Vivian Cup Games; Win For Papanui

Press, Volume C, Issue 29555, 3 July 1961, Page 15

Vivian Cup Games; Win For Papanui

The worst ground conditions tor several seasons were experienced during the opening games of the Canterbury Rugby League’s Vivian Cup competition on Saturday. However, there was some excellent football with teams endeavouring to keep the ball moving. The excellent handling of very heavy and slippery balls was a big feature of all the games. A surprise was the defeat of the championship winners, Linwood, by Sydenham. Papanui 6, Hornby 3 Sydenham 10, Linwood 6 Marist 12, Christchurch 3 Vivian Cup points are.— Papanui 2, Sydenham 2, Marist 2, Hornby 0, Linwood 0, Christchurch 0. PAPANUI V. HORNBY Papanui and Hornby had a very close and always interesting tussle in the main game at the Show Ground*. In spite of the poor condition* play was always open. Many passes were dropped mainly through players losing a foothold on the slippery turf, but taken all through, the handling was excellent Papanui owed its win to the ability of its faster backline. The whole line performed well and did not appear unduly worried by the conditions. But the backs had to contend with fine cover defence by Hornby which made tries very difficult. The tussle between the two packs was always even, with the honours going to Hornby through its fine covering and driving through with the ball at foot. The Papanui forwards were looser and had more speed in the open. Hornby's backs made more mistakes than Papanui’*. They found it hard to get moving against a close defence. K. Roberts, behind the Papanui scrum, made a vast difference to the side. His clean handling and excellent passing gave the rest of the line the valuable extra yard or two In which to get their stride. In the open, he was always prominent and gained valuable ground with his hard running. Roberts received fine support from the rest of the line with J. Bond and G Sandford, fiveeighths. especially prominent. Excellent handling by both full-backs, R. Meaclem (Papanui) and D. Neiman, had much to do with the low scoring. Hornby's back-line was always determined but on the day it lacked sneed and combination. D. Robinson, R. Bray and A. Woodham were the best, especially with their tackling. In the Hornby pack, D. Condiek, R. Woodgate, P. Rutherford and D. Moore revelled in the tight and were always up with the play. I. Drayton made some telling breaks In the open. G. Neiman. G. Bond and K Pearce were the most prominent Papanui forwards. Neiman, with hi* good handling and hard running caused the opposition a lot of bother. For Papanui, tries were scored by K Roberts end G. Bond. D. Condlck scored Hornby's try. Mr P. Yarley was the referee MARIST V. CHRISTCHURCH Although Marist and Christchurch had first use of the wet ground on the Show Grounds Oval, in the curtain-raiser, condition* soon became hopeless for good football and players were coated tn mud and almost unrecognisable half-way through the first half. Marist handled the conditions better and won by 12 points to 3. Although it was a day for kick-and-follow tarties, both teams attempted to keep the game open but the very slippery ball soon became most elusive and the game, as a spectacle, suffered. Marist had greater success In handling and scored two good tries under the posts M. Mob: had the best goal-kicking record of the day as he converted both. Marist scored a try in the first half but in this period Christchurch had almost as much of the play as it forced Marist back to the goal-line on at least three occasions. Christchurch was unlucky not to get at lea»t one try. However, In the second spell, Marist apart from scoring seven more points to three by Christchurch, enjoyed a distinct territorial advantage. A feature of the game was the exceptionally fine handling by both full-backs. S. Radford (Christchurch' and B Fills. On the wing, M. O’Neill made several good runs for Marist and was unlucky not to score twice J Walsh and Pieter Smith

had a good understanding to the five-eighth* and received good service from the halfback, Pat Smith. While the forwards were still distinguishable those who went well were B. Taylor, M. Mohi. and J. Jones. Mohi made many fine runs and his handling was very good. For Christchurch, H. Turton made several strong runs from the five-eighths position, but there was not the same backing up as in the Marist team to gain an advantage. Of the forwards, R. Franklin and T. Parker played soundly. Tries were scored for Marist by J. Walsh and J. Jones. Both were converted by M. Mohl who also kicked a penalty. M. Hickey scored for Christchurch. Mr w. Gray was the referee. SYDENHAM v. LINWOOD Sydenham, which experienced a lean time during the championship games through lack of pace in the forward*, came back into its own on a heavy ground on Saturday to beat the championship winner, Linwood. by 10 points to #. The heavy state of the ground was against the speedy Linwood side. It brought the team down to the pace of the Sydenham pack which paved the way for that side's excellent win. Sydenham found conditions to its liking and more than held its own against the Linwood forwards. Sydenham led at half-time by 10 points to nil but in the second half it was busy keeping Linwood out. Both sides scored two tries but a conversion and penalty goal turned the table* in Sydenham’s favour. Of the Sydenham forwards, R. Lewis, T. Bisman, and D. Kerr played their best games of the season and were new far from the ball. In the backline. which found the greasy baU difficult to handle, K. Harding and C. Preece were outstanding, as was the full-back, B. Everest. L. Blanchard, B. Readman, John Flanagan and T. Carlyle were the pick of Linwood's forwards with W. Godfrey, whose strong tackling was a feature of the game, and P. Lennon most prominent in the backline. For Sydenham, B, Barron and C. Preece scored trie*. R. Lewis converted one and R. Wakefield kicked a penalty goal. P Lennon and P. Manderson scored unconverted tries for Linwood. Mr D. C. Wilson was referee. Lower Grades Senior Reserve—Linwood 12. Sydenham 0; Addington beat Marist by default; Riccarton 15. Halswell 14; Papanui 20. Hornby Third Grade.—Hornby 12, Sydenham 0; Papanui 16, Addington Under 18.—Addington 15, Hornby 9; Shirley 19, Papanui 2; Linwood beat Riccarton by default. Under 16.—Riccarton 25, DalIlngton 3; Addington 16. Linwood 0; Christchurch beat Papanui by default. Under 14.—Papanui 25. Linwood 0; Shirley 11. Riccarton 8. Under 13—Shamrock A 25. Shamrock B 0. Under 12.—Sydenham 25. Shirley 7; Riccarton 9, Christchurch 0; Papanui B 12. Linwood 0. Under 11.—Addington 25. Linwood 3; Papanui A 6. Hornby 3: Linwood A 25. Riccarton 0: Shirley 15. Papanui B 0. Under 10.—Papanui A 3, Papanui B 0; Linwood A 12, Sydenham 0; Shirley A 13, Shirley B 0; Christchurch 6. Kaiapol 0; Addington 6. Linwood B 0. Under Nine —Papanui B 12. Marist A 0: Shirley A 12, Linwood 0; Papanui A 13. Kaiapol 3; Marist B 3. Shirley B 0: Addington 15. Halswell 7. Under Eight—Linwood 12, Addington 2: Papanui B 12, Shirley A 0; Papanui A 12. Addington B 0; Kaiapol 3. Shirley Auckland Squad Chosen (N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 2. The Auckland Rugby League selectors have announced a squad to practise for Auckland's match against Australia at Carisw Park on July 10. The squad is; Back*.—G. Phillips, N. Denton, T. Hadfield. R. Bailey. C. Reidy, G- Turner, W. Sorenen, R. Cooke, K. McCracken, P. Schultz, W. Snowden. Forwards.—B. Cartles, L Otlit D. Hammond. R. Ackland, K. Bell T. Reid. L Patterson, M. Emery, and T. Johnson.

Special Trial Teams (N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 2. Players have bean named for a special trial match cafied bv toe New Zeatond Rugby League wleotora, Messrs C. H. Siddle. W. Tetford, and T. F. McKenzie, to be pteyed as a curtain raiser at Cartaw Park before toe second League test between Australia and New Zreland next Saturday. The selectors are seeking players frcyn toe triad tor the tour of England and France later titi* yere. The M-mam New Zealand touring teem w« be anounced next Saturday night. The Team* In the following teams for the trial, all player* *re from Auckland unices otherwise stated:— Possible*—Bacia: J. Fagan. B. Mclnerney, R. Haddon. G. Briley. P- HMMto (WUkwto). N. White, G Kenoeriv (West Coeat). P. Schultz. Forwards: L OHif, S. Ycte*, J. Ptaihl. J Riddell. T. Rrid. J. Constable J Matthew*. ProbaWie*.—Beck*: W. Harrison (WefUhgtim). A. Amer (Ceniteributy), IL Briley. G Smith (West J. Ford K. McCiwken, & Elwood. W Snowden. Frrwririti: B. Castle*. B. Lee A. Careen, R. Duffy, S Edwurtta (Bae of Plenty). J. MeConneH, N. Tiaer (Weri Coast). O. Kennedv To Join Test Sound G. Kennedy, th* Wrist Const five-eighths, will Join the New Zealand test training smrad In AueWted todstY. He will replace R. Griffith*, the Went Coast three-cmarter. who has been dropped from the reserve*.