RUGBY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12083, 11 August 1917, Page 10

RUGBY.

TO-DAY'S GAMES. GREAT GAME AT SHOW GROUNDS. MARISTS BEAT LINWOOD. Two very interesting Rugby matches were provided at the Show Grounds today, all other fixtures being cancelled in view of the semi-final between lanwood and Marists. At 1.30 Albion played Little River, a team composed largely of Maoris, who showed a very fair knowledge of the game. Wi'th a hit more finish they might have won, but Albion, greatly assisted by Gray, pulled off the match rather easily. MARISTS v. LINWOOD. By three o'clock, when tho Senior fixture was timed to begin, there was a very largo attendance of spectators, tho stand and mound being well filled. Linwood were a point ahead of Marists, who were level with Merivale A lor second place. A win for Linwood meant possession of the championship, while a win for Marists meant a triangular contest between the leading teams. Previously Linwood and .Marists had played a draw a't Linwood Park, and as there lias always been keen rivalry between these two " wearers of the green," a fine conte.st was looked forward to. As it turned out, Marists won by a point in one of tho fastest and most stubborn games seen for years, hut the. majority of those present considered that Marists were awarded a try that should never have been allowed. Tho teams were as follow: Marists O'Loughlin, Groeulees, Lilly. Benson, Khouri, M'Cormiek, Piripi, Fitzgerald, Bnrney, M.'Guinness, Minoham, Ellis, Mahan, Mahoncy, Fahcy and Frame. Linwood—Brown, M'Gerty, Cain, Hirst, Fortune, Serra. Varney, Buckley, E. Cummings, W. Cuinmings, Emnson and Turpin. Referee—M.r J. F. Peakc. Marists kicked o/f with an appreciable advantage of wind, but were soon forced by a vigorous kick by Watson. The drop out was returned by Hirst inside tho twenty-five, and from flagrant off-side in the .scrum Linwood had a kick at goal, but Fortune's kick was charged. Ho had another a moment later for an equally bad broach, and landed a lovely goal within three minutes of the kick-off. Linwood 3. Marists 0. A dosperato loose rush down tho lino was tho next incident, and Malzard, tho Linwood half came out with a scalp wound, but went back bandaged. A free kick to Marists was badly fumbled by Watson, and in the melee Linwood were penalised, but Fitzgerald's kick at goal went wide. Linwood had a man in front at the drop out, and tho scrum lot play right back to tho Linwood line. A carry over brought a scrum five yards out and Fitzgerald let tho ball out to Lilly, 110 was grassed, but Fitzgerald regained possession and scored, tj*o. kick hitting the upright. Linwood . . . .3 Marists ... .3 Marists were now forcing the play in tho forwards, and tho Linwood backs wer 0 a bit clumsy. Ted Cummings was tho next, man to be bandaged, bleeding freely and play proceeded merrilv. Minchan led a good Marist rush, but it was neutralised by a penalty, and a slashing counter rush by the' formidable Linwood forwards Mas cut off bv a ( smart _ mark by Fitzgerald. Then O'Loughlin saved the side with a line high mark. But a nice pass from Hirst ■to I'ortune, followed bv a good line kick sent play back to tho Marist line, whero RlalzarU marked, but Fortune's kick just went wide. It was just after this that tho referco made a bad error of judgment in awarding a mark to Fitzgerald, and they demonstrated wildly. From midway Fitzgerald made u great dash, intercepting a Linwood pass. Ho sent tho ball on to Lille.V, out Brown grassed hiru promptly, and what looked like a scoro was nullified. Another brilliant dash was mado by Benson, Marists' trick Maori threequarter, but when he kicked his team hung off-side, and the advantage was lost, Ted Cummings broke away from a line-out, but Fitzgerald whipped up the leather, and let it out to Lilley land Khouri, but the last-named knocked on. Linwood rushed" plav back at. lightning speed, and, getting possession in a scrum, let it <t,it to the backs. Watson sent it out to Hirst, who transferred to Cain, with M'Gerty in attendance, but Cain foolishly went for a solo run, and was ; thrown into touch in goal. Linwood had more vigour in tho scrums, frequently pushing Marists off tho ball, buti ,tho game was played at a whirl* wind pace, both packs being trained to tho minute. Linwood lost a scoring chance ten yards out, by passing tlieJ ball out of the serum by hand, and in defending a counter attack Watson got off-side, but again Fitzgerald failed with the kick at goal. Half-timo .sounded with the score even. Linwood's kick-off went out, and although they carried tho scrum at half-way, M'Cormiek nicked up a dozen yards with a cross-kick. After up-and-down play, H'urst let his forwards up with a nice kick. _ A couple of serums followed closo in, and from one of these the ball wa.s shot out to Yates, who dropped a pretty goal with the left foot. Linwood 7. Marists 3. Linwood continued to press, and although penalised close up, Fortune sent play back with a long kick. Benson took it cleverly, and mado a dash to connect up with his backs, but lie lost possession and Bill Cummings turned defence into attack with a solo dribbling rush. -Marists showed superiority in a pout of lino kicking, and tried desperatoiy to push tho advantage home, but Linwood rallied and led by Buckley and the Cummings brothers, out off a passing movement between M'Cormiek, Lilly and Fitzgerald and had very hard luck not to score, the forwards all over-running. The game now became brilliant in patches. A Linwood passing rush was brilliantly intercepted and tho ball travelled down to Fortune. He transferred to Watson who ran strongly, but was grassed, and Benson sent .(play back. The Linwood backs wcro all out of position, and only tho over-running of the attackers lost a sure score. Play continued in tho Linwood twenty-five, whero Fortune cleared with a great kick. Hie ball was oalled back for a scrum however, and from some tight play close in Fitzgerald .snapped up and dodged over. Kouri landed the goal with a ; kick that was almost a poster, and tho scores read: Marists . . . .8 j Linwood . . .7 The turn of fortune put- new life into Marists, aud they played up .desperately. Lilly made a great dash, and passed out to Khouri, who almost boat the opposition, but was jerked into touch by M'Gertv. Play camo back and for a breach in the scrum Linwood had a penalty shot in a fair position. Fortune took tho kick and tho ball soared high, hgjng acclaimed as a goal by the crowd/ but the drop-out brought • disillusionment. Linwood again attacked in the loose, but a hard kick closo up enabled Lilley .to force. Linwood surged up again, but although they liacLj, line-out right on the goal-line a. force resulted. From , the drop-out E. Cummings attempted

to drop a goal, but missed. Maoists came back, and from a mark by Lilley, M'Cormiek had a shot at goal, but missed. Linwood mado a last desperado effort to score. M'Gerty going down the line with Hirst and Watson, but the last pass was missed. Then Marists broke through past- tho Linwood fullback. Lilley got ptDssession, and ran strongly ajong the line shepherded by a brother back. Fortune camo up fast and made a divo for Lilley, b'.it was flagrantly obstructed by the' other back. Fortune appealed for obstruction, but his appeal was disregarded, and meanwhile Lillev scored. Tho referee's decision created a hostile demonstration such as has rarely been heard on a Rugby ground, and Fitzgerald took his kick to a continuous roar of booing and applause, lie missed. Marists 11. Linwood ". Linwood played up gamely, and Fortune, who was the mainstay of tho backs, had a deliberate but liopelcssi pot. Marists forced twice, playing for time. Linwood had free kicks, from which they might have scored, but_they kicked high, playing f«- tlie better stako of a converted goal. Finally, however, Ted Ouminings, following fast, tackled Fitzgerald in possession, and in tho scramble Serra scored. Fortune's kick, which would have won the match, was taken at a bad angle and missed, and the final score was:— Marists 11. Linwood 10. ALBION v. LITTLE RIVER. THE CURTATN-I? AISER. ALBION v. LITTLE RIVER. Tho teams were : Albion—A. Henry, G. D. Gray, AYalker. A. Cameron, Matthews, G. Whitham, L. Hamilton, E. Machen, H. Luke, JO. Collins, T. Culliver, C. Bowden, M. Sheridan and W. Ballan'tyne. Little River C. Columbus, 11. French, J. Karitai, J. Whiatere, JL Coulson, 11. Karitai, P. Marsh, F. Jenkins, L. Fahey, E. Ussher, M. Barklev, J. Skipper, il. Gilbert, C. Butcher aiid V. Jobbin. Mr Mercer was referee. Albion kicked off and at once set up an attack. Little River gradually worked tho play down to half-way. arid some tight play followed. Little "River broke away, but Henry relieved with a. good kick. A passing rush by Albion took tho ball down to their opponents' lino, where Little River marked. Machen marked in front of a loose rush, and Henry had a shot at goal, but the kick failed. Albion started a passing rush, but a Little River three-quarter inter,cepted. Gray kicked down the field, and Matthews raced after the ball and, securing it, scored. Collins converted. Shortly after Gray broke through, and Albion setting up another attack. Matthrows again got over. Gray's kick at goal failed. Half-time was called soon afterwards with Albion leading by 8 points to nil. After tlio interval Little River pressed hj},rd, but failed to score. Albion broko away and play was kept in tho Little River twenty-five for some time, but tho. visitors defended stubbornly, until Gray made a fine run through and scored. Machen's kick ati goal failed. Little River made a splendid rush and Jobbin got over at Itho corner. Karitai's kick at| goal just missed. From somo loose play Cameron scored for Albion, but Henry's kick at goal was a. failure. Tlie visitors set up another attack, and Gray just marked in time. Then Albion attacked again and Hamilton scored at the corner, but tlie try was not enhanced. Time wa.s called immediately, the scores being— Albion 17. Little River -1. THIRD GRADE. Playing at Officers' Point Technical College and Lyttclton played a drawn ganiej each side scoring 6 points. Sissons and Wilson scored for College and Collins and Gayley for Lyttclton. Mr H. A. Watson was referee. Tho Merivale Club will hold a smoke .social to-night in the Caledonian Hall. THE JOCKE/YS' MATCH. NORTH ISLAND v. SOUTH ISLAND. Tho following will represent the jockeys in tho match North Island v. South IMand: South Island—J. Campbell. S. "Wall?, L. Hngerty, B. Donovan, S. Read, .T. M'Randall, W. Robinson, A. M'Seveney, Jt Lodge, F. Holmes, J. Boyd, Huthven, A. M'Millan, W. Llovd a.nd Buddioombe. North Island—Duvev, Booth, Hatch, Robinson. .Tacko, O'Sbea. Porter, Henderson, Thompson. Tap]?. Flynn, Copestake, o'llalloran, Morris and Burt.