LEAGUE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18208, 15 July 1927, Page 13

LEAGUE.

WAIMAIRI WILL MEET HORNBY IN - LEAGUE FINAL. BOTH HAVE ONE WIN AND EXPECT ANOTHER. With both teams having defeated each other once this season, \\ aimairi and Hornby will meet at Monica Park to-morrow in the final of the Canterbury Rugby League’s senior competition. Hornby, having had one more victory than Waimairi ill the first two rounds, won the competition at that stage. Because of this lead they will, if defeated by Waimairi to-morrow, have the right to challenge for another match with the men from Papanui. At the end of the second round Hornbv lead with IS points. Waimairi* came next with 16 points, and then Marist ■with 14. Waimairi dropped their two prints through being defeated by Marist, whom Hornby vanquished by a narrow margin. When Waimairi and Hornby met in a great encounter on May 7 Waimairi won by five to three, but Hornby made amends for this defeat, by winning against Waimairi by fourteen to twelve on June 11. Both teams will be at their full available strength to-morrow. They will not be as strong as when they met previ- ' on si v, Spencer having been lost to Waimairi and Wilson-Hail and Mason to Hornby. Any players who have been on the sideline through injuries will be able to take the field. Judging by the teams the trend of play is likely to be slightly in Hornby’s favour. 'With a fairly fast set of backs they are 1/kely to do much of

the attacking, though they will have to combine well if they wish to get through the solid Waimairi defence. In the forwards Hornby appear to have the better pack, though the difference is only slightly marked. In the Waimairi rearguard Gordon Blazey will take up his old position at full-back, and will have at the other end cf the field a player. W. I'. Warr, against whom he was pitted last year in a trial match for the selection of a Canterbury representative B team.

\\ arr was chosen by the selectors. Gilroy, who has been oft' the field for some weeks owing to an injured shoulder, will be on the wing again, with P. Smith on the other flank. Gl’iroy has not seen much of the leather on the

xving this season. With his tricky run he should be useful if fed well. Smith, somewhat of an opportunist, will be fairly safe in a position previously held by F. Lynskey, who will play at centre. Hansen and E. Pearce will be fiveeighths and Pahi half, making a safe, if not fast, set of inside backs. The Waimairi forwards are a wellbalanced lot with plenty of weight and dash. The pack will be H. M. Blazey. G. C. Blazey, D. Rossiter, Farrell, Sisson and R. Lynskey. R. Mackie will be probably the most valuable man in the Hornby threeqvuvrter line, unless Stuart stages a return to form. Stuart has been indifferent lately, and has been inclined to hang oil to the bail too long, thus stitfling many promising movements.

Davis, on the other , wing, has the weight to make him a strong runner, but he places most of his faith in a powerful right foot. This is useful in goal-kicking from difficult angles, but is inclined to be overdone in punting. Apart from clever saves by Warr, the brightest play in the backs is likely to come from the Hornby half-back and five-eighths. Woods has improved greatly in his work behind the scrum, and played a great game against Marist a fortnight ago. A. and J. Mundy are fast and quick to seize openings. The Hornby pack will be the same as for some weeks past. They will be Woodgate, Dawkins, A. Ward, H. A. Vivian, N. Vivian, and A. Vivian. Much improvement has been shown by H. A. Vivian, who is evidently going in for serious training. A strong runner with a strong fend, and over fourteen stone in weight, lie is a forward to be reckoned with in both the tight an dthe loose work. Something of his good form of last year has been showing out in his play lately. Ward will hook in the scrums. ADDINGTON ('LUC. Juniors, at Hornby. 'Bus leaves Addington G.P.O. at 1.45 p.m.—A Unwin, P. Jack. C. Stewart, J. Amos, L. Clarke, W. Gaghan, A. Marra, J. Wilson, Pullar, Moreland. S. Strutridge, C. Unwin, A. Jack, Peddie, Rowlands, Blackburn. Fourth Grade, at Hornby. 'Bus leaves Addington G.P.O. at 1.45 p.m.—M'Kinnon, O. Hennessey, R. Riley, A. Campbell, S. Campbell, Tongue, Cooper, Gemmell, Heath, Dunn, M’Lean, Cox, Burke, Glubb, Spencer, Monk, Pullar, Consedine, Madden, Leiteli. Fifth Grade, at Linwood Park, at 1.30 p.m.—R. Newton, 11. Lawrence. R. Kett, J. Bellwood, A. Riramer, H. Young, R. Puddle, R. Otton, G. Simpleton, S. Stanley, D. Ratio, C. Bearman, J. Capstick, M. ..Kinston, F. Garlick. Sixth Grade, at Addington Reserve, at 1.30 p.m.—Joseph, Stevens, Rennie. Young, Bench. Mooare, Ellis, Stevens, Bryce, Newton, Mundie, Shaw, Jackson, Lawrence.