Important Club League Game

Press, Volume C, Issue 29524, 27 May 1961, Page 5

Important Club League Game

THE senior Rugby League competition is now entering its most interesting stage. Although Linwood is leading by two points from Hornby and has a five-point margin over Papanui, its position at the top of the competition ladder is by no means secure. In its last two games, Linwood, without some of its leading forwards, has been anything but impressive. The forwards have lacked the combination they displayed in earlier matches, but with the return of John Flanagan today and J. Fisher next week, they are expected to show a marked improvement. The inside back combination, of the provincial players R. Pounsford and W. Godfrey, was most disappointing last Saturday against Marist, and will need to improve on that game if Linwood is to do well against Papanui today. Linwood’s greatest weapon is its full-back, A. Smith. Not only is his general play very good, but his goal-kick-ing is of such a high standard that Papanui will be in constant danger if it is penalised anywhere in its own half. After losing its first three games, Papanui has a hard task, but since then it has shown a steady improvement and should run Linwood very close. An example of Papanui’s improvement was shown by its performances against

Sydenham. In their first meeting, Sydenham won by 13 points to four but in the return match last Saturday, Papanui had a convincing win by 35 points to eight. Linwood’s closest rival is Hornby. Until last Saturday these two shared the lead in the competition but Hornby, without six of its

regular players, was beaten by the young Christchurch side. Although P. Tounge is not likely to be available for most of the season, the other five players will be back in action today. In the first round matches. Linwood and Hornby drew, 11-all. On that occasion Hornby scored three tries to a try scored by A. Smith, who also kicked four goals, which emphasised Hornby's lack of a competent goalkicker. Of the 27 tries scored by Hornby this season, only eight have been converted. The team with the most disappointing record is Sydenham. The week after it had beaten Papanui it drew with the lowly-ranked Christchurch side and the following Saturday lost to Marist. Since then its form has been far from encouraging and although it appears to contain individual talent, Sydenham has failed to come up to expectations. The Christchurch team Is fielding one of the brightest sides in the competition and although it is not considered to be a serious challenger to the leading teams, it is capable of producing the un-

expected. It appears that Marist will remain bottom of the competition. Yet it is most encouraging to notice the improvement it has made: even when well beaten, it never gives up trying.