FOOTBALL

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17348, 13 May 1924, Page 3

FOOTBALL

THE RUGBY GAME,

JUNIOR NOTES. | The fourth round of matches in tho Junior Grade was played last Saturday m excellent football weather, and the grounds consequent upon several heavy showers during the week, were ,m tip-top order. One of tho finest exhiitions seen for some time was witnessed at North Park, where Merivalo and Christchurch fought out a great game, in which there were phases of brilliant football. Christchurch excelled in passing riahes, while the forwards gave the hacks vigorous rushes and clean hooking. At tho Show Grounds, Varsity were hard pressed to defeat Px-ebbleton, who displayed a re am rk able improvement in form, and for a considerable time had the better of the play. Riccarton were also hard pressed by Technical, against whom they just scraped home. Tun wood had little difficulty in defeating Sydenham, hut it was pleasing t-» note the general improvement in the football of. the losers. They flung the ball about in good style, and have some promising hacks. Lin Wood have a. very compact side. The chief drawback is lack of weight. In the loose the team excels. Kaiapoi maintained their succession c.f wins, but will need to improve the team combination if they hope to succeed against stronger 'teams. The forwards are a powerful lot and work hard. Individuality is the most striking feature about tho side. With combination Kaiapoi would be a great team.

STYLES OF PLAY.

The style of play of the majority of the teams in the Junior Grade is similar in this respect, that there is a decided tendency to favour the forward game. Week after week one sees slashing forward rushes in which the art of dribbling has been reasonably well mastered. Despite the effective-, new of this style of play, however,* there is a growing tendency, and a ruost pleasing one, to endeavour to improve the back play, and one may reasonably expect the passing game, both in backs and forwards, will beet me universal throughout the Derr inion. .This was the stylo of play last season of the famous Otago University team, whose combination was remarkably good. *•* Th* play of the All Black forwards last year was wonderful, but this style of game leaves the conclusion that if New Zealand football is to bo fashioned on these lines it will never become any better than it is at present, and that backs will be mainly used as defensive agents. In contrast to this, however, the passing game, which I admit is not foreign to New Zealand, but has merely been temporarily neglected, is gradually coming to the fore again, and I make bold to say that rhe passing game amongst backs and forwards is second to none for effectiveness. This style of game throws the burden equally* upon back and forward, and / develops a player’s ability, for -with the ball in hand he relics not upon sheer weight and strength f to win through, as upon quick thinking ability, cleverness of foot, the handling of the ball accurately, and the giving and taking passes at full speed, all of which give spectacular effect to the game. Above all. the passing game must develop a higher standard of play. No argument is necessary to demonstrate this. MERIVALE (20) v~ CHRISTCHURCH (14). , Christchurch and Merivale provided* one of the most interesting and spectacular games seen in junior football for some time. The pace was sus-, tained throughout, and there was scarcely a dull moment Both sets of hacks, flung the ball about to great purpose. There were instances of fumbling and weak handling, but these were not frequent. Christchurch were unlucky. Time after time they hurled themselves into action, flung the ball about .with precision and accuracy. but failed to pierce the defence. Merivale, towards the finish, relied too much upon kicking, and nearly threw the game awnv by these tactics.

Of the players, the Christchurch three-quarter line was very good. Alii son and Stafford on the wings were well fed. and performed well. Scrimshaw and Bell in the live-eighths played great games. Both are determined players, and they handled the ball well. Morris at half did everything required in god style. Of the forwards, Rasmussen and McFedries were the pick. For Merivale, Hay at full played a. very serviceable game. Yates and Maxwell were the pick of the remainder. Both defended solidly. Thompson and Rowntre© were the pick of a hard-working pack. VARSITY A (Id) v. PREBBLETON (11). At the Show Grounds, Prebbleton

MOTES ON THE GAMES.

displayed great improvement in form j aiul severely rattled the Varsity team, j whose better combination prevailed in • the end The game was very fast, and j both teams handled the ball accurately. Prebbleton made mistakes, bir will be a hard proposition later in th. : r season. Varsity play good football, both back and forward, and should be close up at the nd of the season. j Barak, the Varsity half, is a clever, J resourceful player. .Fames, five-eighth I was one of the best backß, while Hewson at centra put in some effective play. Watson, Osmers and Campbell were the pick of the forwards. For Prebbleton, F. Cox (full') H Cox (half) and Harris (five-eighth) 'veer the pick of the backs. Cook and M'Guitmess worked hard in the forwards 0 KAIAPOI (11) v. ALBION (6). On the Albion ground, a hard forward tussle between Kaiapoi aud Albion resulted in * narrow win fot Kaiapoi, who, however, had the better of the game. There was a lot of good individual work which gave the impression that if Kaiapoi could work up combination they would boa 1 fine team. They have several powerful forwards and reliable backs. For Albon, Hollis at centre was the l;cst back. He played a hard game. Johnson at half also put in some solid work. Lawless, Shaw, Burke and V itham were the best of the forwaiy.s For Kaiapoi, Manihera played a great game in tho pack. He is a powerful man and a great worker. Mot-ton and Rudkin alos went well. \ axley, Templeton and Robson were th« best of the backs. OLD BOYS (13), v. ’VARSITY B (3). . _ *b e Old Boys-Varsity B game at North Park, was a ragged exhibition, play was confined chietfly to the forwards. The Varsity pack worked hard and until the concluding stage when Old Boys woke up, had much the better of tho. play. The usual good cornbin- ! ation of the Old Boys’ backs was lacking and there were numerous instances of. poor handling and weak passing. Old Boys play some great games; also some indifferent ones. Qf the players Simes and Dailey were the best- of the Old Bovs’ backs. and Gunn, Forsyth and Arnold the pick of the forwards. For Varsity, Standon at full played a fine game. Acheson and Hetherington went well in th£ three-quarter line and combined effectively. Mills at half, put in a good afternoon’s work. Aschman, Carrington and Tothill were the pick of the forwards. LINWOOD (28) v. SYDENHAM (3). At Sydenham Park, Limvood bad no difficulty in defeating Sydenham. One of the most pleasing features was Sydenham’s endeavours to open up their game. The passing at times was really good, and with more practice the team will meet with success. Linwood have a fine team, the forwards being particularly good in the loose. For Sydenham Poulton was the outstanding player, Craig also went well. Of the forwards Kennedy and George were the pick. * For Lin wood Young on the wing, played a fine game. He is improving each week. Coe at full back was solid. Kennedy five-eighths, showed gooo form. Of the forwards Salmond played an {outstanding game. He followed in the loose in great style. Erickson also went well. He is a new player from Wairarapa. King worked hatill .and is gradually getting' back to form. RICCARTON (9) v. TECHNICAL (6). At Riccarton, the home, team was hard pressed by Technical and just managed to win. As far as the scores go, each team got two tries, the ! difference being mud*?' tip by a penalty goal. On Saturday Tedfijliical played especially we? I, hut while-allowing this Riccarton"s from was ISfMi as to indicate that- they will hairp to do better things if they aim-to ■maintain their position with tlie leading : team. Of the players, Broirngh at wing tor--4 ward, for Technical played a fine game. Moore, Bell and MitchelUhlso wbVlced hard in the forwards. 43* the backs Bellamy. at. half, gave exhihij tion. Ward and Mfirdon in the five- ! eights combined well while Cur wen on the wing infused great into his play. j For Riccarton, F. Holmes was the outstanding back, and is fast regaining his fine form of last season. Timms ‘ also -gave a good display. Of the forwards Potter and C. Caukwell were the pick. »

OLYMPIC GAMES. Reuter s Telegrams. PARIS, May 11. ''■ln the Olympic Rugby tournament the Vcited States beat Rumania by 37 points to nil.

THE LEAGUE GAME

SATURDAY’S MATCHES. The following are the fixtures, grounds and referees for Saturday next:— Senior Grade Hornby v. Marists A, at Sydenham Park (Mr T. Kirton) ; Lip wood v. Marists E. at Liuwood Park (Mr E. dington reserve (Mr H. Read); Sydenham a bye. Junior Kl*g—Ouruhia v. Svdenham. at Onruhia (Mr W. Wilson); Waimairi v. Lin wood, nt Wamairi ground, Papanui (Mr C. T : ll?yehort) ; Addington v. Mari ta, at Beckenham Park (Mr P. Kirton) *• Hornby a l,ye. Third Grade—Sydenham v. Wooiston. a* Er Park (1.30) (Mr A. Leitcb); Waimairi v. Heathcote, at Heatbcote (Mr W. Healey); Addington v. Limvood. at Linwood .1.30) (Mr C. Johnson); Marists A v. Marists B, at Beckenham Park (1.30) (Mr J. J. Stevens'. Fourth Grade—Marists v. Central, at Wooiston Park (1.30) (Mr A. Cox); Sydenham v. Wools on. at Sydenham Park (1.30) (Mi- G. Warri Heathcote v. Hornby, at Hornby (Mr F. Jago); Addington a bye. Fifth Grade—Sy de n lum v. Hornby, at Hornby (Mi- E. Sollett); Heathcote v. Waimairi. at Waimairi ground, Papanui

(Mr W. Smith); Marists v. Linw'-od, at. Addington ground (1.80) (Mi* B. Smith).

THE ASSOCIATION GAME

A special general meeting of tho Canterbury Football Association was held last evening. There were present: Messrs It. B Bunt (chairman). Eas'gate. Prddis. Greeu, Wells, Gould? Wardell, Hoban, Mulcahy, Keys. Cullen, Keich, Deans, Allen, Hanson, Duncan, Courtney, Broanan, Nelson, Wh ttlngton, Hulbert and Perryman (assistant secretary). The following notices of motjpn for alteration of rules were dealt with:— From the Sunnyside A.F.C.“That a selection committee of five shall be elected by the management committee, not less than three to act for senior grade, only, aid the ether two for lower grades."— Carried by 1-2 votes to 10. From the Thistle Club: “ That the senior grade be divided into two sections, to be known as the A and B divisions.”—Lost by 14 votes to 9. The usual general meeting of the commit'ee was then proceeded with. It was resolved that the Boys* Associa tion’s sports mooting be held later in the season. An apology from the' St. Albans Football Club for defaulting to Sunnyside and Lytte'+on was accep’ed. Entries >f four Marists teams were referred to the Boys’ Division. It- was deeded to summon a member oftho Western Club to appear uefore the committee to show reason why he should not he dealt with in respect of a declaration on a registration form. Permission was granted to the Sunny-

side Club to travel to Porirua on Tuesday 1 A resolution was passed supporting tho movement by tho Sports Protection League to remove the amusement tax at ’ sports meetings. It was resolved to support the appoint- : ment of a sole selector for New Zealand teams in forthcoming matches. The Nomads Club nct’fied that. Messrs M’Creanor and Jam« 3 M'Dougall had been appointed delegates to the Canterbury Football Association. Tho finance committee wa* authorised to insure tho buildings of the association at, English Park against Are. Mr R. Lad brooks was elected to the management committee. The nom nation of a junior team from Kaiapoi was accepted. The match committee recommended tna* the association should procure another ground. The following are the matches for Saturday next: — Senior—Kaiapoi v. Y.M.0.A.. at Kaiapoi: Lyttelton v. Thistle, at, Lyttelton; -t Albans v. Nomads, at Richmond; Sunnyside v. Western, at Sunnyside; Rangers v. Villa, at English Park. Second Grade—Technical 0.8. v. Western, at Hagley Park No. 1; Linw >od v. ! Y.M.0.A., at Hagl.y Park No. 2; Villa r. at. Richmond E. Third Grade—Technical 0.8. v. Sumner, j Ensor’s Read; St. Albans v. Bangers, Hagley Park No. 3; Western v. Spreydon, at Hagley Park No. 4. Fourth Grade—Technical 0.8-.- v. St. Albaus, English Park; Marists A r. Lyttelton, Lyttelton; Linwood a bye. Fifth Grade—Spreytlon v. Marists A, Sunnyside; Y.M.O.A. v. Lyttelton, Hagley Park'No. 2: M>ris's B v. St. Bede's, Richmond Pa"k West; Technical A v. Technical Bn Ensor’s Road. ' Tho match committee recommended that the match Canterbury v. South Canterbury should be played at English Park

POSITION OF THE TEAMS. The following table shows the positions of the teams at the end of the fourth round :— w. I>. Ij. For. A*st, pte. Riccarton . 4 67 4 Kaiapoi . 4 89 18 Merivale . 4 71 •24 4 Varsity X *S 1 — 68 3iT.inwood . 3 — l 49 28 Old Boys . 2 l 1 16 « Prebbleton 1 — 2 14 27 1 Kapaki . 1 IS 18 Ch.Ch. . — 1 2 23 41 I Technical . — 1 3 38 * 'Sydenham . — — 3 119 70 Varsity B . — — 4 90 Albion „ — — 4 . 19 66 *.*