RUGBY LEAGUE

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26196, 21 August 1950, Page 5

RUGBY LEAGUE

SYDENHAM B BEATS PREBBLETON

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP , MATCHES

Sydenham A and Linwood, the leading teams, both won their matches when the seventh series of matches in the second round of the Canterbury Rugby League’s senior championship competition was played on Saturday. Prebbleton was beaten by Sydenham B, one of the lower teams. Results were:— Linwood 9, Hornby 3. Sydenham B 8, v Prebbleton 5. Sydenham A 25, Addington 10. Papanui 13, Christchurch 13. Competition points are:—Sydenham A 26, Linwood 24, Papanui 21, Prebbleton 15, Christchurch 14, Hornby 12, Sydenham B 11, Riccarton 5, Addington 0. LINWOOD v. HORNBY There was little between Linwood and Hornby in the first half of a hard forward game at Athletic Park, but Hornby tired in the second spell and was beaten by 9 points to 3. On recent form Linwood appeared to be certain to win, but the Hornby forwards played grand football to hold a slight advantage in a scoreless . . S P® U - Flaying vigorous football in the tignt they repeatedly gained ground when Woodgate, Bainbridge, and Pomare used their weight to advantage. With the rest of the pack they worked tirelessly to give a very solid exhibition of iorward play against a fast and capable side. Linwood had little opportunity to stage its usual neat back movements or for the backs and forwards to combine. It required a solid defence by the backs an d hard work by the forwards for Linwood to remain on even terms territorially.

Early in the second half Hornby lost much of its dash, and Linwood gained the initiative. With Blanchard, Murphy, and Clark giving of their best in the tight and A. Atkinson and McGee always on hand in the open to find gaps in the. defence, the tiring Hornby side had to defend grimly for much of the spell. The Linwood backs also went on the attack frequently with good passing rushes in which accurate handling was a feature. The consistent J. Jones sent the ball out smartly from the scrums, and N. Atkinson and F. Lees, in the centre positions, made some good breaks. Lees in particular ran strongly. Hudson, at full-back, was safe, and joined in some good back movements. Late in the game he scored a try when he took the ball from a dropout from the goal-line and ran through a weak defence. The Hornby backs, although lacking penetration, handled well and gave an improved display. J. Kindle? halfback, and E. Butts, teamed up well, and A. Robinson, wjng three-quarters, mlade the most of his limited opportunities. For Linwood tries were scored by Lees, C. Atkinson, and Hudson. Robinson scored a try for Hornby. The referee was Mr E. J. Smith. SYDENHAM A V. ADDINGTON Giving perhaps itp best display of the season, the much improved Addington side held Sydenham in the first spell and kept the score down to 12 points to 7in Sydennam’s favour. However, the superior speed and fitness of the competition leaders proved the deciding factor in the second spell, and Sydenham won comfortably by 25 points to 10. Casey, Churton, and Pimby Were the leaders of a lively Sydenham pack, with Yardley, Graham, Harris, and McManus always prominent in the backs. The best Addington forward was Berry, who led his side in fine style. Lewis and Haughey showed good form in the Addington backs. Hill, Ayson, Stapley (2), and McManus scored tries for Sydenham, Graham converting three tries and Stapley one. Stapley also kicked a penalty goal. For Addington, Hale and Berry scored tries. Haughey converted one try and kicked a field goal. The referee was Mr V. Henry. CHRISTCHURCH V. PAPANUI Playing at Papanui Domain, Christchurch drew with Papanui, each team scoring 13 points. The heavy ground made open back play almost impossible, and a ‘ kick and chase” forward game developed. Injuries were few, but after about 15 minutes of play H. Timpson was knocked unconscious, and T. Clark replaced him in the front row of the scrum. The best backs on the field were M. Clinton (Papanui) and L. Brown (Christchurch). The Papanui forwards played well but were not as good as they could have been. R. Mahood, a young hooker from tne senior i eserve, gave a good account of himself against more experienced players. R. Cook, in the second row, was as dependable 'as ever. . The Christchurch forwards were a good pack. O. Cairns, the hooker, gave his half-back, S. Collins, plenty of the ball. G. Eaton and W. Gray were good in the loose. Open, attractive back play was almost impossible, but G. Gill, the Papanui wing three-quarters, gave a good display. On four occasions he broke right through the defence, but he lacked the speed to score. His appearances from scrambles were so unexpected that his team-mates had no chance to back him up, although G. Fuller, a very speedy wing three-quarters, did his best. L. Secord, a newcomer at first five-eighths, played a very hard game. R. Rothera, at second five-eighths, was sound. A. Greening, the half-back, worked hard. The Christchurch back line was on the whole better and faster than Papanui’s. L. Brown, at first five-eighths, vyas . the best of this combination. M. Bernie, the full-back, was not as noticeable as was Clinton, but he played soundly. Christchurch’s points were scored by D. Menzies, W. Gray, and G. Eaton, who scored a try each, and Humphries, who converted two tries. For Papanui, G. Fuller, R. Rothera, and P. Fielding scored tries, two of which M. Clinton converted. The referee was Mr F. T. J. French. SYDENHAM v. PREBBLETON Sydenham fully deserved its win by 8 points to 5 over Prebbleton at Bradford Park. Although the game was fast, it tended to be scrappy, with too much aimless kicking and weak tackling. Sydenham was unlucky not to win by more than three points. Three tries which seemed certain were ruined by overeagerness. The half-back, M. Turner, and the first five-eighths, S. Parkes, were a good combination, and they many times found holes in the Prebbleton defence. The Prebbleton backs at no stage show®d any co-ordination, and apart from the efforts of J. Haig, who was rlaying at first five-eighths (before he retired injured) and K. Barr at full-back, their performance was disappointing. The forwards of both teams were evently matched, with J. Curtain and P. Smith, of Prebbleton, and G. McLure, of Sydenham, always prominent. Tries were scored for Sydenham by Turner and McLure. Turner also kicked a penalty goal. For Prebbleton Haig scored the only try and D. Otten kicked a penalty goal. The referee was Mr M. Noonan. FRIENDLY MATCHES Friendly games were played during the week-end between the Sydenham’ Club and the St. George Club (Wellington). In the senior game, Sydenham beat St. George by 26 points to 15. The junior game was also won by Sydenham by 8 points to 2.