ALBION UPSET CALCULATIONS IN MATCH AT RUGBY PARK

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 145, 20 June 1931, Page 10

ALBION UPSET CALCULATIONS IN MATCH AT RUGBY PARK

MERIVALE DEFEATED BY FOUR POINTS IN HARD GAME.

Weakened Christchurch Team Score Decisive Win Against Old Boys.

ALBION UPSET calculations by defeating the competition leaders, Merivale, by 7t03, at Rugby Park. The Albion forwards were better than Merivale in the loose, though they failed to win their share of the scrums and line-outs. Attacks by the Merivale backs, who did not combine well, were met by a solid defence. The game lacked combination on either side, but was made bright and open by some great solo work. Roberts (Albion) played a sterling game at full-back, and potted the goal that decided the match. Contrary to expectations, Christchurch found no difficulty in running up a high score against Old Boys. Christchurch included a numher of senior B and junior players. Their forwards -were too fast and nippy for Old Boys, and put on 14 points to nil, including two potted goals. Varsity, with a stronger team, defeated Sydenham by 8 points to 3. Linwood, 28, -were too good for Athletic, 12.

CHRISTCHURCH ON TOP. The teams were:— Old Boys: Hall; Gregg, M’Phail, Spicer: Innes, Mortlock; Vincent; Lee (wing-forward), F. Bowes, A. Bowes, Galloway, Cunningham, Foley, Lowry, Berry. Christchurch: Campbell: Stephenson, Marshall, Loader; M’AulifTe, Shirtcliffe, Mullan, Scrimshaw; Taylor, Cottrell, Frenglev, Rogers, Milne, Arnold, Wilders.

Old Boys kicked off against a light wind, but within a few minutes were in trouble. The Christchurch forwards carried things before them and judicious line-kicking improved their position. Old Bdys had to force down. Mullan saved a counter-attack from becoming dangerous, and the Christchurch forwards again set to with a will. Play was brought back to Old Boys’ twentyfive, and Marshall (who had replaced Steele in the team as picked), potted a i;oal from a fairly easy angle. Christchurch 4, Old Boys 0. The Christchurch forwards dominated the game, hooking consistently from the scrums and throwing the ball about to good purpose. The backs, with M’AulifTe at first five-eighth, handled well, and Mullan, at half, was giving a sound and heady display. Mullan made two attempts to scramble over the line, and from the third five-yard scrum sent his backs off. Loader dropped his pass when a try seemed imminent. After some scrambling play, Hall gave his side a respite -with a long line kick. Things looked brighter for Old Boys but the irrepressible Mullan sent Christchurch back on attack. Another Potted Gcal. Four more points went to Christchurch when M'Auliffe saw his chance and sent over a free kick from a difficult position. Christchurch 8, Old Boys 0. Old Boys had a spell on attack, but could not force through, and Christchurch drove them back again. M’AulifTe had an unsuccessful attempt at goal. Half-time sounded with the scores: Christchurch 8, Old Boys 0. Second Spell. Scrimshaw went off in the second spell to be replaced by Boddington. The spell started with some wild kicking. Play hung round about half-way with Old Boys pummelling away at the Christchurch defence. Vincent was getting more ball from his forwards, and while Innes, Spicer and M’Phail did good solo work, there was little concerted play among the backs. Christchurch, with Boddington and Stephen-

son in the van, broke through and carried play well up-field. From a line-out, a scramble ensued and, when Old Boys mulled, Boddington dashed through to score. Stephenson’s kick was wide. Christchurch 11, Old Boys 0. A penalty a few minutes later, from a difficult angle, was missed by Campbell. The fast and burly Christchurch v forwards gave Old Boys more than they could manage, and Arnold scrambled across for another try under the posts. Mullan failed with the kick. Christchurch 14, Old Boys 0. Mortlock made a game attempt to force an opening, but, overwhelmed by the opposing forwards, Old Boys were forced back. Vincent sent his backs away in the prettiest movement of the day. All the backs participated, and a gallant bid was made for a try. Mortlock nearly scored, but was brought down on the line. New spirit was infused in the Old Boys’ team, but it came forty minutes late. A penalty for obstruction, taken by Vincent, went wide. Again Old Boys were forced back and were hard pressed. The game ended without further score;— CHRISTCHURCH 14 OLD BOYS 0 Referee: Mr W. B. Fuller.

VARSITY COME TO LIGHT

Varsity met Sydenham on the south ground at Lancaster Park. The former had their best team out, R. X. Williams being the only absentee of the players who went to Australia. Sydenham had the advantage in the early stages of the game, and Varsity forced twice in the first five minutes. Britt put in a great run, but made the mistake of passing instead of going ahead. Gray was keeping his backs moving, good passing rushes resulting. Bean made a spirited run, and Wallburton tackled him solidly. Hazelhurst carried play to the Varsity twenty-five, and from a scrum Ewart gained ground by finding the line well down. The first score came to Varsity, W. Pease kicking a goal as a result of off-side play by Sydenham. \ r arsity 3, Sydenham 0. A good forward rush by Sydenham saw J. Gibbs break through, getting within a yard of the Varsity line. Henderson forcing a minute later. Half-time scores: Varsity 3, Sydenham

Shortly after the second spell commenced, Moorhouse and Ewart initiated a fine passing bout. Bean almost got over later on, and from a forward rush near the Sydenham goal, Thompson picked up and scored. Pease converting. Varsity 8, Sydenham 0. C. Line picked up at half-way, and r.an to the Varsity goal, a force resulting. Another Sydenham attack was frustrated by Bean finding the line. Sydenham forwards were keeping up the pressure, but the backs were passing badly, throwing the hall very haphazardly. After a series of attacks a scrum near the Varsity goal resulted in Crockett diving over. The kick failed. Varsity 8. Sydenham 3. Crockett, the wing-forward, was playing a great game, and worried the opposition. K. Brown failed with a penalty kick. Another bout saw W. Brown nearly over, a force resulting. Play was very willing towards the end of the game, Sydenham attacking with great vigour; The final score was:— VARSITY 8 SYDENHAM 3 Referee: Mr S. Hollander.

MERIVALE GO DOWN. The Merivale forwards set up an attack which went into the Albion twenty-i\ve, whence Finnegan, an oldtime senior A player who was brought up from senior B ranks this season, led a dribbling rush which, despite temporary checks, went to the Merivale line, and Sweeney touched down. The placed ball fell over as Roberts attempted to goal. Again Albion came, only for Howatson to send them back with a great line kick. Finnegan, Sweeney, Hooker, Preston and Meadows swung into quick action and the bout ended in a melee on the Merivale line. The Merivale forwards, winning most of the. scrums and line-outs, let

their backs work play steadily to advantage, and Albion 'had a hectic tinfie in repelling bursts by the opposing backs. Crofts had a fair chance with a penalty kick at goal, but the bail hit an upright and rebounded infield. Vigorous thrusts by the Albion forwards, who were playing a great game, gave the backs their chance, but good tackling upset the efforts and Merivale returned to bombard the line. The O’Connor-Day-Oliver combination was working cleverly, but fast breaking up by the Albion forwards cramped their style. The half-time score was: Albioa 3, Merivale 0. Second Spell. The second spell opened at a great pace, with Oliver marshalling the Merivale backs to attacks on both flanks. The Merivale skipper, however, did not get the support he needed. Sweeney upset the attack with a burst through, but Oliver was there again to save with a punt. Taking the ball on the full, Roberts, from inside half-way, potted a great goal. Albion 7, Merivale 0.

One of O’Connor’s corkscrew runs—a successful piece of play to half-way, where Rhodes was hauled down in possession. The Merivale backs, unable to penetrate, the solid defence, were forced to run too much across the field, and their passing was comparatively poor. The swift open play was exhilarating, with the Merivale backs showing up in bright individualistic work, but against which the Albion rear defence was proof. Crofts, the Merivale wing-forward, was opening up the game in fine style from the line-outs, but here again Merivale met a dogged defence. The Albion forwards were on their mettle, and Roberts’s line-kicking, aided by the wind, kept his men on the more optimistic side of half-way. One great rush by the Merivale forwards, went to the line and from a scramble Day, with Oliver and Flewellyn in support, cut in, only to be smothered and to let Hooker clear with a kick. Rhodes went to half-back when O’Connor left the field with an injured knee. The play was very individualistic, but bright nevertheless. Another loose rush by Merivale went into the Albion twenty-five, where Oliver gathered in the rebound from a kick by Preston and let Flewellyn and Rhodes away for the last-named to score in the corner. Crofts’s attempt at a goal was poor. Albion 7, Merivale 3. Play ended in midfield with the scores:— ALBION 7 MERIVALE 3 Referee: Mr R. J. S. Collins.

A WIN FOR LINWOOD

A loose rush by the Athletic forwards right at the commencement carried play over the Linwood line, and Corliss was awarded a try, which Malcolm converted. Athletic 5, Linwood 0. Linwood rallied, and for a long- spell play was confined to Athletic’s territory, the forwards going well, and the backs making occasional sallies. Price eventually scored after Dunshea had made a fine opening. Edmonds failed to convert. Athletic 5, Linwood 3. Making a bold dash along the wing, Corliss placed Athletic in a scoring position, and when Edmonds failed to field a kick to the centre, Laurie snapped up. and got over for a try. Malcolm’s kick was wide. Athletic 8, Linwood 3. Linwood held the advantage territorially, but through failure to let their backs have the ball when it was wanted, many good opportunities were lost. Linwood scored a runaway try when the bounce beat BoYnford. the Athletic full-back, Herman, who was following up, gathering in the ball and running over to touch down under the crossbar. Edmonds converted. Athletic 8, Linwood S. With fast loose rushes, the Linwood forwards showed better form, and Loader made a dashing run of forty yards, crossing near the corner and going round to score between the posts. Edmonds converted. The score at half-time was, Linwood 13, Athletic 8.

Open forward work marked the early stages of the second half, Linwood establishing a territorial advantage, and from a line-out D. Quairl made a good opening for Dunshea, who cut in, beating Scully, ani side-stepping Bamfrrrd to score a good try, which Edmonds converted. Maintaining their advantage, Linwood quickly scored again, Taylor getting over after a good run by the backs. Edmonds was again successful with tlie kick. Linwood 23. Athletic S. Athletic rallied, and a 5 iose rush by the forwards looked dan-

gerous, but a dropped pass spoiled a good chance of scoring. Athletic gained ground again when the backs got away in a movement that ended when Poif was pushed out in the corner. From the line-out. the ball went out to Bamford. who kicked a goal from the field. Linwood 23, Athletic 12. ! For Linwood Dunshea. added a try. | which he converted. The final score LINWOOD 28 ATHLETIC . 12 Referee: Mr L. W. .T. Clarkson. PLAYER TRANSFERRED. (Special to the “ Star.”) DUNEDIN, June 20. L. . HeazlewoQd* the Otago and Wellington Rugby full-back, who has been playing great games ’ for Zingari this season, has been transferred to Auckland, and will leave for the north on Monday.