FOUR TEAMS RUNNING EQUAL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20328, 11 June 1934, Page 11

FOUR TEAMS RUNNING EQUAL.

Very Keen Competition in Rugby First Grade Series. OLD BOYS AND SYDENHAM BOTH LOSE. OLD BOYS, Merivale, Albion and Varsity arc now equal at the top of the first-grade Rugby competition—one of the keenest of any series since the war. On Saturday, Merivale played a hard forward game, with good secondary work by the backs, to beat the then leaders, Old Boys, who could not find form. Sydenham, though spurred on by their victory over Old Boys last week, could not hold the competent Varsity combination. Albion looked as though they would have to admit defeat till a last-minute rally by the backs let them snatch victory from Liuwood by a two-point margin. On the Oval, and in most of the other games, hard rucking and spoiling breakaways by the forwards was the order of the day, and spectators were denied those combined back offensives which used to make the game so attractive.

Merivale deserve congratulation, not only for their win bn Saturday, but for the way the side has been built up from new players after half last years men had dropped out, and in the face of two reverses early in the season that must have been a disappointment. The forwards have been fit and hard workers right along, and now have developed combined vanguard play till they are a match for any pack in the competition. The backs have not yet perfected their attacking qualities, but the individuals have tightened up their games, and after a few more matches should show the spectators that a threequarter line may be used for something other than defence. Old Boys were triers all the way, but their forwards were outweighted and outplayed by just that degree that turns an even game into a defensive one. No one could have worked harder than did Lowry, Bowes, Schluter, Stanley. Foley and Rankin, but the job was just a little too much for their combined powers. That was also the case when the side went down to Sydenham. In both these matches the Old Boys inside backs have had a severe battering, and it looks as though what promised to be a very enterprising inside combination is in danger of losing its effectiveness.

Clark, a game defender and, when on his day, an enterprising and fast man on attack, has now been outclassed in consecutive games by L. Brown and Bouterey. Certainly, both those halves have had the better of the chances, but Clark in these two games has been fumbling the ball and then taking too long to get it to the first five-eighths. Cobden, bruised from last game, stood down, and in his place Cook did not show speed, and failed to draw a man before passing the responsibility to Mortlock. Mortlock did what he could, but his chances were few, and that applies to M’Phail, Tweedie and Henry as well. Henry put in two good runs without crossing the line. Eathorne made a safe full-back, making sure of touch. The Merivale forwards played a dashing game in the loose and shoved hard and consistently in the tight. Individual mention is hardly fair in such an even pack, but Francis, Bourne, Deavoll. Rich and Crofts played outstanding games. Bouterey got through a lot of work behind the scrum, and used fine judgment in kicking to the line. Hooper is holding his improved form, and Newburgh is developing into a good second five-eighth, with an eye for a gap into which to drop a short punt. At centre Oliver played his usual sound game, and on the few occasions when he got a chance showed that he is still the hardest man to lay hands on in Christchurch. Bullivant had little to do on the left wing, but at the other end of the line Mann played a really bright game, getting quickly off the mark and wasting no ground. Maxwell at full-back was safe and kicked excellently. VARSITY SPRING SURPRISE. Always a team likely to upset calculations, Varsity sprang a surprise when they beat Sydenham by 9 points to 3. Earlier in the season they showed signs of developing into a formidable combination, but that form was not always maintained, and it was only on Saturday that they showed their real capabilities. Sydenham played good solid football, but their tactics lacked Inspiration. and were, not enough to beat a side with speedy and thrustful backs, and a pack of fiery forwards. The crisp handling of the Varsity backs showed up in no uncertain la«hion the faults of the Sydenham rearguard, who fumbled badly, and were nearly alwavs slow off the mark. On the few occasions when they did get going satisfactorily, lack of penetration spoiled th*?ir chances. Varsity, on the other hand, played most enterprising football, the back-s staging several good passing rushes, and making some fine individual breakaways. Their combination was upset by the retirement of Ci. A. Parsons, but that fact made no difference to the working or the back line. Most of the credit for the good showing of the backs went to J. H. M’Auliffe, who is one of the most dependable half-backs in club football. He did nothing spectacular except to kick a great goal from ten yards inside half-way early in the second spell, but never made a mistake. His defence was solid, and his neat work behind the scrum was worth while watching. L. Hayman was moved into second five-eighth, and turned on an outstanding performance. His two tries were scored from a short passing rush, and a breakaway in company with M. Hoenan. A tendency to allow himself to be caught out of position too often marred an otherwise good exhibition at full-back by E B. Fooks.

The slowness of the inside backs was mainly responsible for Sydenham’s comparatively poor showing. 11. Hazelhurst appears to be slower off the mark than he was last season, and on Saturday he was soon stopped before he had made more than a few yards. A new second five-eighth would strengthen the Sydenham back line a lot. A. Hill is solid enough, but he lacks the insniration necessary for the position.

Varsity’s forwards played a great game both In the tight and the loose. They went together as a pack, and besides beating Sydenham in the scrums, excelled in raiding movements which broke up their defence. R. B. Hamilton wr>s prominent in loose rushes, while P. G. Roberts, G. T. Wilson and N. L. Uniacke kept slogging into it all the way. A. H. Andrews played his usual resourceful gamte, and was all over the field.

Svdenham seemed to be feeling the absence of R. K. King, and it was not until the last twenty minutes, when F. T. J. French was moved up into the pack that they showed th'eir true form. Leadership was lacking, and their play lacked dash. K. Dunlop and W. Fright were the best of the lot. ALBION’S RECOVERY. A last-minute recovery by Albion won them their match against Linwood on the west ground at Lancaster Park. For three-quarters of the distance Linwood were well in the lead, and then the Albion backs came to light and combined with their hard-working forwards I to put on 13 points.

Nothing but praise can be given to the work of the rival packs, who worked with a will throughout. Sweeney, Howell and Mooney put in some great work in the Albion vanguard, the heavy rushes of whom took a power of stopping. Wilson played a good game after coming on in place of Howell, who retired hurt in the second spell. Wilson scored a try within a minute of coming on to the field, and Lake followed with another.

Clark played his usual sound game behind the Albion scrum, and made few mistakes. Hobson, at second fiveeighth, was particularly active in reviv-

Brownlee and Matterson were a tower of strength to the Linwood pack, who staged several loose rushes that would have ended in scores had they bee?* linked up with the backs at the right moment. Quaid played a scientific game at half-back for Linwood, and Gregg was sound. Stevens, at second five-eighth, was too prone to collar his man before the ball had reached him.

Dunshea, though not giving a great impression of dependability, was one of the bright points of the Linwood rearguard. He enlivened the play with some spectacular work in reviving movements which, had broken down, and in this respect his speed was a decided asset. He forsook his usual place on the wing and played centre.

Linwood have two solid and dependable wingers in Johnson and M’Cleiland. The former scored twice and the latter once. Their defence is one of their strong points. Johnson appears equally at home on the wing as in the fiveeighth position. Mason, at full-back, cleared well and remained cool in the face of all rushes.

ATHLETIC TENACIOUS

Lack of appreciation of the finer points of \he game only prevented Athletic from making the issue of their match with Christchurch closer than the 21 points to 9 that separated the teams when time was called. If anything, Athletic finished with more fight than their opponents, and credit must go to them for their tenacity in hanging on to a side superior to them both back and forward. Their scrummagers were always going great guns, with Simpson and Coll setting an example, but their backs lacked thrust and played too much as individuals to achieve any great measure of success. Christchurch, on the other hand, teamed well, forwards and backs linking up better than they have done in most of their other games this season. Manchester was adept in dropping the ball from line-outs down to his half-back, or in swinging long passes out to his five-eighths. Apart from this, the Christchurch forwards raked the ball more often than the opposing hookers, and the result was that the backs were given gallops that, if they did not produce tries, sorely harassed the defence.

The score to the account of Christchurch might have mounted much higher than it did but for the spoiling tactics of the Athletic backs—Burton and Gillespie in particular—fast raiding in the loose by their forwards, and the inclination of Christchurch ’ to play ‘heir opponents at their own game in the forwards. When the ball flashed ♦hrough the Christchurch chain, scores came or success was not far away.

M’Herron. the Christchurch half, slung his passes out smartly, although son?© of them were erratic. J. Gaskin, at first five-eighth, took some very difficult passes, and teamed well with Shirtoliffe. The latter time and again cut the defence to shreds and paved the way for several of his side's tries., Fleming was the best of the threequarters. He finished off one passing movement with a fine burst of speed and was in several other passing bouts that bore fruit.

Manchester was the best forward on the ground, mixing brains with brawn. He was always ready to do his share of the hard work in the tight, never failed to appreciate that he had backs behind him. and teamed in so well with his backs that he was in many of the passing movements. He was always up with the play and scored two fine tries. His best supports were Cottrell, Wade nnd Frengley. Anderson was absent from tho Christchurch pack owing to an injury.

Ashburton Games.

(Special to the “Star.”) ASHBURTON, June 10. The Ashburton Rugby "Union's competitions were continued on Saturday afternoon under unfavourable weather conditions. There was a small attendance at the Ashburton Showgrounds, where the chief attraction was the senior game between Technical Old Boys and Allenton, the former winning by 10 points to 3. Hinds were outclassed by Metliven in all departments of the game, the final score being: Methven 22, Hinds 3. Junior Grade. Junior matches resulted:— Rakaia 15, Mayfield 0. Mount Somers 6. Old Boys 3. Technical Old Boys 6, Lowcliffe 3. Third Grade. Rakaia 3, High School 0. Technical Old Boys beat Springburn by default. Metliven beat Old Boys by default. Fourth Grade. Technical 28, Tinwald 3. High School 3, Allenton 3.