RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23943, 10 May 1943, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

i SENIOR COMPETITION GOOD PLAY ON WET GROUNDS Heavy rain and sharp frosts last week 1 nut grounds in capital order for the Second round of the Canterbury Rugby Union's competitions on Saturday, but rain during; die afternoon made the ball erea sy, and mistakes in handling were frequent in all games. In at least two matches— one between Army and nNZ.A.F. and the other between Ath-letic-University and Linwood-Technical-New Brighton—the play of the forwards was of a high grade and the backs, with a difficult ball to handle, made valiant efforts to provide football that was full „£ interest to spectators. The softer grounds gave backs and forwards a confidence thal they did not have on the hard grounds previously played on. This confidence was displayed in the more energetic work of the forwards, and the wd running and determined tackling of fh( .backs. Si£urdav was a day for well-sprigged boots and gloves, but very few players had attended to these very important details in equipment. Slipping at critical moments and dropping of passes when tries looked probable were fallings that were noted. Taken all round, however, the football was very good and the Initiative shown by backs and forwards gives promise of really good games as the players strike their true form. The play so far has shown that excellent material is available in some of the teams in the first division of the senior grade, but there are also several that do not measure up to requirements and the management committee of the Rugby I Union may find it advisable to exercise its right to transfer certain teams to the ! gecond division, Christchurch, making a 1 valiant effort to keep the oldest club In j canterbury in the senior competition, has undertaken a task that is proving too big for it. The members of the team, with perhaps the sole exception of the five-eighths, Taylor, do not even show promise, and Alblon-Southern-Merlvale, reinforced by men long past their best, will not help to make the competition interesting, Matches in the first division of the lenior championship resulted as follows: Army A 16, beat R.N.Z.A.F. 9. I Unwood-Technical-New Brighton 11 ! beat Athletic-University 9. Regiment 29 beat Battery 0. Alblon-Southern-Merlvale 18 beat Christchurch 12, Air Force A beat Coastal Artillery by default Ja the second division, A.S.C. and Air force drew with 11 points each, and Kalapol defeated Agricultural College by 5 points to 3. IJNWOOD-TECHNICAL-NEW BRIGHTON v. ATHLETIC-UNIVERSITY Most of the bright play and snappy passing were provided by Athletic-Uni-versity In Its game against Llnwood-Tech-nical-New Brighton, which the latter deservedly won by 11 points to 9. The Ath-letic-University forwards continually raked the ball from the scrum and at times it did not appear that their opponents were especially anxious to be in possession. Although the passing rushes were frequent and in part well done, the orthodox manner in which the movements were executed did not put a great strain on the opposing team in thinking out counter-moves. Linwood merely waited lor mistakes that must come with a greasy ball and when they were made backs and forwards took full advantage. Roche, the Linwood five-eighths, showed greatly improved form on the softer going, and on defence was a tower of strength. His handling, tackling, and kicking were good. Waterland, the half-back, got through a good deal of work, and although he did not have great service from the scrum, he caused trouble when lie ■ got among the passing of the opposing backs. He scored a try after a good >lo effort in which he showed admirable control of a greasy ball, and more speed than he had been given credit for. Niccole. the promising centre three-quarters, had few chances, but it was a game in which forward! had the bigger say. In a splendid pack Herman was again a:, inspuecl leader, and while he worked so idly in 'he forwards, he also showed p ?nty ol speed whe' the opposing backs v lull flight Fernleigh. Lindstrom, e l.ohicy played the game best suited ( wath'-r and ground. iclil'li the Athletic-University torv~t ceurcd the ball regularly and the 1 ok .id a lot of passing, the combinat >ws -ot a happy one. for Mitchell. I j.nt e upset all the good work done t rr: fifing on too long and often running t wing-three-quarters into a worse positnt ian himself before sending on The ;'tb’-tie-Universily forwards appeared to t superior to their opponents, but in- » stead ol making their own movements tie' p"elerred to leave the work to the t (:'■<• Neale. Smith, and McKenzie were t best "b utsianuing naek was Callinan, whose positional play, handling, and kicki i were first-class, and his potted goal vit - greasy ball and from wide out. was highlight of the day Jolly and | Causey showed dash at five-eighths, out i Meates, a wing-three-quarters, was not given a chance, and Dines, on the other wing, did not impress in the little he had \ to do •"For Linwood-Technical-New Brighton, Herman and Waterland scored tries, one of which was converted by Flynn, who also kicked a penalty goal. UniversityAthletic was awarded a penalty try which . Callinan converted, and he also potted a • goal 1 Mr D. B. Brown was referee. ALBION-SOUTHERN-MERIVALE v. CHRISTCHURCH In a fairly even game, the play, in which was a good deal below the recognised senior standard, the Alblon-South- . ern-Merivale team defeated Christchuren by 18 points to 12. For the winners tries were scored by Maxwell (2), Lawrence, and Symes, Maxwell converting three. R. Taylor and C. Taylor each scored tries and Masters kicked two penalty goals ARMY A v. R.N.Z.A.F. With rfeither side gaining the upper hand in the first half play was exciting and fast when Army A and R.N Z.A F met at Lancaster Park on Saturday The Army backs provided the better combination and it was the superiority In this department that gave the team a welldeserved victory. A light rain during the game made the ball difficult to handle and 1 the circumstances the effort was a creditable one. For the greater part of the game bright flashes of passing by the Army backs kept the spectators entertained. The quick bursts of Kllworfn and Kearney, the latter an Otago representative player, cut deep into the defence on occasions, and proved the turning Point in the game. The R.N.Z.A.F, forwards impressed as a good pack and wlrh more training together may have an tn«nince on resu U the competition, Wilson, a fast, straight-running threequarters, is bound to do well, and Perkins (Army) also showed speed in scoring his try. For Army, tries were scored by Kearney, Kilworth. Young, and Perkins. » m converted by Kearney For RN.Z.A.F,, Palmer scored a fry and Perkins kicked two penalty goals Mr C G. Crawford was referee. CANTERBURY REGIMENT v. BATTERY Canterbury Regiment had no difficulty in beating Battery by 29 points to 0. For the winners tries were scored by Hunter (2), Dunne, McKillop. Jones, Maw and Peters. McKillop 12) and Muir (2) converted tries. Mr K. N, Glover was referee. SECOND GRADE Training College 24. Athietic-Univer-Jft.V 3; Albion-Snuthern-Merivale 9. Air Force 8. THIRD GRADE High School Old Boys 25. Linwood-Tech-hlcal 0; Christchurch 16. Athletic-Uni-versity 3. UNDER 18 GRADE Sumner 14. High School Old Boys 6; Technical 11, Mcrivale 5: Papanui Technical 17, Southern 16. UNDER 17 GRADE Albion 18, High School Old Boys 0; New Brighton 8, Athletic 9. UNDER IB GRADE Southern 17 Technical Old Boys 3. _ UNDER 15 GRADE Technical 27. High School Old Boys fi; Albion 11, Mcrivale 5 UNDER 7st GRADE Albion 25, Richmond 0: Sunnyside 12, Southern 9: Merivale 15. Linwood 3 UNDER fist GRADE Linu ood A 48, Christchurch 0; Athletic 8, Albion 0; Linwood B 6, New Brighton 6. kugby league hornby and addington win Rugby League on Saturday was spoiled oy the light rain, which made the ball greasy and consequently very difficult to hold in passing runs Scoring was low Hornby continued its gcod performances by beating Sydcnhnm-Rakaia by 2 points to 0, and Addington-Central beat Linwood by 9 points to (i With only two competition games played, three of the four teams have been beaten, Hornby being the double winner HORNBY V. SYDENHAM-RAKAIA With its attack effectively bottled up *he speed of the Hornby defence. Syd-enham-Rakaia beaten by one penalty £ oa J in an exciting game at Sydenham nark. The Sydenham backs, with a good service from the scrums, tried hard to ond a hole in the Hornby defence, but m vam, as the lighter Hornby Inside