Strong Halves In Opposition

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31385, 2 June 1967, Page 11

Strong Halves In Opposition

Two teams which produced a very exciting finish in the first round of the Rugby League championship, Christchurch and Linwood, meet in the main game at the Showgrounds tomorrow.

In the first round Christchurch came from behind after appearing to be well beaten with 15 minutes to go,

to win by 23 points to 21. Since then both sides have played some reasonable games, with Christchurch's first half display against the championship leader. Addington, being among the most exciting minutes in the series to date. Both sides are strong in the scrum-half position, the promising 18-year-old Christchurch player, G. Cooksley, opposing Monday’s representative player, W. J. Godfrey. J. Hales, stand-off for Linwood, proved against Hornby

last week that he is one of ! the best defensive players in s the competition and these ads mirable qualities will be e called upon again if Unwood !- does not get more ball from t the serums. s Unwood may perhaps be more mobile in the scrum 8 than its opponent, with play- *■ er* like J. Rosanowski and E. t- Kereopa playing very well last week. However, Chrtoti- church has a good centre in D. Parker and one who la i- very quick to exploit an openr tog-

Marist and Hornby play the curtain-raiser on the No. 1 ground at the Show Grounds and they had a very dose tussle in the first round too. Marist’s surprise loss to Kaiapoi has prompted changes in the team and Hornby failed to penetrate Linwood's defence to any real degree last week, in spite of a five-to-one advantage in the scrums. The games on the No. 2 ground are between Addington and Kaiapoi, Papanui and Sjrdenham.