RUGBY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19986, 28 June 1920, Page 3

RUGBY.

SENIOR NOTES. The ins and outs of Rnzby form uoro in evidence on Saturday, when Albion, who had played a draw a week previously against lanwood, wont, down before Sydenham, who np till then had not non a match. It was. a popular vein, lor it loaves .Sydenham on level terms with Christchurch for the wooden spoon., 7he oilier games resulted as they were expected to result. LTXWOOD (9) v. OLD BOYS (G). Twice Liuwood have defeated Old Bo\s_. the first time by G points to 5, and on Saturday by a goal, from a mark, kicked right on the call of lime. Although their win was fortuitous, they were the bettor team. E. Cummings was in Wellington, but Hobson was bark at wing, ami the team was otherwise unaltered. Old Boys, on the other hand, were without C. 1C Evans (also in Wellington) and C. E. (liiiney. Francis was out of the pack and s W. Hirkmntt was wing forward. For the greater part of the first spell. Ihe Linwood park pushed the lighter Old Boys about most cavalierly, nntl were constantly down on the line with forward rushes that should have scored.

It was one of their dangerous back movements that gave Old Boys the first score. Blackmorc passed well back to Boas: on the blind side, and a great run ‘ between Parker and Bong gave Bong a [ line try. At this stage Linwood had I bad alj the better of ilie game. , and | when Yates broke through and ran right ; to the line It looked ns if a certain try j was coining, but Old Bovs exhibited j sound tackling here (and also throughout the game) and the. effort was spent five yards from the line. It led to a most exciting siege by Linwood, in which two easy scores were missed. First Davis potted dose in, and missed, and then Yates tried to drop a goal from a mark, and missed also. flowover, the Linwood hacks got going for once, and Davis, at whom all previous passing rushes had broken down, took the pass for once and romped in, with another man to pass to if needed. Although playing against the wind in the second spell Old Boys set up a long 1 attack, and Parker, with a great run, scored at the corner. Then Turpin scored a well-deseiwecl try in a. loose rush, evenfng matters again, and the game looked like a certain draw until Bnrson marked and "Wright landed tho winning goal. ] There was something radically wrong with the Linwood scrum. Shaw and Yarnev. two hard-working forwards at all times, hooked the ball all. right, but it stuck in the back rank lime after time. _ The Linwood forwards are still inclined to forget their backs in other respects, although they are about the host pack in the competition. Turpin's line-out work was a. feature of the game, and Morrow is improving distinctly. Biirson was the most accurate back on the winning side. Vat os got a couple of liard knocks, hut played up to his usual good standard. Davis’s handling and kicking were wretched. Brown, at full-hack, was much too far back throughout the gaine. i X. Down played a splendid game as j full-back. A- Burney was distinctly patchy, and- if the attack had been concentrated on Inin- in the first spell, instead of on Barker’s wing, ihe result would have been different. •I. fl, Parker was tim brightest spot in the whole game. Back in his old position as W(ing; thregjjwuartier,- his handling was wonderfulljwiceurale and easy, and he never failed to get hm kick in; but. .above all, lie made some brilliant runs right through the other side, who found him very difficult, to lower. A very ironical remark was shouted once from the cast stand, “ They don’t, want you in Wellington, Barker.” Certainly it is hard to say how a brilliant player like Barker, adI mittedly the fastest sprinter in Can- ! tcrbin-y. can be ovorldok’cd [by the j selectors. | Bong played one of bis best games, | as first five-eighth. one of those de--1 cpptive games that induce the selee- | tors to keep a .soft spot in their hearts i for him. His try hi association with | Barker on the blind side was hnli bant, and keyed the spectators no to | a pre-war pitch of excitement, i Referees have a thankless task, no j doubt, and to the supporters of one I side_ or other they are either “ too [.musical ’ or else they ought to have t a straw to clean tlm whistle out. 7t ! should he remembered that an honest [referee cannot give, a mark or a try i if he has not seen it, and the lookeri on, why secs most, of the game, should ; he discouraged from hurling nointed I remarks at the referee, as was tlm e r i,; e on the oval. Mr W. Rrilicn eertajp|ly missed one mark culled In- Old [ Boys, close in front, of the stand, hut j the hall was kicked out of the ruck. in any case, and it was hard to say l wliclliet it did not conic off n white | jersey. The whistle was a hit. slow on other occasions, and certainly the , referee ignored a tremendous amount of off-side play, notable bv Hofrmn the Linwood wing forward.' To ] r - e [ matters no. Old Bovs' forwards a o t a wav with a good deal of off-side nTav in breaking up on half a score of necssions, when the ball hung in the back rank of the scrum. MARISTS (19) r. CHRISTCHURCH (3). Two flashes of real, old-time Rimbv brightened up the first spell 0 f tlm Mansls-Christchureh cnitcsl. One was when ,1. Mullins, ru ruinin'hard clown his own side of jhe iiehf found himself hemmed in. He kicked accurately right over to. the other side where Fitzgerald was waiting, and n passing movement, quickly developed. James M’Commck got the ball, howled over Blassey. .Jacobsen and Dingle, and scored under the posts. Tho second flash was when Brosnalinn scored a “dud” trv. The hall camo through the five-eighths, on to O’Malley, and then to James M'Connaek, who made a determined dash for the corner Held up by Tapley. lie passed back over his head, and the Marisb line swept forward again. Bfosnahan .galloped up liraui the rear, and rounded off a beau-

Liiul movement with a clever try, close in. The crowd cheered wildly, and then laughed. Tho line umpire's Hag had been up all tlie time. Af.’C'orniack put lus loot over fbe touch-line just as he pulled up to pasn. Christchurch-should have scored three tries in thc second spell. They seemed a new (earn after tho interval.’ Hard, hustling forward play, with a good deal of deadly tackling, upset all Alarists’ efforts to start something, and kept the greater portion of the game on tlie Greens' side of half-way. If Christchurch could do some more work of this description they would lie able to give any other team in the competition a good shake-np. Brosnahan's full-backdisplay was not first-class. He kicked to'the line with judgment and .tackled, when he bad to, without fault, but lie failed to take ibe ball properly on several occasions. He recovered quickly enough, hut all the same ‘’mulled” catches arc a grievous sin in a player otherwise lit to represent his province. .lames AT'Cormack bad Ibe defence rattler in (he first spell. He gut bis first try with a sbor) sprint after eight or nine men had handled the ball. His second try showed what can be .dom; by a man prepared to go for it, though apparently well marked. O’Afalley opened out at a great bat, but did not keep up the pace. Ho took some bard passes, and sent out some that—'were worse. ‘

Mulling on _ the'right-wing. put a. hit of variety into his play, particularly in the- cross-punt department. When lie did go for a gallop, Robinson Into Ins name and number. I'itzgerakl was the better of the two five-eighths._ .Moth of them were, slow off the mark, and, in thu second spell weak in null slopping. K. ]’. AFDonakl, said to have represented Auckland, Wellington,' Canterbury and Otago at various f,iines, did as he liked behind'the scrum. He kept very close up to the back rankers, and, occasionally, puzzled his own side by unusual tactics. The Marist pack saw that the match was safe, and then went rather calmly. Ellis, Peterson and P. J. Al’Cormack were the best performers on the day's play. Flood obtained a clever try, and was a consistent worker in liueouts. The winger. F. Smyth, never put on the brake, and got round too cjuiekly very often. Dingle, the Christchurch full-bacK, never allowed much to bustle him. He tackled when he got a fair chance, but condition was against him. Robinson was the outstanding man in the tlnee-quarter line. A strong runner, and a sure rush-stopper, no needs oitly cleaner handling of the ball to make him a. top-notcher. Every Christchurch back appears to suffer from the-complaint known- as ‘‘all thumbs.” Cooke (centre) and Taplcy (left wing) had- better men against tiiu.n, Cooke could put more ‘'ginger" into bis play, and the whole team, would improve fifty per cent. Tapley will develop into a smart back. Orchard's kicking was Hound, and his tackling fair. The other fiveeighth, Jacobsen, played one of Ina best games on Saturday. He cut in through numerous rushes and. with stronger support, might have broken through. Gray, at half, was-not vciy much at home, though he stood up to powerful rushes with coolness and pluck. IJlazcy led the forwards all the lime. He "devoted a good deal of attention to Smyth, appealed fairfv often with success, and generally spent a. busy atternoon. T\. Henderson, Feast and Parson wore ako prominent. In the second spell. “ Jock ” Walter made a successful reappearance. He wasted no time in getting to business ami was soon minus a portion of his “toss.” The referee (Hr C. Allard) was doubtful about the application of the advantage rule. Ho awarded freekicks wfs]i marked impartiality and great frequency. SYDENHAM, (6> v. AUHON (-3). Better things may be expected of the ..Sydenham team in. the future. They commenced the sea-mu very badly, but they have been'improving, and Saturday came victorious from (he field. Admittedly. the Albion team put- np hut a. poor fight, and the Sydenham team did not do much better; but, the victory. even of so meagre a nature, is a promising sign, Not in itself noteworthy, ii is yet the- forenimmr of others. Tim Sydenham hoys should be heartened by it. and spurred In fresh and continued effort,, which will go a very long way indeed in improving the general standard of (lie team. Albion s pertonnaiiee was of a very different character from (ho game played by them tine previous week. Tltev played brilliantly then, hut this lime lib-' ""as lacking. It was a most unaccountable change. The game in the, first spell was not of 11 ip spectacular, variety. There was always a pack round the hall, and -.mb such play, very little opportunity was given for brilliant, individual work. The nature of the play, too, was such as to be most uninteresting to’watch. Albion's only score was secured by C. Hollis, who played in the, forward line. He. broke, away from the pack, and alter chiding several attempts ai' lack, hug, got to. the. line, the try heine most merited. ' ■ > After the- half-time interval Sydenham; had improved. Previously thev had been in many unpleasant situations, hnt a, lucky mark had always happened ( along to save the day. '.\ o w. howi ever, they staged the battle in the | Album twenty-five, and made a more determined effort to get through iho opposing line. Sydenham's score, however, was seen red by two penally goals, both being kicked by A. George. Skelton and Davis made a fine passing rush at one stage of the game, but Buchanan (Albion) ended it with a good tackle, L. Clemens (Sydenham) was good on the ball. 11. Watson; too, was never far away, and some neat work was executed by these two. J- Beatty, Sydenham's emergency back, was responsible for some lielty IviCrttug. Ho was spoilt, however, bv being rather unsteady on his less, tlm

lack of a spiko.on his bool being the cause. - “ Johnson, Albion's half-back,'is quick and clever. He is very'small arid light, ho never, and got considerably tho worst of an encounter with 'the S\ denham forwards, being' temporarily knocked out. \, . Huchanan did some long-range kick ' ing, but unfortunately often lacked direction. Henry was the best back in the team. His work was speedy, and his opponents round him difficult to stop. Both teams, however, lacked combination. This, of course, is only to he expected when fresh men are placed m tho teams from week to week. More practice is often pi much assistance in this respect. Very frequently, a player who has not been with the team tor a considerable time is included at the last moment before a match. Frequent practices would, give such men opportunities/of learning to work with their team-mates, and better pk” would undoubtedly result. MIiRIVALF/ (60) v. ’VARSITY (0)* arsity were up against it on Srttuidin. Taking the held as they did without Robertson, Cooper, M’larody •lames, Craven, Thompson, Munro, ■W vi ’> AT Donald and Biduuond, onlv tlio veriest optimist would have given (hem any chance at all of standing up to -Memale, even although Alcrivale ncto minus Hasell, Sandman and roid; and when they dost Bosscllman half way through the first spell and JacKscn at half-time without having t hcir..p!accs filled, it was not surprising that tlio proceedings developed into a rout. Indor the circumstances TarHt\ havp no cause to be ashamed of the. big score put up against Them--rather arc thevj to be commended for the way they stuck to -their guns to tlie bitter end. • >Mcrivnk arc to be judged oil their pcrtounance -during the first twenty minutes, when the ’Varsity resistance "as at its maximum, and during that period it appeared as if the absence of the “ guns ” rather improved the team than otherwise. Certain it is that the machinery of the' back division .especially ran with a smoothness tliat lias riot been very evident hitherto.” Bvans was the king-pin of the attack, and lie played a rattling game throughout. ' Most of tlio tries gained by the backs came, from openings made by mm. lie engineerd a good try f 0 ‘ r Austin when lie threw the latter a long pass over the beads of two intervening players, giving him a clear nm in. Cade made a welcome re-appearance, and signalised it by scoring the first throe tries. His handling was most accurate, and no one watching him ■would have guessed that lie plav.s so seldom.. • Austin, playing centre three-quarter, scored four tries. This was made possible, partly by the fact that ’Varsity vere a hack short, but more because every time lie got the ball be crowded on every otinaj of speed he possesses—and he possesses a tidy amount, despite the heayy weather he makes of his runnirigyi If he makes good next Saturday representative honours should not he far from his grasp. Bussell, a-"forward'‘who hails from Auckland, made his lirst appearance’in the Alerirale ranks, with a good deal ol success. He is ail acquisition. Cochrane and Hegarty were prominent at times for good footwork. •Is there anything in representative erickct_.--t.hat specially fits a man -for the position of lull-back, or vice versa? Itvaiis and Brosuahan are notable exw nniples, and now they have been joined by Worker, who guarded ’Varsity V goal on Saturday. He gave quite a creditable display, getting to the ball /juickly, fielding well, and tackling gamely. His, kicking was not so powerful, as one might wish, but be gained all the ground possible by running. His first appearance in Christchurch football was a distinct success. B. S. Molony. playing wing threequarter, was the best back on the \ arsity side. He handled tho ball accurately, ran strongly and dodged well, and kicked to advantage. If he could get nit.) form ho might well be given a permanent position. Fiffc, who hails from Oamaru, and is a North Otago represenlativje, i>. a new mair in the. 'Varsity team. He was not very prominent-on Saturday, but under happier conditions ought - 'to be a useful man. He should,, however have leavitt by this time that it rtasicr to collar a man by the legs than by the head. ■Malfroy and Jackson, neither of whom was quite recovered, turned out to fall up the team, mid Jackson was unlucky enough to re-open the wound m Ins head which lie sustained iu the I Otago match. ./Will was the most prominent of the; forwards 'who all struggled along l gallantly throughout. ' WELLINGTON V, WAIRA- I RAPA, [Per Press Asson.moy.j WELLINGTON, June 28. Wellington defeated Wairara-pa at Mastodon on .Saturday'by 2-1 ■ points to 11. The Wellington backs indulged in come brilliant passing. The forwards of tlie twm teams wore evenly matched, but the Wairarapa ''backs were lamentably weak. The superior play of the Wellington hacks won tlio game for Wellington. Ait-ken (li and’.B.van (2) sgored tries for Wellington.; : Shearer 0,-inverted three, Carson .scored a infor Wairarapa. The ground was heavy, but. the weather was line.