Rugby Continued In Fine Weather.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17907, 24 July 1926, Page 10

Rugby Continued In Fine Weather.

Despite the fact that Old Boys are in an unassailable position for the 1926 Ru?bv Championship, interest in the senior siames continues. The tine -weather induced a large crowd to go to Lancaster Park, where the principal match was that between Christchurch and Varsity on the Oval. A fast, open exhibition resulted.

CXALUXSE CUP POINTS. Merivale are still leading for thr> final '«und challenge cup -with four points, 'hristchurch and Old Boys have three joints each. Albion two points and Varsity and Linwood none. Varsity v. Christchurch. Getting: the ball from most, of the tcrums. ’Varsity instituted a number if attacks. Loveridge got across the ine on one occasion, but lost the ball. He also had a couple of unsuccessful -hots from penalties just beyond the twenty-five against the wind. ' hrist:hurch attacked momentarily and hen a very fine passing rush by the Varsity backs took play under the hristchurch goal. Here Mullan mark'd a knock-on and brought muoh-need-d relief. Then Scrimshaw broke away with a great piece of solo dribbling lown to the ’Varsity twenty-five, and. jetting the ball on the bounce. he aced to the full-back and passed to Fyfe. who had a clear run in. Browns cick from wide out saw the ball strike the post. Christchurch 3, Varsity 0.

A ’Varsity attack looked promising. >ut Boon ran back and saved nicely nside his own twenty-five. Varsity attacked again, with a bout of passing in which the ball was beautifully handled. In attempting to clear the line a Christchurch man got offside in front of the goal and Loveridge evened up the scores with a straight kirk. Christchurch 3. 'Varsity 3. Christchurch attacked strongly but Loveridge intercepted a pass near his own line. Kicking to the centre he found an open space. E. D. R. Smith fielded the ball beautifuUv and passed to Thompson, who ran to the Christchurch twenty-five before passing out to Loveridge, who ran round behind th* posts. It was a very fine movement and the try warranted every bit of applause which greeted it. Loveridge missed the easy shot. ’Varsity 6, Christchurch 3. M ’Gregor did some fine work in a Christchurch passing rush which took play down to the ’Varsity line. The ’Varsity forwards were doing fine work in the open. E. D. R. Smith and Thompson toeing particularly prominent. Fyfe put in a good dash for i 'hristchurch and started a short bout of in-and-out passing which ended id Farrant crossing near the posts. Mullan converted. The score at half-time Christchurch 8. ’Varsity 6. • hristchurch attacked on resuming and Prussing failed to field the ball lear his own line. Melvin dashed up and fell on it near the posts. Brown failed to convert. Christchurch 11, Varsity 6. Fyfe made a great run from his own twenty-five to well inside the Varsity territory, being brought down whe within a few yards of the Varsity line. A good line kick placed Varsity on the attack again, and from a penalty beyond the twenty-five Loveridge had an unsuccessful shot. A bad mistake by Prussing near his own line cost Varsity another five points, as Farrant dashed up and fell «>n the ball near the corner. Brown’s shot saw the ball hit the near upright and go inside Christchurch 16, Varsity 6. A great rush by the Christchurch forwards in which Leahy and Farrant were prominent took play to the Varsity line, a force-down resulting. Loveridge made a good dash down the right wing, and then had an unsuccessful shot from a penalty beyond the twenty-five at a difficult angle. lie had another unsuccessful shot a moment or two later from the same angle. A Varsity passing rush saw Loveridge make a great run down the right wing, and when tackled by M’Gregor he passed in-field to Alexander, who raced over for a very fine try behind the posts. Loveridge had the shot, but the ball hit the cross-bar and rebounded. Christchurch 16, Varsitv 9. Farrant made a good run and then passed in-field to Scrimshaw, who took the pass beautifully one-handed, and raced over between the posts. Brown converted. The bell sounded shortly afterwards with the final score : CHRISTCHURCH ... 21 VARSITY 9 ; Old Boys t. Unwood. Linwood faced a stiff wind. Turpin and Nixon had unsuccessful shots from penalties. Old Boys pressed, and S. R. ("arleton just missed with a drop-ki< k I»ull play followed with Old Rovs linjiiInR the advantage. Hay vas prominent in a. good run. hut his pass to Low was forward. From a penalty just inside the half-way flag. S. R. Oarleton landed a beautiful goal. Old Boys Linwood 0. Fast folio wime-up bv Linwood forwards saw Old Bovs force. A long kick by Nixon sent Old Bovs on the attack again, and CVrrleton missed with a penalty. After a long sp-ll of old Boys ascendancy, Linwood made H loose rush just before half-time. S. fsrleton saving on the line. Half-time scoreOld Boys 3, Linwood A. Linwood assumed the offensive at the commencement, of the second spell, and good rushes by the forwards had Old Boys penned up in their twenty-five. A dribbling rush ended in Turpin going over in the corner. Edmonds converted. Linwood 5, Old Bovs S. The white forwards now infused more dash into their play, but found the defence sound. After a period of even play, Brittenden was almost over at the corner. Kr- • •-■uraged by the spectators, the Linwood team played with dash, and play begat, ’to be interesting. M’DufF made a good run down the line, hut was safely tH'-kled. R. r’arleton broke away. His pass was mull*»d, and a penal ty relieved for Linwood. Merivale v. Albion. \ Ibioti kicked off against the windA few minutes after the star! Norrie ~n the wing, secured possession and dodged his way cleverly for a try. Rhodes converted. Merivale 0, Albion ,Albion attack' d and were, awarded f ki«k. Li I burn* had a shot at from a difficult angle, hut missed. The Merivale backs staged a great passing bout in which Davies, Doreen. Blayr. an fi Oliver look part. The latter made a. dash for the corner but was pushed out at touch in goal. Then Doreen added to Merivale’* score by petting a goal. Merivale 9. Albion 0. Finnegan, the Albion wing forward, broke awav and mad*_a great run down field He passed to Ffncoek. but a certain trv was lost when Sineock sent a forward pass to Mortlock. The free kick reßeved for Merivale. Albion were now "shaking things up" and they made several determined attacks which Merivale repelled solidly. Just before half-tiine Rhodes kicked a goal from a penalty for Merivale- Half-time was called with the scores — Merivale 12, Albion 0. With the assistance of the wind Albion attacked in the second spell, and m.t fthplr gUv** - -. J*"* >-* uterd

Mortlock crossing at the corner flag after a nice piece of passing, in which Jack and Cox were prominent. Lilburne had a good but unsuccessful shot at goal. From the kick-off Merivale attacked. They were awarded a free kick and Norrie. kicking against the wind, landed a magnificent goal. Merivale 15, Albion 3. There was a period of rather dull play until Ford livened things up by dodging through in characteristic manner and scoring between the posts. Ford converted. Merivale 20, Albion 3. A passing rush amongst the Merivale backs ended in Norrie crossing the line, but he had put his foot over the touchline. Merivale kept up the pressure and Partridge scored for them. Rhodes failed to convert. Albion took a hand at attacking and Mortlock scored a try which Lilburne failed to convert. Merivale replied with a solid attack* From a scrum Rhodes worked the “ blind side ” to Ford, who sent the ball on to Dorreen-, who scored at the corner. Norrie added the major points with a fine kick. The final score was:— MERIVALE 28 ALBION 6 Referee—Mr E. Empson. WAZBARAPA FLAYS BUSH DISTRICTS. Per Press Association. CARTERTON, July 24. The weather is fine, but a heavy gale is blowing for the Wairarapa and Bush Districts’ match at Carterton to-duy. The first spell resulted:— Wairarapa 3, Bush 3. LOCOMOTIVE MATCH. The annual match between the Dunedin and Christchurch locomotive men, for the Locomotive Challenge Cup, was played at the Show Grounds this afternoon. Dunedin won the toss and kicked off ijrith the sun at their backs- Mishandling by the Christchurch backs gave the blues a chance, but the red and black forwards returned the play to midfield. A good run and a neat kick by Clydesdale put the' Christchurch line in danger, but the ball was kicked into touch-in-goal. The Dunedin half set his backs going, but they did not run straight, and Christchurch were enabled to force down. .Play returned to midfield. The blues came again, but a free kick gave Christchurch relief. They kept up the pressure, and an infringement on the Christchurch line gave Clydesdale a chance at goal, but the kick was just not good enough. Immediately after the same player tried a hard shot from the sideline, and a great kick put Dunedin 3 up. The wind was making fielding hard for Christchurch. The red forwards relieved, but a long kick and. a run by the Dunedin centre drove them back. Brisk passing among the blue backs saw Berdgon take a pass from Dowdail and. race over far out. Clydesdale just missed a difficult kick. Dunedin *5, Christchurch 0. The blues continued to press, but half time sounded with no addition to the score. After resumption a loose rush by. the Christchurch forwards saw play in Dunedin's twenty-five, and an infringement saw a Christchurch player nearly goal. Play developed into a forward scramble, with neither side gaining much advantage. With the wind at their backs Christchurch were a little more than holding their own. Another Christchurch shot at goal just fell short. The red backs started a rush, but a lob pass let Clydesdale intercept and run to near the Christchurch line. A good kick relieved. Another good kick put Christchurch on the attack, and still another shot at goal failed. Then Dunedin attacked and had a go from a penalty, Clvdesdale missing, Christchurch kicked* and the blues made good use of their possession, getting over. They . were pulled back for an infringement, however. and the freer-kick gave reds relief. Another long kick penned Dunedin on their line, and a Christchurch forward fell over with the ball. The kick was unsuccessful. Dunedin 6, Christchurch 3. Dunedin ' took a hand at attacking, but scrappy play spoiled their chances, and The Christchurch forwards cleared to midfield. The red forwards gained good position, hut kicking too hard saw the ball go into touchin-goa-l. An ambitious red kick from half-way fell very short, but play stayed in the blue twenty-five. Subsequent pla-c was very willing, with the red forwards in the ascendance. Time sounded with Dunedin still in the lead. PI'NEDTX 6 CHRISTCHURCH 3 Mr Gray was referee.