WEEK-END SPORTS PREVIEW

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31753, 9 August 1968, Page 13

WEEK-END SPORTS PREVIEW

New Brighton will reach the end of the trail leading to its first senior Rugby championship when it plays Lincoln College in the main game at Lancaster Park tomorrow. Nothing rests on the result of the game, for New Brighton has already won the championship and Lincoln College is just as clearly established in second place. The match, therefore, should be anything but a close-to-the-chest affair and it might serve to inject a little life into a competition which has had few highlights. After the match the president of the Canterbury Rugby Union (Mr C. H. McPhail) will present the Harewood Trophy to L H. Penrose, the captain Of the New Brighton team.

The other Harewood Trophy match will be between Old Boys and Christchurch at Rugby Park. Linwood should have too much all-round strength for Albion’s liking in the D.C.L. Shield matches, but Linwood’s

co-leader in the middle six competition, Sydenham, will face a strong challenge from Shirley. After its big win against Marist last week, Shirley will take the field with renewed confidence.

The D.C.L. Shield competition will continue until August 24, but the Challenge Cup contest for the bottom four will end tomorrow. University A, which has the trophy in its keeping, will play the second-placed Suburbs in the final round. Rugby League

Papanui, strengthened by the return of C. R. Schwass and M. R. Napier, may win automatic selection for the 1968 Canterbury Rugby league grand final when it meets Addington in the major semifinal at the Show Grounds tomorrow.

In the minor semi-final, Marist-Western Suburbs will play Linwood. Only victory will be acceptable to these two clubs for the loser will be eliminated from the championship play-off and the winner will play the loser of the major semi-final for the right to in the grand final.

Papanui and Linwood have beaten their semi-final rivals only once in their last seven meetings but each should start a slight favourite tomorrow.

The utility back, J. B. Craig, may play a vital role for Papanui. At stand-off half in the absence of the injured R. F. Schwass, he will be charged with the task of supplying possession to the strong-running centres, J. M. Toki and S. Dunn, and the high-scoring wings, K. Graske and Napier. Similarly, the Addington halves, R. S. Cotter and D. J. McCosh, will be seeking to give F. M. Endacott, R. L. Lanauze and N. Dewes sufficient opportunities to penetrate. Addington has the best defensive record of any senior club this season but it could be sorely tested by Papanui. the highest-scoring team tills season.

The forwards, too, should be evenly matched but the strong running of A. W. Thompson and K. R. Bladder’s greater hooking experience could give Papanui a slight advantage. The return of P. R. H. BrOwn to scrum-half and J. C. Hawthorne to the centres

may give Marist-Western Suburbs greater penetration while the meeting of the experienced stand-off halves, W. J. Godfrey (Linwood) and P. V. B. Smith, should be interesting. Linwood’s young but speedy back-line and consistent forwards could upset the highlyrated but less compatible Marist-Western Suburbs. In the Gore Cup semifinals, Hornby and Sydenham should beat Eastern Suburbs and Kaiapoi, respectively. Soccer

Three matches tomorrow have great significance to the southern league soccer championships, two in the second division and One in the first Rangers have the chance of establishing a clear lead in the top section when they travel to Dunedin to play St Kllda. This is yet another of the matches Rangers must win, for the points they can gain from the fixture would put the club two ahead of City and improve an already Impressive goal average. But it will be a strong test for rangers; St Ki Ida is a tough opponent at home.

The tiwo vital second division matches are also out of Christchurch—Caversham v. Mosgiel in Dunedin, Tirnaru City v. New Brighton in Timaru.

Caversham and Mosgiel at present lead the second division with 20 points each, and their clash tomorrow ends the programmes of each dub. Brighton has 18 points and has one more match to play after tomorrow.

If Caversham and Mosgiel draw, Brighton's hopes of winning promotion would be greatly enhanced—as long as the seaaiders win in Tlmaru. Victory for Caversham or Mosgiel would then mean Brighton having to beat Shir-ley-Nomads in its final match and the second division would be decided on goal average. At present, Brighton’s is slightly superior to those of the Dunedin clubs.

The only league fixture in Christchurch is between Western and Shamrock, who meet in the early match at English Park. Both must win this one to have any chance of collecting the fourth and last prize money, remote though the possibility is for either.