RUGBY LEAGUE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27339, 3 May 1954, Page 6

RUGBY LEAGUE

WINS FOR HORNBY AND SYDENHAM SECOND ROUND GAMES The second round ofgames in the Canterbury Rugby League's senior championship competition was played on Saturday in good conditions. In both the main games at the Show Grounds the winning margins were large, Hornby beating Papanui without difficulty, and Sydenham showed a clear-cut superiority over Linwood, which surprised With 'some unaccountably poor form. to the other game Woolston pleased with an improved showing against Christchurch. Although only two rounds have so far been played the indications are that the championship will be fought out between Hornby and Sydenham, who on present form, are much superior to the other teams in the competition. Results: Sydenham 30, Linwood 8. Hornby 27, Papanui 4 Christchurch 16, Woolston 3. Competition points: Sydenham 4, Hornby 4, Papanui 2, Christchurch 2, Linwood 0. Marist 0. Woolston 0. HORNBY v. PAPANUI to a disappointing game at the Show Grounds Hornby had an easy, win over Papanui by 27 points to 4, scoring most of its points in the second spell. It was only occasionally that the match reached senior standard, but ‘Hornby, as in the first round, showed improved form in the second spell after an indifferent start. Before it had progressed far the game

developed into a rather dour forward struggle, * relieved only by infrequent flashes of brilliance by the Hornby backs. Over all the standard of the back play was not good, the positional play being poor and the handling weak in long periods of rather ragged play. ■ It was another unfortunate match for Papanui, for once again a heavy, hardworking forward pack found little if any, support by way of combined play from the backs. D. Claridge, R. Cook and E. Griffiths and the other forwards toiled hard right through the game, and it was almost 1 entirely through their efforts, that Papanui gained any ground. As the game progressed their efforts to open up the game were so nullified by the backs that they were forced to keep the game tight. In spite of their sound and rugged play, however, they were all but held by the lighter Hornby forwards, who tackled hard and were not Impressed by the weight in front of them. C. Tilson and R. Luke, two light forwards, set a good example for the rest of the pack in the tight play, but P. Rutherford, a player who showed marked improvement last season, was more intent on playing an open game than in previous matches. E. Griffiths, the Papanui breakaway, used his exceptional speed to make some good breaks through the defence, but he seldom found any support from the backs to carry on the

movement. The Hornby backs showed much more penetration than Papanui’s, but many of their efforts were individual ones, in which speed alone gained ground. D. Neiman and G. Neiman, the five-eighths, made some good runs, particularly when they combined well in the second half to outpace the Papanui backs and score a spectacular try from halfway. G. McSeveney, wing three-quarter, was always a problem for Papanui. With plenty of speed and a deceptive run, he made the most of every opportunity he was given. J. Stewart, full-back, played another quietly competent game. His handling and kicking were good, and his positional play sound. As the game progressed the Hornby backs showed a definite improvement In their combined play, which in patches left nothing to be desired. If this combination could be retained right through- the game and the ball sent smartly but to the three-quarters line, the side, would appear to have definite prospects of championship honours. Papanui attacked strongly from the start of the game, but a dropped pass gave McSeveney a chance to score a good try from 40 yards out. The Papanui forwards worked hard to bring play to the Hornby twenty-five, where J. Bond kicked a neat penalty goal. Hornby retaliated with a good try by Cooke, who weaved his way over from outside the twenty-five. Stewart converted. Before half-time. Bond kicked his second penalty goal for Papanui, and Hornby missed a likely try when McSeveney knocked on after a good combined movement by the backs and forwards. The Papanui forwards attacked strongly from the start of the second spell, but the Hornby backs took play back to the Papanui twenty-five, where the forwards sent McSeveney over for a good try. Play livened up and Rutherford gave Hornby another try when he evaded several tackles. Stewart converted. Hornby was definitely on top, and a few minutes later Cooke scored his second try when he went over from the loose. Papanui came close to scoring when Griffiths broke through the defence from well out, only to be pushed but at the corner. Hornby was not to be denied, and D. Neiman scored wide out after a short run. Hornby scored its final tay after the final bell when D. Neiman broke through from halfway and moving fast, passed to G. Neiman, who scored under the posts. Neiman converted his own try. The referee was Mr V. Henry.

MOBENHAM v. UNWOOD even first spell Sydenham lUflfcXXfl" ther?beBt of the second half of at the Show Grounds, 'and won comfortably from Linwood by 30 points to 8. Linwood started well enough- by scoring a , try in the first minute of the gamei bnd then held the Sydenham forwards for most of the spell. Some good Sydenham back movements were countered with determined tackling, but with the loss of T. Thompson and G. Roberts through injury shortly before half-time the side lost most of its dash, and gradually conceded the initiative to Sydenham. The Linwood forwards in the early stages played lively football, and came close to scoring on three occasions when Sydenham forced down, but they received little in the way of co-ordinated support from the backs, who on the day were well below the usual Linwood standard. Although A. Atkinson and L. Blanchard did more than their fair share of work the defence wilted towards the end of the spell to give Sydenham two easy tries. k ' Sydenham left no doubt as to Its superiority, in the second half, and scored seven convincing tries to the one oppbr-* tunist try scored by Linwood. With the forwards in the ascendancy and giving them good service from both the scrums and the open play, the Sydenham backs gave something like a reasonable display of combined football. From R. Clark, the half-back, to I. Mclntyre and P. Yaxley, the wing-threequarters, they handled well and ran strongly, •S. Parkes, the second five-eighths, and J. Guy outside him, distinguished- themselves with some good breaks down the centre. By comparison, the display of the. Linwood backs was most disappointing, and even F. Hud-? son. usually the most reliable of fullbacks, had an off day. R. Wilson, the centre-threequarters, made* one/ or-tWo dashes, one of which gave him a good try in the second spell, but generally combination was lacking. The Linwood forwards were outplayed in the later stages by a lively Sydenham pack, well led by T. Kilkelly, who has retained his good form of last season, and L Pimley. All the forwards worked hard In the tight play and combined well with the backs in the open. Tries were scored for Sydenham by I. Ghrdiner, P. Williams. R. Clark, T. Kilkelfy, I. Pimley (2), and P. Yaxley (2). Wakefield converted two tries and J. Butterfield one. J. Jones and R. Wilson scored tries for Linwood, one of which was converted by Hudson. The referee was Mr W. M. Noonan. CHRISTCHURCH v. WOOLSTON Although losing by 16 points to 3, Woolston played a good game against Christchurch. The weight of the Christchurch backs and forwards was an important factor in its win. Woolston often had the territorial advantage from the bustling tactics of its forwards and kicking by its backs. However, the kicking was over-done, - for Christchurch did not make enough lapses in fielding to enable Woolston to capitalise, and the charging down of the kicks often had Woolston in trouble. Scrummaging by both sides was not of a high standard.. When Christchurch secured the ball it launched fast attacking movements with bouts of in-passing, scissors, and orthodox play. Their -superior weight and speed often enabled them to outmanoeuvre Woolston.

Typical was the try when Christchurch secured possession in its own twenty-five. The ball swung out along the back line and Murray, the centre, ran Wilkie into position before passing out. After a run up the side line, Wilkie scored beneath the posts. Woolston’s try early in the match was another good movement. Sewell; securing the ball on the twenty-five yard line, made a fast, jfnky run down the sideline, beating two men and going over in a tackle.

For Christchurch, Crofts was the brain behind many attacks, and his backing up was always dependable. Murray, by his positional play and penetration, gave his wings many chances, four tries being scored by Christchurch’s wings. Pitcher and Crawford for Woolston, were outstanding in the. loose, and were the best of a Uvely pack. Tries for Christchurch were scored by Wilkie (2). and Harrison (2). Everest kicked a penalty and one conversion. Sewell scored a try for Woolston. Referee.* Mr W. R. Wilkinson.

BAN ON ENGLISH CONTRACTS

NRW ZEALAND TO PRESS iii FOR RENEWAL '■{ (New Zealand Press Association} AUCKLAND, May 2. New Zealand will press for a renewal >f the ban on the signing up of Dominion Rugby League players by English clubs, delegates at the annual meeting of the Sew Zealand Rugby League in Auckland yesterday said that, unjess the ban was

renewed, tie Dominion was likely to lose its entire test team. The ban is scheduled to expire in December. New Zealand will ask that the renewal question be placed on the agenda for this year’s meeting of the International Board of Control. This will allow France to express an opinion. Australia will* not give its decision on. the matter until September. When the ban first came into operation, nearly every English club agreed that there should be no “poaching” of the Dominion players, but recently a number of the bigger clubs have announced that they want this policy changed. The New Zealand Rugby League council decided to send 18 players, a coach, and a manager, to the first world series to be played in Paris in November, 1954. It is hoped that the Kiwi team will leave on or about October 22, and be away for five weeks.

RETIREMENT OF F. G. MULCARE

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 2. F. G. Mulcare, a New Zealand Rugby League representative, who was a visitor to Carlaw Park yetserday, said he would not be playing again. Mulcare has been the outstanding New Zealand forward of the last few years. When he was in- England with the 195152 New Zealand team, he was considered by critics as the finest second-row forward in the world. , Commenting on ’a press report of J. S. Haig’s retirement, a southern official said that, in spite of .difficulties, it was hoped that arrangements could be made for Haig to play in northern, matches. Haig lives in Dunedin.