Rugby League Linwood Remains Unbeaten

Press, Volume C, Issue 29501, 1 May 1961, Page 16

Rugby League Linwood Remains Unbeaten

Conditions were almost perfect when the third series of matches in the first round of the Rugby League championship were held at the Show Grounds on Saturday. Ute young Christchurch’ side gave further evidence df its improvement by holding the fancied Sydenham team to an 8-all draw. Last season’s co-winners of the championship. Linwood and Papanui, provided the main game of the day, Linwood proving too strong for its rival. Linwood maintained its unbeaten record for the three matches so far played., Results of matches played are:— Linwood 21, Papanui 11. Christchurch 8, Sydenham 8. Hornby 40, Marist 13. Championship points are: Linwood 6, Papanui 6, Sydenham 3, Christchurch 3, Hornby 0, Marist 0. PAPANUI V. LINWOOD Linwood maintained a fast pace throughout in beating Papanui by 21 points to 11 in the main game of the day on the Show Grounds Oval. Linwood led at half-time by 13 points to 5 and had shown such good form that a big margin looked well within its capability. Papanui. < after seeing very little of the ball from the scrums in the first half, began to hook the ball better in the second spell and gave the winner a much harder game. In the second spell play was far more even, with each side scoring two tries, one of Linwood’s being converted. Linwood snowed great understanding between backs and forwards, with the forwards excelling in short passing rushes that had Papanui's defence working hard to hold out.

Flaying ;a splendid ilihe R. Pounsford, at first flNWtotehth, was the key to Lir.woqd a baek attack. He appeared to be everywhere at once and *s well a« scoring tom trieef lad a maily plays at half-back for his club. At half-back. W. Godfrey got through a very hard day's work with credit and 1 , often moved to the ball quicker than his opponents after Papanui had hooked. J. White had a successful day pn the wing and scored two tries. ” The six forward# played as a real team. Those who showed up particularly werp R. McLean. John Flanagan, and J. Fisher. Fisher gained a lot of ground in his fast bursts and McLean’s backing up was firstclass. McLean also did a tremendous lot of work on cover defence. A. Amer had a good day on the wing for Papanui and kept a very watchful eye on J. White. These two players had several personal duels in the matches played last Reason, but on Saturday the outcome was even. G. Sandford, deputising at five-eighths, showed he can play as well in this position as at half-back, his normal berth. He ran strongly and did well against the strong Linwood defence. R. Feutz came out of the scrum to play at half-back and also made a good job of his new task. In the forwards K. Pearce and E. Tavendale worked very hard throughout and bore the brunt of Linwood's continued forward onslaughts. Scorers for Linwood were R. Pounsford (2). J. White (2). and P. Lennon. A. Smith converted two and kicked a penalty. Tries for Papanui were scored by G. Neiman. G. Bond, and A, Amer. K. Pearce converted one.

The referee was Mr W. Gray. SYDENHAM V. CHRISTCHURCH In scoring a try in the opening minute of the match, Sydenham appeared as though it might put up a very large score against the Young Christchurch team. However, before the spell was half over Christchurch had replied With a good try that was converted and so took the lead. A penalty by Sydenham just before half-time left the scores even at the interval, and in the second half each side scored a try. Sydenham could be considered most fortunate in making a draw of it as Christchurch bad by far the better of the play territorially in the second half and also played better football. The moves used by the Christchurch side had more purpose in them and right up until the final whistle the players handled the ball with a crispness that looked most encouraging for the future. They ran hard. too. and were always prepared to trv something different. Playing at centre three-quar-ter. R. Turton, handled his team well and inspired them with a very fine game. His tricky running and solid tackling were, without doubt, the basis of the fine showing given by Christchurch. Behind the scrum. R. Berclnt. a player from Australia, also showed very good form. He ran well from the scrum and loose play and sent out welldirected passes to his inside backs.

In the forwards three players showed up in tight and loose play. P. Hughey. T. Parker and B. Phillfpson. Hughey was a consistent source of danger to the Sydenham team with his strong runs. At times, however, he was inclined to move too far across the field instead of straightening play. For Sydenham. R. Raistrick and C. Preece played competent games on the wings while at centre G. Abercrombie also had several good runs. At times he was guilty of watching the man instead of taking the ball cleanly. He scored one very good try. The best of the Sydenham

forwards were N. Diggs. T. Bisman and B. Butts.

Scorers for Christchurch were T. Parker and G. Cockcroft, Parker converting his ow-n try. G. Abercrombie ana T. Bisman scored for Sydenham, Bisman also kicking a penalty. The referee was Mr D. C. Wilson.

HORNBY V. MARIST Only seven points clear at half-time. Hornby went on to beat Marist by 40 points to 13 at Show Grounds No. 2. Marist. without two of Its leading players, F. Jones and P. Smith, proved a game opponent, but found few answers to the speed and thrust of the Hornby backs. Significantly, nine of Hornby's 10 tries were scored by backs.

Richard and John Bray, playing at second five-eighths and centre respectively, were on hand for practically *ll the scoring movement, and John, m particular, was outstanding. Although most of their tries were set up for them. P. Skirton and P. Tongue did well to score seven between them.

The Hornby pack did not play with the same cohesion as its backs, but M. Cooke was prominent in all phases of play, as was D. Condlck. In his first game of the season. I. Drayton showed plenty of pace. M. Mohi was to the Marist Sick what Cooke was to ornby. Always difficult to tackle, Mohi scored all Marist’s points. Never far behind him were P. O’Brien and B. Kennedy, The Marist backs, with far more ball from set scrums than Hornby, were most disappointing. For Hornby tries were scored by Tongue (41. Sklrton (3), Cooke, J. Bray and A. Prewer. Tongue also kicked a penalty goal and converted a try, and Condick converted three tries. For Marist. Mohi kicked four penalty goals and converted his own try. The referee was Mr P Yaxley.

Lower Grades

Senior Reserve.—Addington 14, Halswell 13; Marist 18. Papanui 7. . Third Grade.—Hornby 19. Papanui 5. Under 18.—Addington 47. Linwood o; Shirley 25. Hornby 5; Papanui 25. Riccarton 8. Under 16.—Christchurch 36, Kaiapoi 9: Papanui beat Dsltoifton by default; Addington 1J -‘ Sydenham 48. Addington 2. Under 15.—Hornby 25. Shlrley 3; Dallington 13, Papanui 8. Under 14.—Shirley 19. Riccarton 3: Papanui 21, Hornby 0. „.Y I ’ der 13.—Christchurch 25. Shirley B 0: Dallington 25. Papanui 0. Under 12.—Sydenham 6. Riccarton 3; Papanui A 15. LinV i, oC ’ < L S a : H4l ®well 8. Christchurch 0. .

Under 11— Hornby 8. Marist 6. Linwood 9. Shirley 0; Riccarton 25, Papanui B 0; Papanui A 19. Addington 0. n ,10 —Kaiapoi 6. Linwood ? K£ h , ir ? ey A 12 ' Papanui B a eu'' ? tc!lu X ch 12 ’ p »Panui A Shirley B 6, Sydenham 0; Linwood A 15. Addington 3. Under Nine—Papanui A 12, Halswell 0: Addington 15. Shlr--15 ’ M « rtst 0; Linwood 9. Shirley B 8. Addington 0: Kaiapoi 3. Shirley 0: Papanui B 15. Shirley B 0

Three Injured In Collision

Three persons were Injured when two cars collided Ferry road outside the Woolston police station about 3.45 pun. on Saturday. They were taken by St. John ambulance to Christchurch Hospital and after treatment in the casualty department were discharged. Arthur Peter Sword suffered leg injuries and his wife. Mrs Lucy Daisy Sword, suffered head injuries. They live at 28 Robson avenue. Avonside. Jeffrey William Herbert Frew, of 188 Strickland street, suffered head injuries.

Gratitude is much more than a verbal expression of thanks. Action expresses more gratitude than speech.— Mary Baker Eddy.