CANTERBURY OLD BOYS' NARROW SHAVE

NZ Truth, Issue 1079, 29 July 1926, Page 15

CANTERBURY OLD BOYS' NARROW SHAVE

Linwood's Bold Bid For Supremacy (From "Truth's" Special Christchurch Representative.) The chief excitement m connection with last Saturday's Rugby games was provided by. the game on the "frog pond" at Lancaster Park, where Old Boys just scraped home against Linwood.

T INWOOD had mustered . up the Li strongest side that had taken the field for them for some weeks,' whereas five of the regular Old Boys players were stand ing down on account of injuries and for other reasons. With about five to go the score-board showed:' Lihwood 5, Old Boys 3. This induced many of the stand patrons to leave their seats and flock to the scene of the struggle. A roar and a cheer arose just before the final whistle blew. Nixon had potted, a goal and won the match for his side. And what a bef&itiful kick it was— from half-way, and near the side-line. Thus is added to that very long list another game won by . a potted goal. Old Boys were lucky to get away with it us Linwood had the better of the game. They scored one. converted try, but should have scored one or two more. .. > Old Boys did not succeed m crossing their opponents' line. Their first three points were obtained by Syd .iiiiimiiiiuuiiiiuiiniiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiii.iiiiiiiiiiii

'iiiiM.'iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiuiiiinuiiiiuiniiuiiiii Carleton who landed a great goal from a penalty at half way. '" : Prior to the game Old Boys had the championship m safe keeping and some* of them played asthough they were fully aware of the fact. • The oval was- occupied by Christchurch and 'Varsity who gave a fast and interesting display. > Christchurch won by 21 points to 9, but the students should haye been a lot closer. They lacked finish after the. forwards had carried them down to the Christchurcb line on many occasions. . On the other hand the Christchurch backs went well, arid it was only, solid tackling and good defence 'that kept them out so much. There were some fine tries scored m this game. 'Varsity's. ...two... were both

■ ' good ones, the first being a clinker, the movement starting right near their own line and going the length' of 4 the field. The try that Scrimshaw got near the end of the game was another great effort. Going at top he gathered m a difficult pass with one hand arid never slackened his stride. . Incidentally the game that Scrimshaw played at wing-forward on Sat-, urday, ' was more like what he is capable of. His form up till the last week or so has been rather poor, but he appears to have struck it now, and with the approaching rep. ; fixtures it is to be hoped that he ,will retain it. McGregor is another'player who has been slow m striking his' best form, but he is doing it right now. He and Fyfe went well together on Saturday. Fyfe played a very fine game at .centre for the winners.* Of the. many centres Christchurch haye • tried out this season Fyfe 1 is the . best — at all events his game on Saturday warrants that praise. It is a strange thing that if a player, has fair or ginger hair, he is generally prominent on the football field. 'Var-, sify had a couple of snowy-headed men on Saturday, and they were both some good. . ' . They were Rutherford, at centre, and Thompson, a front-ranker. Rutherford has been playing .m a lower grade, but his exhibition on the oval was as good as the. 'Varsity selectors could wish for. As a genuine grafter, Thompson is one of the best forwards m Christchurch. He is also a good hooker, and with, a ' little moi-e weight he would make his presence felt m better company. . The two Rhodes Scholars, C. E. Low and M. Barak, will be missed from the 'Varsity team next month, as they sail for the Old Country on August S. Merivale tj.nd Albion, met at the Show Frounds, but Merivaile were too hot for the opposition and scored an easy win. , Charlie Oliver a.nd Jockey Ford both played great, games and. were too tricky and clever for the Albion rearguard. • • The senior competition will be; brought to a close on Saturday, :■ when the final match of the third ; round will be played. A good game is m store for the patrons as a. wind-up. v .... -. This will be the Merivale-Christ-; church match. Both teams are play--ing better football now than earlier m the season, and it should be a dingdong go. i " ; It looks as though Merivale will be the winners, of the final round, 1 m ■which case Old Boys will challenge them for the Rugby Union Cup. This cup was given for the final round only, the . leading team at the end of the' first round to have the right of challenge. Merrivale have beaten Old Boys twice out of the three games they have played and another match wiil be a big draw.