RUGBY LEAGUE

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22812, 11 September 1939, Page 6

RUGBY LEAGUE

GAME CALLED OFF FIGHTS BY PLAYERS AND SPECTATORS ABRUPT END TO CHALLENGE MATCH At Bradford Park on Saturday frequent stoppages of play to clear spectators from the sidelines—two players openly exchanging blows, toe to toe. In the first half—a forward ordered off, apparently for punching. early in the second; and then, when a player was tackled on the sideline a general melee, spectators and players, men and women, altered the Rugby League Vivian Cup challenge from the good football expected to a farce, generally described as "the most disgraceful thing ever seen on a Christchurch football ground.” At that stage—ls minutes gone in the second half—the referee called the game off. The players left the field, while small knots of partisans argued for another 10 minutes and most of the spectators openly voiced their, disgust. Addington (challenger) and Sydenham (holder) were the contestants—ln the football. Neither side was very good at the start, the high wind, blowing behind Sydenham, being very disconcerting. Gradually, Addington found form, and was then much faster and cleaner in the backs. What good Rugby League there was came from the Addington backs. Sydenham’s backs were disorganised when Raistrick went off injured. The forward play was fast and hard, petty annoyances being noticed soon after the start. Bench, Chinnery, and Geddes were Addington’s best. Young being late in finding form. For Sydenham, Brown was excellent on attack or defence and showed much cleverness in stopping the Addington rushes. Guy also Impressed, and T. Duke's well-placed kicks were of great assistance.

The teams were:— Addington—W. I. Bonnlface; R. Barbarel, R. F. Chinnery, L. A. Bench: E. A. Barbarel, L. G. Young; A. Geddes; R. McBride, R. Price, K. Wilshire, E. McEwan, B. Fraser, G, H. Briggs. Sydenham—T. Duke; F. Bryden, W. Guy, J. Duke; R. Brown, W. Raistrick; T. Preston; R. Dunlop, J. Berry, E. Grimes, R. Gatehouse, W. Eddington, X. Wilson. Play had not been in progress long when the Addington full-back, Bonnlface, and a Sydenham' forward, Berry, exchanged blows. After a warning, play proceeded, Geddes and Young scoring good tries. Young converted his try. Some fast rushes earned two tries for Addington on resuming, Bench scoring both wide out. Gatehouse was ordered off in a scrimmage on the sideline, -with the crowd loudly demanding another to be sent off also. Then a Sydenham back was tackled on the sideline after a good run, and in a moment an excited crowd of men and women were fighting and arguing, gradually extending to the centre of the ground. The referee then blew, his whistle and left the field, Addington leading by 14 points to 0. Referee: Mr G./Williams.

LOWER/ GRADE RESULTS ' SENIOR RESERVE GRAD? iSydenham 20, St. Joseph’s, 11. , SCHOOLBOYS’ GRADE / (Heavy-weight) ' Sydenham 26, RicCarton -6.NEW ZEALAND TEAM’S VICTORY DEWSBURY BEATEN BY TWELVE POINTS (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) "(Received September 10, 8.30 p.m.) LOHDOH, September 9. Five thousand spectators saw the Hew Zealand Rugby League team beat Dewsbury by 22 points to 10. The gate takings amounted to £430. Hew Zealand scored four tries and kicked five goals. Dewsbury’s points came from two tries and two goals. Honours in the first half of the game went to Dewsbury. Strong in the. scrummages, Dewsbury repeatedly gained possession, compelling the Hew Zealanders to spend the time chasing the other side. Dewsbury just about deserved a two-point' lead at the interval.

Hemi levelled the scores with a magnificent goal from near the touch-line. He kicked a prodigious length and showed fine judgment. Solomon and Kay did capital work, countered by a clever offensive by Hunter and Nicholson. Higgins was safe at full-back. The New Zealanders played a storming game. Both sides distinguished themselves with speed and skill.' Dewsbury vigorously rallied, but Solomon relieved a hot attack on the New Zealand line. Smith's superb run was one of the best features of the game, but Wood similarly replied for Dewsbury. Beadle scored a try after a forward rush. Hemi kicked. a goal, and Wood then scored 1 a try for Dewsbury. Jermaine failed to convert. Kay scored a further try for New Zealand, and Hemi goaled, repeating the performance off Leatherbarrow’s try.

IN OTHER PLACES (FBES3 i-SSOCL/LTIOH TELEOBiMS.) WELLINGTON, September 10. Wellington representatives 44. the Rest 2. want-ads;

“I sold them through ‘The Press’ want-ads.—and bought these new things.” . _