RUGBY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 809, 8 July 1933, Page 12

RUGBY.

Senior Matches at Lancaster Park. There was a big crowd at Lancaster Park to-day to witness the match Sydenham v. Merivale. The ground was in splendid order for fast Rugby. SYDENHAM v. MERIVALE. Merivale were undaunted by Sydenham’s fine past performances when these two teams met on the Lancaster Park Oval this afternoon. Merivale cracked on the pace right at the start, and were the first to score. It was quickly apparent that a fine game was in prospect. The teams were:— Sydenham (cardinal and blue) —F. T. J. French, \V. Brown, R. Brown, J. Hattersley, G. D. Innes, R. C. Hazelhurst, L. Brown, R. Thomas, C. Line, R. King. R. Dunlop. R. Smith, J. Gibbs, I. Crockett and O. Hattersley. Merivale (blue and white)—G. Rhodes, R. Masefield, A. Bullivant, R. Flewellyn, R. Stuart, S. Hendry, G. Dav, A. Bourne, A. Pedder, G. Suckling, T. Rountree, G. Francis, R. May, W. Crofts and C. Rich. Merivale defended the south end, and brisk work by the forwards drove Sydenham back into their twenty-five. Sydenham were penalised for side in a dangerous position, and before the game had been in progress two minutes Hendry had opened Merivale s account with a goal. In a melee at mid-field, Crofts was injured, and had to be replaced by Kearney. Day and Hendry worked well together behind the Merivale scrum, but the combination between Stuart and Bullivant was not as good, and some promising rushes broke down after the second five-eighth had handled. Sydenham were not seeing much of the ball, but on one occasion L. Brown sent the backs away in his own twenty-five, and Innes and J. Ilattcrslev ran well to gain seventy yards. Thomas hurst his shoulder, and had to be replaced by Stanaway. There were many injuries, Rhodes, L. Brown and Rhodes being hurt, but carrying on. Sydenham’s turn came when Merivale failed to take an “up and under ” free kick. King secured and hurled himself over. Innes converted, and the score was: Sydenham 5, Merivale 3. A hot Merivale forward rush, with Rich and Suckling in the van, came within an ace of scoring. Then Day just failed with an individual dash, and, picking out of the scrum, gave Sydenham a clearing penalty. O. Hattersley. was hurt, but carried on. L. Brown, Hazelhurst, Innes and W. Brown were associated in a bright passing rush, which Rhodes stopped by tackling W. Brown solidly. Innes cut in and got over, but another man must have had a hand on the ball, as a scrum was given at the twenty-five. Francis was hurt when tackling French. At half time the score was still SYDENHAM 5, MERIVALE 3.

ATHLETIC v. OLD BOYS. The improving Athletic team kept High School Old Boys busy when the sides m'?t at Rugby Park. The opening stages were scrappy, with Old Boys endeavouring to open up the play and Athletic holding their own in the forwards. Old Boys were the more constructive and held the advantage territorially, but Nicholas at the business end prevented them from scoring. The first points came after thirty minutes of play, Clark, working the blind side to send Jacobs over wide out for Old Boys, The kick failed Old Boys 3, Athletic 0. Athletic looked like scorin'* when O’Connor, their half-back, followed through a kick, gathered, and had the defence hopelessly out of position With a clear field ahead of him, however he lacked sufficient speed and support.’ Just before the spell, when Old Boys were defending on their last line J. Scully robbed an Old Boys back of the ball and dived for a try. Moran s shot at goal sailed wide, and the score at half-time was: Old Boys *>, Athletic LINWOOD v. CHRISTCHURCH. Christchurch and Linwood met on the south ground at Lancaster Park. T.ie 1 e 'chris't church—Fulton. Hart, Pawson, Fleming, Shirtcliffe, Mullan, Bouterey, Cottrell, Wade, Adorian, Frengley Taylor, Manchester, Wright and Noble. Linwood—Priest, Dunshea, O’Brien, M'CieJland, Candy, Robb, Stevens, Loader, White, Mansfield, Gunderson, Brownlee, Thompson, Price and Matter--55 Linwood kicked off and immediately arried a loose forward rush into the Christchurch twenty-five. Christchurch cleared, but an infringement gave Dunshea a chance to kick a penalty goal, and Linwood took the lead, 3-0. Thereafter play was confined to the forwrds, a terrific battle being waged in midfield by two packs that were evenly matched. After twenty minutes Christchurch were awarded a penalty and Fulton goaled. His kick struck the upright and the ball glanced over the crossbar. Linwood 3, Christchurch 3. Linwood lost Candy’s services a few minutes later, R. Stevens replacing him. The Christchurch backs worked play down the toucliline to within a few feet of the corner, and from the line-out Manchester dived over. The kick missed. Christchurch 6. Linwood 3. Towards the close of the spell Christchurch were I having slightly the better of play. A good field goal by Fulton gave them a handy lead. At half-time the score, was; Christchurch 10, Linwood 3.