LEAGUE RUGBY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1340, 30 May 1918, Page 3 (Supplement)

LEAGUE RUGBY.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. The meeting'of Sydenham ami Linwood at Llnwood Park last Saturday, in the Canterhury.Rugl)y league's first grade competition, produced football interesting* ill its way, but lacking any display of the finer points of the game. The wearers of the green and black jersey are a vigorous side, with plenty of "go" and weight about them. They are courageous, too, but very noticeably lacking in knowledge and resource. Still, the raw material is good, and capable of much improvement. Linwood Shines for a Time. In the first half the game was fairly even, and there was good ground for hope in the minds of Linwood supporters that their side might win the match. The forwards were pushing their opponents all over the ground, and repeatedly securing the ball from the scrum. It was at this point, however, that the Linwood side failed, for the backs, though willing and speedy, were the veriest novices in the handling of the ball. Invariably they fumbled the passing, with the result that the Sydenham backs intercepted and turned the situation to their own advantage. The form shown by the Sydenham side, however, was not to be compared with that which it displayed on the previous Saturday against Hornby. Gasson and D. George were absent, and the team played a man short; but this was not sufficient to account for the poor show made by the Reds in the first half of the game. Towards the end of the first spell, Sydenham secured a try under circumstances which called forth a demonstration against the referee by the Linwood supporters on the line. From a passing rush by the Sydenham backs, Sniythc broke away, outpacing the backs of the opposing side, and leaving only the Linwood full-back between him and the line. Smythe kicked hard, and the Linwood full-back collided with him. Young, who had been in attendance on Smythe, chased after the ball, Hanna, a Linwood three-quarter, contesting the distance with him. Hanna reached the ball first, but the referee awarded a try to Sydenham, on the ground that Batcman, the Linwood full-back, had obstructed Smythe. Whether Smythe would have reached the ball before Hanna, if he had not been obstructed by Batcnian, is very questionable. In the second half, the Linwood pace perceptibly flagged, while the Sydenham play brightened up considerably: A series of passing rushes were initiated by the Red backs, but in the earlier part of the .second half they were brought to naught by the solid tackling of the Greens. Then, however, Sydenham's scoring recommenced, the Reds eventually winning by 20 points to 3. In addition to the incident previously described, there were other untoward events in the game, including a couple of players shaping up to each other, and a few others being knocked out. Altogether it was a strenuous game for both the players and the referee (Mr Stevens). Federal and Hornby.

In the first half of the match between Federal and Hornby, it looked for a time as though Federal v.ivld repeat its former performance, and aga'n defeat Hornby. Playing with the wind. Federal had much the better of the game in the early stages. Several times in succession Federal threatened the Hornby line, and only hard and persistent tackling by the Hornby players kept them out. The Federal backs resorted to high kicking and fast following-up, and did little in the way of passing rushes. TinFederal forwards gave no chances to the Hornby backs, and the latter were unable to show what they could do in attack. Towards the. end of the first half, however, the Hornby forwards and backs combined in a loose rush that carried the ball to the Federal line and enabled H. Moffatt to score.

The character of the game in the second half was much the same, the tackling on either side being a noticeable feature, all attempts at passing rushes being spoiled by the opposing side before they could develop. Hornby succeeded in adding another try, the result of a flue solo effort by B. Smith, who let S. Smith across, giving Hornby the victory by six points to nil. B. Smith's plajt throughout the game was particularly good, and F. Sanders, at centre three-quarter, also contributed largely to the victory. Of the forwards, Morgan played the best game, H. Moffatt and Bench being also worthy of mention. Federal players were the victims of several accidents. Forrester, who twisted bis knee the previous week, repeated the performance. Thackwell, in tackling Sanders, was jerked on to the hitter's boot, and bit his tongue very badly, and \V. Bowden received a severe cut above the eye, each of these players having to retire. Thackwell had to be taken to the Hospital, where two stitches were put in the injured tongue.