NARROW WIN FOR MARLBOROUGH

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27444, 2 September 1954, Page 14

NARROW WIN FOR MARLBOROUGH

CANTERBURY B BEATEN 8-6

A bitterly cold south-west wind which swept Lancaster Park yesterday afternoon made good Rugby football out of the question, and Marlborough, in beating a Canterbury B team by 8 points to 6, appeared to be very lucky on the run of the play. The ground was hard and fiery, the ball played all tricks known to Rugby footballers, and the wind added to the difficulties by taking the ball everywhere except where it was meant to go. The attendance was very meagre. The game was one of varying fortunes and it was a surprise to find the team playing with the wind having the worst of the game. In the first spell Canterbury had the gale behind it and while it had a territorial advantage for the first part of ( the spell, Marlborough was making the pace towards the end and clever handling by the backs almost brought results. At the commencement of the second spell* it was confidefitly expected that Marlborough would have an easy win. The Canterbury forwards, who had played in lethargic manner in the first

half and had left the scoring of tries to the backs, really controlled play in the second spell and seldom allowed Marlborough away from its own territory. The Marlborough team possibly regarded the game as a serious trial for its more important fixture on Saturday when it will meet Nelson for the Seddon Shield. Backs and forwards showed a refreshing willingness to throw the ball about, and though their handling was uncertain many times, they showed more -initiative than did the Canterbury men. They did not take advantage of the wind in the second spell by putting the ball in the air, but whether this was because of their inability to kick quickly, or because of the close attention paid them by the Canterbury forwards is a question. J. Houghton, who has played for the Christchurch Club and Canterbury, was the most solid back on the field and on attack or defence always seemed capable of doing the Job on hand. A small but very active half-back in A. May sent his passes* away smartly and in the early stages of the game A. Gledhill appealed as a penetrating five-eighths. M. B. Farrington at centre gave glimpses of senior grade form, and E. McDonald, who replaced D. Elkington in the first spell, showed plenty of speed. In the forwards R. Jensen was very active in loose play, where he was ably assisted by R. Stuart, L. Saul, and R. Fissenden. 4

The good service given by M. Logan, the Canterbury half-back, was not taken advantage of by the five-eighths, although S. N. Henderson at second five-eighths showed individual brilliance when given a chance. The centre-threequarters, R._ F“. Apatu, had no opportunities to show his brilliance, and two very promising wingthreequarters in J. Osborne and I. Pickering did particularly well In the few opportunities that came their « ay. In the second spell the Canterbury forwards took charge and none was more lively than M. Hern, who continually raided the Marlborough backs and sometimes took over the role of half-back in stopping forward rushes and setting the backs in motion. Two country forwards in R. Moffatt and D. McMillan were amongst the hardest workers in an energetic second-spell pack of forwards. Following were the teams:—

Canterbury B.—M. Gowans; I. Pickering, R. F. Apatu, J. Osborne: S. K. Henderson, B. Colombus; M. Logan; R. Moffatt. M. Hearn, J. Purdie. R. Hockley, D. McMillan. G. A. Alecock, G. Knight, J. Staines. Marlborough.—J. Smith; D. Elkington, M. B. Farrington, J. L. Green; J. Houghton. A. Gledhill; A. May; L. Saul. P. Kotua, R. Jensen, N. Wilson, P. Stuart, J. Forsyth. K. Woodham, R. Fissenden. The Scoring Playing with a very strong wind in the first spell Canterbury could only register three points, a bright try by Henderson after Moffatt and Osborne had been prominent in a passing rush. Early in the second spell a penalty against Canterbury. 20 yards in front of the posts, was taken by Farrington, who kicked a goal. A try came to Marlborough when Houghton burst through in a passing rush and scored a try which Smith converted. Canterbury was on attack for the rest of the game and Osborne scored a try which Gowans could not convert. Marlborough won by 8 points (a goal from a try and. a penalty goal) to 6 points (two tries). Mr S. Thorbum was referee.

LIGHTWEIGHT CURTAIN-RAISER In the preliminary match the Christchurch under five stone, B section team established an early lead against Sunny-side-Spreydon A, of the under five stone, A section. Christchurch had the support of the strong wind, and before the interval scored II points, with tries bv R. Cooper, W- Johnson, and W. Fie well en, one of which Cooper .converted. In the second spell the Christchurch forwards held control, and in spite of playing into the wind did most of the attacking. Sunnyside-Spreydon fought back well, and C. Hill scored a welldeserved try, but Christchurch went further ahead with another try by Johnson. Christchurch won by 14 points to 3. The referee was Mr W. J. Brown. CANTERBURY VICTORS IN SCHOOLBOY GAMES (From Our Own Reporter) GREYMOUTH, Sept. 1. West Coast A and B schoolboy representative Rugby teams played matches with Canterbury teams at Rugby Park yesterday afternoon.»The A match was won by Canterbury 11-3, and the B match by Canterbury 14-0. Albion (Christchurch) heat Blaketown in a seventh-grade, match 6-0, at RugbyPark • yesterday, and Albion (Christchurch) beat Blaketown 19-8 in a sixthgrade match.

UNDER 18 TEAMS The following is the Canterbury under 18 team to play Mid-Canterbury at Ashburton on September 11 (bus leaves Midland at 10.30 a.m.):—B. Rossiter (New Brighton); K. Walker (Chch.), D. Edgington (Albion), vice-cantain, L. Bishop (New Brighton); N. Smith (Chch.). C. Martin (Chch.); N. McCallum (Chch.); J. Howison (Tech. O.B.), K. Berry (H.5.0J8.). B. Woodham (H. 5.0.8. P. Collins (Chch.), captain; B. Maher (Albion), J. W. Clarke (Merivale), T. Keeley (Albion). Reserves: backs. R. Petrie (Albion), G- Johnstone (Merivale), M. Lambie (Tech.); forwards: W. Wilkins (New Brighton), B. Ulrich (Merivale). Training Saturday morning, 9.30 a.m., Setpember 4, N.P: 1. Advt.