The Game in Christchurch.

NZ Truth, Issue 100, 18 May 1907, Page 3

The Game m Christchurch.

(By Forward.)

TUie weather was again ideal for fopttell ( arod the various, grounds m splendid ' order. Christchurch met Merdvale, and this proved the most interesting contest. of '■ the day. The scores at thej finish were 20 points to 3 m favour of tdie former. The game was not so one-sided as the score would Indicate, but tlie Christchurch team played m splendid form and made miogt of their opportunities. Tdie Merivale team played atiove their average form aod scored . one try a/gainst fou,r'by Ohristohurch. The latter kicked goals from each of the four tries, which helped to swell their total considerably.-'

On the West Ground Albion beat Linwood 'by . 25 points to 13, but the difference m the spores Hardly represents the difference in -.the teams, Linwood having quits as .much the best of the play fis tiheir opponents, • but they lacked- brains at t>h,e critical moment.

On the Frog Pond Old Boys and Canterbury College ..fought out a hard game, the .latter suffering defeat by 2J4 .points to 5. Sydenihaan had a ' 'bye. Eric Harper -made -his re-appearance for Chrjistchurcih. a>itd .surprised both i friends and, foes by playing quite up |to the ;bes£ Conn of his career. Fur j from -being ti "has 'been," ttric show'e(J dJX'ki& ■olA i JfiJttf-psioe l 4.g4sipß ivnd

feuding .aMViities, while, his passing, lieiding and kicking were as good as he lias ever .shown. He must be cougraitu'latod on a sterling pecforma-oee.

Fryer, for the same team, gave one of his fascinating dashy displays. He is playing quite consistently, and must rank (as one 'of Oamterjbury's greatest backs. A young, well-made boy o£ exceptional pace and dodgiasg abilities, lie mwst have a lengthy career before him.

Turtill is a dodger of anything m the shape of rough work, and he i-xn* presses uve , more than <ever as a great gallery player.' Peter Harvey was an absentee from the Christchurch ranks on Saturday, so was Black. Evidently the change did not spell disaster to their team. -'Duoik" McGregor has not yet -'peeled off" for Ohristahuroh. The delay, I understand, is owning to the old trouble m his leg. He is very keen for the Australian trip and he is getting very fidgety a'hiowt not being m 'good nick when he starts to play. "Dummy" Harvey, of the Linwood team, is ar tforw«vrd who takes my eye every Saturday. He is always on the ball, and b'Sing an exoellent tackier, he gives the opposing side plenity to think about.

Boroughs is another gsood forward m 'the Lijiwood ranks, !wlio plays a rattling game from start- to finish.

"Did" Ormandy was back, m his old place as wing f or-ward for tiro Greens, attfl played a brilliant game. . Stevens, of 'Albion, is & . splendid place kick when he likes, and woe betide th>e 'teaan- which gives a free kick or mark anywhere insido the half-way flag.

It bas been the civstonn here for. many years^.for players to throw over their ow^i clubs where they have learnt all they are likely to know of the 'game, and join some other -5 club which will 'ailow ISiem to play fre^ of "sub-" T9; suoh an extent has this grown of ''recent .v^-ars that it has develo.pod into a curse. We find memib'Srs^leaving their clubs with two aowyhji^fe? (somc-ttlmcs more) subscrip.tiefn^owing, which is generally paid for -by the chtb securing thie recruits. I would like'to ask t&e Christchairch Foatbajl Club how nuanv subs, th^at club has paid m this way tjhds season. Tt is time tbe' Ru^by Union stepped m awd stopped t'jiis little 1 game by estoMlshto? a Permdt Commatteo and raakl&p 'these discontented and disibonoura'ble players apply to the Comand'ttee before they''are'ailowed to hoist, aniother club's jersey on to t^jeir 'backs. \;