TAVENDALE CUP

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28347, 5 August 1957, Page 6

TAVENDALE CUP

Papanui Beats Linwood

Tavendale Cup matches were played in good conditions on Saturday by senior Rugby League teams. Most teams were weakened by the absence of players in the representative side in Auckland. A feature of the day’s play was the promise shown. by some of the younger players who filled the gaps left. Results were:— Papanui 14, Linwood 9. Sydenham 8, Marist 8. Hornby 11, Christchurch 5.

Tavendale Cup points are: Papanui 8, Hornby 6, Sydenham 5, Marist 3, Linwood 2, Christchurch 0.

PAPANUI v. LINWOOD Although Papanui had a lead ot 14 points at half-time the team was forced to defend solidly all through the second half of the main game at the Show Grounds to hold off a very determined second-half bld by Linwood. Papanui won by 14 points (two goals from tries and two penalty goals) to 9 (one goal from a try and two penalty goals). Papanui won a lot of ball from scrums in the first half and, with good play, found many gaps in a ragged Linwood defence. When Linwood was in possession in the first half it failed to combine. Most of its scoring chances failed through lack of combination or support. With the advantage of the wind in the second half/ Linwood gave a greatly-improved display. With much more possession the team was seldom out of Papanui territory. A little more snap in Linwood’s attacking movements would have won the game.

Several times when the Papanui defence was badly shaken Linwood lost the advantage through faulty 01 1 by Payers going too far with the ball.

Papanui defended well in the second half. The Papanui backline handled and combined much more efficiently than the Linwood backs did* clark » K. Roberts, and K. Hazeldine opened up play at every opportunity. Hazeldine again impressed with a fine all-round game. The Linwood backline lacked pace, and it was not until the ball reached B. Tewnian at centre that thrust was added to the attack. Tewnian, who handled well and ran very strongly, was Linwood’s most impressive back. R. Pounsford, at half-back, and N. Clark, at first five-eighths, halted many Papanui attacks with their sound tackling. G. Ockwell showed speed on the wing, and could have been more formidable if he had had more opportunities.

M R- Spencer, G. Cooper, and R. Marsh were prominent in Papanui foward rushes, and set a fine example on defence. As wen as winning a good amount of ball, J. Butcher, the Linwood hooker, led his forwards in fine style, and was always up with the play. He received most support from M. Blazey, M. Jones, and M. Carlyle. For Papanui tries were scored by J. Murphy and I. Jamieson. K. Hazeldine converted both tries and kicked two penalty goals. J. Robinson scored a try for Linwood, which was converted by F. Hudson. Hudson and B. Tewnian kicked one penalty goal each. The referee was Mr R. Broome. CHRISTCHURCH v. HORNBY Making the most of opportunities, Hornby, second in the Tavendale Cup competition, beat Christchurch, last in the series, by 11 points to 5 at Show Grounds No. 2. With Hornby well below usual strength, because of key players in Auckland with the representative team, it was expected that Christchurch would provide strong opposition. This was not so, and tne result was not in doubt. Hornby had control throughout. Christchurch had chances, but failed to make the most of them. Its general play was far from convincing, and too many simple errors were made. In the back-line, where Christchurch had the edge on Hornby for pace, Hornby had by far the better of play. When Christchurch did get the ball moving along its line it was invariably dropped or knocked on with the result that the two fast wingers, I. Wilkie and A. McDonald, had to make their own opportunities.

In the forwards the weight in the Hornby pack was too much for the Christchurch players, who showed no inclination to tackle the heavier men. Hornby had a big advantage in this department. J. Tinning was brought back into the Hornby side to fill a gap. Playing his first game of the season he went well and was of great value to his team. K. Henry also played to assist the team. He still showed some of the elusiveness that made him such a good player a number of years ago and was a constant source of trouble to Christchurch. Playing at fullback he frequently came up into the line to make the extra man. Scorers for Hornby were R. Moore, J. Withers and G. Bray, R. Kelly kicked a penalty goal. For ’ Christchurch A. McDonald scored a try converted by D. Walker. The referee was Mr C. Day. MARIST v. SYDENHAM Marist came close to scoring an

Show Ground Oval. Marist, with upset win over Sydenham at the only one win this season, was not expected to extend Sydenham. Both sides lapsed into glaring mistakes in positional play and handling. The final 10 minutes brought an exciting climax. The pick of the Marist players was E. Heenan, at second flveeighths, who, with a little support, could have supplied the necessary points for a win. He played an extremely intelligent game, using the long kick to gain ground and finding the gap in the defence for devastating runs. ’

Heenan scored Marist’s first try after clever anticipation. With a Sydenham back movement sweeping downfield with an overlap, Heenan intercepted a pass and sped through the disorganised defence to score unopposed. Marist scored two tries, neither of which was converted, and of the many penalties gained by the side, only one was successful. Sydenham infringed, many times. K. Gallager, a Marist forward, was outstanding, but he lacked support. Sydenham failed to impress at any stage of the game and was lucky to draw. The team had more chances than Marist for tries, but the handling was very bad. Two newcomers to the side, A. Casey and C. Eagan, Australians, who played for Sydney clubs, showed glimpses of ability. They were served with too many bad passes for an assessment or their true worth to be made. Casey scored a good try with a solo effort, and Eagan made several runs. G. Williams, playing in the unaccustomed full-back position, performed well for his team. He handled and tackled well. Of the forwards, I. Pimley, the captain, bore’ the brunt, and as usual played a solid game. Altogether the game had few moments of merit with large periods of patchy and uninteresting play. For Marist, tries were scored by E. Heenan and P. O’Brien. M. Bond kicked a penalty goal. Sydenham’s points came from tries by A. Casey and R. Thistoll, and a conversion by G. Williams. Mr P. Yaxley was referee.