: H. Simon (Otago). Back-row forward: J. G. Rankin (Canterbury). Middle row: R. Ward (Southland), R. R. King (West Coast), H. Milliken (Canterbury), F. Green (Otago). Frbnt row: O. Hattersley (Canterbury), G. Orman (Buller), C. Quaid (Otago). For the North Island tries were scored by Jackson. Reid. Pollock, and Sullivan, Pollock converting the first and kicking a penalty goal. Gilbert kicked a penalty for South and Black scored a try.J

wards and backs being mixed in the loose harrying rushes. Weatherhead, Wickham, and Sweeney, Albion forwards, were the most consistent and hard working on the ground, and they were well backed up by Clark at half. Thompson, second fiveeighths for Albion, did some brilliant work, his kicking being particularly good, although on one or two occasions he lost opportunities for his side by giving possession to Old Boys. Eathorne was not at his best early in the game, but in the second half his play smartened up and he made some very good runs to put the wings in handy scoring positions. Old Boys got most of the bail from the line-outs, Schluter and Leckie, playing in place of McPhail, being particularly prominent. Spence, however, could not get the ball away smartly enough to escape the fast-breaking Albion forwards. Albion won the majority of the scrums, but although Clark was succeeding in , getting the ball away, Henry, standing well up. was able to bustle Garrett or else catch him in possession. Hadlee and Cobden were in good form, but did not see enough of the ball to have many opportunities. They made the most of those they did get. Nolan seemed to lose his dash half-way through the first half, and gave a very inferior exhibition for the greater part of the game. The teams were;— Albion—Preston: Wilson, Eathorne, Scott: Thompson. Garrett; Clark; Mooney, J. Wilson, Oakley, Wickham, Weatherhead, Sweenev, Hadfleld. Dasler. Old Bovs—Nolan: Dickinson, Hadlee, Cobden; Round, Henry: Spence; Toy, Schluter, Hearne, Leckie, Geissler, Bain. McKenzie, Foley. Hadlee opened the score with a good try wide out, after outpacing the opposing backs from a scrum in Albion territory. Nolan put the kick wide. Hadlee and Cobden were together again in Old Bovs’ second try from near half-way, running right down the field, the later scoring on the corner. The kick missed. Albion now started on the attack, and Thompson, picking up quickly on the

twenty-five line, snapped a field goal. Old Boys 6, Albion 4. From a scrum on Old Boys’ line Wickham went over, but lost the ball. Sweeney, following up, scored. Eathorne’s kick failed. In the second half Albion was definitely on top, and attacked from the start. Weatherhead took the ball from a quick throw-in to a half-formed line-out and went over in the corner. Eathorne kicked well to convert. Old Boys broke through soon after, Cobden making a good run and passing to Leckie, w’ho scored. Nolan missed with the kick. From a line-out between half-wav and the twenty-five, Scott secured and made a determined run to touch down in the corner. The kick failed Shortly before time Wilson made a solo run from half-way. and kicking over Nolan’s head, beat him to the ball. Thompson converted. Final score: Albion 20, Old Boys 9. Referee: Mr R. W. Blazey. SOUTHLAND BEATS MANAWATU EXPERIMENTAL TEAM HAS NARROW WIN (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) INVERCARGILL, August 15. A fair crowd saw an experimental Southland team scramble home against the Manawatu touring Rugby side at Rugby Park this afternoon by 13 points to 12. The ground was heavy, but the weather was ideal. The score was a good indication of the run of play, but neither team gave an exhibition worthy of a representative side. Good line-kicking by Waldin got Manawatu out of trouble two or three times early in the game, Southland attacking strongly from scrums. The Manawatu forwards Were very eager, and they conceded a penalty, which Mattingly goaled. Southland was making all the play, but Manawatu retaliated with a fine passing rush from half-way, Bramwell beating his man and taking a return pass from Dernier to score a good try. Sullivan's kick missed. The Southland forwards pressed strongly, and Dunstan shot away from the ruck and dived over, Mattingly’s kick failed. The Manawatu forwards and backs were dangerous in loose rushes. Thurston made a brilliant burst and then ran 20 yards through half the Southland side to even the scores. Southland spent the last 10 minutes of the first half in a ragged attack. Smith attempted a field goal, which was charged down. Hamilton just missed with one, and then Sharp put one over. It had been an even first half, the Manawatu full-back, Waldin, saving his side repeatedly. Sparkling passing and fine saves by both sides opened the second half, but Southland soon settled down to a steady but ragged' attack. It was a poor Southland team, but Manawatu did not look like the team which extended Otago on Wednesday. The form of the two full-backs, Waldin and Hamilton, and Thurston, Manawatu five-eighths, was the only redeeming feature of a poor display. Manawatu took charge a quarter of an hour from the end, and Waugh made two fine runs, scoring from the second.. McKenzie’s kick failed. Manawatu was playing an extra back, and looked like winning at this stage, but Southland regained its four-point lead when Dunstan scored from a dribbling rush four minutes from time. Thurston kicked a penalty goal from the touchline. Manawatu deserved to score in the last few seconds, but could not do so, and the game ended with the scores: Southland 13, Manawatu 12. , HAWKE’S BAY WELL BEATEN POVERTY BAY * SHOWS MORE INITIATIVE (PR#!3S ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) } GISBORNE. August 15. In a high-class exhibition of Rugby, Poverty Bay beat Hawke’s Bay by 25 points to' 13. Poverty Bay showed more initiative than the visitors. Bustling tactics by the local forwards prevented the Hawke’s Bay backs getting away, with the result that on only rare occasions was back play witnessed. The game was exceptionally fast, and at times very thrilling. Poverty Bay was on top all the game, but towards the end Hawke’s Bay livened up considerably. The half-time score was 6 to 3 in favour of the local team. For Poverty Bay, Scholium. Rogers. Mathieson, Webb, McAneny, McKinlay, and Harris scored. Two were converted by Julian and Morrison. Herbert, Bradley, and Wilson scored for Hawke’s Bay, Bradley converting two. TOUR BY NORTH AUCKLAND LONGEST BY PROVINCIAL TEAM (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WHANGAREI, August 15. The following is the North Auckland Rugby team to tour the South Island and play for the Ranfurly Shield: — Forwards —D. Neil, H. Whiu, M. Orresey, R. Flavell, R. Webber, C. Bradley, E. Pairama, C. White, B. Wordley, L. Snelling, R. McCrocken. Backs—M. Panapa, V. Hackett, A. Burkhardt. E. Wilson. A. Johns, D. Wintle, R. White, V. Franich, V. Edge, G. Osbaldiston.

The tour, which .will last for three weeks, will be the longest tour ever undertaken by a New Zealand provincial Rugby team. The team will play Thames Valley, Auckland. Ashburton, Canterbury, South Canterbury, and Otago. THE ALL BL4CKS SELECTION ON AUGUST -26 The New Zealand Rugby team to play Australia in the first test at Wellington on September 5 will be announced on the evening of August 26. ~ The six New Zealand selectors. Messrs E. McKenzie, M. F. Nicholls. G. Nicholson, A. A. Adams, J. T. Burrows, and W. J. Pearson, watched the iriter-Island match at Lancaster Park on Saturday with Mr H. Masters, of Taranaki, who assisted the northern selectors in the selection of the North Island fifteen. It Is the intention of the New Zealand selectors to see the interproyincial game, Wellington v. Walrarapa, at Masterton, on August 26, before announcing the 1936 All Black side. Only two tests will be played against the Australians. The second will be at Dunedin on September 12. It is probable that the New Zealand team will be kept together between these two fixtures.

M. W. L. D. r. A. Pts. Sunnyside 14 11 1 2 161 72 12 Albion 14 11 2 1 184 137 Hi Old Boys 13 9 4 0 184 87 9 Christchurch 13 8 4 1 182 128 8i