RUGBY LEAGUE

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27642, 26 April 1955, Page 6

RUGBY LEAGUE

LINWOOD BEATS PAPANUI SYDENHAM’S BIG SCORE The Canterbury Rugby League’s competitions were continued on Saturday when second round games were played in perfect conditions. Results were:— Linwood 26, Papanni 12. Marist 37, Christchurch 5. Sydenham 54, Woolston 0. . Hornby hatf the bye. Championship points are:—Linwood 4, Marist 3, Hornby 2, Sydenham 2, Papanui 1, Woolston 0, Christchurch 0. UNWOOD'v. PAPANUI

Playing at top form, Linwood always looked tfte better side and beat Papanui by 26 points to 12 in the main game at the Show Grounds. Linwood showed much better form than in its first game, and if it holds this form, should prove a very hard side to beat this season. Except for a period in the second spell Linwood won the ball from most of the scrums and kept up a snappy attack which kept the Papanui defence busy. Linwood led at half-time by 18 points to 2, and looked as though it was going to have a very easy victory. However, Papanui showed greatly improved form in the second spell and for a period started to win the ball from the scrums and attacked with vim, adding two converted, tries to bring the side within striking distance. However, Papanui failed to keep up the effort. With a plentiful supply of ball from the scrums the Linwood backline produced some very attractive football. With gooff handling and speed they attacked with every opportunity. Their movements always looked more polished than those of Papanui, who lost many scoring chances through lack of speed in handling. Much of the credit for Linwood's win must go to the forwards, who all gave very good performances, both in the tight and the loose, and repeatedly won the ball for their backs. On the day’s play they overshadowed the strong Papanui pack. Jones, the Linwood -half-back, lost little time in getting the ball away with snappy passes, allowing N. Clarke, his first five-eighths, to turn on one of his best games. Clarke handled cleanly, ran strongly, and was quick to take advantage of any gap. He made some fine breaks and gave his outside supports ample scope. His defence could not be faulted. Hodge, at second five-eighths, and Wilson at centre, took full advantage of Clarke’s fine service to keep the play open. Through the good service of his inside backs, K. Journee saw a lot of the ball, and his good handling and strong running always impressed. The other winger, Grenfell, made very few mistakes, and Goslin was a safe full-back.

In the Papanui backs, who did not impress greatly as an attacking unit, Campbell gave a lively display behind the scrum, and was always attempting to start his line moving. Most of Papanui’s attacks failed through the mistakes of their first five-eighths, Griffiths, who usually plays in,the pack. He generally took the ball flat-footed and ran too far across field, thus cramping his outside supports. It was surprising to see him played in this position with Marsh on the wing. The side would have been much better served if their positions had been reversed. Grant, at second five-eighths, tried hard throughout, but found it very hard to break through a strong defence with so little room in which to move. Derbridge handled clearly and kicked powerfully, but he showed a weakness on defence. His goal kicking ability will gain many points for his side. In the Linwood pack Blanchard again proved a fine leader, and was in the thick of the play throughout. Roberts, McGee, and N. Clark, the hooker, gave him fine support in a strong all-round pack. Atkinson was always prominent in the loose nad on cover defence. Jones, Pearce, and Rossiter were great toilers in Papanui’s pack, and were always up with the play, receiving good support from Spencer and Kennett.

K. Journee opened the scoring when a few minutes after the start he kicked a great penalty goal from the sideline for Linwood. The first tiy went to Linwood when Clarke kicked ahead into a gap. K. Journee was up smartly and snapped it up cleanly and dived over. Papanui attacked and after a good movement Jones was stopped right on the line by a solid tackle by Journee. Papanui again almost scored, but the ball beat them over the dead-ball line. Linwood came back for N. Clarke to make a fine break. K. Joumee carried on and sent Clarke the foxward over wide out for Wilson to convert. Linwood scored again when Atkinson received the ball in the loose and jinked his way over under the posts for Wilson to convert. Derbridge opened Papanui’s account with a penalty goal. Linwood had the best of the game, and before half-time Wilson added another try in the corner after a good back movement. Straight after half-time Wilson came infield, completely beat the defence and scored. Papanui now showed much better form, and attacked strongly. They worked play to Linwood’s line, where Campbell received from a scrum to go over for a try which Derbridge converted from the side-line. Papanui kept up the attack and Jones went over after Spence) had just failed to reach the line. Der bridge again converted with another fin* kick. However, Linwood put the issue beyond doubt with another try to Wil son, converted by Atkinson. Referee: Mr K. Cox. SYDENHAM v. WOOLSTON

Sydenham avenged its first-game defea< by Woolston last season, when it lost 8-0, by piling up 54 points against Woolston ’s . nil on Saturday. Only four members of the Sydenham team failed to score points, and R. Wakefield gave a masterly display of kicking to score 21 points. Woolston’s defence, which was the feature of their play last season, was sadly deficient, and they rallied only a few times against the powerful Sydenham attack. Sydenham's superiority lay in their fiery forwards and fast back play, which soon had Woolston flagging. O. Mclntyre impressed as one of the best backs on the field. Always looking for work he made several brilliant rims, two leading to his own tries and another to a try by P. Yaxley.

Play started with Woolston on attack and G. Pitcher missed two penalties. Then Sydenham opened the scoring, I. Mclntyre gaining a typical winger's try after the over-lap had been secured. Wakefield missed the conversion. Woolston came up into Sydenham’s territory from the kick-off and had another unsuccessful attempt at a penalty goal. Before long Woolston’s role was reduced to a defensive one as Sydenham attacked* strongly. Wakefield scored next points with a 35-yard penalty goal. Sydenham scored soon after with a particularly attractive movement. . McIntyre initiated the run and the ball flew along the back line with some pretty inter-passing before Yaxley. secured and scored. Atfer a long passing rush up the centre by the forwards Kilkelly scored. Wakefield converted. Kilkelly scored again, after running through the opposition from 15 yards out and Wakefield converted effortlessly. A try went to another forward, I Pimley, next. His score was gained when he bullocked his way over. The conversion was more difficult but Wakefield kicked it well. When S. Keenan jinked his way over from open play, Wakefield once again converted. At half-time the score was 28-0 in Sydenham’s favour and the Woolston team was looking very jaded. With the start of the second half. Sydenham continued on its scoring spree, J. Graham (2), Wakefield, Mclntyre, J. Beales and K. Miller all scored. Wakefield contributed three conversions and a penalty to make the score 54-p. The referee was Mr V. Henry. MARIST v. CHRISTCHURCH

Although Marist beat Christchurch by 37 points to 5 at Sydenham Park, it was not an altogether impressive win. Most of the points were scored in the second half when Christchurch lost two players early in the spell with Injuries. , Marist had almost unlimited possession of the ball from the start of the game. The ball was heeled quickly from the scrums to P. J. Creeay, who gave K. Roberts and- E. Heenan, the five-eighths, the chance to gain much ground, but all too often in the first spell the outside men were forced across field, in the face of some dour tackling by the young Christchurch side. When Roberts elected to break through he generally beat the defence and one such move produced the best try of the day when he ran 40 yards to beat the opposition with his speed and swerve. Christchurch did well to hold the score to 12 pointy, to 5 at half time, although the side, lacking possession, did little in the way of constructive back play. In the second spell, however. the remaining players tired quickly and Marist scored almost at will, and quickly ran up 25 points. I. Anderson, the centre-three-quarters, and Heenan both showed speed in scoring from close in, while C. McNamara had plenty of kicking practice, finishing the match with three penalty goals and five conversions. For Marist tries were scored by Roberts (3), Anderson (2) and Heenan (2). B. Miller scored a try for Christchurch, while B. Mitchell converted. The referee was Mr C. Hills.

RESULTS IN OTHER CENTRES Auckland.—North Shore 15, Ponsonby 11; Otahuhu 13, Mount Albert 7; Point Chevalier 17, Richmond 11; Marist 8, Glenora 6; City Newton 17, Northcote 11. / Wellington.—Waterside 13, Marist 4; Randwick 17. Taita 5; Miramar 32. Maritime 4; St. George 27, Korodale 12.

Dunedin.—Athletic 29, Celtic ?; Western Suburbs 8, University 8.