FOOTBALL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 55, 11 April 1914, Page 11

FOOTBALL.

RUPY.

INTER-CLUB MATCHES.

The Eugby football season in Christehurch virtually opened this afternoon, when a couple of inter-club matches were played, Christehurch engaging the Wellington Club at Lancaster Park, and Sydenham meeting the Duncdin Club at Sydenham Park. WELLINGTON BEATS CHRISTCHUECH. In bright, clear weather the Wellington Club's team defeated Christehurch by eight points to nil, chiefly by virtue of superiority in forward play. Neither team was up to its full strength as a senior fifteen, and the game showed the usual faults of first-of-the-season play. But it was interesting in the first half and the earlier portion of the second spell. The teams were: — Wellington: Full-back, Boddington; three-quarters, Barrel!, Bridge, M'Gregor; five-eighths, Shelley, Dwyer; half, Henderson; wing forward, S. Irons; forwards, Myers, Weir, Brown, Miller, Higgins, N. Irons, Drake. Christehurch: Pull-back, E. O'Brien; three-quarters, B. P. Murray, A. H. Guiney, E. Upton; five-eighths, E. Phillips, W. Guiney; half-back, N. Wallace; wing forward, Seed; forwards, L. Burns, Henderson, R. G. Slyfield, C. T. Mosley, De Maus, C. Murray, E. M. Strachey. Wellington men were the first to. attack, but a mark by Phillips and a good kick drove them back. A long period of scrambling play about midfield followed, until Wellington came back to the Christehurch twenty-five line, from which Bridge had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Wellington attacked again, Miller heading the rush and kicking the ball over the Christehurch goal line, but O'Brien just managed to get it first and to force down. .Christehurch managed to get past half-way for a while, but Wellington were soon down again in the local twenty-five. Bridge and Barrell put in good work, which almost ended in a score, and a moment or two later Barrell lost the ball again just* as he got over the line. Bridge had a shot at goal from a mark by Henderson, but the kick was charged down. His next shot at goal was better, but it struck one of the posts and rebounded into the field. A minute later he had yet another shot, from a mark by Henderson. The shot went wide, but Miller followed the ball, and scored a try while most of the Christehurch men were waiting for the ball to be forced down. The try was not converted, and the score stood:— Wellington .. .... 3 Christehurch .... 0 Presently S. Weir scored from another good attack by the visitors. Bridge converted, and the score was: — Wellington 8 Christehurch .. .. 0

Christchureh had been somewhat overshadowed by the Wellington men, but soon the team itself. Phillips started a rush at midfield, Upton came through nicely with the ball, and W. Guiney took his pass and sprinted for the corner. He was collared, and slung the ball to Phillips, but the latter missed a difficult pass, and the chance was lost. With the reds attacking on Wellington's line De Maus had a shot at goal, but made a weak attempt. The spell ended with the scores unaltered. When the second half was started there was some alteration in the Christchurch team. O'Brien had retired near the end of the first spell. B. P. "Murray'went to full-back, and Toswill came on as five-eighths, W. Guiney playing centre three-quarter. There was a little excitement when Boddington missed the ball from a centring kick by A. H. Guiney, and several Christchureh men chased it over the line, only to see it go into touch-in-goal. Another passing rush by the Christchureh back, ,in which Phillips cut in before passing out, broke down through Upton missing a wild pass, with a chance to score in front of the red and blacks. The Wellington forwards rushed play to the other end, and there was some light work in front of the Christchureh goal, but a free kick brought' some relief. Tor a long time Wellington kept the play in or near the Christchureh twenty-five, but both sides appeared to be tiring, and the play was not particularly good. A lot of scrambling play ended in Christchureh forcingdown. Towards the end of the game Slyfield came through the Wellington centre with the ball at his feet, but Bridge stopped him by punching the ball back with his fists without being penalised by the referee. The game ended with Wellington attacking again, and the scores still: — Wellington 8 Christchureh 0 Mr C. Buchanan controlled the game.

MERIVALE 111. v. LITTLE RIVER.

A Merivale third fifteen met Little River in Hagley Park, a keenly-fought game resulting in a draw. Each side scored eight points (agoal and a try). For Merivale H. Hobbs and R. Brosnan scored tries, one of which was converted by T. Hardy. J. Giddens and C. Lomlrigan registered tries for Little River, Gidde»s converting one. SYDENHAM v. DUNEDIN.

The fourteenth annual fixture between the Sydenham and Dunedin Clubs eventuated 'this afternoon, when the suburban club accounted for its visitors by nineteen points, to six. ' Despite the numerous gloomy prophesies which have been made, the Sydenham Club produced a surprisingly strong team, the display of some of its backs, notably H. Watson, E. Fraser, and A. Doell being quite "out of the box." Mr J. Duncan, the erstwhile New Zealand representative, refereed. The followiug were the teams: — Dunedin —Full-back, J. Aitcheson; threequarters, M. O "Sullivan and K. Baxter; centre, 0. Bond; five-eighths, S. Jeffs and J. Farquson; half-back L. O'Keefe; wing forward, W. Russell; forwards, M. Stevenson, 11. Haynes, G. Couper, W. Wood, L. Williams, A. White, and 11. Pearson.

Sydenham—Full-back, A. Doell; three-quarters, W. 11. Clemens and H. Davis; centre, E. Fraser; live-eighths, IT. Watson and 11. Sail; half, E. Fitzsimmons, wing forward, A. Hutchins; forwards, IT. Bathurst, J. Jones, W.

Hamilton, J. Appleyard, E. Kennedy, J. Booth, and C. Johnson. Dunedin won the toss, and commenced a strong attnek, which was staved oft" by good "work by A. Doell. From a line out Kennedy made a" splendid rim, a wild pass to Davis nullifying the effort. Sale was next conspicuous by good play. An opening made by him was accepted by E. Fraser, who, badly tricking several opponents, gave a welltimed pass to Davis, the last-named player dashing over the line. Watson converted an easy goal. Sydenham 5, Dunedin nil.

Dunedin rallied for a brief spell, a splendid rush by their vanguard being spoilt by too hard kicking. Some give and take play followed, the tedium being somewhat relieved by the brilliant individual play of Watson and Fraser. Fast following up by Johnston looked like a score, but a knock-on spoilt the Sydenham man's chances. From a scramble near the Dunedin line Watson dived over, Doell's kick being fruitless. Sydenham 8, Dunedin nil.

| E. Fitzsimmons was responsible for | good work, saving his side on several L occasions. Half time was then called.

Immediately on resuming Sydenham attacked strongly and Watson securing raced round behind the posts, the same player adding the major points. Sydenham 13, Dunedin nil.

Play had scarcely recommenced before Davis following up well secured, and passing to Watson, a score eventuated. The kick at goal was fruitless. Sydenham 16, Dunedin nil.

The Dunedin forwards here commenced to liven up the game; a rush by the southern vanguard enabling W. Eussell to fall over. The kick at goal failed. Sydenham 16, Dunedin 3.

The Dunedin Club's score was further increased by three points a moment after as the result of a splendid effort by B. Haynes. Sydenham 16, Dunedin 6.

From now on Sydenham held the advantage, Watson, as the result of a brilliant run, again crossing the line. The angle necessary to kick the goal proved too difficult for E. Kennedy. Time was then called, the score being:— Sydenham 19, Dunedin 6.