Bright Rugby League Under New Rules

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31340, 10 April 1967, Page 15

Bright Rugby League Under New Rules

The 1967 Rugby League championship matches which began on Saturday were similar in style and pace to the game seen years ago.

Two new rules, experimental until approved internationally, affecting the play - the - ball and penalties, brought a new look to the game, and allowed plenty of movement. Teams were able to attack even from defensive positions.

There were no real surprises in the first of 14 matches to decide the top four teams to fight out the final of the championship in a new system to decide the premier side of the season. Last season’s champion, Hornby, scored the only try of the game in beating Unwood, 15 points to 8, at Hornby. Addington ran up the biggest tally when it scored six tries to one by Papanui in winning, 26-11, at the Papanui Domain. Marist’s 15-11 win over Kaiapoi was not as big as expected. Christchurch had a comfortable margin over Sydenham in winning 17-6 at Hampshire street Park. Results were:— Christchurch 17, Sydenham 6. Marist 15, Kalapol 11. Hornby 15, Linwood S. Addington 25. Faponul 11. Six Goals To I. Drayton Hornby 15: It. Moffatt a try, I. Drayton six goals. Linwood 8: J. Bosanowskl four goals. Only one try was scored In the total of 23 point, in the match at Hornby between last season’s champion and an enthusiastic Linwood team. Tbe defence of both sides was such that possible try-scoring moves were stifled quickly. All but three points came from the boots of two of last season’s century scorers, I. Drayton and J. Bosanowski. The game did not flow as freely as some matches played earlier this season under the new rules,' but for this the players were not only to blame as the referee had a fairly busy 80 minutes with his whistle, much to the consternation of spectators and players at times. The captain of the Linwood side even called Mr Pont aside to question a decision when a scrum was put down after only two play-the-balls. Drayton had a field day with his kicking. Then was little difference between the teams. Unwood had as many chances as its opponents but was let down with faulty handling at the crucial stage of several moves. This was particularly so In the first half when Linwood had Hornby defending stubbornly. Hornby, In spite of many retirements from last season’s winning combination, still appears to be fairly sound in the backs but will find it difficult with Its present pack to produce match-winning football as In previous seesons. Unwood had some good memento among its forwards but lacked pentration In the backs.

Another feature of the game was the lack of tacitcal kicking, although B. Houston placed several judicious kicks over the Unwood backs’ heads. In the backs Hornby had sound performers In B. Langton,

R. Neiman and R. Moffatt, who made several strong runs. The best forwards were the three seasoned players In the pack; P. Tongue, G. Woodgate and R. Neiman.

Linwood’s best back was the captain, W. Godfrey, with J. Hales showing up on defence. In the pack the best were W. Noonan, E. Kereopa and J. Bosanowski. Referee: Mr B. Pont.

Good Display By Addington ADDINGTON 24: P. White (2), D. McCosh, E. Brown, J. Vivian and P. Turnbull, tries; P. White, four goals. PAPANUI 11: P. Dolheguy. a try; C. Schwass (3), and P. Napier, goals. Addington’s winning performance against Papanui was similar to many of its displays last season, when it was slow to start but finished the game with a flourish.

Papanui held the winner for much of the match, but it was lack of possession which told in the end, plus Addington's better application of the new rules and its speedier backs and forwards to Implement the moves.

Papanui had its chances, but was not able to put the finishing touches with the same ability as Addington. On one occasion Papanui had a move under way In which there were at least three men to spare, but a vital pass was dropped with the line wide open. Addington kicked to greater advantage, although C. Schwass was responsible for some clever tactical kicks for Papanui. Without its regular hooker, K. Blackler, Papanui was denied possession, and spent a considerable time trying to check Addington’s attacks. Papanui, although moving J. Bond in from wing to closer to the scrum In the second half, found it hard to contain D. McCosh, who spearheaded most of the try-scoring movements.

Apart from McCosh, other Addington backs to show up were the wings, P. White and P. Turnbull, the latter scoring the brightest try of the game in the last minute.

The beet of the forwards were J. Vivian and B. Cotter. For Papanui, G. Sandford and B. Allen worked hard in the backs. C. Schwass was the outstanding forward. Beferee: Mr P. Yaxley. Disappointing

Match MARIST 15: J. X. Keremeta try, W. D. Berl six goals. KAIAPOI 11; Barry Williams try. 3. E. Bond four goals. In an extremely disappoint-

ing encounter between two evenly matched teams, Marist drifted to a narrow yet deserved victory over Kaiapoi. As a spectacle the game was frequently marred by the inability of the forwards to grasp the referee’s rulings—particularly in relation to set scrums. However, there were some bright Interludes; W. D. Berl, in the stand-off - half position for Marist, made valuable ground with spectacular accelerations. B. S. J. Irvine, at half-back, and P. V. Smith, centre, were also hard working and enterprising backs for Marist.

In the winning pack J. K. Keremeta, W. A. Flavell and B. J. McKenzie were rugged toilers.

Kalapol lacked cohesion on attack, but under the indomitable leadership of its captain and hooker, J. E. Bond, was ferocious on defence and rarely wilted under the onslaughts of Marist in the second half. J. Meles and G. Topp impressed with their barging play. J. Nelson and F. Gage, tn the half positions, and T. Gage and Barry Williams in the centres, were intelligent backs for Kaiapoi. Beferee: Mr J. KiUodon. ■ Sydenham In Scrappy Game CHRISTCHURCH IT: P. Tainui (2), B. Tullott and E. Bennett tries. Bennett kicked three penalty goals and a conversion.

SYDENHAM 6: A. Tauta kicked three penalty goals. Neither team showed much grasp of the new rules and play was rather scrappy, Sydenham led by six points to two at half-time, all the points coming from penalties. In the second halt Christchurch combined more effectively to score three good tries. P Tainui and J. Smith were the best Christchurch forwards. It was Tainui’s first Rugby League match and he scored two plendid tries. B. Tullott and G. Cooksley were sound backs. . B Barron, the player-coach, and’ J. Tapara tried, unsuccessfully, to put some life into the Sydenham pack. R. Raistrick was the pick of the Sydenham Mr T. Houston. Second Round Match Draw Second round matches next Saturday are: Addington v. Sydenham; Hornby v. Marist. Linwood v. Christchurch; Papanui v. Kaiapoi.