Lead shared in ‘Press’ Cup

Press, 1 July 1985, Page 22

Lead shared in ‘Press’ Cup

As well as being the front-runners for the first round senior rugby title, Marist and University are also locked in a tight battle at the top of “The Press” Cup competition. They were left as the joint leaders after Saturday’s matches, Marist having the day’s best mark of 19 out of the possible 20 and University receiving 18.

There was something of a sensation in the match between Belfast and Burnside, at Burnside Park. For a start the referee, Mr Mike Fitzgibbon, declined to give any points at all, because of what he felt was persistently niggly behaviour.

However, later he reconsidered his stance, because be said that it would be unfair to treat both teams the same. He gave Burnside seven points and Belfast three.

Previously these two teams were level in second place, but now Burnside has slipped back to sixth and Belfast to ninth.

Hornby, the leader for some weeks, also had a low mark and it now shares second place with Christchurch. Linwood had its mark for sportsmanship re-

duced by six points through having two players, Ru Koha and Clive Joyce, sent to the sin-bin.

David Pool, of High School Old Boys, who met Linwood, suffered a similar fate, and at Boon Hay Park the Suburbs hooker, Russell Dixon, was given time to cool off.

Lyttelton and Marist both earned full marks for sportsmanship, and Christchurch, University, and Lincoln College were only a point away. But only University and Marist rated highly on the constructive side.

Points gained on Saturday were

Marist, Sportsmanship 12, constructiveness 7, total 19; University 11, 7, 18; Lyttelton 12, 5, 17; Christchurch 11, 5, 16; New Brighton 10, 6, 16; Lincoln College 11, 4, 15; Shirley 10, 5, 15; Old Boys 9,6, 15; Albion 9, 4,13; Hornby 7, 5,12; Sydenham 7,5, 12; Merivale-Papanui 7,5, 12; Suburbs 6,5, 11; Linwood 4, 4,8; Burnside 7, 4,11; Belfast 3, 3, 6.

Total points are: University and Marist 211, Hornby and Christchurch 210, Lincoln College 209, Burnside 208, Shirley 207, Lyttelton 206, Linwood 204, Belfast 203, Old Boys 202, Albion 199, New Brighton 197, Suburbs and Sydenham 191, Merivale-Papa-nui 180.