The Game in Christchurch.

NZ Truth, Issue 99, 11 May 1907, Page 3

The Game in Christchurch.

(By Forward,)

Christchurqh was \ again favored with excellent weather for football, perhaps the players themselves found it a trifle warm, but from a spectators point of view things were as near perfection as possible. Added ,to which tbere was ju,st the neces*

sary excitement to make the game enjoyable. The centre of attraction was, of course, the OhristohurohSydenham match. Contrary to general expectations the latter romped home easy winners by 11 points to nil. The better team, on the day's play, -won, there is no shadow' of doubt. From the kick-off the blues (Sydenham), imparted a vim and go into their play that was most refreshing to 'sea, and they soon had the reds "wet." The Christchurch team seemed totally unprepared' lor this onslaught of the blue forwards,' who swept •'•"■ down m irresistible rushes. The bine backs were also playing a great game, and some pretty passing, saw the Sydenham team with C points to nil-— two tries which were the result of two fine pieces of combined play. There was no further score until just on ttme, when the blue forwards came away again, and notched , another try from which a goil was kicked, leaving Sydenham with a very popular win by 11 to nil. The Christchurch team did not play up to anything like what was expected of them, but it is the story cf over-confidence, and lack of combination. They have so many players from other clubs, aU with different ideas as to what should te done that there is really nothing to be wondered at when one actually analyses matters. Coming to the "individual players Norman at full-back for the blues, did not impress me- very favorably. His kicking was atrocious, and it waswell for him he had little tackling to do. Howison, at centre, shone out prominently all through the game. He was m the nick of time all through the game. He was m the thick of it all through, and caused the reds ariy amount of anxiety. He has any amount, of dash, and takes the hall very cleanly. Ryan and Ait-ken, the wing-three--quarters, are both possessed of plenty of pace, but of the two players. Ryan took my eye most. He is the stamp of player the province is much m need of. Fast and heavy, sure un taking. the hall, and oertairi m his tackling, he is a man who wants watching by the Selection Committee. Hutehins played a fine game at five-eighth, and with Doell, tho scrum hialf, igave thelbttcks jfcehvnd them every opportunity. McPhail had the misfortune to get injured m the first spell, and Love took his place at five-eighth. The latter played a good safe game, which I suppose was all that was expected of -him, this bein°; his first appearance this season. The forwards are a fine pacy lot of men who instil into their . play just sui?icient "devil." They kept going from start to finish, and put m some ding-dong rushes. Where all played' so well ilt is hard to particularise, but r.pecial mention should be made of Hopkins, Graham, Mahoney and Nelson. Forthe xeds (Christchurch) •••Jum" Turtill, at full-back, was not m such line nick as last week. He seamed to me to be flurried when endeavoring to stem a blue rush. He will have to get over this, to be a successful aspirant 'for colonial honours. Shirking rough stuff is not eopd enough for an "All- Black." Olivier and Burns were the wing t-hree-rjuarters, and, the former did any amount of running about, most of it to little purpose. , Time after time fee brpugbt doown tlie house m vain attempts to do something startling, lie life d the bulk of the work to;, do cnJms side of the field, as his opponent, early; recognised whare to place the 'bail to advantage. j He quite sustained their judgment. Burns did, what was wanted of him satisfactorily, his kicking beino; of .sireat service to his s>ide. "Billy" Black had . few opportunities to show his pace, and was more of a passenger than anything else. Fryer w^s the one bright snot on the reds' side, and he worked like a Trojan to try and stem the tide of defeat. He must have r--en disheartened at times to aeo the alleged back play of his comrade^.- Peter Harvey made his re-appearance for the reds, and took up the position of five-eighth. Why ? Isn't half-back good enough ? He ought to have savvy enough to know 'whfbe his place is. While Woods at scrum-half doesn't know enough to keep himself warm. With regard to the red forwards I would advise a few of them to take a spell on ' the kink (at tbe Park I mean.) Perhaps by carefully watohi'ln: they might learn the A. B.C. of the Fame they are at present to-t-ally ignorant of. Walters, as .wing forward was evidently m doubt as to whidi team he was nlaying for. I believe he benefitted Svdf nham more than if he had been restine. by the side lines. "Ham" Wilson is m prime ro-ndition for curing purposes, but ' that doesn't win football matches. Take a pull, "Ham," and rive someone more- active a show. Corbett and McOra cW-n were evidently .so impressed with their exalted (?) surroundings that they hadn't time t-r> t*i'i'*ik of playing the game. I would advise them to do one thinrj at a. time anfl do it well. Marriner, r»ne of t^e "Ancient" Marriners, should also take a pull. Football doesn't suit him. The game on the "Frog Pond" (as the , South ground is oalled) between Merivale and Canterbury College was a scramble. Only for someone's foresight m getting the two different sides to wear different colored jerseys it would have been difficult to tell what tha trouble was. If it was, meant to be ioctball, it must iiave teen the American breed. After watching the. game for some considerable time f did discover the object of the game, which was to try and beat each other. The game, therefore, needs . othet. The game, therefore, needs little Read, Merivale's full back, is most disappointing. Last season- he gave promise of tuttming out a really reliable back. He has not fulfilled that promise. The other blue backs would have disgraced a fourth fifteen. Peter Menzies, who played before the Ark was built, is still battling along, and continuiing to run into the opposing forwards. It it time "Peter U gave the game up, or it will give him up. He has been a good collision bulk-bead fer a numter of years. With the y ssible exception of Ford, the other backs should bfe promoted to a junior team to give them a chance to get a knowledge of the game. Bond is. a hard-working forward, and is always worth his place. The same may he said of Drake. "Billy" Mehzies is hard to ptei.ee. Some place should be found for him, which so far is not de- lined m the Rugby game. He is not; a forward, and he is not a back. What is he ? I give it up. Martin fchould join the ranks

of the "old-timers." For the College, Bishop is the mainstay of the backs, but he is not the player of a couple of seasons ago. He is indeed a great disappointment. Of the forwards " Milky" Longton is about the best, but what an old stager he looks with that goatee beard. The Old Boys-Linwood match was remarkable for the number olchances missed by the former. The jUnwoods -battled along m brave fashion, but they lack brains. However, there is hope for a willing team. The Old. Boys will need to .buck' up a bit : if they wish to- be m the lead at the finish. Deans wasabsent' from their ranks, but surely that doi?(Sn't make such a difference as was; apparent on Saturday. The Linwood players seem to fee improving, and Boroughs and Harvey aniongst the forwards are certainly bright spots dn the green vanguard. The former is a clinking forward. There seems ; to be a- great deal of openness about the Championship, as .our teams are now equal for first .place, viz., Christchurch, Old Boys, Sydenham, and Albion, who have each one defeat 'against them. The finish should provide plenty oL- good gairiies, and a good deal, of excitement,