To-Morrow's Games

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17345, 18 July 1924, Page 12

To-Morrow's Games

RUGBY

Tli© game on the Oval at Lancaster Park to-morrow will b© that between Linwood and Merivale. Considerable interest attaches to the game, for there is a chance that Linwood will bo able to secure the victory over Merivale. Unfortunately neither club will be able to put their, best team into the field to-morrow. Merivale will be without, the services of W. A. Ford, who is at present out of town. Ford’s absence will be a big loss to Merivale, for he is without doubt their best and most experienced player, and there is no Merivale back who can adequately fill bis place. Merivale are also stuck to find someone to fill the half-back position. R. Hooper, who was injured several weeks ago, is still unfit to play, whilst J. M’Cabe, who played half for Merivale last Saturday, is also suffering from injuries which will probably prevent him from turning out to-morrow. At tho time of writing it had not been definitely decided who should play behind the Merivale pack. R. H. Ford is available, but ho has proved a failure in senior football this season. .Possibly a junior player will be put into the position.

G. Penbertby, the Merivale full-back, sustained an injury to his shoulder last Saturday, but it is thought that he will b© able to play to-morrow. If Penbertby cannot turn out Merivale will be hard pressed to find backs. The Merivalo three-quarter line will b© the same as last week, namely, R. Blackmore, L. H. Duggan and N. Doreen. They went all right last Saturday, but the inside backs will not be so strong this week. R. Blazev will take Ford’s place at five-eighths, and O. Oliver will be the other five-eighths. Fortunately for Merivale they will be ablo to put their regular forward team into the field against Linwood. It. will be tho same as last Saturday, namely, \Y. Carnegie (wing forward), W. Ifodge and F. Partridge (hookers), J. Mcikle (lock), J. Forsythe and W. Sergison (sides), and J. Jeffries and A. Burns (back rankers): It is a solid combination. With the weaker back team the Merivale forwards will need to play up to their best form to-morrow. Linwood will be without the services of one of their best backs to-morrow, namely, A. Brown, the full-back. Brown injured his knee in the match against Old Boys three weeks ago. He turned out to play against North Canterbury last Saturday, but he had been on the field only about two minutes when his knee went on him again, and he had to retire. It is doubtful whether Brown will be able to play football again this season. This is unfortunate. for he is a really good fullback. Coe. a member of the Linwood junior team j will probably take Brown's place. ’Hie Linwood three-quarter line willi consist of Edmonds, H. Wright and Richardson. The last-mentioned is a new member of tho club. He has played football on the Coast, and he 59 a good track runner, but as to his capabilities as a footballer not much is known here. W. Elvey and H. Harley will b© the Linwood five-eighths, and as usual A. Millar will be the half.

The .Linwood forwards will be weakened by the fact that P. Ward will be unable to play on account of injuries. Ward is probably the best of the Linwood vanguard. Recently lie has been playing wing forward. This position to-morrow will possibly be filled by L. Adams, who has hooked for Linwood on occasions this season. J. Turpin, who played wing forward for Linwood in the early part of the season, and later wa3 moved into the backs, is still unable to play, on account of the injuries ho received in the match against Old Boys three weeks ago. Turpin wanted to turn, out to-morrow, but the doctor advised against this. The Linwood pack will be:—C. Greatbatch and P. Brough (hookers), V. Fraz>er (lock), A. Morrow and O. Turpin (sides), and R. Corkin and N. Nicholls (back rankers).

The other senior game at Lancaster Park to-morrow is that between Old Boys and Albion. Old Boys should have an easy victory. It is stated that, the Old Boys players are in fine fettle at present, and they arc keepng in training in view of their match against Christchurch. It is probable that this match will be played tomorrow week, and it will possibly be the deciding one of tho competition. If Old Boys beat Christchurch then they will win the championship, but if Christchurch win then Old. Boys and Merivalo will have to play off, that is provided Merivale beat Linwood tomorrow. Jf Linwood win Old Boys will be assured of the championship. A. Thompson will b 9 unable to play for Old Boys to-morrow, on account of an injury. The injury is not serious, but with the possibility of the Christchurch v. Old Boys match a. week later he does not wish to run the risk of aggravating it. The third senior game is that between Varsity and North Canterbury at, Rangiora. Varsity will send practically their usual team to Rangiora, and they should experience no diffeulty in winning. LEAGUE RUGBY. The senior fixtures for to-morrow arc: -Sydenham Paik. Mariste A and Marists B. referee, Air E. A. Hooper; Voolston Park. Sydenham and "\VColston, referee, Mr A. B. Shalbolt; Addington and Hornby oarli a bye. Tho principal attraction will be tlie game between the two Marists teams at Sydenham Park, and with favourable conditions a fine display should result though tho A team’s prospects look best. 111 the previous fixture between these teams it was the more proficient back division of t-no A team that won tho game for them, as the forwards on tho opposing side more than held their own. Tho B team have, however, made a lot of improvement since then and if their backs can play up to their forwards the latter are capable of making a big bid for success. Sydenham should have little diffL culty in holding Wools ton and though the royal blues have usually extended tho Sydenhamites in previous games the latter’s backs »"i in full strengtii should win the game for the south suburbans. Woolston are keen and Lave youh of promise in their ranks, but they have yet to acquire experience and tactics. Hornby and Add in c ton each have a

SPORTING FORECAST OF RESULTS

bye. having played their second round fixture.. To-morrow week will conclude the senior premiership and M’Keon Cup competition with the final games between the Hornbv and Marists A teams and the Addington and Marists B teams. Should Hornby beat the Greens these teams w ill tie for th« premiership. The players selected for training m view of the representative fixtures against the English team, "Wellington* West Coast, and Auckland teams had serviceable practices and gymnasium work-outs twice this week- The trainlog will be continued for several weeks and players are reminded that non-at-tendance at the grounds and quarters means non-inclusion in the representative games. Messrs E. H. Ellis and L. Peterson (forwards), and W. Stewart, T. Gilroy and C. Fitzgerald (backs) have been selected to proceed to Auckland for inclusion in the New Zealand team to meet the English team at Auckland on August 2, and at Wellington on August 6. The Englishmen plav a Canterbury team at the Metropolitan Trotting Club grounds on Saturday, August iG. The junior grade fixture between the Ouruhia. and Marists teams will be played on the Ouruhia Club grounds to-morrow and not as published at Beckenham Park. Tb© third grade game between the Waimairi and Marists teams will bo played at Beckenham Park at three o’clock, and not as published. The semi-final games for the third, fourth and fifth grade premiership* are causing great interest with aii clubs’ supporters. Tn the third grade the leading teams are Addington, and Linwood, the former leading by a point-. In the fourth grade Hornby, with 13 points, Marists 15 points, and Heathcote It points, are the leading teams. In the fifth grade Marists are leading with 20 points, with Hornby 18 points and a game yet to play, which should bring them level for a play off.

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL,

The close finishes in last week s matches should be sufficient to induce increased interest in the games set down for decision to-morrow. At English Park a keen contest should eventuate between Thistle and. Lyttleton, and as points are urgently required by the teams in their quest for premier honours a special effort is being made by the selectors to turn out the strongest side. In their first lound match at- Lyttelton, neither sids was able to score and it will be up to t he forwards to decide which is the bet--I®r team on this occasion. Each of the opposing rearguards has shown that it can withstand heavy pressure and, with the exception that Cox replaces Callaghan in the Thistle goal, the personnel is identical to the first round match. If anything, the Scots have an improved attack, and this should be the deciding factor in a lokBcoring mach. Mr H. G. Scliouier will make his first appearance at English Park as referee. The gam© which will attract a greatdeal or attention will be that between the leading teams in the competition, Western and Sunnyside, at the Mental Hospital ground. A single point- is the margin that separates the contestants in the fight for the championship, so, if records go to prove anything, tho teams are as well matched as they possibly could be. So far as goal av©rnge is concerned, Western are superior to their opponents by the fraction of a- goal. In their matches they have shown better penetrative power than Sunnyside, but the Hospital rcarguip'i have demonstrated a safe defence. This should be the deciding factor in a fast and spectacular game, but the margin should not exceed the odd goal. V.r; E. Darev will officiate with the whistle. At Richmond Park, Nomads will try conclusions with St. Albans, and should the weather be fine a fast game should eventuate. Nomads showed a. superiority of five - goals to one in the first match, but since then St Alban:have become a vastly improved team. On the other hand. Nomads are pot a 3 strong as they were and the introduction of now players does not tend towards combination in a team. But the Nomads’ defence remains the same, and although the game will probably prove far more even than that of the firs! round, the Blues should wm with a goal or two to spare. Mr Ainsworth is the appointed referee A fine match should be that at Hagley Park No 1 ground, where Y.M.C.A. play Kaiapoi. After going exceedingly well in the early part of the first round match at Kaiapoi. the Maroons unaccountably collapsed and as ere finally defeated by si\ goals to three. There should be nothing like nine goals scored m t-o-morrow’s contest for by solid training and general allround improvement in tactics Y.M.C.A. have developed into a fine combination. Th© forwards have yet- to demonstrate marksmanship if the side is to gather pomp. In midfield work and ball control they are excellent exponents, but these traits alone will not wm matches. Kaiapoi are a fast and clever combination and each of the forwards possesses the goal-scoring eye. Much will depend on the conditions underfoot-, for a dry ground will suit the nippy Maroon forwards. But, until they demons!rate bettor goal-scor-ing ability, they connot expect to become selected winners. Kaiapoi aa ill probably win, but. it will be by narrow margin. The referee will bo Mr H. W. Perryman. At Hagley Park No 2 ground Rangers will renew acquaintance with Villa. The odd goal in five gave Villa the points in tho first round, but the match’ was close enough to suggest that there Avas little difference in the relative strength of tho teams. Rangers wlii find it hard to replace S. Frickleton at left full-back, and it is almost certain that they have not a reserve player with the same ability. Tho Rangers' defence may, therefore, be considered to be deprived of a. strong link and this may encourage the suggestion that- Villa will win. But, in Hangers field the same combination ot forwads as did duty last Saturday, the Villa defence aa ill be the more severely tested of the two. Both sides should sc6re goals, but a divusion of the points would come as no surprise. The players will find no cause to grumble at the referee selatted to control the game.—Mr George Black.