SENIOR COMPETITION MATCHES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27369, 7 June 1954, Page 12

SENIOR COMPETITION MATCHES

RUGBY FOOTBALL

Technical And Old Boys Share Lead

CHRISTCHURCH BEATEN BY ALBION

With wins in the seventh round of matches in the Canterbury Rugby TTninn’s competition played on Saturday, Old Boys and Technical, with 6£ pnirttN, established a clear lead of two points from Christchurch, beaten by Albion, and Sydenham, which beat a more fancied team in Linwood. Penalty goals again played a big part in deciding results. Old Boys, with a much depleted team because of engagements of prominent players with the Canterbury touring team, had their fair share of luck in beating Belfast by a penalty goal to nil. Sydenham’s score of 15 points against Linwood included four penalty goals, and Albion, beating Christchurch by 11 points to 8, kicked two penalty goals. University, Marist. and Technical had comfortable wins over Air Force, Sunnyside-Spreydon.

and New BrightonThe weather was fine and the grounds in first-class order. Following, are results of games in the senior championship:

Old Boys X Belfast ft Altaian U Christchurch ft Marist 22, Sunnyside-Spreydon 6. Technical 19, New Brighton X Sydenham 15, Linwood IX University 15, Air Force ft The following table shows the positions of teams:— Points Ch.

STOENHASt’S NARROW WIN Linwood and Sydenham attempted, to play bright open football in the mam game on. Lancaster Park oval, but though each side kept the bail moving in passing rushes, too many dropped passes and ooDtizoicd running across ground spoiled toe movements. Both sides must be given credit, however, for the pace at which mey played the game and for very solid tackling- The form of both sets of backs was very patchy, toe two centre threequarters, R- Bewick ( Sydenham > and M. Muzineriey (Linwood), alone showing any idea of straightening up a passing rush and initiative in seeking an opening. Bath were handicapped by the indecision of ta«j men inside them, and few searing opnortuniti.es were presented.. The play erf Bewick and Munnerley provided the few thrills in a drab game. Linwood held the advantage in set serais. and the half-back, R. Steele, had innumerable opportunities to send his backs away. Cross-ground running, however. gave the Sydenham backs every opportunity to stop these moves, which invariably ended in Bewick’s tackling Munneriey before the latter had a chance to make a break. Although the Linwood backs were well served from the base of the scrum, the Sydenham five-eighths. R. Cotton, was badly handicapped by the erratic and at tones slow passing of his half-back. D Sampson. On occasions Cotton showed the dash and elusiveness of a good class player, and he scored Sydenham’s only try after a determined dash, down the M. Gowans Kicks WeH The Sydenham full-back, M. Gowans, earned applause for his long line-finders and accurate goal-kicking, and his handhug was invariably sure. He kicked three splendid penalty- goals, but though, his display was generally sound he presented the opposition with five points wbea he attempted a run that he had no chance of completing. He is essentially a fullback: and a good kick, but he does not possess the speed or the good judgment required to join to attacks. The Linwood forwards worked wen together and handled well in the loose, although the line-out play by both sides left a good deal to be desired. In this de- ; partrnent of play, however, Linwood showed the better form, with R. Tabb, B. Smith, and J. Adlarn the best. C. Rhodes, the Sydenham captain and fro Et-ranker. was a tireless worker at all times, and as a loose forward D. Bryson ; the to their passing rushes. The Scoring A penalty against Linwood early to the < game was taken by Gowans on the half- i way line, and the ball narrowly missed ' the posts, Each side attempted in turn ; to open up play to passing rushes from i set serums, but the first spell was half ! ever before Munnerley broke through for ; a try, which he converted. Gowans had 1 his second attempt at goal after a penalty had been awarded, and from wide out on ’ the twenty-five yards line he succeeded ' with an accurate shot. When the Lto- ! wood forward, Tabb, secured the ball 1 about the twenty-five yards mark he 1 locked for support, but found none. He san with the ball, and as each Sydenham ’ back left the tackling fo erne of bis team- , mates, Tabb kept on his way to the goalKne and scored a remarkably simple try. . Passing by the Sydenham backs gave the five-eighths. Cotton a chance, and he , weaved his way past the opposition to ' score at toe corner. Gowans kicked a very fine penalty goal from wide out between toe half-way and twenty-five yards i lines. At haSf-time Sydenham ued by 9 . points to 8. After Gowans had narrowly missed J with, another long shot at goal, play , ranged from one end <rf the field to the i other at a great pace, and several times ( Ltowood backs and forwards were within • an ace of gaining the lead. It was Gowans ] for Sydenham, however, who added, toe < next points with another fine goal from s long range and wide out, and an easier ; chance for offside play by a Linwood for- 1 ward was converted into a goal by Cotton. With Sydenham in a handy lead of 1 seven points Gowans, receiving toe ban, 1 chose to nm instead erf kicking. He was tackled and lost toe bail, and R. Spriggs, Linwood wing toree-quarters, was presented with a try which Munnerley converted. j Sydenham won by 15 potots (four pen- 1 alty goals and a try) to 13 prints (two t goals from tries and a try}.. i Mr K. Noonan was referee. Penalty Goal Decides Game j Old Boys, leaders with Technical to toe ; champsonshto, narrowly escaped losing ’ their pcsithSl when they met Belfast in the curtain-raiser at Lancaster Park. A 1 penalty goal by D. Mayo towards toe finish - won toe game for Okf Boys. 1 The absence of five of toe best tslzyerz with the Canterbury team was sorely felt, r for though toe young players acting as < substitutes will benefit by toe experience 5 to first grade foatcaS, they fell far short of the players they replaced. The real weakness was to the forwards. « who were more than matched by toe 1 virile and more matured Belfast pack. The s game was full of interest, for though toe c Old Boys back-line failed to operate with c its usual efficiency, the Belfast backs t showed a willingness to open up play much more freely than they had done to I previous matches, and toe fates were s agatost them when they failed to scare f

Behind the Old Boys scrum there was a lack of understanding between the two senior reserve players. B. Columbus and R. Wilson, both younger brothers of members of toe regular team. Cotombus was bustled by the fast Belfast backs and forwards, and his passes to Wilson were not as accurate as they might have been. The breakdown so early to the passing left the regular backs, S. Henderson, L. Johnson, R. Black and G. Piikingion. without many chances of lowing their form. There were many times when Belfast backs were to full attack, and with toe exception of Pilkington none seemed to relish the stem defence. Pilkington was toe most reliable back, and for sound defence when in tight comers Old Boys owed much to the sturdy wing threequarters. He had only one scoring chance, and many thought he had scored before he strack toe comer flag. Mayo had one of his most trying teste, and bis

In a light, inexperienced pack, E. BuHmcace, G. Knight, N- Roberts, and G. Roberts were often prominent. K. Brown, at full-back for Belfast, was wen tested by long, well-placed Old Boys kicks, and though his kicking was not always up to standard he came through with credit. The best back was R. Odgers, at half-back, who sent out many welldirected passes and proved as solid as a rock on defence, Odgers revels m rugged footbalL The five-eighths, F. Wilson and C. Cassidy, with a fine centre m E. Brown, threw toe ball about freely although there was a lack of crispness in handling which will come witf® more experience in this style of play. W. Guilfora,- a wing three-quarters; showed plenty of speed against fast opposition, and. could wen have done with more chances. Risks were cheerfully taken, and helped to provide incident in a game that might I€VeIOPCd * nt ° a hard * In a useful pack, B- Marshall, L. HaßiPric e toe mainstays. goSfST ““ apo ““ ta ’* aa “ y Mr M. Cooper was referee. CHRISTCHURCH BEATEN If all the reasonable kicks in the main same at Rugby Park had been successful the final score would have been IT-11 in Christ church s favour; if no kicks had □sen put over Christchurch would still won, 8-3. That toe actual score was ii-S, in Albion s favour, shows how inigoal kicking was in deciding toe On the run of toe play there was little

between the teams. Christchurch, with hs best players away in the representative team won less than its share of toe SSr 3crx ? n l and - toe re°’satosed °ack line did not function as a unit. ajld forward, showed less of the individual brilliance in which Omstchunto's hope of victory lay, but better combination than their nononerrte The kicking of W. Heath, at f wool the game for Albion. The first penalty he took was five yards inside halfway and some 19 yards from the sideline. Then he put over another from a similar position, in the first spell. Albion's only try was scored wide out, and another good kick by Heath added the extra otoer outstanding back for Albion was the five-eighths, j.. Palmer, who

iriade many good openings through speed eff the mark and was very active on defence. The AH Black, A. E. ETsom. turned out again far Albion, but, playing on .the wing, was not looking fer work. He did not once have a good run. B. Hopping played a fine game in toe Albion, forwards, hunting vigorously awf always keeping- up with the play. His team-mate, A. Hamilton, was one of toe best forwards on the ground when it came to honest work in the tight. The whole eight of the Albion forwards, however, pulled their weight in scrums and line-outs to givfe their backs every opportunity. Of toe Christchurch forwards X Wat-

kins was perhaps the best to the loose, and A. BeHamore played his usual sound game to the tight. X. Miller, who showed a fair turn of speed on occasions, won a i surprising share erf toe ball in toe Hneouts for a comparatively short ran. The Christchurch captain, M. Gold. m< ved up from full-back to five-eighths to an effort to supply toe thrust to the back line normally supplied by R. Smith. He frequently succeeded in finding a gap, ar in burtstag through weak tackles, but was too often unable to run his speedy . centre, J. Osborne, into position. Usually a reliable place-kicker, he had an off day, and failed three times within 15 minutes to put over a kick, each time from an easier position than Heath had had. The half-time score was Heath's penalty goals being the only score. Scon after the interval Hopp mg picked up the ball near toe Christchurch, twenty-five, made a short burst and passed to Pal- ; mer, who shot past several defenders to , score wide out. Heath's kick this time hit toe post well up before falling on the right side of the cross-bar. It is not often tn the Last few seasons ■ that Christchurch has been trailing 11 points at any stage of a game, and, for toe rest of the spell the team responded . well to this stimulus. The forwards carried play well into Albion’s territory, where K. Allsop, the Christchurch haltback, made a determined bid for the Ito: from a scrum. Gold was handy when Allsop was blocked, and he crashed over the line under toe posts and converted his own try. With half the* spell gone Christchurch was still in the game, but it was not till five minutes before the final whistle that the Albion defences were again breached. Gold went aver in the corner after a good blind-side move, but failed with the < kick. This brought toe score to 11-8, and , it must have been a very relieved Albion team that heard the final whistle blow ] without any alteration to the score. ; Albion won by II points (a goal from , a try and two penalty goals) to 8 (a goal from a try and a tryi. i Mr W. Fright was toe referee. MARIST V. SUNNY SIDE-SPREYDOX J The early game at Rugby Park was re-f deemed cnly fay some brilliant passing 2 rushes by the Marist players, although j the weak opposition offered by Sunny- ~ side-Spreydon did nut bring out the best 1 in the Marist team. The Sunnyside- 5 Spreydon backs made s few good sorties, but toe whole team lacked confidence on j attack and determination in defence. I B. J. McCormick, toe Marist five- I eighths, probably saw more erf the ball than any other player on toe field, and ] he made many useful runs, though he ] could have given the men outside him ( more work. S. G. Douglas, on the right wing for Marist, was the best <rf toe three- j quarters. c P. Nepia and W. Wakefield were the i most reliable of toe Sunnyside-Spreydon backs, but they were frequently let down by their team-mates. < Of toe forwards, G. Mooney (Marist) j and L Righton (Suimyside-Spreydc-) were most LmprcsKive. .. - i The best move of the match was a 4 Marist passing rush started by the five- ] eighths, P. A. Hutchinson, who caught a cross-kick from a Sunnyside-Spreydon c player. M. Hurley, the Marist centre, made j ‘a good run when he receiced the ball from Hutchinson, and passed to R. Ang- < land, who scored in the corner. The move j covered about half the field. Other were scored for Marist by Angland, J. +

P. Ryan, McCormick (2i. and Hurley. Cadigan converted two tries. For Sunny-side-Spreydon R. Barnes kicked two penalty goals, mainng Iris total and that of his team 27 points for toe season. Marist won by 22 points (two goals from tries and four tries} to 6 points (two penalty goals). Mr T. M. Evans was referee. TECHNICAL STWL UNBEATEN A major share of the ball from tightpacking forwards enabled Technical Old. Boys to beat New Brighton by 19 points to 3 at Lancaster Park South, It was, however, a first-half win, for Technical, holding a marked territorial advantage, led 18-3 at half-time. In the second hatt New Brighton showed improved form and, with just as marked an advantage, tneo desperately but unsuccessfully to make up the deficit. The team narrowly missed scoring several times, and at least one try would nave been well deserved. Much of the credit for Technical's Win must go to its forwards, for even without the regular hooker, D. Young, they gave toe backs ample possession. They were always up with play to bind and hook well from loose rucks; Nutewortny was the appearance of the former Canterbury representative, D. Herman, who showed tost he lacked none of the dash of his younger team-mates. An experienced pack leader, he was one of the hardest workers on toe field, and was very hard to stop when he had toe baiL L Hatogen and J. Smith were others who stood out, Rathgen once following up fast to score. The inside backs. J. Waine and D. Spencer, to whom exceilent service was given by M. Logan, the half-back, were particularly formidable throughout the first half. Both cut through brilliantly at times, and both made runs which led to tries. Very quick off toe mark, Waine varied his play with well-placed steb kicks. P. Logan, at wing toree-quarters, also sorely tested the defence, either by speedy runs down the side-line or by going into toe back line as extra man. But he was sometimes guilty of watching an opponent when he was about to receive a the thrust of their opponents, toe New Brighton backs did best from Goportunities when the ball was loose. The drtar of toe team on both attack and defence was toe fuli-baefc. M. Hadley, who was toe only one to show any real enterprise in toe first half. He fielded and kicked well, and opened up play with, fast runs when he went into toe THok, jßtbgsecozia bet>l

» ter combination gave K. Logan, at first - five-eighths, chances on attack, and B. 5 Jemmett, an energetic half-back, made intelligent breaks from toe scrum to go : very close to scoring. 1 The forwards also, who did their best ’ work in the loose, showed more dash in ; the second half. Determined dribbling • rushes, with R. Hockley and J. Hecker ; often to the fore, carried the ball to the J Technical line and kept play in toe • twenty-five for long periods. *■ Waine, with, a spectacular cut through. ' scored between toe posts for T. Jackson ' to convert in the first few minutes.. Shortly after a model try resulted when toe ball wfent out toe chain to P. Logan I who, after a long ran, in-passed to D. i Taylor, centre three-quarters, who scored. - Then a fine run by Spencer and a centrei kick gave Rathgen. who had followed up fast, a try which Jackson converted. i New Brighton gained its only points > when Hadley kicked a penalty goal. But I Jaskson replied with another shortly after - to make the half-time scored 16-3. I The only score in toe second half was l by M. Logan, who broke from a scrum : to jink and weave past several players be?n re fa re ing. s Technical won by 19 points (two goals i from tries, two tries, and a penalty goal) 5 to 3 (a penalty goal). • Mr L Mahoney was referee. J UNTVERSTTY’S CONVINCING WIN • Air Force, in spite of its determined ‘ defence, was unable to withstand consisr tent, speedy attacks by the University backs at Wigram. University won by 15 - points to 0; scoring five tries, all fry backs. • University attacked from toe beginning, handling the ball well and running I straight. F. R. Wells, at centre three--1 quarters, made toe first try when he ■ cut through and gained ground before passing to R. A. James, wing three-quar- • ters, who scored. For toe rest of the--1 haff good Air Force tackling stifled many s promising University movements- The - full-back. J. Karauria. was a tower of • strength to his skie. for he fielded coolly in the face of oncoming forwards and r cleared accurately to relieve pressure. J However, almost on half-time University : was again successful when G. Falloon. 1 second five-eighths. Wells, and G. Thompj son, a forward, handled before J. Tapi sell, wing three-quarters, scored. Early te the second half V. N. Merries. 5 the half-back, made a run on toe blind i side to give Wens a clear nm for a try.. - But the Air Force defence was again im- - penetrable for a long period. The ride " also took toe attack and was given an > easy penalty kick, which Karauria missed.. ? Towards the end of the game two more : tries by University put the result beyond all doubt. Harries ran quickly on > the blind side to score, and J. toe full-back, went over in the corner ’ when he joined toe hack line as an extra University won by 15 points (five tries) • to ft Mr L. Kirk -vas referee. i ■

LOWER GRADE i RESULTS Results of lower grade matches in the ? Canterbury Rugby Unson’s competitions t on Saturday were:— t Senior Second Division.—Technical Old ' Boys 17, Marist 14; University 8, High School Old Boys 6; Christchurch 11, Merit vale 3; Lyttelton 3, Linwood 3. i Junior A.—Sumner 14, R-N2AJ, 0; Linwood 14. Belfast 3; High School .Old Boys 12, University 6; Technical Old Boys IL Sunnyside-Spreydon 9; Sydenham 14, Riccarton-Sockbura 3. Junior B.— New Brighton 9, Kaiapoi 6; r Marist 20, High School Old Boys 0; Unit 2l. Christchurch X • ~ Third Grade A~ —Christ church Maoris a, : Marist 3; University 35, Sydenham B 9> • Sydenham A 14, Teachers' College 8. Third Grade, under 20.—Christ's College ! 17, Marist 6; St. Bede’s X High School Old Boy* 0; University 13, SL Andrew’s Coi- ■ lege 3. I Fourth Grade.—Papanui Technical Old : Boys 27, Merivale 0; Kaiapci 9, New J Brighton 3; Technical OH Boys 28, Belfast t G; Sunnyside-Spreydon 30, Christchurch a. Secondary Schools.—St. Andrew’s Cai- ■ lege 16, Bangiora High School 8; Xavier College 9, : Papanui Technical College 3; I J Boys' High School A 12, Christchurch > Technical College 8. Under 18-—Christchurch 9, Technical Old Boys 0; Albion 8, New Brighton 3; Merivale ft High School Old Boys 6. Under 17.—Kaiapoi 17. Technical Old Boys 3; Sunny side-Spreydon 13, Sydenham A 11; High School Old Boys ft Linwood ■ Belfast 17. Christchurch 5. Uniter 16.—Papanui Technical Old Boys : i.9, Sunnyside-Spreydon 3; High School Old • Boys 2ft Marist X ‘ Under Bst 101b.—Sunnyside-Spreydon 25, ' Christchurch 0; Technical Old Boys 25, ■ High School Old Boys 0. ‘ Under 7st 7ib A.—Albion ft New Brighton 6; High School Old Boys 10, Sydenham ■ 6; Marist 2L Linwood 0; Sunnyside-Sprey- • don 24. Menvale ft. Under 7st 71b B.—Marist 14. Belfast 0; • Christchurch 15, Albion 3; Lyttelton 23, .Sydenham 3. ’ Under Sst 71b A.—New Brighton 12, 1 SunnysMfe-Spreydon C. Under 6st 71b B.—Christchurch 25, Sydenham 0; Albion 6, Sumner 0; Linwood ft Surmyside-Spreydon 8. Under ssrt Iffib A.—Christchurch 6, Sunnyside-Spreydon 6; Marist 13, Belfast Q; Sumner 25, Sydenham M; Merivale ft Linwood 8Under sst 101 b B. —Kaiapci 25, Sydenham 0: St. Mary’s Marist ft Sunnyride-Spreydon 9; New Brighton Ift Marist C 0; Marist

; B ft Linwood ft Under sst A.—-Marist 22, Sumner 0; Sydenham A ft New Brighton 0; Suzmy-side-Spreydon 11, Belfast 0. Under sst B.—Albton ft Linwood 0; > Sunnyside-Spreydon C ft Bryndwr Marist 0: Ricearion Marist 23, Sydenham 0; Christchurch 25, Sunnyside-Spreydon. B 0; Merivale 9, Marist ft Seven-a-side, under Sst 101b.—Christchurch ft Merivale 0; Linwood A 3, Stmnysfde-Spreydon 0. NORTH CANTERBURY SUB-UNION Following were toe results of matches played in the North Canterbury ‘SubUnion’s competitions on Saturday:— Senior.—Rangiora 11. Ohoka 11; Ngai tn Ahuriri ft Woodend 0; Oxford 25. Amberley 3. Junior.—Cust 11. Rangiora 3; Kowal 3. Loburn 3. Representative Players The following have been selected to play for North Canterbury Sub-Union against Malvern. Sub-Union, at Oxford on June 12:— Senior.—l. McNally, D. Ashworth, Jno. Wilson, A. Rowe, L. Ashworth, M. Peach, B. McNally (K-); L Stadair, W. Sneltex. vice-captain (R-J; G. Hawse (Mfeai); E. Murray. J. McLean (GJ; G. Smith (W.); N. Mettrtens, captain, C. Garlick (Ox.). Emergencies: Stewart (W.). G. Loe (GJ, Woods (Ox.). H. McKay. T. Cariyn (R-), A. Waters (Oh.). Junior.--Lott, M. Luisetti. R. Johnston, G. Giles, B. Daly (R.); D. Lundy, R. Hoys, W. Hamilton. P. McDonald (L.); G. Henderson, R. Peters. G. Lynskey (K.i; H. Fraser. S. CuH. P. OXoaghlin (C.); K. Thompson, G. Creamer. D. Hobson (W.). L. Rossiter (Ox-L : Practice will be held at Dudley Park, 'Rangtora, on Thursday night at 7JO pan. No competition, matches will be played on Saturday next, ,ji

P. W. L- T>. ForAgstPts. TfrrMrirai .. 7 6 0 1 102 55 6i Old Boys .. 7 5 ft 1 143 23 6j Christchurch 7 4 2-1 75 60 4| Sydenham -. 7 4 2 1 8G 76 41 Linwood .. 7 3 2 2 72 70 4 Marist . . 7 3 2 2 108 69 4 Belfast - 7 2 3 2 76 60 3 University - 7 2 3 2 92 70 3 Albion .. 7 3 5 0 76 103 3 New Brighton 7 2 4 I 47 73 2J Air Force .. 7 0 6 1 28 115 1 Spreydon 7 0 7 1 0 27 147 0