CHRISTCHURCH TAKE COUNT

NZ Truth, Issue 1274, 1 May 1930, Page 12

CHRISTCHURCH TAKE COUNT

Meet Unexpected Defeat At Hands of Last Year's Wooden - spooners

. (From .'-' N.Z. Truths Special Cliristchurch Representative.) ' • The opening' of the Rugby season m Christchurch was notable for the downfallof Christchurch, a strong side on paper, at the hands of Linwood, a young team, which was numbered among the wooden-spooners last winter. ,

QUAID, who has graduated from the Linwood lower grades, played an putstanding game. He was the best of a very fit p^.ck which went all the time, and thus wrought the undoing of the half-trained Christchurch forwards. Quaid scored two good tries and only needs a little finish to his play to rank w.ith. the best of them. ■, the wing-forward,

and Adams are another pair who contributed largely to the success of their side. Ron. Stewart played his first game for Christchurch, and 'was mainly noticeable for the ton of surplus he is carrying at present. He opened up some good movements, particularly from the line-out, but was found lagging behind a lot m fast rushes. "Be" Wllders played an outstanding game In the Christchurch pack. ■ His line-out work was worthy of better use than his backs put it to. AH Black George Scrimshaw was everywhere, but he covered a lot of ground for very little purpose.

Lan Cottrell, last year's All Black hooker, Is _ suffering from a ' strained back, and was an absentee. He may have to miss another Saturday before he is right i again. Excepting an odd ! game last season, Neil McGregor has not played regularly since the South African tour. i Against Linwood he was given very few opportunities to ply his wares, but he went well

enough to suggest that his best form will be well within his reach this season if he does not get knocked about. George Hart was the only Christchurch back who played really well. Two opportunities only came his way and he scored from the first and just missed on the second after a great effort. George has speed and judgment, but could do with more weight. Jack Robilliard, who Is essentially a winger, was handicapped through having to play at centre, and did not go well as he can. It would not be surprising to see a change effected In the formation of the backs before long. Fulton made a very inauspicious start. He played some first-class games last winter, but on Saturday was mostly out of place and at least two of Linwood's tries can be laid at his door. He is really an attacking player and pays little regard «to the safety-first principle. Christchurch might well try Meikle m the position and move Fulton m to centre. BUI Dalley did not turn out for Old Boys through having strained himself while training, and Vincent, a senior B half, was only a moderate substitute. For the first match of the season the combination of the Old Boys backs gave great, promise, and it is evident they are going to be the hardest side to beat ifor the premiership.- . Doug. Hay wasi a'

trifle uncertain with his handling, but Innes , made many brilliant ■•■ recoveries and broke down Merivale's defence by his straight running. Solidity with consistency is Innes's strong point, and he only needs to retain his form to win the recognition which for some unknown reason was denied him last year. Sid. Carlton is after big honors

again this season, but he looks to be carrying some condition yet. He played solidly against Merivale. Bill Merrltt made a good start, scoring two tries through his speed and quick thinking. He made a great dive for the line to score his second try after Hay, Mortlock, Burrows and Bowes had swept down from half-way m a spectacular movement.

JrorUock, playing his first game m the senior competition, went fairly well, but is on the light side. He effected some good saves and his speed gave him two tries. . . Jack Harris played on the ,wing towards the end of last season, but he is back m his old place at full-back and on Saturday was more at home. . Canterbury is not overburdened -with

good full-backs this season and Jack looks like winning back his place m the provincial side. Merlvale have had a stroke of luck m getting O'Connor, the Canterbury League half-back. He was a box of tricks, fast with plenty of variety In his attack, but Rhodes and Oliver hadn't the pace to follow him, and most of his work resolved into Individualism of a very high order. Neil Dorreen did not get a game for Merivale because his form was not considered good enough, but it is hard to imagine Neil playing worse than Rhodes or Flewellyn did. Charlie Oliver will need a lot of training before he shows anything like he did last season. Serra's form m the Merivale pack looked promising. Albion have gained a useful forward m F. Howell, a recruit from the butter fat provinoe. . He was m a street by himself m the Albion pack and scored two tries and potted a goal. Jack Steele has found it impossible to give the game up and was out again, but the play mostly went to the other wing to Thompson, ■ who scored three tries. Thompson is a very determined runner who gives it a go. from everywhere. , Sweeney looks the- makings of a reliable centre three-quarter, and altogether the Albion backs should der velop Into a fair combination. Alby Roberts, who played for .Wests last season, now wears the Albion jersey and everything he did was safe and correct. It was hardly a sound trial, however, as the Technical opposition was never very threatening. The reversion to the old touch rule suits his long-range kicking. Herb. Lllburn will be the mainstay of the Albion attack again this season. He didn't get going , until the second spell against Technical, but when once m his stride he turned on a lot of his old stuff to very good purpose and took a hand m the making of three tries.