Sydenham Beats Belfast, 22-8

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28258, 22 April 1957, Page 16

Sydenham Beats Belfast, 22-8

On a very slippery ground, Sydenham played well to beat Belfast, 22-8. at Waltham Park. Both tecims were under strength. Playing only 13 men, Belfast was first to score when G. Don kicked a penalty goal in the first minute. Very soon a Sydenham attack succeeded, the hooker, D. Collins, scoring, and R. Cotton converting. Sydenham went further ahead when B. Salt went over at the corner, and shortly afterwards Cotton outpaced the opposition and scored. At halftime Sydenham led by 11 points to 3. J. Bisrrinn and M. Jackson scored two tries in quick succession for Sydenham, Cotton converting both. L. Odgers scored Belfast’s final try and L. Pateman converted. Sydenham again attacked and B. Mason dived over. Cotton converting. The referee was Mr R. K. Rose. Merivale Beats Alhambra Merivale beat Alhambra (Dunedin) by 12 points (three penalty goals and a try) to 8 (a goal from a try and a try) in their annual match played on Lancaster Park Oval on Saturday. Both teams tried to play bright Rugby on the very wet giound The teams were Very evenly matched, with Alhambra superior in the backs and Meriva.e getting slightly the better of the forward play. For Merivale, I. Anderson (left wing), T. Davis (second five-eighths), and R. Watson (half-bak) were the best backs, and in the forwards D. S elton, J. Turner, and, in the second half, B. Turner, stood out. The two Alh mbra piayets to stand out were the half-back, R. RoLson, and the full-back, A. Murphy. Robson played inte li ’ently, and sent some beautiful passes, and Murphy made some fine saves. In the forwards M. Bainberry, D. Trevathan. and I. Smeaton played hard throughout. Merivale’s points came from three penalty goals kicked by Davis and a try by K. Donaldson. For Alhambra, Trevathan scored a try which Murphy converted, and Smeaton scored a try. Mr A. G. Berry was referee. One-Point Win For Albion In a very close match in which the advantage was held by the Albion forwards and the Southern (Dunedin) backs, Albion won by 11 points to 10. Throughout the firsr spell the play was very even, and only hard tackling by the Albion forwards and good line-kicking b.s’ the full-back, N. Eogington, broke down some promising Southern back movements. Albion’s first points came when the front-row forward, M. Robinson, picked up the ball after loose play and crashed over. Edgington converted. Southern rallied soon alter, however, and in a blind side movement R. Lamb walked over for a try. Stevens converted to even tnc scores at half-time. A strong dribbling rush by Albion ended with P. Lennon scoring. Southern rallied, and the wing, E. Simpson, won the race to a ball which had been kicked over the line Stevens converted, and Southern led by 10 points to 8. The try which gave Albion th«=match was scored by the half-back, I. Milne. The referee was Mr C. D. Topp.

Linwood Beaten At Dunedin

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN. April 21. Linwood was beaten by Union by 18 points to 6, in a match played on the North ground. Mostly the game was scrappy, and the Linwood backs did not combine well. In the forwards, Linwood dominated line-out play, and was able to hold the Union pack in set scrums. In loose play. Powell was prominent, but he did not receive the necessary support from the rest of the pack. In the backs, Main handled well, and Stirling's covering was much needed Linwood’s points came from two penalties by Main. Mr R. Little was the referee. Results in Other Centres Taranaki.—Patea 17, Kaiponga 6; Eltham 22, Opunake 14; Waimate 26. Athletic 9: Hawera 17, Okaiawa 3.