RIGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23949, 17 May 1943, Page 6

RIGBY FOOTBALL

COMPETITION GAMES CONTINUED

NARROW WIN FOR ARMY

Weather and ground conditions were ideal for football on Saturday, and the third round of the Canterbury Rugby Union’s competitions provided close and exciting if not always scientific, -football The improved conditions, compared with the previous week, should have been all in favour of high scoring, but, surprisingly, the totals registered did not show the difference that marked previous games, and in the surprise win of Albion-Merivale-Southern over R.N.Z.A.F.. the biggest difference, 12 points, was registered. Following are the results of the games played in the First Division:— Army A 12, Canterbury Regiment 11. Air Force A 14, Battery 6. Llnwood-Technical-New Brighton 8. Christchurch 0. Albion-Southern-Merlvale 20, R.N.Z.A.I. 8. Athletic-University beat Coastal Artillery by default. ARMY V. CANTERBURY REGIMENT The two unbeaten teams, Army and Canterbury Regiment played an exciting game on the Oval at Lancaster Park and provided many thrills for a good crowd. Army won by 12 points to 11. and while they deserved the win it was only in the later stages of the game that superior weight in the forwards told the inevitable tale on a light and young pack A feature of the play was an outstanding performance by Muir, a wing-three-quarters, playing for Regiment. He scored a try which he converted, and kicked two penalty goals, making up all the points scored by his team. The three goals were from difficult angles and each kick went straight and true, with plenty of height, between the posts. Not only did Muir kick well, but In his all-round play he showed a standard of efficiency and physical fitness not displayed by many players. He not only effectively bottled up his opposing wing-three-quar-ters, McEwan, with vigorous well-timed tackles, but when the attack broke on the other wing he was several times on hand to upset the strong-running Weenink. Muir would possibly weigh 11 stone, and though not gifted with execeptlonal speed he is fast enough and determined enough to score tries when opportunity offers Jones. Hunter, and Taylor, centre and five-eighths handled well cn occasions, but late in the game the vigorous work of the opposing forwards put them off their game and they dropped nasses that should not have been dropped The Regiment’s light pack was' led by Henderson, who gave one of the finest displays of forward work seen at Lancaster Park for some years. He Is tall, well-built, and an* honest scrum worker, and he handled as well as any back. He was a great leader of a light pack that showed tenacity against heavier and more experienced forwards. For the Army team the most Impressive form was shown by the full-back, Nolan, who, with much difficult work to do, made not a mistake, and whether the ball was in the air or on the ground his handling .was high grade. His kicking gained long stretches of ground for a team that often needed this relief. C. R. Kilworth was always a source of danger to the opposition and his elusive running, change of speed, and fending often had the defence hard pressed. He still has a tendency to go across field, and the very poor passes he received from the scrum did not help him to straighten up the attack. If a good five-eighths could be found for the team, Kilworth would make football history as a centreor wing-three-quarters. He has a lot of football In him, but is possibly wrongly placed. McCammon at five-eighths and Perkins at centre did not impress, but Weenlnk proved himself a powerful wing-three-quarters, and outside a good backline would score tries, V. Kilworth. a short, stocky front-ranker, was the most consistent forward .and ’Lindstrum stood out for line-out and genera] work. It was a fast and exciting game marred perhaps by too many mistakes in positional play and handling. For Army tries were scored by McEwan and Kilworth, and McHerron kicked two penalty goals, while for Regiment Muir scored a try which he converted, and kicked two penalty goals. Mr H. T. Coulter was referee. UNWOOD-TECHNICAL-NEW BRIGHTON v. CHRISTCHURCH For the greater part of the game between Llnwood-Technical-New Brighton and Christchurch, at the Show Grounds on Saturday, the lighter Christchurch team more than held its own against a team that was unbeaten In the competition. In the concluding stages of the game the Combined team established a superiority and from a scrum near the line Waterland scored a try which was converted by Fernlelgh, and the score was increased to eight points when Herman scored. Christchurch failed to score. Mr W R. Oliver was referee. ALBION-MERIVALE-SOUTHERN V. ' R.N.Z.A.F. The teams were evenly matched when R.N.Z.A.F. met Albion-Merlvale-Southern at Rugby Park. For the combined tearti Bond was to the fore with two good tries, neither of which was converted. Snappy handling distinguished R.N.Z.A F. attacks, which provided many anxious moments for their opponents. Albion, however, took advantage by loose forward play and established a superiority in the llne-outs. R. Taylor, the R.N.Z.A.F. wing-three-quarters, showed a fine burst of speed In gaining his try early In the first half, and a 25-yard run took him over the line. R. Garrett was the spearhead of an Albion attack, which led to a try by Bond. Following a brief melee Morgan then scored near the posts. Indecision, however, nearly lost him the opening. Fast play continued, with Albion forwards dominating the scrums and making good use of their feet. Scoring the last try of the first spell, Bond crossed the line for the second time. The score at half-time was: Albion Combined 12, R.N.Z.A.F. 8. Both teams fought hard for the Initiative in the second half. From an opening made by R, Garrett, swift handling resulted In Keatley scoring close to the line. Garrett’s play was soon rewarded when, fending cleverly, he gained a try. A. W McKenzie converted from a difficult angle. For Alblon-Southern-Merivale tries were scored by Garrett, Bond (2), Paul, and Keatley. McKenzie kicked a penalty goal and Maxwell converted a try. For R.N.Z.A.F., Taylor and Morgan scored tries, one of which Wilson converted. Warrant-Officer Simon was referee. AIR FORCE A v. BATTERY In a game made monotonous by frequent penalties and free-kicks, Air Force A beat Battery by 14 points to 6. For Air Force tries were scored by Henderson and Jacobs. O’Callaghan kicked two penalty goals and Mahoney converted a try. For Battery, Dutch and Miller scored. Mr W. A. Christensen was referee. Second Grade.—Athletic-University 9 beat Air Force 6; Llnwood-Technical 15 beat Alblon-South-Merlvale 3. Third Grade.—New Brighton 6 drew with Linwood-Technlcal A 6; Richmond 12 beat Linwood-Technlcal B 9; High School Old Boys 20 beat Athletic-Univer-sity B 5. Under 18 Grade.—Albion 13 beat Southern 9; Sumner 30 beat Linwood 0; Technical 22 beat High School Old Boys 3. Under 17 Grade—Albion 14 beat Athletic 3; Technical B 19 beat Technical A 3; Merlvale 7 beat High School Old Boys 3; Kaiapoi 9 beat New Brighton 8. Under 16 Grade.—Southern 28 beat Linwood 6; High School Old Boys 32 beat Technical 0. , Under 15 Grade.—Albion 9 beat High School Old Boys 6; Technical 16 beat Kaiapoi 3. Under 7 Stone.— Linwood 21 beat Richmond 10; Southern 23 beat Albion 9: Sunnyside 30 beat Merlvale 3. Under 6 Stone.—Athletic 8 beat Southern 3; Albion 14 beat Linwood ft.