SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL A REVIEW OF THE PLAY

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19109, 30 June 1930, Page 14

SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL A REVIEW OF THE PLAY

Albion Well Beaten By Old Boys’ Fast Rearguard.

CHARITY DAY CROWD SEE PATCHES OF FAST SPECTACULAR FOOTBALL.

FOUR easy wins were scored in senior football on Saturday. The Charity Day match on the Oval, between Albion and Old Boys, resulted, in a clear-cut win for Old Boys by 21 to 3. a good crowd watching a game which, while ragged for a fair amount of the time, provided some fine movements and an occasional real thrill.

Sydenham, though they went down to Christchurch by 22 points to nil, played an improved game and kept the competition leaders busy- all the time. Varsity had a runaway win from West Old Boys by 30 points to 9, and Merivale looked comfortable all the time against Technical, wanning 24 to 6.

OLD BOVS DEFEAT ALBION. Though it could not be called a great game by any means, the meeting of Old Boys and Albion provided some bright patches, and for the first, half at least it looked as if the game would be even. After the dolorous displays of the two previous Saturdays, it was good to see something like senior football again. It was expected that the Albion forwards would be superior to the Old Boys pack, and in the first half of the game they were, but not to an extent .•sufficient to muzzle the Old Bovs backs. In the second half the Albion men did not pack well enough in the tight work, and the hard-working Old Boys were their equals in the scrums and the tight, providing their backs with plenty of the ball. That being so. the result could only go one way. Dailey and company were in good form, and they gave their wingers every chance. Merritt was an absentee from the Old Boys backs, but that caused them no inconvenience. Harris went to the left wing, with Jacobs on the right, and as fullback Old Boys brought out

BIG SCORE BY VARSITY. What at the beginning looked like being a close game turned out to be a runaway victory for Varsity in their match against West Christchurch Old Boys. The latter started the game with two men short, and had the Maroons hard pressed for some time. In fact, ten minutes after play Mackav, for West, got over and scored a fine try by fast following up. Thereafter it was a procession of tries for Varsity. They held the upper hand forward and back, and seemed to score almost when they liked. The passing rushes of the Varsity backs were spectacular, but at times very erratic. R. N. Williams was in good scoring form, five tries going to him. He has great speed, and was taking the ball at almost any angle. R. J. Bean was sound at five-eighths, and scored two tries. Fraser also played well. Behind the scrum, F. J. Bennett had every opportunity of showing up. and did it. Amongst the forwards W. Pease, C. H. Perkins and Ml Wells worked hard. Most prominent in the West team was A. R. Mackay, who played at fiveeighths. He. was a hard worker all the afternoon, and, besides scoring a try, potted a great goal. SYDENHAM v. CHRISTCHURCH. Christchurch and Sydenham turned on a most interesting game at the Show Grounds. Christchurch winning by 22 to nil. Sydenham repeated the game they played against Old Boys recently, and kept Christchurch very busy. Their game was a credit to a club which is in an unimposing position on the competition table, and from the start to the finish was most willing. Christchurch scored four tries, three being converted, and Mullan potted a goal. Christchurch were going well, the Mullan-M’Gr'egor combination behind the scrum being particularly impressive. Although Mullan did not play a spectacular game, his work was very sound, and time and again he turned on a trick that got his backs away from what seemed to be almost hopeless positions. M'Gregor was at the top of his form and scored a very pretty try. Of the forwards, R. T. Stewart and A. I. Cottrell were most impressive. Cottrell was well on his game, his work in the scrums being specially sound. Stewart played a really fine game, and well deserved the try he scored. G. F. Hart and J. F. Robilliard went well on the wings, Robilliard being particularly good. All through, Sydenham played a fine game, but the forwards must get the credit for their willing work. From the kick-off they never let up, and their willingness was the main factor

an absolute "find’* in M. P. Hall, a player who would make a creditable showing in any senior team. His kicking was excellent. He has absorbed the essential principle that a full-back, unless he wish to initiate an attacking move, must find the line, and in doing that he generally made a good lot of ground. His fielding was clean and his positional play good. Dailey played one of his best club games of the season, being infallible on defence, and getting the ball away more smartly from the scrum than he has for some time. He was slinging out good passes, and Hay, taking the ball at top and running wide, frequent-

ly got outside the opposing first fiveeighths and made Lilbume at second tackle him, thus giving his outsides every opportunity. Innes was reliable all the time, and marked Dilburne relentlessly. His attempts to cut through were generally fruitless, but his defensive work was sound. Carleton played a heady game at centre, taking the ball well and sending out faultless and well-timed passes to his wings. Harris was good on attack, and did invaluable work in running back to cover up attacks that caught Hall out of position. Jacobs was dangerous on attack, and sound in defence. Experience will make him a very useful wing indeed.

C. M. Harris, Porterfield and Chamberlain went well in the Old Boys forwards.

Hodgkinson and Lilbume were always solid for Albion, and Steel and Sweeney were good wingers, but the weak links, Preston and Huria, prevented the Albion backs from being dangerous in attack, especially as Lilburne was well marked all the time. Huria could not hold a pass at all. Sweeney has been played as a forward for two seasons previously, and several times has been among the emergencies, and his showing on Saturday makes it surprising that he has never been given a chance in the backs before. He would make quite a good centre, with a little experience. Roberts was not solid at full-back, and his kicking, though long, was frequently ill-directed. Howell, Carson and Manning were the best of the Albion pack.

in keeping Christchurch so actively engaged. It would be difficult to single out any one forward for special comment, as all went so well, but C. Line deserves mention for his great work as leader of his team. Of the Sydenham backs, R. Hazelhurst and L. Haworth were again the pick. They are an exceptionally solid pair of inside backs, and are improving as the season goes on. W. Brown, on one wing, was also impressive, and used his speed and trickiness to the best advantage. TARANAKI FIFTEEN DEFEAT WANGANUI. Per Press Association. WANGANUI, June 29. Wanganui representative Rugby fifteen were defeated by Taranaki by 14 points to 0 on Saturday afternoon, when a return match was played in glorious weather. WESTLAND RETAIN DITTMAN SHIELD. Per Press Association. GRBYMOUTH, June 20. The Westland Sub-Union Rugby representatives yesterday retained the against Inangahua, winning by 37 points to nil. IN OTHER PLACES. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 20. Rugby matches were played in ideal weather on Saturday, with grounds in good order. Results:—Grammar School Old Boys 0. Training College 5; Marist 8. City 6; University 16, Technical 5; Manukau 8, College Rifles 4; Ponsonby 17, Grafton 8. WAIROA, .Tune 28. The Wairoa senior representatives defeated a Napier-Hn stings combined team after a jagged game by 11 points to

FOOTBALL REPORTS. Other football news will be found on pages 5 and 13. g g ® ® @ S @ E @ Bg gg gg gg ;* S Eg Eg @ @ g

MERIVALE DEFEAT TECHNICAL. Merivale. although they defeated the Technical Old Boys fifteen by 24 points to 6, gave a poor display. There was little of interest in the first half, the handling and tactics of both teams being deplorably weak, and play after the resumption was sufficiently bad as to almost warrant description as a rough and tumble. In the first half, Merivale pierced the defence on five occasions, and converted two of the tries. In the second spell their score was a converted try. Technical’s total was made up of two penalty goals, both of which were kicked by Collier. O’Connor, Dorreen and Flewellyn were the pick of the Merivale backs, O’Connor and Frewellyn coming into the limelight for good solo work when they found that they could not rely on support.

With the exception of Champness and Suckling, who were solid workers, little can be said in favour of the Merivale pack. Charlcsworth, at first- five-eighths for Technical, although small of stature, was a plucky player, but showed a tendency to go too much on his own. Collier, on the left wing, played well, and shows promise of becoming a scoring unit. Unfortunately, he was not given enough of the ball, the Technical handling and passing being unsound. Plimmer and Dunbier were responsible for eager play among the mediocre Technical pack.

HAWERA. June 2S. Taranaki B reps beat Wanganui B by 6 to 5. For a representative game play was indifferent and patches of bright play were few and far between. DANNEVIRKE, June 28. Old Boys 14, Excelsior S; Tipapakuku 3, Rangers 3. PALMERSTON NORTH. June 28. Feilding Old Boys 10, Kia Toa 0; United 21, Feilding 0. WELLINGTON, June 20. The second round began on Saturday. Petone 17. Poneke 8; Old Boys 14, Oriental 5; Hutt 12. Marist 8; Eastbourne 12, Athletic 3; Berhampore 10, University 14. NELSON. June 2S. Nelson 14, Motueka-Golden Bay 3. DUNEDIN. June 28. Kaikorai 0. Pirates 6; Varsity A 28, Dunedin 9; Alhambra 26, Union 7; Southern 8, Zingari 5; Varsity B 13, Taieri 11. NEW SOUTH WALES DEFEAT VICTORIA. (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, June 29. Tn the inter-State Rugby Union match at the Sydney Cricket Ground, yesterday, New South Wales outclassed Victoria, whom they defeated by 40 points to 11.