TAVENDALE CUP

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28661, 11 August 1958, Page 11

TAVENDALE CUP

Papanui Beats Linwood With only one more game to be played in the Canterbury Rugby League’s Tavendale Cup competition. Papanui has a fourpoint lead and will win the Cup this season. Saturday’s results were:— Papanui 47, Linwood 16; Hornby 10, Christchurch 5. Sydenham 47, Marist 5. Tavendale Cup points: Papanui 8, Linwood 4, Hornby 4. Christchurch 4, Sydenham 4, Marist 0. PAPANUI v. LINWOOD In a one-sided main game at the Show Grounds. Papanui was far too strong all round for Linwood and scored 47 points to Linwood's 16. Papanui showed speed and combin- 1 ation in both backs and forwards and most of their scoring movements were the result of excellent team work. Linwood, on the other hand, were a team of individualists who failed to settle down to combined movements for most of the game. The Papanui backs were very adept at creating an overlap and many of their tries looked simple as players went over the line without an opponent near them. Papanui brought up several junior players for this game and the good form shown by them augurs well for the club next season. A solid forward pack paved the way for the Papanui backline.

K. Pearce, J. Rossiter and R. Marsh were the most prominent and they were well supported by K. Peters, P. Crotty and G. Turner. Although lacking the pace of theii opponents the Linwood forwards worked hard with M. Blazey, R. Journee and J. Butcher always in the thickthe play. B. Simmons ana B. Housego showed up in many loose movements which generally lacked support. The speed and clean handling of the Papanui backs proved too big a hurdle fpr the slower Linwood line. Jim Bond was In his best form and he began most of his side's attacks. R. Harris, K. Hazeldine and D. Gordon, three junior backs, were little behind Bond. The combination of these players together and the half-back, Clarke's service, reached a high standard. Most of Linwood’s back movements broke down through lack of pace and support. Easily the most impressive Linwood back was the first fiveeighths, R. Pounsford, who handled cleanly and ran strongly. The rest did not impress and played lifelessly. For Papanui tries were scored by J. Bond (4), G. Ibbotson (2), K. Hazeldine, K. Pearce, D. Gordon, J. Rossiter and R. Clarke. Bond (3), Clarke (2), and Hazeldine converted tries and Bond kicked a penalty goal. K. Journee (2), and R. Pousford (2i scored tries for Linwood. Pounsford converted two tries. The referee was Mr P. Yaxley. HORNBY V. CHRISTCHURCH Hornby beat Christchurch in the curtain-raiser at the Show Grounds oval by 10 points to 5, after a scoreless first half. Christchurch maintained its recent improvement in form, and on the run of play could be considered unlucky not to have beaten the championship winner. Territorially it was Christchurch’s game lor it was on attack for much longer periods. Christchurch lost its first fiveeighths, N. Hull, in the first few minutes of the game, and from then on had B. Douglas, a forward, playing in this position. Hornby had more pace in the backs but made many mistakes. At times the handling was very poor and movements broke down at critical stages. Hornby’s team looked much different to that which won the championship earlier in the season. Playing at half-back was P. Tongue, usually a centre or a wing. He played a competent game in this position. There were several newcomers in the forwards, including the fiveeighths, D._ Neiman. He too played well, adapting himself to the new surroundings. Once again J. Minards showed good form at centre for Hornby. Although slightly built, he takes a lot of pulling down. He has more pace than the average club back. On the left wing M. Courtney had his best game for some time and celebrated it by scoring a fine try, which also gave his team the lead.

For Christchurch, K. Hopping played well at centre and also scored nis side's only try. A versatile player he rarely fails to play a good game. Both of the wrings, B. Wilson and G. Pitcher, had good runs, and Hornby's cover defence had to work overtime on occasions to prevent tries. In the forwards none went better than R. Booth and R. Franklin. Scorers for Hornby were D. Neiman and M. Courtney. One try was converted by P. Tongue, who also kicked a penalty goal. K. Hopping scored fdr Christchurch, and K. Grut converted. The referee was Mr C. Day. SYDENHAM v. MARIST Sydenham was too good for Maris I in all departments of the game at the Show Grounds on Saturday, and won easily by 47 points to 5. Sydenham played solid football throughout, and Marist spent most of the game on defence. Occasionally there was a Marist break, but the team produced little constructive play and attacks died out quickly. Marist had an advantage in the scrums, frequently hooking the ball cleanly to the waiting backline. However, the backs failed to make full use of it, and Sydenham usually broke through or robbed them of the ball. The Sydenham backline played as a unit and each movement was carried to its limit. The Canterbury representative fullback, G. Williams, who played on the wing for Sydenham, had a good day. He scored a good try and kicked seven conversions. Sydenham’s points were well shared among the backs but Marist’s only try came from their hooker, M. Bond, who played a solid forward game. For Sydenham tries were scored by R. Turton (2), D. Stephens (2), B Barron (2), M. Burt, A. Miller, H. Turton, G. Thornley, and G. Williams. Williams kicked seven conversions. For Marist M. Bond scored a try and kicked a penalty goal. The referee was Mr J. Guy.

LOWER GRADES

Junior.—Addington 68, Linwood 4. Third Grade.—Kaiapoi 15, Shirley 14; Sydenham 20. Linwood 8. Under 18 Years.—Addington 15, Linwood 9. Senior Schoolboys.—Dallington 12, Addington 3 Under 14 Years.—Pauanui 16, Dallington 9; Hornby 3. Riccarton 3. Under sst 101b.—Riccarton 12, Papanui 6.