RUGBY FOOTBLALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17879, 22 June 1926, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBLALL.

SENIOR B NOTES. TECHNICAL LEADING. As a result of Old Boys’ defeat by Linwood, Technical are now leading, being half a point ahead of Linwood and Old Boys, while ’Varsity and North Canterbury are each one and a half points behind the leaders. North Canterbury, although they were weak at the beginning of the season, are now playing excellent football, and it would not be a surprise to see them at the head of the table before long. Technical, however, have also showed a big improvement, and providing they keep their present form they should be hard to shift from this position. Linwood, too, are also to be reckoned with, while . both Old Boys and 'Varsity are capable of doing big things. l The defeat of Old Boys by Linwood 2 came as a surprise, as Old Boys had T things very much their own wav in the *£ first half. In the second things were t completely reversed, and Old Boys fell % to pieces. The collapse of the team was unaccountable, as Old Boys fielded 2 their strongest team, with the excepX tion of Parker, who was unable to * play through an injury received in last week’s game. w ;« Although Merivale put up a good light in the first half, they were well beaten throughout the second by Technical, who, on the strength of having defeated Old Boys on the previous Saturday, played with great confidence. In the second spell the backs combined really well, and threw the ball about in good style. Merivale are badly in need of backs, as on Saturday most of the rear division were from the forwards, and could not adapt themselves to the play. Christchurch experimented with their team against St Andrew’s with good rej suits. Several players were moved round, and showed good form in their I new positions. Christchurch, however, have not struck anything like their ! last year’s form. The following table J shows the positions of the teams: Pts. Champ.

Taken on the whole. Old Boys were unlucky in not winning the match against Linwood. In the first half they were much superior, and had their opponents hard pressed all the time. On a few occasions Linwood broke away only to be driven back to their own twenty-five. I f Old Boys had turned to profit their opportunities they would have registered a score that would have returned them winners. Linwood were very patchy and their defence was weak. At half-time the score was 10 to 3 in favour of Old Boys. In the second half Old Boys went to pieces, while Linwood showed up well. Play was ragged, with occasional flashes of bright back play. The Linwood forwards played a hustling gaVne, while the backs put in good individual work. A nice movement between Colombus and Cor-

ago saw a try scored. Shortly after O'Reilly started off a movement from which Entwhistle scored for O’Reilly to convert, making the scores 11 —10 in favour of Linwood. Old Boys struggled hard to regain the lead, but -Linwood were now playing well and were sound on defence. A few minutes later Ilislop potted a goal for Linwood. Time was called without any alteration in the scores.

Tor Linwood, Oornago on the .wing, who came down from the senior team, saw' very little of the. ball, but when it was given to him he made full use of it, and was often dangerous. Colombus also showed up well on attack and was always handy on defence. Koea was not up to his usual standard. O'Reilly, at full-back, also had an off day. In the forwards, Entwhistle, Champion and Gillies were a trio of hard workers.

The Old Bovs forwards were good in the tight and hooked the ball well. Speight, O'Brien and Esson were perhaps the pick. A. Cox, at first fiveeighths, showed a tendency to kick too much. Armstrong and Ogier were both very sound on defence, but did not work together as well as they have done in previous games. J. Mofiatt,

on the wing, put in some very determined runs. Cromb, at full-back, did not have a great deal to do in the first half, but was safe. His kicking was good.

CHRISTCHURCH (22) v. ST. ANDREWS (13).

Christchurch backs combined well in their game with St Andrews, and easily beat their opponents after a dull onesided. game. The defence of St Andrews was weak, and their opponents eased up towards the end of the game.

The inside backs of Christchurch, Finnegan, Kennedy and Roberts, were a powerful trio, and their combination was good. Boon, at full-back, gave a cool display and not once did he get rattled. He has usually played at five-eighth, but the change to custodian ip a g*" od move, and if he keeps in that, position he should catch the selector’s eye.

Christchurch had to change, their team about in this game, and their changes were all for the good. It is to lie hoped that their coach leaves Boon and Bell in the full-back and wing forward positions respectively, as thev both suit these places. The only weakness on Saturday was at half. Cox is a five-eighth and that is where he should be placed. Ke.nm.-dv, at five-eighths, is improving with C ! b game. He cut in beautitvliy on numerous occasions on Saturday and he did not overdo it. Lewis, on the wing, has plenty of speed, and he takes a lot of stopping when he gets into his stride. He is also sound on defence. Bell played wing-forvrard and he played a brilliant game. He gave the backs every assistance. In the previous games this season he has been at centre, but his proper place is wing-forward’ where lie- should he played, as there is no better wing-forward in the competition. Gudsell. in the forwards, grafted ha rd. Hi Ison and Taylor were the pick of the St Andrew’s backs, with Smith the. best of the forwards. k x TECHNICAL (16) v. MERIVALE (3). At the Show Grounds the meeting between Technical and Merivale produced a good fast game, the forwards predominating in the first spell, while ibi the second the Technical backs made the game throughout. The first spell was fairly even, though Technical were slightly superior. The Merivale. forwards were much heavier and pressed Technical for a time, but the defence was solid. Play hovered about midfield for the rest of the spell, and the score at half-time was 5 to ril in favour of Technical. In the second half the Technical forwards looked after ‘ their backs letter, with the result that

the. rearguard combined in some excellent passing rushes. The handling of the ball was also much better than in the first spell. Much of the success of the backs was due to the fact that the inside men let the ball out quickly to the three-quarters, instead of doing any solo work. If they stick to this style of play they should continue to meet with success, as they have two very speedy wingers who are quite capable of finishing oft* any movements. For Technical Bellamy, at half, was again the outstanding back, and played equally as good on attack as defence. Mardon showed improvement and has completely lost his bad habit of punting instead of letting the ball out. Marshall, at centre, was faultless on defence, but was inclined to kick too much instead of passing to his wings and waiting for an in pass. Curwen, on the wing, was the best three-quarter on the ground, and his determined running was a big asset. Bam ford, at full back, was again very sound. Of the forw’ards Nesbitt was the best and was noticeable for his good following up. Dunbier, Barnes and M’Clurg also played well. Merivale relied mainly on their fine pack of forwards, who had a hard day. Hill and Free, the two hookers, worked well together, while Lodge was another grafter. They were unlucky in losing Croft, who had to go off hurt at halftime after showing up well. Blazey, at full-back, was good, his kicking being first-class, while he took the bait very cleanly. Rich, five-eighths, was about the pick of the rear division, and was very solid on defence.

MAORI TEAM’S TOUR. per Press Association. PALMERSTON NORTH, June 21. The selectors, Messrs W. R. Pa rata, A. Taka rang* arid M. Winiata, met tonight lo choose the North and South Maori loams to play in the final try-out at Palmerston North on Wednesday. After this match the selectors will make their final choice of twenty-eight players to tour England and France. Although the To Mori Rose Bowl is at stake the teams as under are not truly representative of the North and South Islands, hut have been chosen rather with the idea, of giving all the players opportunity of gaining a place in the touring team. Tn explanation of the absence of some of the better-known players it may be mentioned that they have already played in previous trials, either in the North or South Island, and the selectors therefore have a line on their strength. Consequently the tourists may include other than those in the following fifteens: — NORTH TEAM. (Black). Full-back —Phillips (King Country). Three-q ua rters— Robinson ( Canterbury), Maata. (Waikato), M. M’Donald (Horowhenua). Five-eighths—Wineera (Wellington), Haddon (King Country). Half—Harrison (East Coast). Rover—Edwards (Hawke's Bay). Hookers —Bergeant (Ba.y of Plenty), Peihaua (East Coast). Lock—W. Rika (North Auckland). Support— (Bay of Plenty), Batty (Auckland). Breakaways—r-Lewis (Wairoa), Wilson (Wairoa). SOUTH TEAM. (White).. Full-back—T. Bennett (Taihape). Three-quarters Falwasser (Taranaki), I*o taka (Wanganui), Hartley (Wa nganui). Five-eighths—Peina (Wanganui), Moses (Horowhenua). Hair—Kingi (Taihape). Rover—Jacobs (Horowhenua), captain. Hookers—Pine (Wanganui), Stewart (Otago).

L.o cTc—M n.nla he ra fCanterbury). Supports—Materia (North Auckland), Sheriff (North Auckland). Breakaways—Tatnna (I-lorowhenua ), Matthew (Poverty Bay). A School Team Honoured. Z>. Booth. A. Wp'rsfold. E. R. Wood, R. Nixon. G, J’arsons, G. Stevens and T. Archibald, pupils of the Inn wood School, have been playing in the same seven-a-side Rugby team for the past four years, and during that period they have won the public schools tournament in the under 10. tinder 11, under 12, and under 13 grades. By way of recognising the performance of these lads Mr C. W. Hervey, a former secretary of the Linwood Rugby dub, and of the Canterbury Rugby Union, presented each of the seven boys yesterday morning with a silver football. On behalf of the school committee Mr If. F. Herbert, chairman, handed to each of tlio boys a photograph of the team and an enlargement to the school. Mr A. E. M’Phail, chairman of the Canterbury Rugby Union, was also present, and he congratulated the boys on their successes. He paid a tribute to the fine work done by the masters in giving tip a lot of their spare time to coaching the hoys. The head master, Mr T. Douds, thanked Mr Hervey and the school committee for their gifts, and the pupils then gave hearty cheers for the donors. Ashburton Sub-Union. (Special to the “Star.”) ASHBURTON. June 21. The weekly meeting of the Ashburton Rugby Sub-Union was held this evening: present—Messrs W. F. Watters (chairman). A. T. Smith, A. Thomson. M. S. Sogers, A. Sarney, R. H. Biggar, R. H. boy, 1-J. J. Chapman. M. Timinings, A, Bane. F. Pritchard. T>. I-leenan, S. T-T. Sullivan, J. C. C. M*Laclilan, and J. B. Nicoll. The Canterbury Rugby Union advised that it was sending a senior team to each sub-union on June 2i>. and pointed out that their action on that occasion must not be regarded as a precedent in future. . when sub-unions made applications for senior teams to visit their district. The Old Boys would be visiting Ashburton, and the union had decided to send an under twenty years grade representative team to play a team selected from Ashburton County players other than senior later in the season. For, the information of Canterbury selectors, sub-unions were requested to advise the Canterbury Rugby Union of the date and place of any inter-sub-union match. The Alford Forest, Allenton. Eiffel - ton, Wheatson, and Lismore schools applied for assistance in the purchase of footballs for the boys. ft was decided to accede to the requests. Mr A. If. Guiney was appointed .to referee the representative match Christchurch Old Boys v. Ashburton at Ashburton on Saturday, and Mr F. W. Watters was appointed manager of the team. The Mackenzie Rugby Sub-Union wrote accepting July 3 as a date on which to play a. senior representative match at Fairlie, and inquired howmany officials and players from Ashburton would be making the trip. It w.as decided that the Schools Football Association be asked to arrange matches at the. show grounds when grounds were available. It was decider! that the seven-a-side tournament should be held on the first Saturday after the close of the senior

av. b. i>. F«>r Agrst. rts. G 1 1 112 45 TO 4 6 6 old Boys .. 121 67 6 X. Canterbui 106 72 5 3 — US 73 S3 6 6 Merivale . - 2 5.1 5-S 103 2i .St Andrew's LINWOOD (15) v * OLD BOYS (10).