RUGBY LEAGUE

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27042, 18 May 1953, Page 7

RUGBY LEAGUE

SYDENHAM BEATS HORNBY

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

; Played in rain on heavy grounds the i third round of games in the Canterbury Rugby League’s senior championship produced some good football considering the conditions. In three of the four games played the football was fast and open with accurate handling by both backs and forwards. In the main game at the Show Grounds Sydenham beat Hornby in a very even match. * . Results:— ’ > Sydenham 3, Hornby 0. Christchurch 25, Papanui 5. Linwood 18, Woolston 5. Marist 27, Addington 14. Competition Points.—Linwood 6, Sydenham 6, Hornby 4, Christchurch 4, Papanui 2, Marist 2, Woolston 0, Addington 0. CHRISTCHURCH V. PAPANUI Undeterred by the heavy rain which fell throughout the match Christchurch and Papanui staged one of the best wet weather games seen in recent seasons. Christchurch won decisively by 25 points to 5 after giving an almost faultless display of handling and combined play. Papanui won most .of the set scrums and had an advantage in the tight play until late in the game, but the lighter Christchurch fprwards fed the backline from the loose at every opportunity and adapted themselves to the conditions in first-elass style. All worked tirelessly and handled the wet ball with precision and speed in many neat movements with the backs. ‘ In a very everr pack J. Crofts was outstanding in the loose play, and showed amazing speed for a big man in such heavy conditions. The Christchurch backs, no doubt encouraged by the sterling work of the forwards, won the game with their speed and accurate handling. In the first half particularly their combination and speed would have been creditable on a dry day. Well served by R. Brown, the half-back, M. Turner and C. Paskell, the five-eighths, varied their play well to find gaps in the defence. Turner played an exceptional game and his speed and straight running frequently left the opposition standing. More often than not the ball went right through the back line to give B. Mitchell and G. Harrison the chance to show their speed. Harrison, in particular, impressed as a capable wing-three-quarters. Turner retired early in the second spell and the reorganised back line lost some of its combination, but it still handled accurately. M. Burney, who at full-back in the first half had consistently refused to take the ball on the full, played at first five-eighths, where he handled well and showed plenty of speed. The Papanui forwards again played solid football, and were at their best in the tight, where R. Cook<md. D. Clariztge worked hard right thrgugh the game. J. Bond and R. Broadhurst made some good breaks in the open, but as a pack the cohesion showed by Christchurch was missing. Although overshadowed by Christchurch the Papanui backs played good football in the conditions, without developing much combination. Campbell, the half-back, sent the ball out smartly but the inside backs sometimes handled poorly. The wing-threequarters, G. Fuller and R. Rothera, ran strongly when given the chance. Tries were scored for Christchurch by Mitchell, Harrison, Crofts, and J. McRobie (2). Broadhurst scored a try for Papanui. A feature of the game was the excellent goal kicking. Bond converted Papanut's try with a good kick from the sideline and Paskell kicked five goals in five attempts. Three of Paskell’s kicks were from the sideline with a heavy ball in a strong cross-wind. The referee was Mr W. Noonan. LINWOOD V. WOOLSTON

Handling the wet ball better in the second half, Linwood beat Woolston by 18 points to 5 on a heavy ground in a match played at the Show Grounds. Woolston, beaten for the third time in succession, was not disgraced, and played good wet weather football, particularly in the early stages. Concentrating on kick and follow up tactics in the first half they har ssed the Linwood side repeatedly and gave nothing away in the loose play where S. Reeves, R. Ditford and others in a light pack stood out for good work against the competent Linwood forwards. Linwood took some time tq adapt itself to the conditions, but towards the end of the second spell both forwards and backs were handling the ball reasonably well, and from then on the side had a clear-cut advantage. With L. Blanchard, G. Roberts, and L. Knight doing the best work in the forwards and gaining ground frequently with determined rushes, the backs made the most of their opportunities to open up the play. Although handling mistakes were common, the back line staged many good movements in which R. Wilson and N. Clarke, the five-eighths, and B. Irving, the centre three-quarters, were prominent. F. Hudson was again a reliable full-back and handled the wet ball in good style, but the outstanding game was played by A. Atkinson, the Linwood breakaway. Always a first-class link between backs and forwards, he repeatedly raced through gaps in the defence and appeared to be little hampered by the heavy going. Although the Woolston backs made few combined movements, individually they worked hard. R. Hill, the centre threequarters, and B. Swann, the half-back, made the most of their limited chances. Towards the end of the game L. Blanchard, the Canterbury and Kiwi forward, sustained a broken collar bone. He was playing in his best form this season, and he will be missed from the Canterbury side in the forthcoming representative matches.

Tries were scored for Linwood by A. Atkinson, Irving, Knight, and J. Jones. Hudson converted two tries and kicked a penalty goal. For Woolston B. Swann scored a try, converted by G. Pitcher. The referee was Mr W. Massey. SYDENHAM V. HORNBY

Played for the most part in pouring rain with the ground very soggy, the main game # at the Show Grounds between Sydenham and Hornby produced surprisingly good football. Sydenham won by the only try scored in the game and held Hornby off for the rest of the game.

The first spell was played at a fast pace, Sydenham holding the advantage with more constructive play, but the second spell was definitely in Hornby’s favour and Sydenham had to work hard. Sydenham at all times threw the ball about and the handling under the conditions was excellent. However, players had great difficulty in keeping their feet and getting off the mark fast enough to beat the usual solid Hornby cover defence.

The second half produced many hard tussles in the forwards, with honours even. Had the Sydenham half-back, Graham, been able to get the ball away from the scrums faster, his supporting backs, with their speed and good handling, must have added to the score. Graham at times had difficulty in picking the greasy ball up from the ground, thus losing valuable time. Parkes, the Sydenham first fiveeighths, handled very cleanly and made some nice breaks. His defence was also very sound. Forman, at second fiveeighths, and Mclntyre could not get the ball fast enough to get moving before the Hornby defenders were right up on top of them. Yaxley, in his new position on the wing, was always looking for work and was rewarded with the only try of the game when he went over in the corner after a very determined dash. Gardiner, the Sydenham full-back, must have caused his team-mates many anxious moments with his habit of waiting for the bounce. The‘Hornby back line was well served by their half-back, Woodham, who gave a fine exhibition of wet weather football.

His handling and passing were first-class and his kicks from the base of the scrum, when the ball was difficult to handle, were always well placed. Henry was at first five-eighths, and a lot of Hornby’s attacking moves broke down at him. He had difficulty in handling the ball and keeping a good foothold. Although they did not combine as effectively as the Sydenham backs, both D. and G. Neiman did great service with their fine defence. McSeveney, although making handling mistakes, was a much superior fullback to Gardiner. Butterfield, Kilkelly, Wakefield, and Casey, for Sydenham, and R. Woodgate, Rutherford, Knight, and Cooke, for Hornby, were forwards who were in the thick of things throughout. Wakefield, Rutherford, and Cook are improving with every game, and look to have fine futures in the game. Referee: Mr W. Smith. MARIST V. ADDINGTON With the Marist backs taking control from the start, it appeared that Addington was on the way to being beaten by a big margin. However, after Marist led at half-time by 19 points to 3, Addington rallied in the second spell. With the advantage of the wind, and by keeping the game tight and winning the ball from the scrums, Addington kept Marist’s total down to 27 points and added another 11 to their score. When they were getting the ball from the scrums the Marist backs looked very impressive. Well fed by Haig, the Marist five-eighths, Shaw and Roberts, showed excellent form and made plenty of play for their supports. The Haig - Shaw - Roberts combination should, when they have a few more games together, prove - perhaps the best in the competition. Barr showed improvement in his handling at centre, with both McKenzie and Johnstone giving solid wingers’- displays. The weakness of the Marist side is in the pack, where they sadly lack a leader to keep them up to their work. Addington gave a purely Individual display with little or no combination in the back line. The only redeeming feature was the defence which, except when outpaced by the speedier Marist back line, did not let up. The best players were Lewis, at half-back, and Paul, Withers and Berry in the pack. Scorers for Marist were McKenzie '?). Stokes, Barr, Roberts, Haig, and Shaw (tries), with two conversions by Barr and one by Haig. Paul (2), Withers, and Lewis scored tries for Addington, one of which P. Smith converted. Referee: Mr y. Henry.