RUGBY University Beats Christchurch; Merivale Wins D.C.L. Shield

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29893, 6 August 1962, Page 12

RUGBY University Beats Christchurch; Merivale Wins D.C.L. Shield

University, which had already won the championship, kept its unbeaten record by defeating Christchurch, 27-16, in the final round of senior club Rugby on Saturday. University began shakily and at one stage was down iO-3; but it came through strongly in the second half for a convincing win.

Merivale won the D.C.L. Shield for the second successive year when it beat Sydenham, which had been equal on points. It was an even game, but Merivale had too much strength at the finish. Sydenham was second equal with Marist in the shield competition.

Belfast finished at the bottom of the ladder with 2 points.

The scores were: University 27, Christchurch 16. Shirley 9. Albion 9. New Brighton 6, Linwood 6. Merivale 15, Sydenham 11. Marist 21, Belfast 9. Old Boys 21, Suburbs 6. Points are as follows:

Second Half Rally University 27: D. C. Leary (2), R. C. Moreton. tries; Leary two penalty goals. two conversions; T. J. Morris two Held goals, a conversion. Christchurch IS: D. A. Arnold. W. Birtwistle. C. Devine, tries: G. Waterreus two conversions; Arnold a field goal. University's form in the first spell was too bad to be true and it seemed that the championship winner was to be well beaten. Christchurch led 10-3 after 20 minutes and University’s only score was from a fine dropped goal by the full-back. Morris. The Christchurch backs at that stage were in grand form, with R. M. Smith, at first five-eighths. making some formidable breaks for his outside backs.

On the other hand the University line was at sixes and sevens. Moreton. opposing Arnold at second five-eighths, was far too hesitant in going for the gap and his threequarters were invariably caught in possession when the ball was passed out. The University forwards were little better: there was none of that determined drive from the rucks and lineouts and the advantage was generally with the lighter Christchurch eight. Just on half-tim&, Morris evened things a little with his second dropped goal, again, a magnificent effort: but Christchurch led. 10-8. University was a different team after the interval. The forwards played with purpose and the backs, with more ball set the defence many problems University's tally of 21 points in this spell to Christchurch's six speaks for itself. Notwithstanding the formidable score against it Christchurch did many excellent things in the second half. The backs especially were often hard to handle, their reverse passing and sudden changes ol direction sometimes upsetting the University defence A feature of the game was the high scoring of Leary, at left wing for University. H;s two tries were spectacular efforts and his penalty kicks and conversions never looked as if they were going to miss. His 16 points gave him 129 for the club season. Mr L. Kirk was the referee. Linwood Lost Many Chances NEW BRIGHTON 6: R. Dalton try; G Stanley penalty goal LINWOOD 6: N Stokes and W Haase tries. Linwood won most possession and enjoyed the territorial advantage in this game at Jellicoe Park, but New Brighton by determined tackling and good spoiling play in the forwards deservedly earred a draw The Lmwood backs lost many chances through fumbling by the inside backs and inept play by the outsides The Brighton backline by contrast made better use of its limited ooportunities. and looked the more dangerous of the two lines on. the few occasions it had on attack W. F. McCormick, although handling well had an off-day at kicking He missed a simple penalty and was right off-target with two drop-kicks, one from a penalty His excursions in to the backline met with no success. Stokes scored a wonderful solo try. twice kicking over opponents herds to gather-in again in a 60-yard run down the touchline R Bowiek was competent at full-back for New Brighton. All the backs tackled hard and low. and G Stanley, half-back played a ven good game He beat the Linwood loose forwards time and again, nursed h:s forwards and used intelligence in sending his backs away. H C Burry covered well and stopped numerous Linwood drives from line-outs W. Smith harsssed the Linwood inside backs with telling success R Tabb. R Abel and A Holland. the hooker, were the best of the Linwood forwards, the others spoiling manv good moves by trying to beat the loosely-packed Brighton forwards on their own. ■ The referee was Mr L. S. Hunt. Shirley Unlucky In Drawing SHIRLEY 9: K. Bush. B Arthur. D Harvey tries ALBION 9: J. Adams a try; R James two penalty goals. Shirley monopolised possession at various stages of this game and was a little unlucky not to win. With players such as E. Veal. B Nunan and R Arthur combining in short passing rushes; with D Young taking a number of tight heads, •nd with W Fla veil (No. 8) zealously hunting: the Shirley forwards looked very good Indeed. It says something for the Albion eight that thev were able to battle Shirlev all the way The crucial factor was that 2 Richards had a oocr kicking dav for Sbirlev and R James for Albion, did not The Shir'ey bocks ran well but. aoart from a good feinting trv by D. Hirvey. could not pierce the defence One of the Srettiest otece- of play was a eautifully controlled 30 yard dribbling solo by B Nunan. which culminated in a try by

K. Bush. R Wilke made a positive link at first five-eighths.

Prominent for Albion was the loose forward. D. Warren, who made some vigorous mid-field runs and who showed fine positional play in linking up with his backs down the centre. J Adams. second five-eighths, made some twinkling runs which befuddled the opposition but. as with his fellow backs, was called on to defend more often than attack. A Harrison defended stoutly at full-back for Albion The referee was Mr A. R. Taylor. Shield Winner's Close Game MERIVALE IS: J. Ruston and B. Ramsay tries, L. Williams two penalty goals. A. Ellis a potted goal. SYDENHAM 11: R. Cotton a try, A. Howard two penalty goals and a conversion. Winner of the D.C.L. Shield last season, Merivale retained its trophy, but not easily. This match at Rugby Park was a final, for both had seven points, and their play, with this incentive. had an excitement perhaps lacking from the Harewood Trophy matches of the Merivale had the best of the eady part of the match, and led 9-5 at half-time, but when Sydenham got an 11-9 lead in the middle of the second hall its supporters were elated. That was snort-lived when Ellis’s fine potted goal came almost immediately. and Williams obtained the second penalty goal he had been try.ng for for so long. It was Merivale's ability to produce an extra effort when it was down for the first time 9-11 with much of the second half gone, that won the match It produced a thrilling finish because there was always the feeling it might let its lead slip. The match was full of movement, a great deal of it from Merivale in the fist half, when the forwards, with D. Bradley, a dribbler of great ability, B Loveridge, J. Grocott and J. Muir, gained much of the possession. The first five-eighths L. McCaughan. was one who made ft 11 use of it with some sparkling, elusive runs. A Ellis looked to be a wing with only one strategy, a short run down the sideline and a kick nside, but he changed this impression in the last quarter with his potted goal from moving inside and some other forcing attacks.

Sydenham was somewhat overshadowed in the first half, but it made the same look very even for the first part of the second half, when it gained more ball and the backs made more use of it. A. Cotton, a stalwart of Sydenham sides for some years, stil lhas great ability and was always a threat when he got the ball; he should have had it more The half. T. Sexton, •’nd the first five-eighths. A. Howard, nade a good combination, and Howard sco ed eight of Sydenham’s 11 points In the forwards B Silcock. B. Sutherland. and B Heald were the mainstays of a pack which imoroved Mr A. V. Langford was referee. Old Boys Have Easy Win OLD BOYS 21: S. K. Henderson two tries, three conversions and a penalty goal. P O’Malley a try. P J Morrisey a try. SUBURBS 6: D Gibbons a try. P Gerrard a penalty goal. Beaten in the corresponding match in the first round. Old Boys gave probably their best display of the whole competition when they best Suburbs by 21 ooints to 6 in a DC L Shield match at Rugby Park Old Bovs scored four tries to none The Old Boys forwards, lea by D J Graham, gave the backs a grand share of the ball and P O Malley at second fiveeighths. S K. Henderson and P J Morrisey three-quarters made excellent use of it. cutting through for swerving runs Scoring 15 points. Henderson showed ne is still a wonderful *sset to his club M. Miller, a voune forward in his first season away from school, and G Freebome were two of the most prominent forwards For Suburbs G Peterson and M Bradley stood out in a toiling pack and D Gibbons five-eT«hths was a threat in the back* with some strong hresks The team made manv mistakes of which Old Boys ‘ook foil advantage. At furback P Garrard got through a diffic’i’t dav with credit Mr F. B Campbell was referee. Convincing Win To Marist MARIST 21; P Ellis. E. Noonan. K Doyle and M Keenan tries. Doyle three conversions and a penalty goal. BELFAST 9: N. Radford a try and K Cassidy and G Burney held goals. A handy lead at half-time of 15-3 enabled Marist to score a convincing win over Belfast «• Sheldon Park Play in the first spell moved freely, but after the interval it became rathet sciaopy. The Marist full-back. K Doyle, had a tine match and scored 12 of his side's points He scored a splendid try in the first ,pe!l when he beat two Belfast detenders with ease.

Under 20-Team Chosen The Canterbury under-20 Rugby team to play Country on Saturday is:— R Pope (Suburbs); B. M Teen (St. Bede's). T. Marshall Merv.le). B McDonald (Linwood >; T. Mehrtens (8.H.5.). W Cottrell (Suburbs, captain): L. Davis (Suburbs): L. Mclntosh BH.S). D Spence (Meriva!e>. M Brownlee (Marist). K Peoples (Xavier). R Eastmond (Linwood). D Cowans iS.BH.Si. A. King (Sydenham A). W Blair (University A. viee-cs plain). Reserves —Backs: J Harnett (Marist). G. McClatchie (Boys' Hich Schoo!) Forwards: A Massey (Sydenham 81. J Dunstan (H.SOB ) Piavers not available please ring 31-461 Training will be held at Hagley Park No. 2 on Tuesday and Thursday at 5 p.m. —AdvL

HAREWOOD TROPHY p. W. L. D F A. Pts (Tniw. 16 16 — — 287 95 16 Chch. 16 10 4 2 232 153 11 N B 16 8 5 3 132 106 91 Shirt. 16 7 6 3 146 139 81 iMl. 16 6 7 3 138 153 71 Alb. 16 7 8 1 145 163 71 D.CX. SHIELD p W. L. D F A. Pts Mer. 16 8 8 —— 175 183 8 SUr. 16 7 9 —- 198 171 7 Syd. 16 7 9 — 129 201 7 OB 16 6 9 1 133 137 61 Sub*. 16 4 9 3 114 155 5} Bel. 16 1 13 2 110 298 2