LEAGUE RUGBY

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17040, 14 May 1923, Page 3

LEAGUE RUGBY

Note* on Um Game.

T)m eompaettnons we*e oonmnuevi on S*t«frdh.y anti eon wider in g the heavy yr' that hail t alien for a week the fr«tmci» ware in rood order, though the top jnu*face *m grenay, with feed spots aft filaoea. »u gges tied that ©eah of the ■***>* &Uiim would result no close gfcbfes, and tide proved to be the ease p the Wttfhton-K aiapoi mat oh, which reatttM in a drawn game, while Addtftfbo* wpu against Lis wood right on tlidft. Hornby, however, effected a by boating Sydenham. The lliNft loot the aorvioea of F. Matthews, bßftlr captain, '"'ho received an injury caused hie retirement, and this pilr all the difference to the team. aftMt be recognised, though, that mvnby axe improving frith each game -Am in the final round they should be Herd to beat. _The Addington team missed “ Dick ” Watt from their forwards. He had 1 9* mitfortune to be injured just before hoon in a motor accident, which caused his removal to the hospital, and with JSL Cox away in Dunedin, te western suburbs were further han<&oepped. C. Goodman is yet unable *? &*?> and an injury caused J. SancWt te go to full-back. Good material from the juniors, however, was available, and they deserved their suciMl- %* WOOLSTON (2) v- KAIAPOI (2). The meeting of these teams at Woolstcn Park was of interest to tlie supporters of both clubs, as it gave a lino to future engagements with the c€hwr clubs. Each side had ample opportunities to win, but neglected tJtemu Good scoring chances were allowed to escape, particularly by AVoolaton, as with two speedy thiee-quar-tam in G. Ferris and V. Beaumont to mush off a passing rush, the inside becks showed wretched judgment in pet giving their fast wings more of tikft play. With a fair share of the boll the K Aiapoi backs hud similar

opportunities of giving C. Beck the ohftnce of showing his ability. A good centre back who uses brains would have won the game for either toam. A short kick across so placed as to enable the wing-three-quarters tw gather the ball would probably have beam fruitful. High punting and long xgogs kicking that gave the opposing fjplUbaak every chance to gain posses:Men and recover position was woive I tjhaja useless sit was stupid. If the I <f*atna a/terwards disoussed the play ftmoftgst themselves it mut have ,p----pealsa to them that close in passing tna support would have accomplished a groat deal better result* and have Won the game, and saved the forwards. English, Australian, and Auckland club teems after their games freely discuss movements that occurred during the Mftj, with the object of developing them for their next match. The play was very even right I through with a tendency to kiok rather than pass or run, and the in*ide banks showing a disinclination to make for team play, by kicking high, hard, and often, and leaving the forwards to do the rest. The forwards on both sides never attempted a passing rush amongst themselves. ~ The tackling was hard and the player tackled usually hit the ground. A good effort by B. Stapley from a mark on the twenty-fivei yard line near touch just missed success to Woolston, as the ball hit the crossbar and bounoed back. The Stapley Brothers were very prominent for Woolston. but go too far before passing. F. Stapley made a 10-t of good openings, but he should have passed out quickly and sent the hall along until it. reached either Forms or Beaumont, and then hacked up the receiver closely. V. Watson also j neglected his wings and he had some good chances. He was too often tackled with the ball F. Harris, at half, gave his backs the ball and played a good game throughout-. In the forwards 1. Thompson and J. Cork in were always prominent and they show promise of further improvement. For Kaiapoi R. Nisbett at full-hack was responsible for a lot of good work and his tackling saved hie side from defeat. He i*. R fine stamp of a player. O. Beck, on the light wing of the three-quarter line. is. one of the best hacks of the side and given the opportunity would develop into a solid scoring player. F. Lynskey and F. Julian, at halfdid the heavy share of defence anti attack They have yet to acquire com bin a tion. L. Thank well, with T. Tamin'. kicked too often for the benefit of the <»ido It. is suggested that a rearrangement of their backs would improve Kaiapoi, and if Nesbitt went to centre, with T. Taznui at full-back, it might be of benefit. R.. Lynskey and IV. Fisher were most conspicuous of the forwards. ADDTNGTON (15) v LIN TV DID (14). The ground at Linwood Park was in very fair order. Neither club had its beet side in the field, T. Cox, F. Watts and Goodman lx?ing missing from Addington. The game Was played at a great pace and the superior training of Addington was evident in the closing Stages. The honours of the game go to G. Falgar. who scored all three tries for Addington an* 1 in the last few minutes potted a goal, thus putting his aide ene point ahead. His was cn exhibition any player might be proud of, as he did not make one serious mistake throughout the game. With Goodman, Sanders and Falgar together. Addington will take a power of beating. Sanders played at full-back, and his work was good all through, his fielding and tackling being clever, but he is waited «o far away from the centre of play.

R Watt was a nippy little fiveeighths. starting rushes on all possible occasions Christiansen’s passing was a feature of the play, and h© was a big help to G. Falgar. Lagan was the best of tbe Magpies’ forwards, and seeing that he has had only two games in as many seasons the

big fellow want very well. Quirke. Collie and E. Falgar . were also eonspiouows. Palmer waa tee methodical as fullback for Linwood, but his handling was Harper’s swervy run was much in evidence, and he went well with Harney. who, though dlosely watched, managed some good runs. Fisher and Moulin were sound on defence but not fast enough in opening up passes. Kelly did not get enough to do, but what he did get was don© well. HORNBY 14 v. SYDENHAM 0. There was no lack of excitement in tile match between Hornby and Sydenham on the Hornby Domain, and towards the ©nci the contest really resolved itself into a test of endurance. Sydenham were unfortunate in not having their strongest team available and to make matters wore© they lost tho services of F. Matthew*, their captain. about a quarter of an hour before tlie end oi the first spell, Matthews having te retire on account of an injury. Hornby were at their full strength and. moreover, had the advantage of weight. Their win by 14 points to nil was. on the afternoon’s play, thoroughly well deserved. When Sydenham kicked off they immediately met strong; opposition and it was apparent at that stage that Sydenham would find Hornby a very difficult team to beat.

Ihe early stages ol the game were marked by fast open play, Hornbv pressing Sydenham very “hard. C. Lennox was the first to score, getting across the Sydenham line in a scramble. Parkes failed to convert the try.

Hornby continued the attack and A. Mackie, a promising young player who v. as in the Templeton third grade team last season, made himself conspicuous bv some good work as halfback for Hornby. Several times he secured possession and was on' the point of breaking through when lie was collared.

A series of scrums near the Sydenham line made things look dangerous tpr the defenders, particularly when V iviait, one of Hornby’s biggest backs, got hold of the ball. A Sydenham man, however, made a good save arid once, more the game became more open.

Some good play in Hornbv tciTitorv followed and Mackie again claimed attention by cleverly upsetting k Sydenham man who was dashing towards the line. Sydenham got in some splendid passing but could not break tiirqjjgh.

During the subsequent play the ball, changed quickly from end to end of the field, and Hornby, being awarded a free kick, Parkes landed a good goal from the 25 line. Some time later Molloy, one of. the Sydenham hacks, started a good rush towards the Hornby line, but was stopped by Vivtan. When half-time sounded Hornby had five points to their credit A struggle near the Sydenham line was one of the incidents at the open ing of the second spell, the ball being forced. Hornby, however, got a free kick in a good position and Parkes landed Ins second goal. Further attacks against Sydenham’s line followed. but the defenders got a respite through a scrum back being ordered A determined dash forward in which there was some rather good passing enabled Sydenham to clear their territory, but they were again unable to break through the Hornby backs Svdenham then got a free kick and Coomber. the full-back, made an unsuccessful attempt at goal. I lie game was becoming more strenuous and exciting all tbe time and several stoppages bad to be made on account of injuries to players. the longest hreak being when M 'Alpine got a bad cut on his head. Both sides tried their hardest to score but the honours were mostly with Hotnhv then- superior weight airing them a decided advantage. Near the eqd of the game. Hornby appeared to score, but a scrum back was ordered instead. and a few seconds later Parkes neatly potted n goal. This was followed bv » try scored by Vivian and converted bv Parkes, time then being colled. Mr H. Reed officiated as referee and his decisions were impartial and gave satisfaction to both sides. A pleasing feature of his work was that he insisted on a strict observance of the rules.

Apart from the severe defeat- inflicted on Sydenham— probablv the greatest defeat they have ever suffered the game demonstrated that, the Hornby team are likely to give Addington a. good go next Satordav. One noticeable feature i TI connection with the match was the lack of control exercised by Hornbv officials over the spectators. Xot.onlv did the spectators crowd over the lines in unruly mobs, but a number of cvclists

actually rode their machines across the middle of the field during the progress of the game. Some of those overrealou* cycle racers certainly deserved to have their machines smashed up and it would perhaps be as well for thenexecutive authority to issue a severe warning to them.