RUGBY LEAGUE Linwood Beaten By Christchurch

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29799, 16 April 1962, Page 16

RUGBY LEAGUE Linwood Beaten By Christchurch

The 1962 Rugby League season began with a surprise when Linwood, last year’s champion, was beaten by the bottom team, Christchurch, in the curtain-raiser at the Addington Show Grounds on Saturday. Christchurch had a popular and deserved win by 14 points to 10.

Papanui, which on preseason reckoning seemed to have one of the most formidable sides in the competition, beat Marist by 16 points to 10 in the main game of the day. Marist, which finished below Papanui last year, was in command until the final 10 minutes when Papanui scored nine points. In the third game at Hornby Domain the local team had an easy win over Sydenham by 37 pointe to 8. Play in the two games at the Show Grounds never rose to great heights and there was much early-season untidiness close to the scrum and from play-the-ball movements. Results were:

Papanui 16, Marist 16 Christchurch 14, Linwood 10 Hornby 37, Sydenham 8 PAPANUI V. MARIST Although Papanui won this match, Marist took most of the honours. With one forward short, after M. Mohi retired with an injury early in the second half. Marist did exceedingly well and, indeed, with 10 minutes remaining led by three points. However. Marist’s chance to cause the second upset of the day vanished completely In the dying stages when E. Tavendale, who has few claims to being a goal-kicker, was successful with two penalties. Then to add salt to the wound, he scored a try himself under the bar.

The presence of the Kiwi fiveeighths, J. A. Bond, was enough to create interest for the crowd and when his opposite. P. V. Smith, slipped past him in the first minutes of the match there was a murmur of surprise. Try as he might. Bond was kept in check throughout by Smith’s untiring efforts. A. N. Amer received limited opportunities, but always looked menacing. With the exception of the hooking of G. Blackler, the Marist forwards lost little in comparison with the Papanui pack. B. Kennedy found his finest form and scored his try easily. Mohi was his usual energetic seif and P. Hughey gave of his best. Tavendale was a very good forward for Papanui and G. Bond made some telling thrusts. The Papanui inside backs were rather suspect and there were times when the centres lapsed badly on defence. The Marist half-back. R. Irvine, a newcomer to the code, looked full of promise and J. Walshe was as reliable as ever, on attack and defence. For Papanui R. Carey and Tavendale scored tries and Tavendale converted two and kicked three penalties. Walshe and Kennedy scored tries for Marist and B. Ellis converted one and kicked a penalty. Mr P. Yaxley was the referee.

HORNBY v. SYDENHAM In a match which at no time reached great heights Hornby had a convincing and deserved win over Sydenham. The strong running Hornby backs scored most of the side's points and it was in the backs that Sydenham was outplayed. Haif-way through the second half, Sydenham seemed to give up hope and it looked as if Hornby’s score was going to be very high. However, the side rallied and in the last 10 minutes Hornby was mostly on defence. Both sides could have scored several times if the ball had been passed to an unmarked man. The tackling of both teams was good although Sydenham failed occasionally at crucial stages. Players let go of the ball when tackled and also, allowed it to be taken from them.

The best of Hornby’s backs was R. Bray. His acceleration through a gap was outstanding. J. Bray was also very capable although Inclined to crowd his outside men. G. Geddes fully deserved the three tries he scored. His speed made him a constant danger to Sydenham. K. Harding was a capable full-back for Sydenham although his tackling was surprisingly weak. B. Everest made the most of any opportunities afforded him, and F. Clarke threw out good passes from the base of the scrum. M. Cooke was the best forward on the ground. He was never far from the ball and his try gave the impression that it was a man playing against boys. R. Woodgate and D. Moore were hard tollers among the Hornby forwards. R. Mcßeth and T. Bisman were the pick of the Sydenham scrum.

Tries for Hornby were scored by Geddes (3), A. Williams (2), Bray, P. Skerton, Cooke, and R. Woodgate. I. Drayton converted five tries. T. Tavendale and B. T. Barron scored for Sydenham. R. Wakefield converted one try. Mr D. C. Wilson was the referee.

LINWOOD v. CHRISTCHURCH A football crowd likes to support an underdog and there was a special cheer for the Christchurch players as they left the field after beating Linwood in a major upset. There was no suggestions that Christchurch's win was a fluke, but iti s hard to believe that Linwood could play so poorly with the talent available. There was never a shirker on defence in the Christchurch team. Linwood was often at sixes and sevens and there was little eo-ordintaion from play-the-ball. the only thrust coming from R. Piounsford and A. Smith when he elected to come into the backline. . Christchurch was ably led by R. H. Turton whose experience stood him in good stead. Playing in the back of the scrum, Turton was a splendid rover and often tackled two and sometimes three players in succession. He received fine support from the rest of the pack. R. Franklin won the scrums comfortably. G. Clarke, playing half-back in senior football for the first time, made an excellent impression. He was clean in his movements, ran well from the base of the scrum and scored two good tries. D. Walker was unflinching at full-back and

played soundly and well. For Christchurch. Clark (8), M. Hickey. S. Radford scored tries and L Geange converted one. G. J. Ambercrotnbie and John Flanagan scored twice for Linwood and A. Smith converted one and kicked a penalty. Mr K. Henry was the referee.