D.C.L. Shield leaders hold positions

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33610, 12 August 1974, Page 10

D.C.L. Shield leaders hold positions

Suburbs and Albion held their places as the section leaders after the third round on Saturday of the D.C.L. Shield senior Rugby competition. There are two more rounds before the section winners meet in the final.

In section one, Marist, which last week had the result of the only game it has lost reversed on appeal, is level with Suburbs in match points, but on points scored for and against Suburbs has a clear advantage. Shirley, which was expected to be Suburbs’ toughest rival in section one, gave itself a fighting chance of recovering from a slow start by overwhelming Burnside on Saturday. In section two, Albion is a point in front, and where the biggest danger to it lies will be clearer after its two nearest rivals, New Brighton and Lincoln College, meet next Saturday. All games on Saturday were affected by heavy grounds, both the leading teams having to wait until after half-time before they got the measure of their opponents. The Suburbs full-back, G. Stone, scored the five points

he needed to bring up his century for the season — the seventh senior player to reach the mark. A distinction of a different kind befell the Albion hooker, I. Bull when he became the first senior footballer to be ordered off this season. Bull was sent from the field by Mr G. E. Albertson in the latter stages of the first-half of the curtain-raiser at Rugby Park. He will be charged with dangerous play — joining a ruck by jumping on to an opposing player - 1 - when he appears before the Canterbury Rugby Union’s judicial committee tomorrow night. Results and scorers were: SECTION ONE SUBURBS 17 (S. Cron, B. Emanuel and N. Winsloe tries; G. Stone a penalty goal and a conversion), beat MERIVALEPAPANUI S (N. Chase two penalty goals). Mr T. F. Doocey. MARIST 7 (M. Quinlivan a try; B. N. Stewart a penalty goal), beat HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS 6 (R. Stanbury two penalty goals). Mr G. P. Aker. SHIRLEY 40 (A. Tweedie 3, G. Fitzpatrick 2. W. Paulin, M. Toner and G. Anderson tries; Paulin four conversions), beat

BURNSIDE » (J. Cameron a try; D. Selby a conversion and a penalty goal). Mr B. E. Powell. SECTION TWO ALBION 11 (T. Caldwell and R. 1 Todd tries; Todd a penalty goal), beat HORNBY 0. Mr G. E. Albertson. NEW BRIGHTON 7 (T. White | a try; R. Gearry a penalty goal), ( beat UNIVERSITY B 4 (C. Shearer a try). Mr M. T. Kilty. LINCOLN COLLEGE 19 (J. Tar- 1 rant, 2, and P. McMahon tries; A. Dick two conversions and a penalty goal), beat SYDENHAM 0. Mr G. G. Cross. Points are:— ; Section one.—Suburbs 3, Marist 3, Shirley 1, Merivale-Papanui 1. Old Boys 1, Burnside 0. ! Section two.—Albion 3, New Brighton 2, Lincoln College 2, Hornby 1, Sydenham 1, University B 0. IMPROVEMENT Merivale-Papanui, looking a much-improved side, gave Suburbs stern opposition |n the first spell, but after the interval the Suburbs pack took charge and j could easily have had its efforts rewarded with more than just ' two tries. ! Merivale-Papanui defended doggedly throughout this period, but it was let off the hook a number of times when a Suburbs back held on a fraction too long or it was favoured by the bounce of the ball. > Considering the conditions, Suburbs controlled the ball very well. Clean possession was often won from line-outs and both the i forwards and the backs were ' aggressive in mounting moves based on keeping the ball moving. Towards the end, MerivalePapanui had neither the possession nor the energy to do much attacking, but earlier it had made fewer mistakes than usual and had held its own in set play. The two outstanding players were the Suburbs provincial representatives, L. J. Davis and S. E. G. Cron. The former was 1 very sure in his handling and passing, and Cron had the habit of turning lip just when his backs were in' need of support. For Merivale-Papanui, P. McManus had a useful game at first five-eighths, and the wing, B. Baxter, was sound on defence. TACTICS CHANGED It took Albion some time to realise that it would have to adapt its play to meet the conditions if it was to better Hornby. However, once it switched to the kicking game and used its backline more selectively Albion had few worries. Hornby again showed that it is an eager young side, although it was more from errors by its opponents than its own efforts that put it on the offensive. And Albion made plenty of errors for Hornby to profit from in the first spell. Later. T. Caldwell, by his tactical kicking, put Albion on a more even keel and he was well supported by the constructive efforts of R. Todd and A. Quested. ' SOUND DEFENCE Determined tackling enabled Marist to hold on for a narrow win over Old Boys. In the second spell, the Old Boys backs were supplied with good ball, but they could make little headway against a determined defence. Marist was more adept at forging ahead in the forwards, although play for most of the first half was fairly scrappy. The improved showing by Old Boys in the second spell was a result of their forwards faring better in the rucks and I. Webster getting a slight edge over . V. Stewart in the line-outs. K. J. Lawler played well at half-back for Marist, and V. P. O’Loughlin looked dangerous the ' few times he received the ball. CONVINCING WIN I Shirley scored eight tries in easily beating Bumside, and Lincoln College had little trouble 1 accounting for Sydenham. New Brighton was made to work hard for victory over University B, but the game itself ! was a dreary one, neither side being able to rise above the con- . ditions.