PAPANUI HAS 4-POINT LEAD OVER HORNBY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28939, 6 July 1959, Page 15

PAPANUI HAS 4-POINT LEAD OVER HORNBY

By its -win over the much-, fancied Linwood side. Papanui now has a clear lead of four | points in the Canterbury Rugby League’s championship and appears certain to win. The Vivian Cup series is much more open. Hornby is in the lead and is the only unbeaten team. Results were: Papanui 26,’Linwood A ChrteUhurc 13, Sydenham 7. Hornby 25, Addington 16. Marist 9, DalUngton M. Championship Points.— Papanui 20, Hornby 16, Linwood 14, Sydenbt.n 14, Christchurch 12, Marist 5. Addington 4, Dallington 3. Vivian Cap.—Hornby 8, Papanui 6, Sydenham 6, Linwood 4. Christchurch 4, Marist 2, Dallington 2, Addington 0. PAPANUI V. UNWOOD Papanui produced much of its early-seaaon form in its convincing win over Linwood to the main game at the Show Grounds. For the first 30 minutes, Linwood easily matched Papanui and appeared to have every chance of winning. Papanui later combined well and settled down to a good allround display. A fault in Papanui’* display was its inability to win the ball from the scrums. The backline was forced to adopt a shallow formation and rely a lot on its opponents’ mistakes. By moving up ! quickly on the back* Papanui forced Linwood into many errors and were quick to turn defence into attack. The Linwood backs tried to break through with the ball when a short kick ahead might have brought results. The Papanui side gave a muchimproveo Display and played as a team. Papanui’* efforts to open the game were in contrast to the efforts of th* Linwood forwards who played mainly as individuals, with too much Linwood backs received a big share of the ball but lost many chances through the slowness of their first five-eighths, P. Manderson. Hi* ‘attempts to beat the defence were futile and his passing ladced speed. When the ball reached B Tewnion or P. White they invariably found their markers Striving. Both gave good displays. . The sound tackling and clean handling of Smith, the Linwood full-back, kept Papanui in check on numerous occasions. .The whole Papanui back-line gave a polished performance and could not be faulted. The inside combination of R, Clarke, W. Jone* and J. Bond, had a toe understanding and gave the line a good start. K._ Harding and K. Gavin received ample opportunities to use their speed anater made many breaks. Gavin, especially impressed, and one led S 5 C * ir ltb r hi ThtStal U * rMfe fo» John Flanagan. T. Crowley and M. C Vpf l Jone« (2), H. Gavin (2), K. Harding and J. Rossiter scored tries for Papanui. G. Bond converted two tries and kicked two penalty goals. Linwood’s points came from two penalty goals by A Smith The referee was Mr D. Wilson.

CHRISTCHURCH v. SYDENHAM The unpredictable Christchurch side produced one of Its better displays to beat Sydenham by 13 points Sydenham played one short for most of the game when a forward was sent to the sideline by the referee. The tackling and passing of the Christchurch backs showed a marked improvement. ' Sydenham took a while to settle down, and it was not until well into the second spell that it began to show its true form. By then Christchurch had a good lead and its stiff defence kept out many promising Sydenham movements. A greatly-improved display by the Christchurch first five-eighths, L McNaughton, and the hard running of the centre, B. McDonald, {[ave the Christchurch back-line a ot of thrust. They were the best of a line which showed better form than usual. . . „ M. Buitt. at half-back, R. Turton and D. Stevens were the most prominent Sydenham backs, with J. Muirheaa, B Barron. F. Lewis and D. Ken giving good displays in the pack. The Christchurch forwards played with a lot of life and combined much better than usual, R. Booth. R. Austin, R. Franklin, and T. Smith were always up with the play and gave solid displays.

For Christchurch, R. Booth, L. 'French, and B McDonald scored .tries. K. Grut converted two tries.

| F. Lewis scored a try tor Sydenham, and G Williams kicked two penalty goals. The reteree was Mr R. Broome. ADDINGTON ». HORNBY

After establishing a lead of 10 points to 3 over Hornby at halttime, Addington was unable to withstand the pace ox Hornby's attack in the second naif. The final score was 25 points to IB in Hornby’s favour Addingtoirs form was good in the first han when it was able to put all its chances to good account, but Hornby could hardly do a thing right. During this period Addington scored two tries, the result of snapping up a loose baU and using speed and initiative. However, after half-time a change came over the game as Hornby's efforts were rewarded. Within a short period tne side scored two very good tries, and from then the outcome of the game was clear. Hornby’s backs and forwards then demonstrated their superiority with several clever combmed efforts, with which Addington was unable to cope. For Hornby the more experienced men—C. Courtney, G. Nieman and P. Tongue—showed up in the backs with fast runs Courtney showed his best form for some time and his try ripped the Addington defence wide open. In the forwards tne attack centred round J. Withers, F. Tinning, D. Moore and R. Wooogate. They all ran strongly and were always ready to link up with the backs. Good individual games were Clayed in the backs for Addington y T. Tavendale and S. Miller. Tavendale scored a good try tn the first half when he ran almost half the length of the field after finding a pap in the Hornby defence In the forwards J. Stone showed up as an alert player. For Hornby tries were scored by F. Tinning i3i O. Moore. G. Neiman. P. Tongue and C. Courtney One was converted by E. McNicholl. who als< kicked a penalty goal. Foi Addington 3. Stove, T. Tavendale. D Unwin and 3. Raxworthy scored tries D. Miller converted one and kicked a penaltv goal. The referee was Mr J. Guy.

DALLINGTON v. MARIST By boating DaUington by 9 points to 0 on Show Grounds No. 2 Marist lifted itself from tne bottom of the championship ladder. It is in third to last position The game did not produce the same Quality of football as when the two teams drew in the first round. On Saturday neither side was able to reveal any concerted efforts and the game was a poor speetaele. Marist was able to produce onlv an occasional glimpse of Marist had the advantage in the forwards where the two more experienced men, J Curtain and C. McNamara, were able to lead, the rest of the pack. B. Curtain was the pick of the rest of the forwards. There was linie back worit f rnm which the rearguard could be judged, but the more experienced D O’Flaherty stood out as the most constructive player. - Playing In the five-eighths, A. WratfraU showed up as Dalllngton’s best back, but his chances were few. In the forwards W. Poharama and W Stirling were seen in the tight work where most of the play was confined. For Marist P. O’Brien scored a try and B Curtain kicked three penalties The referee was Mr P. Yaxley.

LOWER GRADES

Junior Grade.—Riccarton 30. Shirley 16; Linwood 17, Hornby 8. Third Grade.— Papanui 29, Linwood

Under 17 Years.—DaUington 25 Papanui 13: Addington 11, Tournament team 6.

Senior Schoolboys.—Riccarton 11. Hornby 8; Papanui 11. DaUington 3; Shirley 23. Linwood 14: Kaiapoi 25, Christchurch 5.

Under 14 Years.—Papanui 16, Sydenham 10; Shirley 11, Marist 0: Riccarton 25, Kaiapoi 2. Under 13 Years.—Papanui 17. Christchurch 13; Hornby 21. Addington 0; Linwood 22, Sydenham 0. Under 11 Years.—Riccarton 12. Papanui B 0: Kaiapoi 15. Shirley B 3; Sydenham 6. Hornby 0: Shirley A 18. Addington 0. Under 10 Years.—Shirley 9. Kaiapoi 6; Addington 9. Marist 6; Sydenham A 10, Papanui B 3: Papanui A 12. Christchurch A 3. Under 9 Years.—Riccarton 3, Kaiapoi B 3; Shirley C 6, Papanui B 3: Shirley A 9, Kaiapoi A 0: Papanui A 18. Marist 0: Linwood 0, Addington 0.

Under 7 Years—Addington 12, Shirley B 0.