Addington In Top Four Of League Play-Off

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30497, 20 July 1964, Page 13

Addington In Top Four Of League Play-Off

The newly-promoted Addington Rugby League team has gained the fourth position to play-off for the championship and the Masetti Cup. The other top section teams are Hornby, Papanui and Christchurch.

Kaiapoi, the other promoted team, gained its first win of the season by beating the favoured Marist thirteen. The fact that Marist was without several leading players does not detract from Kaiapoi’s win for it is doubtful whether the full Marist team could have countered the excellent form shown by Kaiapoi. Addington lost to Hornby but will gain the fourth position on a points basis. Hornby’s win now gives it a three-point lead as the second team, Christchurch, could only draw with Papanui. Results:— Christchurch 16, Papanui 16. Hornby 26, Addington 10. Kaiapoi 15, Marist 6. Sydenham 19, Linwood 14. Points after seven rounds are:—

Marist Fail To Capitalise Marist used the strong wind to advantage in the first half and did a lot of vigorous attacking. However, it should have led by more than 4-2 at half-time as C. C. Worters, the loose forward, and the left wing, J. J. Costelloe, inexplicably lost certain tries after they had crossed the goal-line. Worters dropped the ball and Costelloe was pushed over the dead-ball line.

In the second half Kaiapoi was quick to seize victory. Its forwards. Intelligently led by the veteran N. L. Isle, contained the heavy Marist pack. B. McConnon and J. M. Ruston, the half-backs, and T. Gage, on the left wing, exploited the weakness on .the Marist right flank with hard and incisive running. Lack of support frequently permitted P. P. Haughey, the Marist right wing, the unenviable prospect of trying to stop several attackers.

J. Smith, T. Holland and Isle were the best Kaiapoi forwards. Worters, apart from the error that cost Marist a try, was the best forward tot the loser. P. L. P. Dolg and M. J. Donaldson played soundly. The Marist backs failed to combine and their play was generally indecisive. For Kaiapoi, Ruston (2) and Gage scored tries. E. Sincock and Ruston (2) kicked goals. B. R. Curtain kicked three goals for Marist. Referee: Mr J. C. Houston. Entertaining Match Drawn The depleted Papanui team did well to Hold Christchurch to a draw in a match that was more entertaining than exciting. The Papanui forwards and the Christchurch backs played some excellent football at times but the slippery conditions caused many minor infringements. The Papanui forwards, without four representatives, surprisingly dominated the Christchurch pack and the new players proved powerful runners. They were guided by G. R. Cooper, who withdrew from the Canterbury team because of an injury. The only Christchurch forward constantly to penetrate the defence was R. H. Turton. He made several fine breaks and often confounded the defence with reverse passing and deceptive running. T. Parker was better in the tight play. When the Christchurch backs were given room to move they were dangerous but were at times inclined to hold on too long when scoring chances were

offered. This was most evident near the end when both teams were striving for the winning points. T. Tamihana and J. Hawthorne initiated many dangerous movements with Tamihana. in particular, being outstanding. L. Te Huia and D. Robinson were penetrative around the scrum. C. Cameron and C. Schwass had sound games In the Papanui line and Cameron kicked five goals in as many attempts. For Papanui, Schwass and R. Rupla scored tries and Cameron kicked five goals. Robinson <2), Tamihana, and D. Cocroft scored tries for Christchurch and Hawthorne kicked two goals. Referee: Mr K. Henry. Addington had first use of the wind against Hornby and four goals to two allowed the Magpies to lead, 8-4, at half-time. However, when Hornby gained the advantage It proved too good. Against the wind Hornby looked unimpressive and the usual penetration was missing. The backs were, crowded and could not get ihe fast threequarters clear. Addington was the most dangerous team and was unlucky that its advantage was only four points at the interval. In contrast the Hornby backs used several short kicks in the second spell and once the break had been made in Addington's lead Hornby gained confidence and four tries were scored.

D. Moore and D. Condlck were impressive in the Hornby pack although they were not allowed their usual freedom In the loose play. R. Cotter and D. J. Alsop played as well as Hornby would let them in the second spell. I. T. Drayton played at fullback for Hornby and kicked seven goals. R. T. Bray was the most penetrative Hornby back but R. Moffat was given little room to show his speed. In the Addington line J. L. White made the occasional break but R. Wiki’s performance was spoiled by indifferent handling. K. R. Blackler was sound in the scrum play. For Hornby Moore, Bray, Condick and D. Brown scored tries. Drayton kicked seven goals. K. Chick kicked five goals for Addington, Referee: Mr P. Yaxley. Sensible Sydenham Surprises

Sydenham surprised Linwood by using the strong wind to good effect in the second half after trailing, 2-5, at half-time. Linwood seldom used the kick through and its three-point lead at the interval was not sufficient to give it victory. The Sydenham loose forward, R. Mcßeath, played his best game of the season. He chased the ball tirelessly and was outstanding on defence. He received good support from E. Butterfield in the tight- play.

The best Linwood foCward was the rugged M. J. Carlyle. He sent the occasional kick through when the wind was in his favour. W. Noonan showed great promise for a lad of 17. Another young player, W. Beri, was prominent in the Linwood back line and combined well with W. J. Godfrey. G. B. Moloney had his moments on attack and proved an adequate goal-kicker when G. Smftheram was injured. J. Martin made several dangerous breaks through the Linwood defence and was unlucky not to score. The other centre, C. Stevens, proved that his running is deceptive and his try was a fine effort. For Sydenham, Stevens, N. Huata and B. Everest scored tries and A. Tuuta kicked five goals. Moloney and Noonan kicked Linwood’s tries and Moloney (3) and Smltheram kicked goals. Referee: Mr R. A. Pont.

Top Four w D L F A P Hornby 7 0 0 229 30 14 Chch. 5 1 1 105 67 11 Papanui 4 1 2 175 64 9 Addington 3 0 4 101 105 6 Bottom Four Marist 3 0 4 57 73 6 Sydenham 2 0 5 89 142 4 Linwood 2 0 5 65 134 4 Kaiapoi 1 0 6 66 272 2