SATURDAY'S SPORTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16258, 8 July 1918, Page 5

SATURDAY'S SPORTS.

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME.

The following table ehcrws the positions of the at the conclusion of the champion""Pl - Pts. Chp.

.MERIVALE WIN CHAMPIONSHIP. Beautifully fine weather prevailed on Saturday for the final senior games of the season. There was a very large crowd at the , Show Grounds to watch the two games played! there. By defeating Linwood Merivale won the 1918 senior championship, the play-ofl with Old Boys being, made unnecessary by the tatter's defeat by Christchuroh. Results:— MERIVALE (8) t. LDTWOOD (0). From the kick-ofl Linwood forwards set up a strong attack, and from a loose rush almost scored, Merivale forcing. juat in time. Hie Merivale forwards, however, soon asserted and worked play down to Liftrood's end. The game resolved itself mto a leries of attacks and comnter-attacfes bv. the forwards of both sides. The Merivale backs were handling the ball better than their opponents. At half-time there was no score. The second spell started off with > strong Menyale attack, Yates sending the play back with «« good kick. A long kick by Dickie, the Merivale full-back, was misfielded by Watson, and Piercy in turn, allowing Woodfield ■who had followed up fast, to kick the ball hard over the Linwood line whero, after a race for it, he managed to touch down. William* failed with the kick. The Linwood for* wards led by W. and E. Cumminga, who were working strenuously "to swwe,; attacked again, but the Merivale backs were defending well. From * kick after »liwsorat Glsfieon got across* lie Piercy and MoGerty were ft*Aing at one another to see who was going to fieM the ball, but the touch-judge's flag w*s still up, »nd the try was disallowed. forwards, playing a good oombined game, held the upper hand, Merivale winmng the game by 8 points to nil. Mr J. F. Peake was referee.

' CHRISTCHTTBCH (*) v. OLD BOYS (ml). Old Boys kicked off, and after a spell of even play, Woods just saved Hickmott from; (coring by kicking over the dead ball line. Fine work on the part of the Chnstohuroh, forwards had Old Bojb in trouble. tfreeto the White a, however, kept the Rods at bay. A feeble kick by Wooda wae marked, but Tenoh failed at goal. Macdonald beat severs] opponent®, but ran,into the ruck. Condliffe, the Old Boy®' half, had to retire with an injured collar-bone, Henshaw filling Uw vaoaney. Evon "play ensued for a long while. From ft mark by Gray, Tench made A good, but ineffectual ohot at goal. Down, badly, beat the Chriatchurch backs, but waa brought down by Rowe on the line. Another milk to Old Boys, saw Tench'e kick at goal charged. Fast and exciting play saw the Beds invade White quartan, and from ft mark , liaison made ft fine but futile attempt at gcil. The end of the spell eaw an exoiting white rush to the Red line, _ but the oni ilaught wae stayed. The opening of the seoood spell saw Chriatchurch attacking hotly, ill bom ft line-out Old Boya forced. A passing rush by the Chriatchurch backa re- -- salted in McLeod making a strong dash, and a moment later Matson potted a fine goal ■ .{torn the centre of the field. Stung by this reverse, the White® attacked strongly, Chriat,ehnichJbeing • forced. A moment later the Reds charged back, and Old Boya were luckv in earing by farcing. Bad play by Knight Ist Old Boya up. McLecrJ broke clean away, i but was overtaken by The pace .now became furious, the play surging up and Mown the field, but neither side could score, and the game ended: Chriatchurch 4, Old Boys nil. Mr A. E. Doell was referee.

ALBION-ADDINGTON (14) v. MARIST BROS. (3).

Owing to the junior matches being postponed, the above-mentioned clubs were able •to place full fifteens in the field. The Marist aide contained three senior playon and Albion .two. The game waa mostly a forward one, .in which the backs gave able support. . Gray ' ' made his presence felt amongst the Albion backs. For Albion Sheridan, McClure, and i Bel grave scared tries, McCluro converting the i? firet-aamed's try. Sheridan also kicked a i- .penalty, goal. Khouri scored a try for Mar- . Jet Broa., Hullins failing to convcrt.

NOTES ON THE PLAY. Excepting that the fate of the champion•hip depended on the result, the match between Linwood and Herivale waa of a dull, Uninteresting nature. In fact, the mistakes of some of the players kept up the interest and amusement of the spectators more than their pood play. Menvalo forwards, working well together, gradually wore' down their heavier opponents.. They, backed up by sound work among • the backs, won the game for their side. Merivale thoroughly deserved their win, as they •were elightly better than their opponents in both, departments. _ For Linwood, Yates, in the backs, played-a fine game. The other backs, with the exception of Hirst, were off colour, their handling of the greasy ball being poor. The forvsras, especially Edmonds and the Cummingß s brothers, worked hard. Qns.of th© most strenuons games, full of - JMiting incidents, witnessed in Christchurch - •Jji* jear, was that between Old Boys and f Chmtchurch on Saturday. Tho latter, ... atmngthened by the inolusion of Murray and McCully in the forwards, and McLeod in th« - racks, were right on their mettle, and it questionable whether any team in tho oompetition could have beaten them. Matson, i though under the doctor's orders not to play, ■ could not resist the temptation to turn out for'Christchurch, and proved tho hero of, the ' ' P owe rful line-kicking being fin- ; Wwd off by a sensational potted goal from Inlf-way. whioh proved the only score in the -5 WIBi. Th* Etd forwards had the better of deid with their opponents, and effectually ' Jttpped in the bud attempts on the part of th<> ■Old Boys' backs to bring off strategical movettentg.

i «B» Mariat Broa.' team on Saturday con * -uteed but three senior nlayers (Mullins '• Ktaari, and Ellis), whilo in th<» Albion team • ?W two—Sheridan and G. D. Gray, t£K • Iwttt, turning out for the first time this e*a- . r-'ya,' more to coach the younger placers than ' ajty doeiro for a srnme. Both teums *ith the exceptions noted, composed / " of junior players. , '"Si'vr? f®nw between Albion-Addington :: *fanat Broa. was for th» most part confined \ ' the.forwards, the Hack play fallin? chiefly ,- J® shoulders of Gray and Sheridan, for [■ - ■=• winners, and Mullins and Khouri, for . 1 jurist Bros.

SECOND GRADE. Playing on their own ground Christ's Colleg© defeated Lincoln College by 8 points to 9. TTinrlmnrah and Gaulter each Bcored & try for the winners, and Avorill converted one. For Lincoln College Coatcs kicked two penalty goals. Mr E. E. Luttrell was referee. Boys' High School defeated Merivale on their own ground by 20 points to nil. Willoughby (2), Bocae and Bowes one each, scored tries, and Reeso converted the four. Mr J. H. McGuffog was referee. The Old Boys-Linwood gam© was not played owing to th© wet state of the ground at Liswood Park.

OTHER MATCHES POSTPONED. Owing to the wet nature of the grounds all third, fourth, and fifth grade matchee were postponed.

BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL v. CHRIST'S COLLEGE.

The usual keen interest is being displayed in tho annual football match between the Boys' High School and Christ a College, which will take place at the Show Grounds on Wednesday next. Both teams are in firstclass condition, and tho game this year should be of a very even and escitmg nature. The Canterbury Rugby Union are looking 1 after the ground arrangements, and they are using every off art to ensure tb* comfort and convenience of spectatore- With this object In view, it has been decided that all inotorcyclos, oars, and bicycles shall only he admitted through the motor gate, ?° M interfere with spectators entering through the main gate Th« openp<l to the public *t 1.30. and the match ecrmmenoe at 2.48 shnro. The the match, after deducting School team, for travelling will he handed to the Ladv Liverpool Fund. The teams will be as follows:— CHRIST'S COLLEGE (Black aad White). Full-back: • K. H. Hargreavea Three-quarters: J; , F. W. Iff. Cowlisbaw, A. H. Sugden R. B. Wilson, Five-eighths: E. W". Gaulter H. S. Hindmaish Half-back: W. S. W. AveriH Forwards: A. J. Stock W. J. G. Tnrnlnin j 3 "Williams (capt.)* E* CotteriH W. E. Minty J. N. Lowry G. L. Burdon M. H. Straohan (wing-forward). Emergencies—Backs: Whyte, Dalgety, wards: Tapley, Smith. BOYS* HIGH SCHOOL (Blue and Black). Full-back: T.. I. Lascelles Three-quarters: J. M. WBlonghby A. 0. 0. Allen B, J« Bo mm ' Five-eighths: V. Graham 3. Carieton. Half-back,: W. Dallejy Forwards: T. B. Donnelly J. 0- Fowyth D. Diokeon D. Guim J.A.Fraaer (capt.) D. W. Reese L. D. Page J. L. White (wing-forwaid).. . Emergenoiesr—Back: Walker, forward. F. Peake will referee the match, and ' Messrs H. C., Watson and L. Guiney will act as touch-line judges.

LEAGUE. SEVEN-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT. The annual tournament was played at St. Albans Park on Saturday afternoon in perfect weather, but the payable waa slippery, and owing to the No. 2 gronn _ being too wot to play on, tho semi-finals and 1 finals will bo concluded on Saturday "* xt - There was a good attendance of supporters, and an interesting three hours football was provided, tho teams following each other in rapid succession, though in four games played tho maximum time was considerably exoeeded. The results were: — SENIOR DIVISION. Federal beat Linwood by three points- to nil. This gam© provided an even. display> .and after four spells had been played-W. Mitchell, who is down on final leave from camp, scored a good try for tho winners. Sydenham defeated Hornby B by five pointa to nil. A fast game ensued until jnst before time, when a passing rush >et Hill over for Smytho to goal. . t Hornby A won by default from Linwood B. SECOND DIVISION. Woolston A beat Sydenham by 12 points to nil. Avon A defeated Addington B by five points to throe. Addineton A, eight points, beat Woolston B, nil. kvim B beat Hornby B by three pointa to nil. THIRD DIVISION. Linwood B beat Avon bv p ; x noint<* to nil. Linwood A defeated Sydenham by five points to two. • , Woolston A beat Hornbv A by threepomta to nil. This game considerably exceeded the time limit, and just prior to Woolston scoring the time bell had rung to change ever, but owins to the noise of the spectators the referee did not hear the bell, and the earn® was allowed to proceed. A protest by Hornby wnn upheld, and it w«e to re-play the fixture, and after an hour's interval the again met, and another even and exciting go resulted, which exceeded the time allowance. Woolston were attacking hard, r and in a good position when the change over bell rang, but owiner to the aerai-darkneas he referee postponed the play-off till Saturday noxt. v CANTERBURY RUGBY LEAGUE. A general meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Rugby League was held oti.Saturday evening. Mr A. E. Hooper presiding over a full attendance of dolwrati'. Mr Gaskell, a member of the English Referees' Association, was present. _ A letter won received «om the Sydenham Club statin? that the committee of tie club had disqualified a member of the junior twain for two years for played "fixture andor Union rules, and the action of the club in-the Wools ton-Hornby third -rade game in the eeven-a-side tournament ret>orted that owing to the game exceedingST usual time, and no score having been .btaincd, he had to close the game owing to >emi-darkness t and that in the excitement of 'he closing stages he had eent a ield for throwing an opponent after the game had bUn stopped, and reporting a spectator for. abusive language after the mk» s heLd the referee's whistle .toppwg the game, a severe caution J? VHnT The committee further decided to ask S'epiuto? reported to attend tho W*t i meetiss*

It was resolved that the semi-finals and final of tH-c seven-a-flide fixtures played at Sydenham Park on Saturday next. The following aro tko fixtures and referees for Saturday nest:— Fourth Division, at 2 o'clock:—Woolston B v. Sydenham C, Mr C. Tilleyehoit; Woolston A v. Addington, Mr A. Morris; Woolston C. a bye. Third DivisionAddington v. Linwood B, Mr Ormandy; Woolston A v. Hornby A, Mr Brsinsden; Linwood A, a bye. Second Division: — wcolaton A v. Avon A, Mr C. McLacblsn; Addington A v. Hornby A. Mr A. R. Brunsden; Avon B, a bye. First Division—Sydenham v, Fodcral, Mr A. Morris; Hornby, a bye. ASSOCIATION. Favoured by splendid weathor, the League competitions were continued on Saturday, and there was a largo crowd at English Park to witness the struggle between Banger# and Nomads. Results:— NOMADS (6) v. RANGERS (2). Nomads kicked off and Friclcleton mado ground on the right-. R» - 'era got down, and from a goal kick Gray secured and • passed out to Lilburn, whs easily boat Swift. A determined lush by the Nomads' front lino brought play within the Rangers' goal area, where Bruorton handled. The kick woa entrusted to Pilling, who netted. Fast mid-fi?ld play followed, Nomads having rather the better of the exchangee. Rangers got within striking distance. and. Elisor was fouled just outside the penalty aTea. Lee shot strongly, the ball rebounding into the net off Swift, giving Ranpjre'the lead. Nomads now forced play, and kept Rangers on tho defensive. Harker saved several shots, but from a ecratnblo Grant got through and mode the eccres level. Bruorton cleared from Grant, but Christian came across and soorcd a fine goal. In the second half a clean break away enaiblod Pilling to put his side further ahead. Good passing between Grant and Pilling resulted in the former a?ain beating Harker. Shortly afterwards Pilling broke away and, side-step-ping the backs, scored from close The whistle sounded soon after with ; !av .n Nomads' territory. Rcsu-t: Nomads 6, Rangers 2. Referee, Mr G. Black.

OLD DOTS v. ST. ALBANS. . The recent heavy raine made Lin wood Pork ■unplayable, and thio match had to bo abandoned. JUNIOR GRADE! Exooleior beat St. Albnna by 3 goals to 1, Lawrence, King, and Shaw acorod for the winners, an'l Colville for the losers. Referee, Mr Wardcll. THIRD GRADE. He game Western v. Celtic was won by Coltic with a score of 2to 1. For the winners T. Mullin and T. Ryan acOTcd, and for the losers S. Champion. 'Referee, Mr Kingan. The game St. Albans v.- Excelsior resulted in a draw, each aide .scoring 2 goals. Gohns and McLeod scored for Excolaior and Richards and Stevens for St. Allxina. Referee, Mr Davoy. FOURTH GRADE. D.1.0. 2 v. Strango's niL Peat and Telegraph 6 v. B.G.H. 1. St. Albans 7 v. lYoggitt'a Boy Scouts nil.

Team, P. W. L. for. ag.Tte. Merivalo (.. 10 8 3 129 57 8 Old Bays 10 7 3 103 68 7 Linwood ..10 6 4 81 67 <5 Christchnroh .'.3,0 4 6 ®8 jj* * JIaiiet Bras. 10 3 7 64 05 3 Albion .. 10 2 8 «5 88 2