Addington Has Big Win To Enter League Final

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31441, 7 August 1967, Page 15

Addington Has Big Win To Enter League Final

The finalists for the first grand final of the Canterbury Rugby League championship next Saturday will be Hornby and Addington, the two teams which provided such an exciting match in the semi-finals two weeks ago.

Addington played its way into a place by outclassing Christchurch in the preliminary final at the Show Grounds on Saturday

by 25 points to 7. Ths ground was slippery sod provided the players with the nearest approach to a wet ground this season. The match lacked the exeitement of the two semifinals played two wgeks ago as Addington consolidated a lead of 10-7 at half-time to coast home in the second half by scoring three tries without Christchurch adding to its total.

The Gore Cup preliminary final provided a grand finish. Just when spectators were thinking that the teams would have to go into extra time, J. Rosanowski kicked a penalty goal after the bell had gone to give Linwood the win over Sydenham by 11 points to 9. The score had been level at 9-9 for some time before this. Next Saturday Linwood will play Marist in the grand final of the Gore Cup competition, Marist having won in the semi-final. Two other fixtures were played on the No. 2 ground at the Show Grounds but these were mainly to give Marist and Hornby, both participants in next week's big matches, a chance to keep fit by matching them with the beaten sides in the semifinals. Results of matches:— Championship: Addington 25, Christchurch 7. Gore Cup: Linwood 11. Sydenham 9. Other games Marist 30, Kaiapoi 11; Papanui 16, Hornby 9. Deserved Win ADDINGTON »: J. L. White (2). B. Gtllman, P. Turnbull and B. Wiki tries. P. M. V. White Bve coals. CHRISTCHURCH T: B. Tallot a try. L. Tehula two goals. The game did not reach the heights of many others this season as both sides were guilty of some very untidy play, passes being dropped and a disregard being shown for positional play. Addington thoroughly deserved its win as it used its opportunities far more effectively then did Christchurch. Christchurch appeared as though it could make the match an interesting one as it held Addington to thres points at half-time. However, after the interval the loser’s football became very ragged and its chances of winning dissolved. Christchurch’s greatest moment of glory was when Tallot scored a try to take the team into a 7-4 lead, but Addington soon took charge again. Christchurch showed a poor regard for the fundamentals of the game with Ils handling, passing and general positional play. There were times when the whole side crowded Infield on defence leaving the flanks badly exposed. On one such occasion the Addington attack swept across field and Turnbull was able to go In for a very easy try. Under pressure. the loser’s handling left a lot to be desired and frequently Addington was able to swoop In on dropped passes to pics them up or toe the ball ahead. Even then. Christchurch rarely made any effort to fan back and played one of its poorest matches of the season. P. M. V. White made many excursions into the back-line from full-back and this added impetus to the Addington attack. On one occasion he narrowly missed a try himself and eould in feet have scored had he not elected to pass to a team mate who dropped the ball. Pew of the other Addington backs impressed but the score could easily have been greater but for the tendency of D. MeCosh and N. Dewee to attempt too much themselves and bring moves to a bait by being tackled. J. L. White had some good moments on attack and scored two good trios but for much of the game was prepared to let his fellow forwards do ths hard work. Much of this was done by A. Mcßeatb and B. Cotter with A. McNaughton going in bunts and not giving a sustained effort. Addington received most of the ball from scruma and then effectively tied up the Christchurch danger man, G. Cookaley. when his side was in possession. As a result, Cookaley had few chances during the game, but when be did have room tn which to work ho proved to be most dangerous. The best of the forwards were P Tainut. who set an example with his hard running, and L. Tehula. who improves with

eVe 7 he P ,a 7*’ ln th * <or * Reforest Mr T. Houston. Hornby Upset PAPANUI U: B. Ward and N. Geddes tries. C. Scbwass flve goals. HORHRY 7: B. Langton a try, and T. Williams three goals. Although Hornby is one of the teams to contest the championship grand final next Saturday, it was beaten by Papanui In a match on the No. S ground. However, too much should not be read Into, thia result as Hornby was not at full strength and did not take the fixture with much seriousness. The game was fairly even, with Papanui gaining the ascendancy only in the final stages of the game. For Hornby the match was one of injuries and several key players had to leave the field, K. Neiman, the hooker, and B. Houston, scrum-half, being In

this category. Papanui gave one of ite more consistent performances but hero again It treated the game in a liaht-hearted manner. Like Hornby, Papanui had a number of newer players to senior football in its ranks and most acquitted themselves well. Referee: Mr P. Yaxley.

Marist Speedy MARIST 20: B. F. Dodds (2), W. Bert (2). C. Wortors, D. McNaughtan. M. H. Mohl and J. Hawthorne tries. Hawthorne three conversions. KAIAPUI 11: J. Branch, M. Brain and J. E. Bond tries; Bond a conversion. The fast and elusive Marist three-quarters gave a thrilling display, especially after halftime, to lead their team to a convincing win over Katapoi in the early game at the Show Grounds No. 2. Six of Marlst's tries were scored by the three-quarters, Hawthorne, Berie, Dobbs and C.

Worters. Hawthorne, apart from missing some relatively easy conversion attempts, and Bert were truly outstanding. B. Nicholls and P. V. Smith bad splendid games tor the winner. McNaughton, at fullback. had a satisfactory game, and scored a good try. Although they were overshadowed. the Kalapol backs endeavoured to open up play.

Branch got his side’s opening try after enterprising play. B. Williams made several deceptive runs and was Kalapol’s most dangerous three-quarter. Marlst’s forwards, with J. Worters, Mohl and B. Lawrence to the fore, played with more cohesion than their opponents. Bond, T. Gage and K. Sincock gave a good account of themselves in the losing pack. Referee: Mr K. Carter. Close Finish

LINWOOD U: E Kereopa a try; J. Rosanowski four goals. SYDBHHAM 0: K. Williams a try;

A. Tauta three goals. Linwood gained the closest of wins In a hard-fought game with Sydenham in the early game at the Show Grounds. With the final bell ringing and the score at 0 all. J. Bosanowski stepped back to take the penalty that had been awarded In the final seconds of play. He sent the ball between the uprights to give bls team a win, and the right to play Marist In the Gore Cup final. Although the game never reached great heights, the closeness of the score kept the Interest. Sydenham gained a large share of possession from serums, but could not penetrate a tight Linwood defence. With the possession being gained, too many chances were lost for Sydenham by its backs' cross-field running. Linwood’s E. Kereopa proved dangerous first in the forwards, and later when he was switched to the backs. His powerful runs often left a string of Sydenham tacklers stretched out on the ground. The line work of J. Rosanowski and B. Williams In all the tight play paved the way for many attacking moves. In the loose W. Noonan and V. Low were always prominent. The backs were evenly matched on the day with Linwood perhaps more adept at sensing the gap. R. Auld, J. Hales, and J. Searles played with enterprise. Sydenham backs to show out were F. Clark, who when coming into the backline looked dangerous, R. Ratstrick, J. Murdoch and K. Williams. Of the forwards, J. Tapara made many powerful rune. He was ably supSorted by B. Barron and. B. eßeath. „ Beferee: Mr R. Pont.