RUGBY LEAGUE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20340, 25 June 1934, Page 11

RUGBY LEAGUE.

Surprises in the Se tior Games. HORNBY'S- SECOND DEFEAT. ■ Hornby suffered their second defeat of the season on Saturday when the Canterbury Rugby League's senior grade competition was continued. They let Sydenham bustle them all the time. Ruru were unlucky in not defeating Linwood. Both sides played excellent football, Ruru territorially having the better of the game. They were attacking hard at the finish, and another minute or two might have made the scores different. Addington had a hard tussle to keep Brighton from their line in the second spell of the main game at Sydenham Park, and the game ended with a onepoint margin. The games resulted: Linwood 23. Ruru IS. Addington 13, New Brighton 12. ‘Sydenham 5. Hornby 3. LINWOOD SHAKEN. Ruru gave Linwood a thorough shaking-up on Saturday, playing much better League than in their former matches, and having victory within their grasp until the last few minutes of the game. ITad Linwood not improved in the second spell, it is doubtful whether they would have won, with the new team pressing hotly all the time. Ruru abandoned their previous plan of kicking the ball and following up hard in the hopes of a forward thrust, and adopted a straight-out back game. They threw the' ball about in fine style, and were full of dash. Linwood won the day by better team work, although they were not nearly so aggressive in their tactics. F. Ayres was back at centre after a spell on the bank, and Droved a tower of strength to Linwood. He made a beautiful run towards the end of the game, which ended in the deciding try. and at all times was in the thick of it. Ilis kicking was useful as he converted three tries and kicked a penalty. Becks was not so good on tlie wing. With a man like Ayres inside him he should have played a better game. Some of his passes were wild, to say the least of it. Garland played a solid game in the Linwood forwards, and was easily the best of a hard-working pack. Ruru have some promising players who need onlv a little more polish to become first-class. W. Dee, who played full-back early in the game and was then moved to first five-eighth, proved a lively customer. A. Murray, on he wing, put in some hard work. He has

a nice turn of speed and plenty of sense in a tight corner. lie lost one good opportunity, however, when he got away with the ball at his toes, picked up and ran hard down the line. Becks came after him, and Murray, apprehensive, lost the ball and a certain try. X, Clarke, the Ruru half, did good work behind the scrum, but was no match for his opponent, the speedy M. Messervy. The best of the Ruru forwards were J. Foster and L. Thompson. 2*2 2-2 2*2 SYDENHAM BEAT HORNBY. Sydenham thoroughly deserved their win against Hornby, winning by 5 points to 3. It was a good game, splendid back play being a feature. Probably the outstanding man in the Sydenham team was B. Stafford, who played half-back. He is a promoted junior, and his work on Saturday was equal to anything seen in League games this reason. He broke up many Hornby rushes, passed the ball out smartly from scrums, and showed dash on attack. His inclusion in the team was fully justified. The worst feature of the hack play of both teams was the lateness in passing. Many times golden opportunities were lost because players held on too long, even when they were supported. It. Thompson (Hornby) and M. Hmith (Sydenham) were the worst offenders. B. Ay son (fullback for the winners) played a sound game, his kicking and defence being well judged. The same applied to J. Dunn, Hornby’s youthful full-back. J. Kastrick was the pick of the three-quarters, always being close to the hall and saving his side by his sure kicks. Both K. Chaston and W. Kastrick worked in well with Stafford All the forwards showed up prominently, but the leader was 15. Hamburger, who tore into the tight work with vim. J. Madden. IC. Urinies and the Carey brothers also played well. W. Drury, who is a new-comer this season, showed up on attack, and ran well. R. Thompson was useful on defence and attack. but lost ground through tailing to pass quicker. W. Pulamountain, M. Standeven and J. McCarthy were a strong trio and strove hard to win the game. Palamountain was unlucky on two occasions in being brought down when only a few yards from the goal-line. W. Woodgate. J. Airey. J. M’C.irr and W. Vivian were a hard-working set of forwards. Overentlmsaism robbed them of two tries. Mr H. King controlled the game in an efiicelnt manner. VIGOROUS FORWARDS. A keenly, fought game between New Brighton and Addington thrilled the largest crowd that has been seen at .Sydenham Park this season. The ground was slippery, but play was brisk throughout, notwithstanding the greasy ball. Addington, as usual, were the more enterprising, but New Brighton’s smothering tactics proved very effective. C. K. Bailey, the New Brighton forward, showed himself to he a brilliant opportunist, scoring both of New Brighton’s tries in spectacular fashion. Bailey was the pick of the forwards on the ground and amply made up for the Joss of K. Waghoru shortly after the start. The Addington backs were combining well and did much to brighten up the game; their first try resulting from a movement by C. Brimbje, H. Knight jind Jack Amos, which started from the New

Brighton twenty-five. L. Young was combining well with Amos, and also converted two tries, one difficult kick hitting the cross-bar and bouncing over. At full-back \\\ Boniface was always safe. Of the Addington forwards. R- Harding, L. Wehner and E. Barba re 11 wonthe most prominent. Barbarell being a useful forward in the loose and scoring Addington’s last try. R. Harding showed considerable improvement and should soon be one of the best forwards in the competition. C. BrimbJe, on the right wing, showed little determination and paid too much attention, when taking the hall, to his opponents. The New Brighton team played their spoiling game successfully, and might eusily have turned the table* in the lust few minutes but for a sustained assault by Addington right on New Brighton's line. Among the backs H. Davis, the lullback. was a. tower of strength, and proved very' dangerous when he moved up to half-back during the second spell. His goal-kicking was also up to standard. six of New Brighton’s points coming from his boot. New Brighton’s first try came when Davis had a shot at goal that bounced back off the post; O. R. Bailey reaped the fruits of hi* labours by following up fast, taking the ball and scoring while the Addington players were still feeling thankful that Davis's kick had missed. R. dosney, on the left wins, showed plenty of pace and determination, being unluckv not to score after a fifty yards run within a few minutes of the start, j. Penrose was reliable at naif-hack, but an Injury to his foot caused him to retire to the wing during the second spell. The other forwards in the New Brighton baok. J. Crawford and H. Wakefield, worked very hard all tno GAMES ELSEWHERE. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND. June £4. Marist 8. Pevonport 8: Newton 12. Ponsonby 11; Richmond 43, City 14. NAPIER. June £3. Tara dale 3S. Te Awa 5: Te NgJ.rue beat Aliuriri; Clive 29, City 6. DUNEDIN, June 24. Athletic 6. Christian Bros. 3; City 14, Pacific 7.