RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25247, 28 July 1947, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

COMPETITION MATCHES technical and university BEATEN Weather and the ground were all in favour of bright, open football on Saturday, when the Canterbury Rugby Union’s competitions were continued The principal attraction was the game between Christchurch and University on the oval, and University again showed its inconsistency by being well beaten. Sydenham had a narrow and perhaps a lucky win over Marist, and Albion richly deserved its win over Technical. The two bottom teams. Sunnyside and Merivale. had a hard tussle. Sunnyside gaining its first win of the season Linwood and Old Boys were both fully extended to beat New Brighton and Training College. Following are results of games in the senior championship:— ✓ Christchurch 18, University 6. Albion IL Technical 8. Sydenham 6, Marist 5 Old Boys 16, Training College 8. Sunnyside 11. Merivale 6. Linwood 15, New Brighton 12. Championship points are as follows: Christchurch 101, Syuenham 101, Technical 91, University 91, Albion 9. Linwood 9. New Brighton 71. Marist 71, Old Boys 61. Training College 2. Sunnyside 2, Merivale WELL-DESERVED WIN

Christchurch scored a well-deserved x ctory over University Although beaten for the ball in most of the scrums and line-outs, the winning pack made up for this lack in the open. University failed to cross the Christchurch line. The backs sought to open up play as often as possible but lacked + he necessary penetration, and likely movements were spoilt by bad handling. Christchurch won by 18 points to 6. The winning forwards played tirelessly throughout, were always on the ball, and their defence was sound. Cotter was p-ominent in the open ana all the others worked hard. The Christchurch backs were always capable or attack. Steel, in scoring three tries, made the most of limited opportunities. His first try was an opportunist one. and his second came as a result of fast following up. His third, scored right on time, was a classic and showed him to be in a class above the average club three-quarters. Securing the ball on the 25-yard mark with little room in which to work, he beat off three determined tackles to go over at the corndr The University back line was disappointing. Given more than its fup share of the ball, it failed to make any impression against the solid Christchurch defence. Even at the end of the game, when Kelly on several occasions came up into the back line, it made no difference. Kelly was unlucky not to score more points with his goal kicking. Three difficult shots from well out narrowly missed; one striking the upright and the other two falling just under the bar. In the first half Savage’s passing from the base of the scrum was bad. One pass landed at the feet of the centre three-quarters, and as a result Christchurch scored a try. He nearly cost his side another try when he speculated instead of going down. The University forwards battled well together and gave their backs every' opportunity. The tackling of the team was not up to standard, opposing players often being able to beat three or four

Tries w’ere scored for Christchurch by Steel (3) and R. Bradley Eggleton converting two and Malcolm one. Kelly kicked two penalty goals for University. Mr W. J. Brown was referee. ALBION FORWARDS IN FORM

There was no tluke about the win by Albion over Technical at the Show Grounds. A lighter and more mobi.e pack, Albion went into the game with a zest that soon had the Technical toewards run off their feet and unable to Betti2 down. Packing well and breaking quickly from the scrums. Cook, Bond, ano Fleming gave the Technical backs no peace, and at half-time had scored o points (a try by Mustchin, converted by E. Jackson, who also kicked a penalty goal) to 3 points (a try by Higgins) In the second spell play was tiara ana fast, and both teams were called on for long-sustained effort. The Technical forwards, headed by Skerton, Couling, ana McCammon. working well and vigorously, gave tneir backs plenty of the ball, but there was little dash in the work ot Roach at five-eighths, and the other backs found tackhng of the Albion men just as solid as their dribbling rushes. It was iust and exciting tootball, mostly confined to the forwards, with an occasional burst by the Technical backs. At times tempers became frayed, and more tnan 0.-c Technical forward'was loudly hootea iur what the crowd thought was illegal piaj. Some of the Albion iorward rushes led by Cook and Bond, who were loyally supported by Fleming, gave a grand exhibition of fast backing up and splendid ball control. T. Jackson, the Technical fullback, was out of form, but the same could not be said of his namesake, playing five-eighths for Albion. E. Jackson was always a stumbling block, and his accurate line-finders gained long stretches of ground. He was well served from the scrum by the half-back. Otten. In the second half Hardie scored for Albion, and for Technical T. Jackson converted a tryscored by Higgins. Albion won by 11 points (a goal from a trv, a try. and a penalty goal) to 8 points (a goal from a try and a try). Mr D. B. Brown was referee. BRIGHT, OPEN FOOTBALL

Fast, open football was the order when Cid Boys and Training College took the field for their second meeting of the season, and the result was an exhibition ot good, exhilarating football. Training College, the lighter and younger team, took many risks in endeavouring to open up ■the game, and often these risks gave Old Boys the advantage. Training College took some time to settle down, and at half-time Old Boys had scored H points (a penalty goal by Robson, tries by Robertson and Vincent, one of which was converted by Robson) to 0. • In the second half Training College improved. backs and forwards taking part in bright, open passing that had the Old Boys defence tested. Old Boys, however, scored when Thompson raced over for an easy try, converted by Robson. This was the end of their success, for Ashby, Training College full-back, cut through the Old Boys defence and passed to who scored. This was followed by a try by Evans, who shot over from a scrum Ennis converted. Training College attacked consistently, and only bad luqk prevented tries. Play was up and down field at a great rate, a feature of the play being several fine runs by the College five-eighths, Boyes, one of the best backs in Canterbury. Robson was the star performer for Old Boys in the backs, and in the forwards Trotter, Brown, and Ditford were always on the ball. In the Training College pack, Mullins, Sparrow and Boocock were the best. Old Boys won by 16 points (two goals from tries, a try, and a penalty goal) to 8 points (a goal from a try and a try). Mr E. H. Wickham was referee. A CLOSE GAME Linwood was fortunate in beating New Brighton in a close and exciting match at Lancaster Park West. A feature of the game was the reappearance of after his return from Australia. Playing in brilliant form, Argus scored three tries. He made several long dashes during the game, and was always difficult to stop. The score at half-time was three points each, and in the second half 21 points were scored. With a lead of 12-3. it looked as if Linwood would have an easy win. New Brighton recovered well and scored three tries in qdick succession, one by Buxton, and two by King, to make the scores equal. A few minutes later Argus scored his third try again to give Linwood the lead. When in a handy position Buxton missed an easy field goal, and Linwood returned to the attack until the final whistle Tries were scored for Linwood by Argus (3). Spencer, and Miller. King scored two tries for New Brighton and Buxton one. McEwen kicked a penalty goal. Mr D. N. H. Robertson was referee.

SYDENHAM’S NARROW WIN Marist was rather unlucky to lose its match against Sydenham at Rugby Park, and on the run of the play a draw might have been a more satisfactory result. There was little in the game over which to enthuse, but the closeness of the scores and the extreme keenness of the spectators kept the interest alive. Sydenham won by 6 points (two penalty goals) to 5 points (a goal from a try). Sydenham did most of the attacking in the first half, although Marist won most of the set scrums. The Marist fiveeighths. F. Scully, played at the top of his form in the first half. He defended well, handled safely, and made several brilliant solo runs, one of which gave Marist its try. In the second spell he did not see so much of the ball, and the Sydenham forwards paid him much more attention. The Sydenham pack was well held by Marist for most of the game, but m the last 15 minute? it was definitely superior. Apart from Scully, the backs on both sides could make little headway. For Marist P. Kearnev got through a lot of work, and C. Flattery at full-back played an excellent game. The Sydenham backs were not impressive. The game was remarkable for the extraordinary number of fair catches claimed by both sides. Many of them were unnecessary and slowed the game down. The wot ward struggle became a fierce one towards the end of the game, and more than one blow was struck. For Sydenham R. Shaw kicked two penalty goals, and for Marist P. McGuire scored a trv which was converted by Flattery.

Mr C. A. Stiles was the referee. SUNNYSIDE’S FIRST WIN The game between Sunnyside and MeriJale provided little in the way of Rugby ■reworks, although both sides are to be

commended for the enterprise they showed in opening up the play. Individual effort there was in plenty, but once the ball passed the second five-eighths on either side there was always someone ready to fumble a pass. Sunnyside had a big advantage in weight in the scrums but the hooker was not always clever enough to secure the ball. The best work for Sunnyside was done in short, snappy passing rushes, which, however, were not finished off. L. Moran, at full-back, was again the mainstay of his side, and with his trusty boot he scored five of the total of 11 points With long experience he is still one of the best full-backs playing Of the forwards, the best were T. Moran, Eddington, and Le Compte. The two fiveeighths, Leary and Forbes, were the outstanding backs for Merivale and the play of Leary especially, left an impression that in good company his football would be of a high standard. Solidly built, he is just the type for representative football. Outweighted, the Merivale forwards, led by Pearce, Drake, and Pocock, put up a plucky showing. Sunnyside won by 11 points (a try by Eddington, converted by L. Moran, a try by T. Moran, and a penalty goal by L. Moran) to 6 points (two penalty goals by Forbes). Mr A. T. F. Stokes was referee. LOWER GRADES Senior Reserve.—University B 26, Kaiapoi 9; Linwood 9, Marist 0; Technical Old Boys 14, High School Old Boys 0; University A 13, Sydenham 9 Second Grade.—High School Old Boys 14, Christchurch 9; West Old Boys 9, Albion 9; Merivale 15, Collegians 3; Belfast 12, Sydenham 6; Lyttelton 12. New Brighton 4. Third Grade A.—High School Old Boys 11, Collegians A 8; Kaiapoi 6, Lyttelton 0; Merivale 11, Linwood 9; Technical Old Boys 33. West Old Boys 0. Third Grade B.—Richmond 9, Merivale B 3; Albion A 14, University A 8; Sydenham 25, Christchurch 0; Sumner 15, New Brighton 6. Third Grade C.—St. Andrew's College 8, Albion B 8; Marist IT, University. B 3; Christ’s College 52, Collegians 0. Fourth Grade.—Technical Old Boys A 3, Albion A 0; New Brighton 11, Papanui Technical Old Boys 8: Linwood B 14, Technical Old Boys 11; Sumner 10, University 10; High School Old Boys 19, Marist A 16; Albion B 16. Linwood A 9; Merivale 30, Marist B 4 Under 18A.—High School Old Boys 27, Sydenham 8; Technical Old Boys 24, Papanui Technical Old Boys 0; Albion 12, Marist 11. Under 18B.—Christ’s College A 29, Technical College 6; West High School 14, Christ.’s College B 0; St. Bede’s College 8, Boys’ High School 6. Under 17.—Sydenham 19. New Brighton 3; Kaiapoi 9,.West Old Boys 3. Under 16.—Marist 23, Merivale 5; High School Old Boys 20, Albion 0; Sumner beat Technical Old Boys B by default. Under Bst 71b.—High School Old Boys B 16, Christchurch 13; High School Old Boys A 0, Sydenham 0. Under 7st 71b.—Kaiapoi 11. New Brighton 0; Technical Old Boys A 23. Technical Old Boys B 0; High School Old Boys B 6, Albion 0; Sydenham beat Christchurch. Under 6st 71b.—Sydenham B 24, Linwood B 3: Sydenham 0. New Brighton 0; Christchurch A 8, Marist 3; Spreydon 14, Christchurch B 3; Lyttelton 19, Merivale 0. Under sst 71b.—Lyttelton 3, Linwoofl C 0; Sydenham A 25. Sumner 5: Merivale B 24. Sydenham B 0; Albion 5. New Brighton 3; Marist 21, Christchurch B 13: Christchurch A 23. Linwood-B 0; Linwood A beat Christchurch C REPRESENTATIVE GAMES CANTERBURY TEAM CHOSEN The following players have been chosen to travel to Nelson and Wellington with the Canterbury representative team. The game against Nelson will be played on August 6. and that against Wellington on A £tacks—-J. W. Kelly. W McHugh, W. G. Argus, C. V. Rowlands, J. Roach. P. Kearney, L. Savage. R. Bennett. A. Cochrane. . „ Forwards. —I- Mitchell, G. C. Gordon, R Stuart, G. Bond, A. D. McKenzie, B. Chandler, C. Hardie, M. Henderson, H. Sturrock, A. Couling. NORTH CANTERBURY SUBUNION The following is the North Canterbury Sub-Union draw for Saturday next:— Seniors.—Cu. v. Am. (Mr S. Smith); Glen. v. Ox. (Mr I. Boyce): N.C. v Wo. (Mr H. R Escott): Ko. v. Nga. (Mr A. Cameron). ~, - „ .. , Junior A.-r-Nga. v. Ko. (Mr C. Robb); Ox v. N.C. (Mr S. Cowens); Lo. v. Oh. (Mr K. Denton); Sb. a bye Junior B.—Cu. v. Wo. (Mr L. Catherwood) 1-30; N.C. v. Am (Mr G. Huria); Glen. v. Ox. (Mr F. Quigley). —Advt.