LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 21725, 21 May 1934, Page 5

LEAGUE

FULL TEAMS AND BETTER PLAY CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND ATHLETIC REGISTER WINS A full muster of Rugby League players at Chisholm Park indicated that the efforts of the executive body to improve the standard of the code and resuscitate interest have already met with success. In both games played there were some fast and interesting exchanges, that in which Athletic beat Pacific by 16 to 13 being the more open of the two. The Christian Brothers-City engagement was more of the loose rucking variety with too much kicking. The tackling, however, was very solid. The Brothers won by 8 to nil. CHRISTIAN BROTHERS V. CITY The teams were : ® Christian Brothers.—Pollock, Brosnahan, Walsh, Cullen, L. Schmelz, Reekie, B. O’Comior, T. O’Connor, J. Montague, A. Culling, F. Culling, M'Namara, and Aston. City.—Macdonald, N. Barbara, Richards, Morrison, Cinders, Nelson, W. Schmelz, Clarke, Hopcraft, Andrews, Brown, Hogg, and F. Barbara. The Greens kicked off, and the forwards, taking charge for the time being, carried play down near the goal line, where only solid defence held up the attack. At length, after hard, loose exchanges near the twenty-five, Cinders broke away, and passed to Morrison, who, however, was held up. Ten minutes after the start J. O’Connor went off with an ankle injury, and was replaced by Montague, who almost immediately gained ground with a good line kick. A period of scrappy play, in which an exchange of kicking was too prolonged, was relieved by a bright Green passing rush, in which B. O’Connor scored at the corner alter several backs_ had handled. Montague converted with a great kick, A fine break through and line kick by W. Schmelz took City down near their opponents’ goal line, but Pollock and L. Schmelz relieved the pressure. Richards and Cinders were mainly instrumental in engineering aCity attack, which nearly resulted in a score, but again the defence held good, and a little later Reekie punted nigh, and followed up fast to regain possession and score a fine try. Montague failed with the kick. The Brothers were attacking strongly just before halftime, but Richards and Cinders broke away in a promising njsh' which ended in Walsh upsetting the latter with a crisp tackle. At half-time the Greens were leading by 8 to 0. Soon after the resumption. Pollock jinked through half the opposition, but jus pass went astray, and the City forwards -worked play back to the Greens’ twenty-five, where Pollock was again called upon to relieve. Play was fast, but the backs were getting few chances of opening up in combined movements. Nelson sent Cinders away on a great run, which ended when Cullen intercepted a pass, and raced into the City twenty-five. Play swung back, but B. O’Connor, L. Schmelz, and Walsh staged a snappy passing bout, which was just stopped in time. The Greens continued to press, T. O’Connor doing particularly good work. Morrison, Cinders, and N. Barbara put City in an attacking ’position, but in the failing light passes were dropped, and there was no further score, the final being:— Christian Brothers 8 . City 0 Mr Watt was referee. PACIFIC BEATEN In the early match Athletic and Pacific played a hard fought game. Territorially, Athletic had the advantage, but the Pacific forwards lacked the dash of their opponents. The teams were;— Athletic.—M'Donald, Gray, Cardiner, Healey, Harwood, A. Barbara, Lawless, Munro, Stewart, Townsend, Anderson, Paterson, and Crosado. Pacific.—M. Blackwood, J. Blackwood, Brown, Bryne, Bryan, Knox, Preuclef'gast, Foote, Pearce Parker, Smith, M'Phorson, and GoldsmicjA. Pacific were kept busy on the defensive in the early stages, M'Douald evading several tacklers and putting Athletic in a strong position. Pacific cleared temporarily, but a passing bout by Athletic ended in Gardiner being hurled out at -the corner. Athletic launched several attacks, but good tackling frustrated their moves. Play hovered . around Pacific territory, where, from a ruck, Gardiner secured and drop-kicked a good goal. At this reverse Pacific infused more dash into their play. Athletic were compelled to force. From the drop-out Healey fielded, and Stewart fumbled. J. Blackwood picked up and raced beautifully away to score behind the posts. M. Blackwood converted. Just before half-time a determined dash by Anderson was rewarded with a try. Ho scored amid a battery of tacklers. M’Donald converted. Pacific bad the better of the play on resuming. A Pacific back move started from midfield, and ended in Bryan scoring behind the posts. Foote converted. Play became faster. Athletic rushed play to Pacific’s twentyfive, where, after a series of “ play-the-ball ” moves, Townsend picked up and dived over. M'Donald failed to convert. A few minutes later a keen Athletic rush ended in Lawless scoring. M'Donald missed with the kick. Pacific kept play in Athletic’s twenty-five, but their passing was faulty. A penalty to Athletic drove Pacific back to halfway, where Anderson gained a few yards with a good run. Fog began to roll in from the sea at this stage. A nice pass from Foote let Prendergast away to score at the corner. The try was not converted. With the scores even, play swung from end. to end at a fast pace till, close on time. Athletic kept Pacific hard on defence. Several Yellow rushes were spoiled by holding on too long. A rush by Athletic swung from one side of the field to the other where Crosado Jet out to Townsend, who in-passed, the former scoring. M‘Donald failed to convert. Time was then called with Athletic J 6 Pacific ... ]3 Mr Nelson controlled the game. IN OTHER CENTRES CHRISTCHURCH. Hornby 11, Addington 0. Sydenham 19. Linwood 16. Brighton 11. Rum 3. ’ AUCKLAND. Ponsonby 8, Newton 5. Marist 16, Devonport 10, Richmond 46, City 16.