RUGBY No Surprises In Fourth Qualifying Round

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30129, 13 May 1963, Page 18

RUGBY No Surprises In Fourth Qualifying Round

The fourth qualifying round in the Canterbury Rugby Union’s senior championship on Saturday yielded no surprise result, although in two instances the margin of victories for top teams was startlingly small. University maintained its long run of successes when it recovered late against Albion, and Linwood accounted for Suburbs only by six points to three.

At Lancaster Park Oval, Old Boys won for the fourth time, and in beating Merivale by a comfortable margin Old Boys gave further evidence of improvement. The match was swift of movement, and the Rugby at times reached considerable heights in proficiency and interest. \

Results were:— New Brighton 30, Sydenham 9 Linwood 6. Suburbs 3 Christchurch 16, Shirley 6 (.'Diversity 16, Albion 11 Marist 25, Belfast 6 Old Boys 19, Merivale 6. Points in the qualifying stage are: University 4, Old Boys 4, New Brighton 3, Christchurch 3, Linwood 3., Merivale 2, Marist 2, Shirley: 1. Albion 1, Sydenham 1. Sub- | urbs 0, Belfast 0. Old Boys More Accomplished OLD BOYS 19: D. Dailey, J Irving. A. G. Steel, tries: S. K. Henderson two conversions, two penalty goals MERIVALE 6: J. Grocott try. J. Ruston, penalty goal. A growing confidence in its own abilities was shown by the Old Boys team against Merivale. Half-way through the second spell Merival made • tremendous and quite admirable effort to retrieve the situation, but on the day Old Boys was a faster and more accomplished team. Old Boys made mistakes, and so did Merivale. but the willingness of both sides to run with the ball made it an attractive game. There were some splendid movements, and Old Boys, in particular. showed what intensive backing-up, and handling among backs and forwards. could achieve. Merivale scored first, and soon after the second half began was only two points behind. In the second spell Old Boys’ only try was scored four minutes from time, with the result almost inevitable, and Merivale came through the game with considerable credit. In the second spell, the Merivale backs began to run successfully more often than before, and defeat by 13 points reflected rather unfairly on Merivale's effort. D. Johnson, one of the youngest members of the Old Bovs team, had a good day at first five-eighths, making some strong runs and handling well S. K. Henderson played particularly well, backing up eagerly, running strongly and defending capably. His goalkicking was again a vital factor. J. Irving made a couple of fine breaks, and A. G. Steel, in tug first competition match this season, was extremely fast on the left wing and determined. He sadly lacks a leftfoot kick, but he made one particularly spectacular run of about 60 yards. The last try came after Irving had thrust past his man. Steel had made another determined bid for the corner, Henderson had handled and sent inside again to Irving. who went over. The Qtd Boys team was at its best when the forwards were there too. D. Dailey again caught the eye with his dash on attack, his eye for an opening, his safe handling and his capable defence. M. Miller, as well as dominating the line-outs, is clearly a fastImproving lock, and D. Hill covered an astonishing amount of ground. B. Archer was one ot the best of a Merivale pack which played with great heart and stamina. B. Loveridge was as solid as ever, and so was J W. Grocott. The half-back. P Brown, disclosed a peculiar habit, in the first quarter, of disappearing Into his own side of the ruck when in difficulties. and this elusiveness was later apparent in the wider and more open spaces. L. McCaughan, a first five-eighths with a deceptive run. was usually content to send the ball on. and the Merivale backs lacked Old Boys’ thrust, although B. Ramsay showed up with his speed quite often The referee was Mr A. R Tavlor.

University Tested By Albion UNIVERSITY IS: W. S. Wakehn. Q. T. Tapsell. B. H. Smither and 4. D. Pask tries; D C. Ix»r> two conversions. ALBION 11: P. Clarke and D Warren tries; A. C. Harrison a penalty and conversion. Leading by 11 points to i’ against University early tn the second half. Albion had the support of a packed stand a* Rugby Park But. as in other matches this season. University had just that little extra polish and won a very close encounter by five points. The match was one of the brightest club games this season Both teams placed their faith tn the attacking game and if there were many imperfections in passing and hand.me during the match, they mostly passed unnoticed by the spectators who revelled in the attempts of both teams to run and pass and tne torrid forward melees. For most of the match it was cut and thrust. In the first few minutes. University looked a superb team as its pack moved forward aggressively and the backs spearheaded by A. F Orme, ran and passed with zest and skill. But Albion refused to be overawed Its backs and tn particular. R Phelan tackled determinedly and the forwards, playing a magnificent game, matched university in the loose. but could never win the hattie for possession tn the tight A penalty by A Har<"son and a good try by P. Clarke gave Albion a six pom* lead but tt was reduced quickly by half-time when Wakelin and Tapsell scored for University Shortly after half-time. Albion gained a five point lead when Harrison converted a tty by D Warren But the lead hard won bv Albion was «o<wwhittled down as first B. R Smither scored after Orme had flitted through the Albion dedence and then after a sideline rack the whole University back-line. Including D C Leary handled in jtaeesto passing rush for P D Pask to score the wtnntne ootn’s University had a slight edge m the forwards because >1 ea*n»n pn»-sslon When W was eeedec vitally and drove more eoheeivelv Roth naek* nlaved wttti great heart For Albion. Warren was tn everything and M Grant and M Robinson played well

The outstanding forward of the day was T. H. Moynihan. His covering was superb and his leadership meant much to University in its anxious moments. The back-lines were for the most part evenly matched. Phelan and Adams ran and tackled well for Albion and Hutchison and Vivian had good games for University. But it i was Orme who took the eye on j the day. His speed and quicksilver side-stepping placed him well above the other backs. The referee was Mr L. S ; Kirk. Forwards Evenly Matched CHRISTCHURCH 16: D. Ellison. W. Birtwistle. R. Morris, tries; G. Waterreus penalty goal and two conversions. SHIRLEY 6: B. Richards, two penalty goals. Christchurch, with plenty ot ball from the line-outs, held the initiative for most of the early match at Lancaster Park Oval, and the side produced some brilliant movements, but far more often lost chances through bad errors in judgment or in the mechanics of the game. In the forwards, the teams were evenly matched, but the Christchurch backs looked far more formidable than their opponents. The game had many bright moments, but in the second half, particularly, some periods of dull, scrambling play The calm efficiency of G Waterreus at full-back meant much to Christchurch, and so did the lively display of D Arnold, at first five-eighths in the absence of B. A. Watt. Arnold was full of business, and two sharp thrusts he made led to tries. Outside him R. Morris also had a good game, deceiving the defence on several occasions with his trickiness D. Ellison, at number eight in his last game for the club demonstrated good sense, on attack and defence. G. Scrimshaw did well in the line-outs and in the tight play N. Kearns was in fine form Shirley's solid pack did its best to take charge, and at times threatened to succeed. B Nunan was prominent in the first spell W. Flavell brought off some effective tackling, and M. Taylor was always where the going was hardest. Christchurch did not win a decisive lead until 12 minutes from the end. and there were occasions when Shirley was decidedly unlucky not to score. The referee was Mr H. P Kearney. Stanley Scores 27 Points NEW BRIGHTON 30: G Stanley Hi and R. Dalton tries. Stanley 3 conversions and 3 penalties. SYDENHAM 9: J P. de Malmanche a try. A. J. Howard two penalty goals. A far more determined and mature New Brighton side completely overwhelmed the young Sydenham team, 30-9. in a bright match at Jellicoe Park before a crowd of 500. Suffering from the loss of its halfback M. F. Whitta. and its promising hooker. C. G King who has a shoulder injury. Sydenham was never in the running. However, although the New Brighton team was a far better unit, it was the half-back G. Stanley, who set the seal on Sydenham's downfall. Had it not been for his efforts the' scoring rate would undoubtedly have been considerably slower. Stanley played the game ot his life, scoring a well-earned 27 points. He showed great anticipation and was quick to sum up an awkward situation and turn it to his advantage. His service from the scrum was excellent. his kicking was accurate from as far as 35 yards out. and his handling was good. In fact, he hardlv put a foot wrong. The game began fairly slowly, with each side scoring a penalty, but gradually increased in tempo and in the middle stages some reallv bright football was displayed. Towards the end of the second half, play deteriorated and tempers became frayed. With eight minutes to go. the referee stopped the game and warned both teams to "keep their fists out of it" New Brighton was superior tn both forward and back play right from the start, and by half-time had established a 21-6 lead without much trouble. The New Brighton players led by the loose forwards. I. Penrose. EL Leask and W. Smith, chased the ball hard overshadowing their opposite numbers. A. C. Jolley, B. G. Silcock and W Harris. R. D. Woodham (Sydenham) and Leask were prominent in line-out play. Stanley C Smith (first fiveeighths) and R. Dalton combined well in the backs for New Brighton. Dalton showed considerable penetration, scoring the first try of the match after a beautiful run on the blind side, while Smith proved a useful link until he injured a shoulder and was replaced by G Muir The Sydenham wing. J P de Malmanche. showed potential, scoring his side’s only try tn the last minute of the game A D Coleman, the Sydenham second five-eighths, was very solid but lacked speed off the mark. The referee was Mr A. A Bills.

Uninspiring Game LINWOOD 6: A. G Mansfield. K Gimblett tries. SUBURBS 3: L. Cottrell, try. This was not the Linwood side that had won two of its first three games convincingly; the side whose game with University had provided such a fine spectacle at the oval only two Saturdays before. It was a team full of energy, certainly—but it was energy so misapplied as to make Linwood’s first appearance on Denton Park oval on occasion best forgotten. The team spent all but about three minutes of the first half tn Suburbs' territory; it won almost al] the ball in the lineouts and the captain. A Holland dominated the scrums A stiff breeze blowing downfield strengthened the team’s arm; tt blunted the Suburbs’ kicking «o effectively that R Tabb. Linwood’s relief full-back, was not called on once before half-time For the side to have such advantages and vet lead by a mere three to nil at the end of the first half was reprehensible. The Suburbs forwards

were anything but a well-knit combination and on defence too much was left to the team's plucky half-back, L. Davis. Suburbs took heart from the situation to hold Linwood to a try each in a second half which was notable only for the number of players requiring medical attention and the number of times possession was thrown away through aimless kicking. The best that could be salvaged from an uninspiring game was the sight of A. G. Mansfield, the Linwood flanker, applying himself as capably and as intelligently as ever and the neat efficiency of the rival halfbacks. Davis and K. Fraser. Mr D. Last was the referee. Poor Tackling In Dreary Match MARIST 23: T. Curtis. B. Coulter. D. Bell, O. Stopforth, J. Harnett tries. B. Connelly two penalties and a conversion. BELFAST: G. Wells a try. C. Cameron two penalties. Marist won the match easily but there could have been little satisfaction except in the margin of victory. The match was a scrambly affair, lightened only now and then by an odd individual effort. The passing and handling of both teams were never above average and the tackling, particularly that of the Belfast team, was atrocious. Marist won because as individuals its players were far superior to the Belfast players It gained a feast of possession but even then the tries it scored came not from any team effort but from weak defence by Belfast. However, the best try of the match came from Belfast—its second in four games—a brilliant break by G. Bunney and enthusiastic backing up by G. Wells provided the best moment of the match. In the Marist team, J. Burns, P. Angland and O. Stopforth toiled honestly in the pack and B. Coulter was a sound halfback. For Belfast, Wells was outstanding in the forwards. The referee was Mr C. J Taylor.

Lower Grades Senior Reserve. R.N.Z.A.F. 24, Merivale 0: Kaiapoi 'll. Teachers’ College 9; High School Old Boys 19. Albion 5: Linwood 12, Christchurch 3; Sydenham 11, Marist 3. Junior.—First division: Christchurch A 3, Linwood A 0; High School Old Boys A 14. Merivale A 6; Belfast 6. Sydenham A 3: Shirley beat Teachers' College by default. Second division: Christchurch B 11. Sydenham B 3; Suburbs 19. Papanui 3; Linwood B 12, Albion 6; University B 16. Merivale 9. Third Grade. Marist 9. Christchurch 8; Teachers’ College 8, University B 8; Lincoln College B beat University C by default. Fourth Grade.—Burnside 17. University 0: Linwood 11. Merivale 6; Shirley 17. Sumner 6 Under 20—Merivale 6. High School Old Boys 0: Shirley 14. University 3: Christchurch 16. New Brighton 9. Under 19.—Boys’ High School 13, University A 8; St. Bede's 12, Merivale 3; Marist 13, Cashmere High School 9: Shirley Boys’ High School 27, Belfast 8; Christ's College 23. Albion 3; Bumside 14. University B 12. Under 18.—Christchurch A 25. Marist 3: New Brighton 27, Linwood B 3; Linwood A 25, Papanui 0: Christchurch B 6. Merivale 3. Under 17.—Burnside 25. Albion 8: Linwood A 16, New Brighton 14; Christchurch A 8, Merivale B 5; Belfast 11, Sydenham B 6: Sydenham A 17. Hornby 11; High School Old Boys 6, Suburbs 0; Merivale A 30. Christchurch B 3. Under 16—Xavier 6. Belfast 0; High School Old Boys A 15. Merivale 6; Shirley 13. Burnside 8: Suburbs 11. Hornby 6: Christchurch 27, Kaiapoi 11; New Brighton beat High School Old Boys B by default. Under 15.—Hornby 17, Lyttelton 5: New Brighton 14, Sydenham 13; Christchurch 6. Shirley 6; High School Old Boys 30, Suburbs 8. Under Bst 7lb—St. Annes 11, Albion 3; Kaiapoi 6. Papanui 5; Linwood A 6. High School Old Bovs 3; Merivale 25. Burnside 0: Christchurch 25, Marist 3; Svdenham 28. Shirley 5. Under 7st 7lb.—Burnside A 26. Shirley B 3; Suburbs 14. Christchurch 6; Linwood 24. Hornby 0; Shirley A 25, Sydenham 0: Marist 25. Burnside B 0; Merivale beat High School Old Boys by default: New Brighton beat Lyttelton b.v default. Under 7st.—Burnside 9. Linwood 0; Christchurch 12. Belfast 9: Merivale 6, Marist 3. Under 6st 71b A.—Suburbs A 3. Burnside A 0: Shirley A 8. Linwood A 8: Christchurch A 9 Kaiapoi A 3: Sydenham A 12. Merivale A 8. Under 6st 71b B —Sumner 25, Suburbs B 3: Bryndwr Marist 3. Hornby 0: Merivale B 3, Lyttelton 3: Marist 8. Linwood B 3: Christchurch B beat Bumside B by default: Papanui beat Cathedral Grammar by default Under 6st A —Christchurch A 25 Linwood A 0: Suburbs 3. Merivale A 3: Shirley A 25. Sumner 0; New Brighton 6, Bumside A 3; Hornbv 18. Marist A 3 Under 6st B.—Shirley B 6. Christchurch B 0: Belfast 9. Sydenham 3: Albion 9. Papanui 0: Linwood B 10. Mairehau Marist 6: Bumside B 9. Merivale B 3. Under sst 71b A.—Burnside A 12. Suburbs A 3: Sydenham A 12 Bryndwr Marist 9; Shirley 6. Christchurch A 0: Hornby A 9 Marist 0: Linwood A 22 Merivale 0 Under sst 7!b B Suburbs B 17. Bumside B 0; Kaiapoi 17. New Brighton Marist 3: Cathedral Grammar 12. Christchurch B 3; Hornbv B 3. New Brighton B 0; Linwood B 25. Sydenham B 0; St. Mary’s 25. Linwood C 0: Sockburn Marist 15. Sumner 8 Under sst A.—Hornby A 6, Shirley A 3: Christchurch A 9. Albion A 0: New Brighton A 6. Linwood A 0: Bumside A 0. Merivale A 0. Under sst B.—Belfast A 0, Suburbs A 0; Cathedral Grammar 6. Sydenham A 3: Papanui 21, Hornby B 0: New Brighton B 3. Linwood B 0. Under sst C.—Merivale B 6 Christchurch B 3: Shirley B 12 Sydenham B 0. Under sst D.—Burnside C 5. Hornby C 3: Belfast B 9. Christchurch C 0: Kaiapoi B 25 Shirlev CO. Under • sst E.—Sumner 15 Hornby D 0: Burnside D IL Suburbs C 0: New Brighton C 21, Kaiapoi C 0.

Athletics Win. Cambridge beat Orford by 86 points to 67 tn the annua! university athletics match nt j White City. London, on Saturday.—(P.A.)