RUGBY Half Point Separates Top Teams

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28963, 3 August 1959, Page 14

RUGBY Half Point Separates Top Teams

With only half a point separating the top four teams, the Canterbury Rugby Union’s senior championship promises a very close finish. University, which was half a point behind High School Old Boys after the thirteenth round, beat Old Boys on Saturday in the most drab club game of the season, and Christchurch and Linwood had convincing wins.

University has still to meet Christchurch and SunnysideSpreydon, Old Boys has still to play Linwood and Merivale and Linwood has two hard games against Old Boys and Christchurch. Marist made certain of winning the D.C.L. Shield with a win over Albion. The draw for next week is: Harewood Trophy: Christchurch v. Linwood, Merivale v. Old Boys, University v. Sunny-side-Spreydon. D.C.L. Shield: Albion v. Technical; Belfast v, Sydenham; New Brighton v. Marist. Results of Saturday's games were;— Hare wood Trophy University 11, H. 5.0.8. 6. Linwood 16, Merivale 9. Christchurch 23, Spreydon 16. D.C.L. Shield Marist 28, Albion 17. Belfast 16, New Brighton 3. Technical 13, Sydenham 9. The position of teams in the senior competition is as follows: Harewood Trophy

UNIVERSITY 11. M. R. Dunne, B. Smither and T. Moynihan, tries; B. M. J. Dineen a conversion. OLD BOYS 6. S. K. Henderson a field goal and a penalty goal.

There have been occasions this season when the senior club Rugby has fallen well below the standard expected of senior teams, but none of the teams have provided such a dreary 80 minutes’ football as the two top teams in the championship. Old Boys and University, on Lancaster Park Oval on Saturday. The most thrilling moment of the game was when the referee (Mr K. Noonan) blew his whistle for no-side. From the manner in which the game was played it appeared as if both sides took the field with the express intention of playing back to the forwards, and neithei side, apparently, was prepared to deviate from this course. The result was that when either side won the ball from the countless lineouts, it was kept buried in the rucks that followed; was kicked over the forwards’ heads on the blind side or was kicked into touch.

No spirit of adventure was permitted in this game. Both back lines, in attacking positions when the ball was being thrown in, quickly closed in upon each other as the forwards jumped for the ball and at times the crowd had the spectacle of the halfbacks taking the ball and having to run because there was no first five-eighths in position to take a pass. Isolated back movements there were, but they were stodgy efforts, doomed to failure by the close marking of the opposition. This was Rugby football at its very worst.

University won because its forwards were a more powerful unit in the tight and the loose where M. R. Dunne and B. R. Smither were always close to the ball. University also capitalised on some indecisive play by the Old Boys’ half-back, R. L. Young and the inept display of C. Mullany at full-back. Both will want to forget this game quickly. - Other University forwards who stood out in the tight play were K. S. Doig, before he retired injured. C. R. Hockley, R. Wells, J. N. Creighton and T. Moynihan. Of the Old Boys’ pack the pick were E. Hern and M. Hern, D. S. Richards and I. H. Plummer.

As there was scarcely any back play, no accurate assessment of the form of most of the backs could be gained. The only back who stood out was B. M. J Dineen, whose play at full-back was made much easier by the inaccurate tactical kicking of Young. H. L. Johnsen, for his cover defence was also notable. LINWOOD TOO STRONG LINWOOD 16. C. Ellis, M. Whiteside, G. McConchie tries, McConchie a penalty try; W. F. McCormick two conversions. MERIVALE 6. M. Mohi a field goal; T. Gallaghe- a penalty goal. Those who were at Lancaster Park early enough for the Lin-■wood-Merivale gan.e, saw some very bright and sound Rugby. Linwood was a little better than its 10 point winning margin would suggest and dictated play for most of the game. Domination began in the forwards where R. Tabb, in particular. repeatedly won possession in the lineouts. His ine jumping gave his side a much greater possession than enjoyed by Merivale and the back line at all times was used as an attacking unit. Its defence, and that of Merivale, was first class. Some of the best three-quarter play in the club championship to date was seen in this game. The Linwood inside backs, K. Savill and R. Havill whipped the ball on much of the time to Ellis whose bold approach to the attacking game gave his ' wings. S. Conaghan and G McConchie, some excellent runs. Ellis’s own try was a particularly fine piece o play. McConchie added to his reputation with some further strong and intelligent running. He was the recipient of the first penalty try this season when, after kicking into the in-goa. area he was blatantly and deliberately held by the jersey. The decision of the referee was an excellent one. Conaghan did not have so

many chances but he ran hard and persistently.

At half-back N. Main began with an impeccable service, and although this later fell a little short of his earlier play, it was still fast and accurate. W. F. McCormick gave a sound, although not faultless exhibition at full-back.

Merivale also attempted to use it backs as an attacking force, but the passing was too slow at times. R. Watson, at half-back, agam served R. Wilson well, but his game would improve if he did not concentrate so much on the dive-pass. The best Merivale back was J. Patrick, at centre and for a time at fullback. His determined running often took him through a swarm of defenders and his tackling was low and solid. P. Smith scored a good try through purposeful running and B. Young also made some good breaks. He has yet to learn how to side-step infield to beat tacklers. The outstanding Linwood forwards were Tabb, B. Mansfield and J. Havill. In the loose these three had a glorious time. In the tighter play, M. Whiteside and D. Shaw stood out. J. Jardine and J. Turner did a tremendous amount of good in the Merivale pack and M. Mohi and M. Drury were others who attracted attention. Mr V. C. Empson was referee. HIGH SCORING CHRISTCHURCH 23. G. Waterreus two tries, one conversion and three penalty goals, B. McPhail a try, and B. Watt a field goal. SUNNYSIDE-SPREYDON 16. E. Clarke a try, a cons ersion and two penalty goals, B. Kilworth a try and P. Jones a conversion.

Sunnyside-Spreydon held the formidable Christchurch team well until about halfway through the second half when the solid tackling which had been a feature of the game before that, failed. Taking advantage of this lapse, Christchurch put on 11 points in quick time and its score of 23 was out of reach.

In the first half Sunnyside led, 5-3 8-3 and 8-6. It was down, 8-9 at half-time and 11-12 in the middle of the second half. But then the Christchurch backs showed their superiority for a distinct period, although Sunnyside scored last.

For most of the first half the match was a dull one with some hard clean forward play, but little of note being done by the backs. The Christchurch backs were attempting to break through but could do little when confronted with decisive tackling. In the second

half the strong-running represetnative wing. R. M. Smith, changed places with N. Todd in the back line appearing as a first fiveeighrns. second five-eighths. or centre At times this looked a little untioy, but it seemed to bring penetration to the backline and results.

Twenty-eight of the 39 points scored in this match went to two players. The Christchurch full-back, G. Waterreus. had a grand day for 17 which included two tries. The first successful kick for Sunnyside was oy the full-back. P. Jones, but after ’hat the team relied on Clarke—E .Clarke. His kicking did nothing to dishonour the name ano he scored 11 points. Waterreus was one of the best of the Christchurch backs. Safe on defence, he judged his frequent entri?s to the backline to a nicety and he scored one of his tries when he took a reverse pass from the first rive-eighths. Watt, at great speed. Watt directed play with intelligence. K. Harmon made some spetdy runs and Smith was very hard to bring down. The line suffered at times from failings in the combination between the halfback, D Harding, and Watt. Harding was throwing its usual long passes, but they aid not always find their mark

In trie Christchurch forwards outstanding as usual was S. F Hill, unostentatious but supremely competent The manner in which he directed a pass from a ruck to Watt for Christchurch to score its last try was masterly. The loose forwards K. Orsnoum and G. Thompson, often a front-ranker, followed up consistently and ran strongly. Sunnyside was far from disgraced, but it was a bad period In which the tackling slipped. The backs were not able to do a great deal as a unit of attack, but there were some noteworthy individual efforts—from E. Tiplady, second fiveeighths, G. Hughes, centre, and B Kilworth. a wing. All were quick to take advantage of mistakes.

The forwards were in grand form and they maintained the high standard they have set this season Clarke was the best of them and B. Readman and P. Harris were not far behina. Clarke inspired his pack b.v his own example and his try was well deserved after Readman had made a fine break.

Mt R E. Empson was referee. WIN FOR MARIST MARIST 28. C. A. McDonald two tries. P J. Burns and T Taylor a try. L. Geange a try, two conversions, three penalty goals ALBION 17. E. Neave a try. N. Edgington four penalty goals, one conversion.

Loose forwards co-ordinating weh with a speedy back line gave Mai Ist a well-deserved win over Albion Two of Marist’s tries were scored by forwards Marist took the initiative from the siart w-hen. after about three minutes play the front row prop. P J Burns, took a pass from L. Greenlees and scored Albion’s first points came after about 25 minutes’ play when Edgington kicked a 40-yard penalty which bounced on the crossbar but went over Like Marist. its next points came in quick succession in two more penalties by Edgington. There was hardly a moment’s dull play in the first half, but the second halt occasionally lacked interest. There was a lot of line kicking by Edgington and his opposite, K. J. Brown. The majority of points were scor d in the first half with Marist 19 and Albion 12.

Albion oegan to show some of its previously hidden pace in the latter stages of the game Neave, from h>s wing position, took a pass from the half-back, N. Gray, almost on halt-way and ran half the length of the clear field to touch down between the posts. I Lawson, who has played hooker tor Albion on other occasions, played on the wring, but seldom received the ball. In Albion’s pack the most outstanding were K Kennelly and K Richardson. Burns and J. Le Lievre led the Marist pack Le Lievre. as hooker, eavs Marist plenty of. possession. TECHNICAL BEAT SYDENHAM TECHNICAL 13. D. Tavlor and B Nunan tries: B. Richards a penalty goal and two conversions. SYDENHAM 9. B. J. Williams two penalty goals, J. D. Clark a penalty goal.

Good tackling by Technical and a lack of finish to many of the Syaenham fnovements paved the way

for Technical’s win on the South ground at Lancaster Park. At half-time the scores were equal, the points for each side coming frpm penalty goals kicked by Richards and B. J. Williams. Soon after the resumption Williams gave Sydenham the lead for a short period, but some solid forward play took Technical into Sydenham territory where D. Young charged down M F. Whitta’s clearing kick. Nunan gathered the ball in and raced over to score. Richards converted. Taylor scored an opportunist try when he intercepted a pass on his own twenty-five and no one could catch him before he scored. Richards again converted. The final points of the game came from the third penalty goal scored by Sydenham. On this occasion J. D. Clark was the kicker. Mr L. A. Mahoney W’as referee. BELFAST WINS RUGGED GAME BELFAST 16. E. Brown, J. Drumm, M, Frost tries; E. Williams two conversions: R. Holt a field goal. NEW BRIGHTON 3. R. Boland a try. Belfast, which has shown some improvement during the last few matches threw’ the ball about to good effect in its game against New Brighton at Rawhiti Domain It scored three tries to New Brighton’s one, and all the tries were good efforts. For the most part, however, the game was very ragged. From a ruck near the Belfast line Barrow sent R Boland away to crash over in the corner Belfast began to combine quite well in th-, backs and forwards, and after several probing attacks on the right wing. J. Drumm scored Belfast went even further ahead when E Brown scored a try which E. Williams converted.

The ragged play of the first half was continued in the second for a long period before the next points of the match were scored Fro<t broke through about 15 vards from the New Brighton line and scored well out. Williams converted Rieh* On »< ! Holt kic ked a fipld goal Mr F. Goodman was referee.

P. W.L. D. F. A. Pts Univ. .. 14 3 2 4 130 87 10 Chch. .. 14 9 4 1 228 158 91 Old Boys .. 14 9 4 1 188 128 91 Linwood .. 14 8 3 3 146 119 91 fe/Sprey .. 14 6 5 3 135 123 71 Merivale .. 14 7 6 1 130 109 71 D.C.L. Shield Marist .. 14 9 4 1 188 121 91 Technical .. 14 7 7 — 139 127 7 Syden. .. 14 5 9 — 111 147 5 Belfast .. 14 3 11 — 131 263 3 Albion .. 14 3 11 — 123 184 3 N. Brigh. .. 14 2 10 2 77 160 3 DREARY FOOTBALL