RUGBY Leading Teams Win In Tenth-Round Matches

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28619, 23 June 1958, Page 9

RUGBY Leading Teams Win In Tenth-Round Matches

The tenth round of matches in the Canterbury Rugby Lmon s senior championship provided no upsets All the top teams won their matches and wo of the teams with opportunities of entering the top six lor the second round had their chances lessened by losses. Grounds were in excellent order and hard.

University scored its biggest win of the season against Albion, and Old Boys, second equal with Marist. also had a decisive win. Marist, however, won only by the narrow margin of two points from Sunnyside-Spreydon, one of the bottom teams. Results: —

University 26, Albion 0. Old Boys 21, Merivale 9. Christchurch 16, Belfast 3. Linwood 26, New Brighton 15, Sydenham 6, Technical 3. Marist 8, Sunnyside-Spreydon 6. The position of teams in the competition is:—

UNIVERSITY’S BIG WIN The main game at the Lancaster Park Oval between University and Albion did not provide very attractive fare for a crowd of about 3000 and although University’s 26-0 win was clearcut,. its form suggested that against a stronger team than Albion, it might have been hard put to it to have won. University was. however, vastly superior to Albion.

The most pleasing feature of the game was a greatly improved showing by the young University wing, D. J. Davison, who scored three tries. He was not required to wend his way past defenders to score these tries, but in each case he used enterprise which had been lacking in some of his earlier games. Two of his tries were excellent efforts. Interest also shown in the form of R. D. Hoskin, an aspirant for representative honours, who returned to University after a foot injury to play at first five-eighths He scored a good try after a determined blind side dash and made several excellent openings for his backs, but he and B. P. J. Molloy were not a very happy pair and this contributed somewhat to the lack of success by the University back line. Hoskin appeared to be standing shallower than necessary. J. B. Park played a very good game at second five-eighths and broke through several times before P. Lennon came up more quickly to tackle.

Dineen was in great kicking form and provided 11 of University’s points. It was difficult to understand his two attempts at very long range field goals after he had kicked a magnificent field goal from close to the sideline. Albion saw less of the ball in its backs than University and it did less with it. P. Samson and K. Morrison did not combine well and A. E. G. Elsom at centre, who could have sorely tried the University defences. handled only twice in movements which were veering across field. Elsom was obviously looking for play and it must have been galling for him that none came his way. E. Neave, on the left wing, had a few runs from broken play but he also was seldom more than a spectator with an active interest in the game. J. Ackland, at fullback, was sound but attempted at times too great a length with his line kicking. Albion’s loosely-knit line out gave K. G. Doig, R. Hockley, and M W. Allen great scope for driving through and this they did. Although University held the advantage in the tight it played all too loosely for much of the game. M. R. Dunne's play, as usual, was of the highest quality and J. N. Creighton, as well as having the edge in the hooking duel, was seldom far from the ball.

The Albion pack looked lethargic by comparison with University and it was found at times ;hat one Albion man would attempt to forestall a University forward rush while the rest of his pack was still getting to the ruck. H. Garlick. R. Fleming. I. Lawson and B. Shaw were the best. T For University, Davison (3). J. Broomfield, and Hoskin scored tries, four of which were converted by Dineen who also kicked a field goal. Mr K. Noonan was referee. HARD FORWARD TUSSLES A good crowd of spectators at Rugby Park enjoyed very few thrills from the Sydenham-Tech-nical match which developed into a dull uninteresting struggle between two sets of forwards who put plenty of energy into play in which little initiative was shown. While the forwards engaged in a grim tussle, the backs on both sides showed their lack of trustworthiness by one of the poorest exhibitions of handling seen in senior grade football this season. This applied to nearly every back on either side and there is little wonder that as the game progressed, the forwards showed more and more reluctance to trust them with the ball. On the day Sydenham deserved its narrow 6-3 victory if only for Its superior tactics in covering up by backs after one of the number had made the mistake of dropping the ball. Yet with numerous handling mistakes there were occasions when both full-backs. J. D. Clark <Sydenham) and L. Ewen (Technical). took awkward punts cleanlv and kicked long and accurately. On the day’s play. Dark was the more consistent Fven the usually reliable R. H Bewick after waltzin*? through :he Technical backs for a very line trv. drowned several passes he should have taken

M F Whitta (Svdenham) and G. Robert*: (Technical) each had enough chances to have made plnv bright and onen but only the quickest of passes would have evaded the Quick breakaway forwards. R. E. Cotton, at first fiveeighths, showed the value of his

long experience against a young player, K. Howatson, and he was usually on hand for a stern defence. His line kicking was accurate and effective and, although he also dropped passes and did not always appear to relish the close attentions of the opposing forwards, he made fewer mistakes than most of the backs The three-quarters had few chances on attack but of the six B. Logan, the Technical wing, always appeared to be looking for chances and he showed the most spirit.

Of the Sydenham forwards none worked more consistently than the front-rankers W. A. White and D. K. jCollins and D. F. Benfell, T. L. Bisman and B. R. Mason were loyal supports in a very even, well-drilled pack. Until he was injured, J. Taurua was the outstanding forward on the Technical side and as well as doing his fair share in the open play, he was the best of the line-out forwards. N. Teague and D. Young also played consistently. Teague, especially, did an immense amount of work in line-outs and in the heavy rucking which followed. Sydenham won by 6 points (a try by R. H. Bowick and a penalty goal by G. H. Smith) to 3 points (a penalty goal by L. Ewen). Mr L. Mahony was referee. SECOND-HALF BURST Merivale held its own against Old Boys in the first half of their game, came close to scoring tries on occasions and at half-time Old Boys, held a mere 3-point lead. Forceful forward play in the second half, mainly by the loose forwards, M. Hern, D. J. Graham and N. S. Roberts, had Merivale defending rapidly and Old Boys scored a further three goals from tries to Merivale’s two penalty goals to win by 21 points (three goals from tries, a try and a penalty goal) to 9 (three penalty goals). Old Boys won this match through the superiority of their forwards. The backs met with some stern opposition from the Merivale line and did not function very well. S. K. Henderson made one or two good breaks but good defence or muffed passes further out spoilt likelylooking movements. Three of the Old Boys’ tries were scored by forwards and the fourth, scored by R. Stubberfield, was also initiated by the forwards.

For the most part Stubberfield and A. J. Krisnic were a useful combination but Stubberfield's sometimes upright stance before passing had him in trouble. H. L. Johnsen had few opportunities as did both wings. R. H. Prouting was a sound last line of defence. The Merivale backs lacked thrust the few times the line operated and before long R. Wilson i esorted to kicking. Behind the scrum R. Watson did not play his best game. B. Judkins and O. Burnett, starved of chances, tackled resolutely—so much so that Old Boys began to kick through later as the only means of penetrating. Hern. Roberts. Graham, and R. Kirkland were the best Old Bov s forwards in the loose and I. Plummer and R. G. Cochrane were trojans in the tight. J. Turner was the best Merivale forward and he received best support from H. Tuanui and D. A. Doak. For Old Boys, Hem, Kirkland, Graham and Stubberfield scored tries and S. K. Henderson converted three and kicked a penalty goal. R. Watson kicked two penalty goals and L. Wilson one for Merivale. Mr R. Empson was referee. CHRISTCHURCH WINS

Using its advantage of weight and height in the forwards, Christchurch was too strong for Belfast, winning by 16 points to 3. Belfast made a good showing, and hard tackling and quick following up by the forwaras deserved better results. Had Beliast had a more accurate goalkicker; the scores would have been much closer, for four relatively easy penalty kicks failed. Using S. F. Hill predominantly in the line-outs and having a large weight advantage in the scrums, Christchurch had a feast of the ball in the first half and was abie to score 13 points. In the second hah. the Belfast forwards stuck to their game keenly, and the Christchurch forwards seemed lethargic. A penalty goal by the Christchurch full-back. T. George, was the only score of the second half. Although the Christchurch pack dominated the scrums and line-outs, the passing of the backs seldom allowed them to make a break. Even when Smith or McPhail came into the back-line, the movements broke down when the Belfast backs reached their opposite numbers as quickly as the ball. Besides George, who played a sound game at fullback, McPhail and C. Devine stood out in a mediocre line. Hill was a tireless leader in the forwaras, but tne rest of the pack lacked their usual fire. K. Orsbourn scored a good try a±ter following up a back movement and handling twice. Full credit must go to the Belfast forwards for holding the Christchurch pack. Breaking quickly and combining in foot rushes, they often had the defence sorely worried. McPhail and George were oiten called upon to make quick kic- s for the line after a Belfast break. S. Tunstall, G. Fechney and T. Gilmore were always where play was the tightest. Although their defence was always sound, the Belfast backs could do nothing when they received the ball on isolated occasions and often lost gtound. L. Pateman, whose swift following up of a bouncing bah which Smith failed to take resulted in Belfast’s only try, was the best of the Belfast backs. Cnristcpurcn’s points came from tries by Orsbourn and McPhail, both of which were converted by George. George also kicked two penalty goals. For Belfast, L. Pateman scored a try which Williams failed to convert. The referee was Mr R. G. Condliffe.

HIGH SCORING MATCH Nine excellent tries were scored in a orignt match between Linwood and New Brighton at Lancaster Park south. Although Linwood won fairly conuortabiy by 26 points to 15, New Bngnton produced probably its most enterprising play for the season. Witn its backs going well against weak tackling, Linwood scored a goal from a try and two tries m the first half to lead 11-0 at halftime before two more goals from tries took it to a 21-0 lead. Then the tenor of the match changed surprisingly; the New Brighton tackling improved, the forwards worked like trojans, and the backs were quick to take opportunities. The side scored three goals from tries in a half-hour burst and was down only 15-21. Linwood consolidated its lead with another goal from a try. * Linwood had G. McConchie and S. Conaghan absent from its backs and suffeied further misfortune when J Kerrigan, five-eighths, was injured early. The rearranged line, with N. Main at first live-eighths and B. Ellis taking his place at half-back, had plenty of ability and penetration. Outstanding were D. de Felice, wing three-quarters, who showed grand speed for two tries, and M. Munnerley. full-back. K. B. Trevella played one of his Best games in the forwards, breaking through from rucks time and again. A. Mansfield, R. Tabb, and A. Holland were often prominent.

The New Brighton team of the second nali was vastly different to mat of tne first hail. There was oeiter tackling ana lar greater determination, especially after the first try wnich appeared to give added confidence. Tne forwards played tigerishly in this period, none better than M. le Beau, a replacement. A. Moore, C. Browne and T. Miles! helped to tighten up the pack. W. Harris, five-eighths, provided penetration in the second half. The naif-back, B. Barron, worked hard and B. Boland, wing, although he badly missed the flying de Felice once, scored a good try by following up. Mansfield (2), de Felice (2), Trevella and McCormick scored for Linwood. Munnerley converted three tries and McCormick one. W. Harris, Boland and H. Lovell scored for New Brighton. Rossiter converted the tries. Mr V. C. Empson was referee. CLOSE GAME Against the run of play. Marist beat Sunnyside-Spreydon by 8 points to 6< at Sunnyside. Marist had the better oi the first half when its backs and forwards combined in some splendid movements, and led by 8 points to 0 at half-time. A rejuvenated Sunnyside team adopted kick and chase tactics in the second half and this manoeuvre kept Marist penned in its own half for 30 minutes.

The Sunnyside forwards considerably lighter and shorter than their opponents, secured a monopoly of the ball from the rucks and lineouts in this spell. If R. Templeton, half-back, did not kick, he passed to V. Sykes, who did, and the ball was invariably well placed.

The combined forwards far outmatched their opponents in getting to the loose ball, but they made the mistake of rucking for it instead of carrying it forward. J. Hutchinson, first five-eighths, gave the Marist back attacks great thrust with his speed off the mark, and he and J. Collier, outside him, were constantly probing for gaps. C. McDonald. at centre threequarters. had few opportunities, but his defence was sound. J. P. Ryan. W. L’Estrange. and J. Le Lievre were the best of the Marist forwards. Templeton and Sykes again combined well for Sunnyside-Spreydon. Sykes’s cover defence was magnificent, and he was always where he was needed. P. Owen, full-back, was fortunate, for no matter where he stood, the Marist backs kicked to him. P. Harris. D. Kane, and G. Telfer were extremely energetic in the loose, and D, Russel} secured a monopoly of the ball in the line-outs. For Marist tries were scored by K. Harrison and G. Collier. L. McLeod converted a try. For Sunnyside. Owen kicked two penalty goals. The referee was Mr R. W. Phizacklea.

Pt; Ch. P. w. T, D. For Asst. P«s University 10 9 — * 163 64 91 Old Boys 10 8 2 ■ 144 49 8 Marist 10 8 2 112 76 8 Sydenham 10 6 2 2 86 67 7 Linwood 10 5 4 128 96 51 Chch. 10 5 4 101 70 51 Albion 10 4 3 j 80 123 Technical 10 3 4 3 65 75 41 Merivale 10 3 6 j 80 129 31 S-Sprey. 10 1 7 2 70 122 2 Belfast 10 • i 8 1 76 141 11 New B. .. 10 1 9 - 58 151 1