RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20290, 27 April 1934, Page 11

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

To-morrow’s First-grade Games. even struggles expected. There should fee some .good even struggles in the second series of firstgrade Rugbv competition matches Some of the sides which did not rind them feet last Saturday, when the competition commenced, are expected to show better combined form on this occasion, and the draw has brought together teams that are fairly evenly matched. tke Oval at Lancaster Park. Christchurch will meet Sydenham, 'and they should find it hard going. Sydenham are trying out a new back'combination this time, bringing in «rtill another Brown, and if that means the proper linking up of the bade line Christchurch will have to dominate Sydenham m the forwards to keep the score down. While Shirtc'liffe is fit again and might make some difference to the Christchurch backs, Sydenham have a decided superiority "in that direction, which should make up for the weight and efficiency of the firstclass Christchurch pack. 4wiT he • teaTns .wili be chosen from the following: Sydenham—F. French, W. Brown G Brown. R. Brown, R. Hazelhurst,’ L. Brown A. Hill. K. Brown, C. Line. G. Mattelsley. R. King, J. Gibbs, R. Dun-. i? I> » Crockett, Newton. Emergencies: R. Mali,burton. K. Hawkins W. Watts Christchurch—OßH-ier, M’Kay, Black, Fleming, Shirt cl iffe, Gordon. Gaskin (2), Fulto-n, .Maxwell, Manchester, Adorian, Rogers Frengley, Anderson, Cottrell. Wade, -Price. Other Games. Albion, who had such a good win over Christchurch last week, will meet Old Boys on the South Ground at Lancaster I ark, and the game should be particularly good. Old Boys, with heavier forwards and an excellent set of backs, look one of the most formidable teams in the competition, but Albion will give them an excellent test. The teams will be: Oki Boys—Nolan, Eathorne, M’Phail, Henry, Mortlock. Cobdem. Clark, Jacobs, Bowes. Lowry, .Berry, Sclaluter, .Stanley, M’Phail, Foley, Rankin, North. W. Roberts, R. Thompson, H. Mavis. \V. Thompson, J. Hobson, T. Preston, C. Clark, S. Smith, J. Wilson, G. M’Natty, R. Daslef, W. Sweeney, G. Howell, J. Lake. T. Hooker. T. Russell, B. Buckley, K. Oakley, C. Taylor. At Rugby Park. Merivale, a side which should improve as the season goes on, will meet Varsity, The students had g well-earned win -over Lin wood last Saturday, hut against the hard Merivale forwards they may not see so much of the ball.. There is some good material in the backs of both sides, and a fast, open game should result. The teams will be: Merivale—G. Arps. E. Newburgh, A. Builivant. W. Mann. C. Oliver, J. Hooper, W. Crofts, N. Bouterev, R. Overend, A. Redder, K. Hartland, S. Emerson, C. Rich, H. Deavoll, T. Rountree, R. May, G. Francis, K. Giant, A. Bourne. Varsity—Fooks. Hayman, S. A. Roberts. Watts, Parsons, APCormick, M’Auliffe, Andrews, D. J. Wilson,. P. G. Roberts, Hudson,' Hamilton, Stewart, F. J. Wilson. M’Kee. Emergencies: Uniacke, Coupland. Heenan. « « Linwood should be at full strength when they meet Athletic on the West Ground at Lancaster Park. and the side may be too evenly balanced for Athletic to score a win. How-, ever, Athletic are triers all t-he way. and Linwood will have .to go to the final whistle to earn their win. The sides Linwood—J. Moifk, J. White, :Sd Loader, Tt. Thompson, R. Price, A., Brownlee, G. W. Thompson, B. Bradley, G. Stevens, S. Whiteford, R. Johnson, E. Gregg, N. Dunshea, L. Mason, N. Priest, N. McClelland, D. Ennis, J. Hamnaond. Athletic—J. Gillespie, I. Wilkes, J., Hennessey. J. Blackaby, C. M’Cormack.i J. Burton, L. Moran, R. Poff, J. Vincent, ( M. Quirk. T. Moran, W. Coll, EL Pender,; B. Solomon, M, M’Kendyy. Emergen-) ties: W. Ait ken, C. Woodham and T.. j Wesley. ’ Alteration to Draw. Owing to tlie withdrawal of the Technical Old Boys’ third grade (B section); team, which has been re-entered in the fourth grade competition, the Richmond third grade <B section) team now has a bye to-morrow.