Addington Favourite To Win Rugby League Title

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31973, 28 April 1969, Page 15

Addington Favourite To Win Rugby League Title

Addington emerged as a strong favourite to become the 1969 Canterbury Rugby league champion when it scored a decisive, 22-8, win over Hornby to remain the only unbeaten team in the minor premiership after the third round, at the Show Grounds, on Saturday.

Outstanding team-work and a tryscoring burst in the second half took Addington well clear after a close and exciting first half had given the Magpies a two-point lead at the interval.

The match was one of the best seen at the Show Grounds in recent seasons and the crowd of 1626 was thrilled by the quick switches of play and penetrative back movements. Playing behind a champion team the full-back. R. S. Kirk, had his finest senior match to win the “player of the week" award for bis outstanding handling, defensive play and ability to take Addington on to the attack by joining in the back-line. Surprise result! were returned !n the two game* played away from the Show Grounds. Th«| championship holder. Linwood, j suffered its first loss to Sydenham since 1966. and Kaiapoi held Christchurch-Eastern Suburbs to a four-point margin at Murphy park. Martst-Western Suburbs share last place with Kaiapoi. As in its two previous losses. MaristWs stern Suburbs led in the first half before Papanui came away to score Its biggest win over that club for four seasons. Much interest was also shown In University's first appearance at the Show Grounds and the students, very fit and fast in the backs, retained their unbeat*n record by racing away from the Marist-Western Suburbs senior second division team. M-n. The Canterburv board of control could nnw consider promoting University to the top senior second division sec Hon after each section has played one round University has scored 325 points and conceded 33 in Its three matches. Results Addington 22. Hornby «. Papanui 32. Marist-Western Suburbs 9. Chrlstcburch-iastern Suburbs XT. Kaiapoi 13. Sydenham 11. Linwood 9. Minor premiership points:—

Team Effort ADDINGTON 22: R S. Kirk. S Wilkes, G. Tainui. J. H.i Fisher tries, R L. Lanauze

four goals; B J. Winder field goal. HORNBY 8: B. Jager. W. R. Robertson tries; T. Williams ■ goal. I In one of the most exciting ;club matches seen at the Show {Grounds for some seasons, Ad dlngton repeated the second-half try-scoring rally that beat Mar-ist-Western Suburbs the previous week. After leading, 7-5 at half-time the Magpies took control with quick switches of play, strong running and consistent backing-up to cross I Hornby's line three times in 10 minutes. Addington’s three young i backs. Wtikes. Winder and Tainui. had most successful games. The strong-running Wilkes severely tested the Hornby defense on the right flank and on several occasions he evaded his marker, I. J. Dalzell. with deceptive foot-work. Wilkes received many of his opportunities through Winder’s lability to dive through rare gaps in Hornby’s first line of defence, and Tainui was most efficient around the scrums and was in position to dive across after Wtikes had nearly scored a second try. It was Kirk who added pene-1 tration to Addington's back-line, did his full-back duties most capably, and scored a fine try after Winder had made an outstanding break. In the forwards the strength of J. H. Fisher and the strong running of B. F. Gillman were most evident although each member of the pack played well. Individually and In unison. A. Clark held the more experienced Hornby hooker, K. M. Neiman, to 15-16 tn the scrums. For the first time this season the goal-kicking of the Hornby full-back, Williams, faltered. From six attempts he succeeded only once although most of his kicks were from difficult positions and one. a 40-yard penalty, was ruled out by the referee 'Mr T. C. Houston) after the line umpires had disagreed.

It was left to Jager, having his most successful senior season. to provide Hornby’s penetration and he. and the forwards. Robertson and G. Woodgate. were the best Hornby players against the strong Addington defence.

Mr Houston awarded eight of the 14 penalties to Hornby.

Papanui Improves PAPANUI 52: K. R. Blacker twb. M. R. Napier. A. W. Thompson. H. Moore, J. B. Craig tries; P. C. Napier five goals, field goal: Blackler Held goal. MARirr-WMTBRN SUBURBS »: w. D. Berl try. three goals. The Marist-Western Suburbs defence held Papanui for much ol the first half. M. R. Napier scored Papanut's first try after 28 minutes but by half-time the margin had Increased to 17-4. Again, in the second half, it took Papanui 20 minutes to increase its score. In the meantime Berl. roving between the centres and full-back, had scored a fine Individual try. The Papanui players, however, had the ability to outflank Marist-Western Suburbs by switching play and catching the defence on the wrong foot. M. R. Napier made several outstanding runs on the left flank In the first half and was only moderately hindered when the opposing wings switched positions.

J. G. Clarke had an impressive game, running sharply In possession and keeping hts nippy opponent. P. R. H. Brown, In check. B. Allan was a successful replacement for the injured R. F. Schwass at stand-off half and Craig, B. Bigwood and Napier played well in the threequarters. Blackler won 15 of the 27 scrums in addition to backing up well for his two tries and ealmly kicking a field goal. Thompson pisyed quite well without making the impact expected in his first game this season and K. G. Walker was most consistent In supporting bls forwards on attack. In addition to Bcri. J. A. Rothwell played well In the Marist-Western Suburbs backs until he left the field Injured. ;The best of the forwards were 'again P. V. B. Smith and G. A. Cowan.

Mr P. Yaxley awarded Marist 15 penalties and Papanui 11.

Sydenham Upsets

SYDENHAM 11: W. Green try. two goal*, two field goals. LINWOOD f: J. Watt!. R. K. Haffenden, J. K. Broughton tries.

Sydenham caused the first major upset of the season when it dominated the second half of its match with the 1968 premier. Linwood. After an indifferent first-half performance Sydenham bustled Linwood on defence and provided a strongrunning attacking unit to overhaul its five-point half-time deficit.

The former schoolboy Kiwi, Green, and a young secondrow forward. N. Radcliffe, played outstanding games for Sydenham. B. T. Barron directed his team most ably and dominated the scrums over the last quarter when Linwood most needed possession. Although Linwood played quite well in the first half, when it scored all its tries, it was unable to regain the initiative. G. J. Rosanowskl, J. Watts and the experienced W. J. Godfrey finished the match with undented reputations. Haffendcn’s well-deserved trv came after a strong run by Watts. The referee was Mr K. Carter. East Extended CHRirrCHURCH-BAgTIRN SUBURBS IT: B. Ross. T. Parker, p. J. Tainui tries: E. Bennett lour goals. KAIAPOI 13: R. Brown try; I. Stark five goals. A weakened ChristchurchEastern Suburbs was lorced to call upon Its coach. L. R. Clarke, and torrner second-row forward.JT. Parker. They proved most cgpable replacements, however, tor Clarke made the break that led to Talnul’s try and Parker crossed lor another.

The match was nearly a major triumph lor R. H. Turton, who transferred from ChristchurchEastern Suburbs to assist Kaiapoi. His influence and leadership on the young Kaiapoi players was most evident In the improved tackling and team-work. Kaiapoi lead briefly In the second half when Brown scored but the greater experience of Its opponent told in the later stages. Referee: Mr J. Hillsdon.

W L F A Pts Add 3 0 131 30 6 Pt© .. 2 1 63 41 4 E«tf 2 1 57 36 4 Syd 2 1 54 42 4 Horn 2 1 59 49 4 tin .. 1 2 31 48 2 Mar-WS 0 3 34 69 0 KaU .. 0 3 21 IM 0