CHRISTCHURCH STILL IN LEAD

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27683, 13 June 1955, Page 8

CHRISTCHURCH STILL IN LEAD

FUGBY FOOTBALL

University Beaten In Stirring Game

OLD BOYS AND TECHNICAL DRAW

With eight matches played in the first round of the Canterbury Rugby Union’s championship, Christchurch and Old Boys remain unbeaten, although Old Boys, having played two drawn matches, are a point behind Christchurch. Saturday’s games were played in cold, blustery weather, a strong souwest wind accompanied by showers of rain making the ball greasy and difficult to handle. A thrilling game between Christchurch and University at Lancaster Park was thoroughly enjoyed by a big crowd, and there was a record attendance for a game at Rugby Park this season to see Old Boys and Technical play a drawn game. Sydenham and Linwood also drew, Albion beat Belfast by a good margin, Marist had little difficulty in accounting for Sunnyside-Spreydon and New Brighton narrowly beat Merivale. All lower-grade games were postponed. Following are results of games played in the senior championship:— Christchurch 8, University 3. Old Boys 5, Technical 5. Marist 18, Sunnyside-Spreydon 3. Linwood 9, Sydenham 9. Albion 17, Belfast 5. New Brighton 9, Merivale 6. The following table shows the positions of teams:—

Good Wet-weather Game Christchurch and University gave one of the brightest displays of 'wet-weather football seen on Lancaster Park for some years in the main game on the oval. Although Christchurch continued its unbroken run of victories, on the run of the play University deserved to win. Interest was maintained right to the end. University, playing with a strong sou *> west wind, finished.the first spell with a lead of three points, but the advantage was not then considered great enough to withstand the challenge of the leaders in the second half. Christchurch started the second spell at a great pace and soon scored the equalising try but it was not long before University was again on the offensive and hammering the Christchurch line. It was not until the last two minutes of play that a let-up in the University defence gave Christchurch the winning points.

There were some outstanding features in the game. Although the ground was heavy, the strong wind was accompanied by driving rain and the ball was slippery. The handling was remarkably good and high punts were taken with a confidence that marked the complete footballer. Three players in B. Molloy, half-back, and S. G. Bremner, five-eighths, for University. and J. Hotop, five-eighths, for Christchurch, stood out for their splendid exhibitions of how to handle a treacherous ball. Molloy appeared to be little troubled by the conditions. He whipped the ball away from the rucks with the celerity of a Jimmy Mill at his best and always the ball flew straight to the safe hands of Bremner who fed his outside men regularly or varied his play with punts to gaps or cross-kicks to his wing-three-quarters. University appeared to be unlucky in not scoring more than one try from these cross-kicks. Molloy was as solid as a rock on defence and was seidorr missing when the Christchurch forward.' were raiding.

Hotop’s game followed a different pattern. Playing against the win he was rocKlike on defence, his long left-footers t< the right sideline were placed with un erring accuracy, and with the advantage of the wind in the second spell his kick? were longer and as accurate as ever. He was the life and soul of the Christchurch back-line and he adopted the ideal matchwinning tactics by saving his forwards much unnecessary work. If one fault could be found it was that he took too much on himself and did not use his speedy wing-three-quarters as much as he might have done. While Bremner took all the risks usually associated with University football Hotop realised that he had a match to win, and the result proved his good judgment. He was not so well served by his half-back as Bremner was but l e shirked nothing after taking a severe gruelling from the University forwards. A battle royal was fought by two very good sets of forwards in which it was a Question of the survival of the fittest. In the first spell honours where fairlv even but it was thought as the Christchurch forwards had held their own when playing against the wind that thej’ would dominate the play in the second spell. Expectations were not realised, however, for University held on more tenaciously than ever and in the later stages were the more virile and better conditioned. As a hunting pack they would have few equals on the day and big R. D. Duff, who had had a good measure of success in the line-outs for Christchurch in the first spell, was well-matched later in the game by the University locks. G. Williams and A. Chirnside.

There was not a lazy bone In either pack and though K. Orsbourn and D Crosbie (Christchurch) and R. Marris and J. Broomfield (University) showed more speed than some of the others, top marks ™ st . to , the front rar >kers J. Staines (Christchurch) and J. Stewart (University) for outstanding work. Stewart has possibly never played a better game. P. Moir, playing outside Hotop, was not given many opportunities to shine in passing rushes and neither Vernon (centre) nor R. Smith or J. Osborne wing-three-quarters were given anv scoring chances although Smith made 7-,. break when Christchurch scored its first try Several times Smith and Osborne snowed initiative in moving in with speed to tackle a University back before a passing rush had got underway. M. Gold, at full-back, was hurt several times before he was compelled to retire, up to which time he had played the sound game expected from' him. In the last ?** r t of ~ e B ame he was replaced by I McDonald who did his work well and confidently.

. B- Woods and C. Keenan, centre-backs for University, each had his moments and although sorely pressed by hard tackling backs and forwards, both handled well and helped to open up play. The team was ‘well served by wing-three-quarters R. Wells, who scored one try and was unlucky not to get another, and J. Tapsell. both of whom ran straight and true even though they were marked by Smith and Osborne, two of the best play- , Cante rbury today. J. Croucher, full-back, had chances to win the game with goals but his failure to raise the flags was the only blemish in a good day’s work. It was an inspiring game, crammed with incident and a credit to two very fit teams and their coaches. : The only points registered in the first spell came from a clever move by Bremner who. after receiving from Molloy i cut out two of his own men in a long pass to Wells who raced over near the . i orner. Early in the second spell Christchurch 'quailed the score when Smith came in ■ from the wing to take a pass from Hotop and burst through a gap in the I denfence before sending on to Staines, who scored. With only a short time to | play Hotop picked up in the loose and i with a most determined dash raced over in a good position for a fine try which he converted. ! Christchurch won by 8 points (a goal from a try and a try) to 3 points (a try). i Mr S. Whiteford was referee. HARD-FOUGHT GAME After a first half of scrappy but hard football. Old Boys and Technical settled down in the second spell to provide a capacity crowd with 40 minutes of excellent football. The outcome of the game, a 5-all draw, was a true indication of the merits of the two teams. Tackling in the second spell was exceptionally good, with the result that the back movements of each side were not allowed to gather momentum and in most cases died before the ball reached the wings. The game was played on a heavy ground which was in remarkably good condition having regard to the recent bad weather. A few light showers fell during this and the previous game, making the ball slippery and hard to hold. Handling mistakes were frequent in the first half, but to a large extent this could be attributed to the fact that the teams

had to use the sodden balls of the previous game. Handling lapses and crossfield running tended to produce scrappy football in the first half. Technical, facing a 5-0 deficit at halftime, took advantage of the favourable wind in the second half and pressed home a series of hot attacks. Within 10 minutes Technical equalised and for the rest of the game two very fit teams tried every trick they knew to alter the scores. They failed, but in doing so they provided some excellent, hard and fast football. Old Boys had a slight edge on the Technical forwards in the first spell, and seldom was play out of Technical territory. The Old Boys line, however, had little sting in it. and the Technical defences held on all but one occasion. The lack of thrust could be attributed to the attention the Technical forwards paid to P. B. Vincent and R> Wilson. Vincent, especially had a trying day, but even allowing for the unwelcome ministrations of the Technical forwards, the inside combination did not impress as much as M. Logan and J. Waine. Logan’s dive passes were beautifully directed and Waine, taking them at full speed, had ample time to decide his course of action. Waine beat Wilson several times early in the game, but later Wilson, anticipating better, brought him down with low tackles. Further out in the Old Boys’ line, S. Henderson played in what was for him the unaccustomed position of centre threequarters, and although he did score a try, he did not play in this position as well as he has at second five-eighths. L. Johnsen, at second five-eighths, had few chances. The one he did have ended in Henderson’s try, after Johnsen had made the break in the first spell. Two good full-backs were seen in D. Mayo and T. Jackson. Honours on the day went to Mayo, who played his usual safe game. His kicking was excellent. Jackson also kicked well, but he made several handling faults. The Technical outside backs, with the exception of Waine, were also unable to pierce the defences. The three-quarters combination. B. Logan, D. Taylor, and P. Logan, tried hard, but were stopped by sure, low tackling. Hard rucking and good line-out play marked the forward play by both packs. For Old Boys there was no better forward than M. Hern,' who, in spite of his lack of size, got through a greater amount of work than anyone else. G. Roberts and N. Roberts were tireless in the loose, and R. Cochrane and E. Hern did a grand job in the tight. Technical's best forward was B. Arthur, who was in everything. He was best supported bv I. Rathgen, and N. Teague and D Young were the mainstays in the tight. For Old Boys, Henderson scored a try and converted it. Rathgen scored a try for Technical which Jackson converted. Mr K. Noonan was referee. A CONVINCING WIN | Albion, showing its best form so far this season, scored a convincing win over Belfast in the early game at Rugby Park, by 17 points (a goal from a try, two tries, and two penalty goals) to 5 (a goal from a try). The match produced some grand lootball, especially on the part of the Albion forwards, who completely dominated all phases of forward play. Albion held a territorial advantage throughout the game, and seldom was plav out of Belfast’s half. The Albion forwards, playing as a well-knit pack, gave the backs h feast of the ball, so that the backline had countless opportunities. The Belfast pack lacked this cohesion, and had little thrust in the back line.

The Albion backline played its best match of the season. All the backs handled well, ran straight, and took advantage of every gap in the defences. The Albion attack was based on the halfback and first five-eighths, R. Dyer and J. Palmer. Dyer’s service from the scrum was swift and sure, and this, coupled with the speed at which Palmer took his passes, gave the outside backs every chance. Palmer played a grand game. Quick to exploit a gap, he raced past his opposition on several occasions, making the break which was carried on further out. Palmer’s play has been of a high standard throughout the season.

The most pleasing feature of the Albion back line’s success was that it gave A. E. G. Elsom the opportunity of displaying his true form—a thing he has not been able, to do in .previous matches. Elsom, playing at centre three-quarters, played a great game, scoring two good tries, making several other good runs, and ceaselessly searching for work. At full-back N. Edgington was completely safe and reliable. His kicking, handling, and positional play were of a high order. In the forwards. W. Coulston. in the line-outs, and B. Hopping and W. Garlick. in tight and loose play, were the hardest working. The Belfast backline did not have the chances of the Albion line, and never looked to be a likely scoring combination. W, Guilford, who tackled extremely well, b2st A ‘ Cameron ’ at% full-back, were the

J. McNicholl was the mainstay of the Belfast forwards. He excelled in all departments. L. Allen. A. Cassidv. and R. Cox were two others who did some good work in the loose.

For Albion tries were scored by Elsom (2) and P. Lennon. Edgington converted one try and kicked two penalty goals Belfast s points came from a try by A. Cassidy, which was converted by Cameron. | Mr L. West was the referee. COMFORTABLE WIN FOR MARIST Throwing the ball about freely, Marist. showing improved form, had little difficulty in establishing a substantial lead in the first spell against Sunnyside-Spreydon at the end of which they led bv 18 points’ There was a different story to be told about the second half for, though Marist always looked the better team, the only score registered was a penalty goal by the Sunnyside-Spreydon centre, R. Barnes who has now scored 21 points of the 42 credited to his side.

J. le Liecre. a Marist prop, headed a forward rush to the Sunnyside-Sprey-don line early in the game, and he scored a try which K. Stuart converted. A passing rush looked promising until J. Douglas, wing-three-quarters, was caught in possession, but when the ball came loose it was carried on by K. Meates. D. Ashworth, and B. Dalliessi. the last-named scoring a try which Stuart converted Barnes and Wakefield were noticeable for sound defence for Sunnyside-Spreydon. but the backs were well beaten when Douglas raced through to ground the ball wide out. Stuart missed with the shot at goal, but was more successful after Dalliessi had scored his second try after a forward scramble near the posts. At half-time Marist led by 18 points. The Sunnyside-Spreydon defence was sorely tried early in the second spell, when Marist backs and forwards launched a series of attacks, but the SunnvsideSpreydon backs took the ball to the Marist twenty-five, where a penalty gave Barnes a chance to open the scoring. Showing greatly improved form, the SunnysideSpreydon forwards, led by R. Stutteridge L. Righton and N. SiWey. kept play in Marist territory, where Bbrnes missed' two shots at goal. Marist won by 18 Rptats (three goals from tries and a try) ITpoints (a penalty goal). Mr L. Kirk was referee. NO TRIES SCORED No tries were scored, all points coming from goals when New Brighton gained its third win of the season by 9 points to 6 over Merivale at Lancaster Park South. The New Brighton forwards, led by R. Hockley and J. Hecker, attacked well'and took play to near the Merivale line, where the big forward, M. Harris, kicked a penalty goal from out in front. However, Merivale soon equalised when they swept to the other end. The New Brighton half-back. W. Hamilton, attempted to clear when sorely tried on defence, but the ball was taken by the Merivale fullback, K. Burnett, who kicked a field goal. Then Merivale took the lead with a penalty goal by Burnett. Play see-sawed from end to end with K. McCartney. T. Palmer, and M. Bourne in the van for Merivale, and Hocklev. Harris, and P. Breach standing out for New Brighton. The half-time score was 6-6 when, B. Rossiter, who came on as a reserve at full-back, kicked a penalty goal for New Brighton. The second half was very hard-fought and even but New Brighton gained a slight superiority with Merivale tiring towards the finish. Merivale was penalised after a scrum near its own line, for Rossiter to give his side a win with another penalty goal. New Brighton won by 9 points (three penalty goals) to 6 (a field goal and a penalty goal). Mr D. H. Parkes was referee. SYDENHAM AND LINWOOD DRAW In a match remarkable for the complete change in superiority in each half and the similarity of the scoring, Sydenham and Linwood drew, 9 points each, at Lancaster Park West. In the first half Sydenham dominated play to have a 9-0 lead at half-time from two penalty goals early and a try at the end of the spell. However, the second half was all Linwood's with two penalty goals just after the be-

ginning and a try almost on time to equalise. Because there was no early game on the oval a big crowd watched anh was treated to bright, exciting football. But it was disappointing to see forwards heeling consistently to backs who found difficulty in handling the greasy ball or in retaining footing instead of taking the ball at their toes more often—the type of play conditions favoured. Sydenham gained a feast of the ball in the first half, holding a territorial advantage throughout and raiding the Linwood line, but the backs, through lapses in handling and bad passes, were not able to get across. Then in the second half the Linwood forwards played with more fire and a change round in back positions gave further improvement.

There was no more competent player on the field than the Linwood first fiveeighths, M. Munnerley. He did a lion’s share of the work, saving his side time and again in the defending first half and showing out on attack in the second half. His tackling was part of the reason why Sydenham did not score more often. A sound display was given at full-back by A. Taylor. He fielded the greasv ball with surprising ease, kicked with good length, but sometimes failed to find the line. Begininng in the wing three-quarters berth, R. Steele gave added thrust to back movements when he was shifted to the five-eighths. He was associated with B. Powell, second five-eighths, in the team’s only try. R. Spriggs, wing threequarters, proved very fast in his few opportunities. Sydenham backs seemed to lack the power to finish off movements. Good breaks were often made, but many of them were nullified when players held the ball too long. Most formidable was the centre three-quarters. R. Bowick, who ran strongly to score a try, but he also was caught with the ball after penetrating sallies. At full-back, M. Gowans was just as safe as usual, ‘kicking long and accurately and tackling decisively. It was a particularly fine penalty kick from about 35 yards out and almost on the touchline with which he gained til'st points. Both forward packs contained players of real ability, with Sydenham rucking fiercely, but otherwise playing its customary loose game. Outhooked and outplayed in the first half, the Linwood forwards were transformed in the second half to an excellent tight-packing eight. The Sydenham pack was well led by C. Rhodes. W. Smith did good work in the line-outs, and H. Fox and D. Collins were in good form. Best for Linwood were R. Tabb, and the No. 8. B. Trevella. R. Bowick scored a try for Sydenham and M. Gowans and R. Brown' kicked penalty goals. For Linwood, B. Powell scored a try and A. Taylor kicked two penalty goals. Mr R. Condliffe was referee. LOWER GRADE Under 20.—University A 26, St. Andrew’s College 6. BRITISH TEAM LEAVES FOR SOUTH AFRICA (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, June 10. The British Isles Rugby Union team left the London airport today for their tour of South Africa, five hours and a half behind schedule. Maintenance work and tests on their specially chartered Constellation aircraft held them up first, and then the pilot reported ermine trouble.

P. W. L. D. F. A. Ptsi Christchurch 8 8 0 0 133 45 8 Old Boys .. 8 6 0 2 132 41 7 Technical .. 8 6 1 1 102 59 GJ University .. 8 5 2 1 132 62 5J Marist ..8 4 3 1 132 86 4J Albion ..8 4 4 0 83 77 4 Linwood .. 8 3 4 1 70 112 3J Belfast ..8 3 5 0 53 70 3 N. Brighton 8 3 5 0 63 142 3 Sydenham ..8 1 6 1 58 114 1J Merivale ..8161 53 118 1J SunnysideSpreydon 8 0 8 0 42 117 0