RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22121, 17 June 1937, Page 17

RUGBY FOOTBALL

CHARITY DAY PRESS V. POLICE MATCH ENTERTAINMENT BY COMEDY TROUPE Entertainment as well as football is provided each year on the occasion of the annual Rugby match between the Police and the Press of Christchurch. The match is one of the chief attractions to be played on the oval and will begin at 1.30 p.m. Although good football is always provided by both the Press and the Police teams, which otherwise rarely appear before the public, one of the attractions of the occasion is found In the antics of the comedy troupe which usually accompanies the teams to the ground. This year similar arrangements have been made. Care has been taken in the preparation of "stunts" for entertainment before the match and at half-time. It is hoped to provide a presentation of honours, a costumed eccentric bicycle race, and another item in which the "Black Maria" will be useful.

The match has been played regularly for about five years. In spite of the advantage they always have in weight, the Police won It for the first time last year. The average weight of this year's Police team is about 15 stone. The trophy is a shield bearing a police baton and a giant pencil. The Police team will be selected from the following:—C. P. Burns, S. W. Cunningham, D. G. Simpson, R. J. Crawford, D. A. Stewart, H. S. Alsopp, R. S. Smith, A. R. Grant, D. M. Whillans. J. Meiklc, G. Salisbury, B. H. Constable. W. G. Adsett, M. R. Stewart. E. Ward, K. J. Gilmour, A. H. Stapleton, and A. D. McNamara. The Press team will be selected from the following:—S. Boanas, G. Boanas, J. Brown, C. Williams, N. Archer, C. Seaward, E. Stoneman, M. Moore, D. Lake. B. Hewitt, G. Tolmie, J. Hepburn, R. House. B. Moody. G. Curry, G. Jacobson. M. Power. F. Agasslz, and O. Walker. The Press players are asked to attend practice at North Hagley Park (training ground) at 4.30 this afternoon.

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL PROSPECTS OF TEAMS PERFORMANCE REVIEWED IBy NESTOR.] Two matches are listed for English Park on Saturday, the first being between Western and Rangers and the .second between Technical Old Boys and Nomads. Thistle and Y.M.C.A. will meet at Spreydon Park. Western will be without S. Cawtheray, who will be away at Auckland in the test match. Western has little talent among the emergencies, and will consequently suffer somewhat in combination on defence or attack. The Rangers' team is regarded as the most disappointing in the competition. After disheartening play by the forwards on attack during the early stages of the Hurley Shield series, the team is suffering now by injuries and transfers. K. Hamilton has returned to Dunedin, and W>. Barnes.: the Rangers' star back, has lately transferred to the West Coast. Of the other members, D. Millar, F Robb. and the captain, E. Barnes, are suffering from injuries. j E. Barnes, who represented Canterbury this season, has a particularly bad hand injury, and will probably play in the field for the remainder of the season. Although Barnes is undoubtedly a good goal-keeper, he will do better in the field. The side has lacked a good general this season, and Barnes has the unusual distinction of being a fine player in any position. V. Hammond, who has played for Linwood and Technical, is the likely man to take up the custodianship of the Rangers* goal. If Technical plays against Nomads a game similar to that against Western. Technical should keep its place at the head of the competition table.

The Nomads' team has been strengI thened by the inclusion of F. Adams. j and is now playing better than before This should make the game fast and open. If Y.M.C.A. can start a fast pace, and maintain it throughout its match with Thistle, it should finish the day in a favourable position. Thistle can be beaten only if its players are rushed off their feet. This has been proved more than once, and if Y.M.C.A. plays as hard as it did against Nomads Thistle may be beaten. At present the Thistle team shapes as the possible Hurley Shield winner, the side having been gradually strenthened till its play can hardly be improved upon. Thistle has a proud record in Canterbury football, and the present team should prove before the season is finished that it is one of the best ever turned out by the club The senior reserve grade competition is at present in an interesting

position. The two outstanding teams are Linwood and St. Albans, and both sides will be looking for places in the senior competition next season. The position of teams in the senior reserve competition is as follows:^-

ENGLISHMEN WIN BY TWELVE GOALS WANGANUI-TARANAKI SIDE OUTCLASSED GOOD PLAY BY HOME TEAM'S GOAL-KEEPER (P»«9S AMOCUTIOH TSLIOHiM.) WANGANUI, June 16. The English Association football team was never extended in beating a combined Wanganui-Taranaki team to-day by 12 goals to 0. The game was played on a sodden ground before an attendance of more than 2000. Rain held off until the spectators arrived and then fell steadily during most of the match. The Englishmen led 5-0 at half-time their positional play and short, snappy passing repeatedly undoing everything that the Wanganui side accomplished. It was a pleasure to watch the cross-field tactics of the visitors and note how carefully each kick placed the ball to a wait : ing team mate. But for the Wanganui goalkeeper. Alex Healey, the score would have been well in the 'twenties. His performance was remarkable, considering that 90 per cent, of the play hovered round his goal. In contrast, the HngUsh goalkeeper had time to sign autograph books while the play was in progress. The outstanding player on the English side was Jov. the centre-half, who was never extended throughout the match, but gave glimpses of what he would be capable of if pressed. Matthews, the centre-for-ward, was the most prolific scorer, obtaining six of the visitors' goals, lie showed himself a forceful player, his footwork and headwork alike being accurate and deadly. Healev, in goal for Wanganui. had more to contend with in Matthews than in any of the others. Parr, the outside right, also plaved an excellent game, his cornering being soundly judged. Davis, the outside left, was also a sound player, but the visitors lost him through injuries in the second spell, when he strained a muscle in a leg. Apart from Healey. Whiting, the left half, and Proudfoot, the left back, were outstanding in the Wanganui team, which was never anything but a side of individuals. The English team never passed the ball to disadvantage, whereas the home players would attempt combination only to find an Englishman ready to accept a pass instead of a team mate. Matthews scored six goals, Joy and Pantwo each, and Davey and Leek one each..

Goals Ch. P. W. D. L. . F. A. Pts. Linwood .87 — 1 39 5 14 St. Albans . .76 — 1 23 8 12 Nomads .74 — 3 19 18 8 Y.M.C.A. .71 — 6 9 33 2 Tech. O.B. . .7 1 8 34 0