League

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18545, 20 August 1928, Page 14

League

FAST GAMES IN SHIELD SERIES.

Contests between the Hornby and Marist Rugby. League teams have always provided great football in the last few seasons. They met again on Saturday in one of the best exhibitions to date. Marist won one point, after Hornby had led five minutes from the call of time. The concluding stages were packed with thrills, as play changed like lightning from one end of the field to the other, finally to rest in midfield with Marist winners by 14 points to 13. The game was fast throughout, and very hard and willing at times. There were frequent stoppages for injuries, but none of them was of a very

serious natuic. The teams finished with their original thirteens on the field.

Sydenham accounted for Waimairi in the other game in the semi-final of the Thacker Shield competition. Both matches were played on Monica park, that between Hornby and Marist being starred as the chief attraction. It was. In the final for the shield, to be played probably next Saturday week. Sydenham will meet Marist. Then the holders of the shield will be open to challenges from other League centres of the South Island, to be played on the holders’ ground. The outstanding player on the Park was E. Spillane, the Marist second fiveeighths. He was übiquitous in all movements and reliable and brilliant on both attack and in defence. Spillane is the only Canterbury back who stands a sporting chance of inclusion in the New Zealand team for the third test at English Park next Saturday. \V. Le Warne, the Sydenham forward, was an emergency for the' second test at Dunedin last Saturday. HORNBY COME TO LIGHT. One of the features of the match was the return to form on the part of Hornby. This team do not play at their best unless up against a fast set cif backs who keep the play open. Marist were superior to Hornby both back and forward, but the Greens could not get going often through the spoiling work of Ilornbv, whose back movements started well, but failed to finish with anything definite. Football polish was lacking in the movements both back and forward. Marist, on the day’s form, should have won by something like ten points. Previous form seemed to bear no relation to the form displayed b ; v many of the men on either

side. Several played well above themselves. while others were disappointing. The greatest player on the field was Spillane, the versatile Marist five* cigth, who was in everything. II i s fielding was wonderful, and though he is not fast his anticipation, as usual, got him there before faster men.

H. Pearce, centre for Marist, played better than usual. He was much more determined in his running, and tackled well now and again. Ilis try in the corner was the result of turning on some of his great speedy and literally throwing himself across the line. M’Kendry was generally lucky in his fielding at full-back. Bond, on the wing, is an exceptionally determined runner, and on Saturday he showed that he could tackle when put to it. This is the weak department of his work, and were he as good on defence

as he is on attack, there would probably be at least one Canterbury representative in the New Zealand team. E. Batchelor played on one wing, and made a fair showing against Davis, who was really daring on occasions. Davis played above his usual form, and was a valuable link in one or two rushes.

Clarkson, the half-back, was like Hanrahan, in the forwards. Both held on to the ball too long. Dobbs was a great worker in the forwards, with Corisedine showing tip frequently. Burns's tackling was mainly round the neck, or where the neck was before he missed it.

Colin Wilkie, a brother of the fullback, played a fairly thoughtful game

for Hornby, and was.a useful link. Cliff Woods started poorly, but struck his old brilliant form towards the end, when the fireworks started.

Smith, the Hornby second five-eighth, brought off several interceptions, but missed twice as many. lie helped Marist a good deal by giving them an

extra man. in the back line when, his interception failing, he let the man in possession through. Reid and Woodgate were the best of the Hornby forwards, Cameron and Ward were fair, but A. Vivian and W. Vivian attempted to tackle too high. UNINTERESTING FOOTBALL. Although fast and fairly evenly contested. the game between Sydenham and Waimairi at Monica Park on Saturday did not produce a high standard of football. Svdenham won I>\ IS to 10, and they will play Marist in the final for the Thacker Shield. In Saturday’s game, the backs on both sides lacked combination, anel play for the most part was ragged and devoid of any excitement. Sydenham had the better pack <>l forwards, and that accounted for their victory. Waimairi did plenty of attacking, but most of their movements lacked thrust. The placers from Papanui field ed •eleven men only. With a few exceptions, the tackling on both sides was poor. T. Davidson filled the position ol full-back for Sydenham, and played a fairlv sound game. He kicked and tackled well, but at times, when field ing, he waited for the ball to bounce. Lagan and Drury, the two wingers, did not impress. G. Fraser, at centre played a fair game. His handling was a bit uncertain. Fraser would pro- ! bablv have made a better showing in his usual position of full-back. P. Turton was the best of the fiveeighths, and he initiated some good attacking movements. Turton was verisound on defence, and on numerous or rations broke U |> Waimairi rushes. 1Tonkin showed Rlimpfe.s of eood playbut. on the whole his exhibition was poor B. Hcuchan, the last breakaway for ward, played as half-back. He got the ball away well, and was generally pronynent in passing rushes. lie scored a good try after a short but determined W Le Warne toiled hard in the vanguard, but his attempts to bullock

through several of the opposing forwards were seldom successful. G. Blazcv and T. Swarhrick were con* spic units for some good play. C. Smith, the Wasmairi left winger, made a number of good runs. In the second sped, however, he threw awic a trv bv kicking when a few vards short of the line F. L' n-.kev was the backbone of the Waimairi rearguard. As usual, he shone on defence, and also went well on attack. A. O’Connor scored an excellent try, and gave a good all-round disp'ay. K. Spencer was the best of the forwards.