RUGBY LEAGUE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26516, 3 September 1951, Page 3

RUGBY LEAGUE

CHAMPIONSHIP WON BY LINWOOD

PAPANUI BEATEN IN FAST GAME

Linwood beat Papanul by 14 points to 3 in a fast, open game on Saturday, to win the Rugby League championship. Results were:—

Linwood 14, Papanul 3. Hornby 14, Addington 10. Prebbleton 8, Christchurch 7. Riccarton 2, Sydenham 2.

Championship points are:—Linwood 24, Hornby 23, Riccarton 16, Sydenham 13, Prebbleton 13, Papanul 12, Addington 8, Christchurch 4.

LINWOOD V. PAPANUI In one of the best club games of the season, Linwood became 1951 champions with a convincing win over Papanul by 14 points to 3 in the main game at the Show Grounds. Although the teams were evenly matched in the forwards, the Linwood backs, with their greater speed, better handling, and combination, always held the upper hand. A feature of the game was that all four of Linwood's tries were scored by their wing three-quarters. This was only made possible by the constructive play of the inside backs, who endeavoured at all times to straighten up the attack for these two speedy players. On the other hand, the Papanul wingers were hampered by the slow service of their inside backs who failed to show anything like the snappy passing of their opponents. The Linwood half-back, R. Atkinson, was in fine form, and his fast service from the base of the scrums gave his supports ample time in which to get moving. Neither Clark nor Hobson, the fiveeighths, attemoted too much, contenting themselves with sending the ball on to Lees at centre, who Kept the attack straightened up and made plenty of play for his wingers. Lees has been a tower of strength to Linwood throughout the season, with his fine generalship. The Linwood wingers, Ockwell and C. Atkinson, both gave fine exhibitions with their fine handling and determined running. Hudson was a safe last line of defence.

In the Linwood forwards. P. Griffiths, Johns, and Knight were always prominent. Johns, a lower grade player, impressed greatly, being always up with the play, and tackling grandly. Papanui’s strength lay In their even pack of forwards, of whom Broadhurst was outstanding. He was ably supported by two younger players, Griffiths and Pearce, who look fine prospects for future seasons. The Papanul backline did not impress greatly as a combination, but good Individual displays were given by Campbell, Neale, and Pahl. Clinton gave one of his best exhibitions at fuH-back.

Scorers for Linwood were Ockwell (three tries) and C. Atkinson (one try). Hudson converted one.

Broadhurst scored a well-deserved try for Papanui. Referee: Mr M. Noonan. SYDENHAM V. RICCARTON

The much-improved Riccarton side, which went through the second round undefeated, held the Sydenham side to a draw in the curtain-raiser at the Show Grounds. The only scoring was a penalty goal to. each side, one by Turner for Riccarton, and one by Stanley for Sydenham. The best featurp of the game was the

solid tackling of both sides, which put a stop to most attacks. Turner. S. Keenan, and Smith were the pick of the Riccarton backs, with Mathers and W. Keenan most prominent in the forwards. The Sydenham side once again failed to find their true form, and disappointed. Individual sound displays were given by Parkes, Stapley, and McNeil in the backs, and Pimley Gardiner, and Butterfield in the forwards.

Referee: Mr V. Henry. # PREBBLETON v. CHRISTCHURCH

Prebbleton again took the field short of players when it beat Christchurch by 8 points to 7 on the Show Grounds on Saturday, but it did not seem to be extended at any time.

Christchurch attacked first, but, as is all too common in this team, promising movements were not carried to completion. C. Paskell, undoubtedly the best player in the Christchurch team, made the most of the opportunities he got and was responsible for all his team’s points. Early in the first half he kicked a field goal and soon after went through on his own to score a try which he converted himself.

Both teams, with the end of the season in sight, were far from their best. W. McKenzie occasionally showed up. and in the second half ran through to score in the corner. Later Prebbleton scored again when P Rutherford went over; the line L. Beri completed the scoring for the game when he kicked a penalty goal from about 40 yards out.

The referee was Mr K. Cox. HORNBY V. ADDINGTON Hornby was a little lucky to beat Aldington by 14 points to 10, as Addington had a territorial advantage throughout the game. Tries were scored for Hornby by Taurua, Bainbridge Williams, and Nieman. Henry converted one try. Points for Addington came from tries by Farrington (2), and both these were converted by Henderson.