FIELD OF SPORT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 255, 9 August 1933, Page 2

FIELD OF SPORT.

NOTES AND COMMENTS, (By “Onlooker.”) The Ashburton side which went -down to Canterbury by 31 points to 7 in the first Ranfurly Shield match of the season at Lancaster Park last Wednesday was not right up to interprovincial standard, but nevertheless the game was not so one-sided as the score might indicate. Canterbury’s display was a bright one in many respects, and though there are still weaknesses to be eradicated, enthusiasts in the province are entitled to slightly more optimism than after the trial games. Ashburton fielded a side of ragged and willing forwards, but they were outgeneralled and outplayed in the pack, and when the Canterbury backs, well-fed, began to develop combination, there was only one side on the paddock. Considering the difficulty of the Ashburton Union' in selecting a team from a widely scattered district and the chances against developing anything like, combination, the local men put up a very creditable showing, and though the points were piling up against them in a disheartening way, they maintained their efforts to the final whistle. It was the union’s first challenge for the Shield, and the first match against Canterbury’s strongest side. •

Many of the Ashburton attacks developed through the centre after Stevens, the Canterbury half, had been slow in getting passes away. Stevens is a promising player, but he has not yet acquired tlie speed and certainty that are requisite, and to play him in important fixtures would be a risk. Several times there was a complete lack of understanding between linn and Hazelhurst. Ashburton had some keen and rugged forwards who refused to recognise defeat and kept driving through at the centre. With a little more polish and co-operation with the backs tries must have resulted on several occasions. Whiting was outstanding in the loose, and the Doig brothers, Thomas and Dalton, were on the job all the time.

Behrnes, the full-back, could not cope with Dunshea’s swerve or Hattersley’s band-off, but his display was good, and he kicked a great penalty goal. Tainui and Bradford played fair defensive games, but the backs had little cohesion.

The display on the whole was by no means a disgrace, and County supporters are ’ entirely satisfied with the team’s performance. Fans in Ashburton were intensely excited when the representatives were leading 7-5, but, of course, faced fell when Canterbury’s total began to mount up. Old Boys have been declared the winners of the junior - championship, and have the somewhat remarkable record of coming through the season undefeated. Following is the final posiions of the teams in the concluding draw:—

Points won' by the third grade teams are:—Allenton 15, Bakaia 14, Tinwald 14, Technical Old Boys 13, Methven 13, High School 10, Old Boys 5, Springburn 2. The positions of the fourth grade teams are:—High School 14, Technical 11, Hampstead 7, Allenton nil: Well-nigh perfect handling by the South Canterbury backs, who completely outclassed their opponents, and. good co-operation by the forwards, resulted in South Canterbury defeating Ashburton by 29 to three in the third grade representative match played on tho Geraldine oval on Saturday afternoon. South Canterbury’s performance was all the more creditable in view of the heavy nature of the ground; their handling of the greasv ball was a treat to witness. Last year Ashburton defeated South Canterbury by 15 to eight. It must be remembered, however, that ‘the third grade conditions ruling in Timaru are very different from those in force in Ashburton. The next big fixture is the .representative match against Marlborough in the Domain next Wednesday, in view of which the following notes on the prominent visiting players will be interesting : Backs.—J. MacDonald, wing threequarter, represented the province for

'five years. He was a member of the Maori All Black team which toured the United Kingdom and France in 1926-1927, and lias also represented New Zealand at the Olympic Games and Empire Games, as a rower. He has been appointed captain of the team.

H. Phillips, wing three-quarter, was also a member of the Maori All Black teams to Australia in 1922 and the United Kingdom and France in 19261927. He has represented the province for the past ten years. F. Oldham (centre), D. Thompson (full-back), F. Phillips (half), W. Haswell (five-eighth), N. Casey (forward), are all young players, this being their first year as representatives, and should do well on the tour.

R. V 7 ilson (full-back or centre) is a second year representative, young, fast and of promise. A. Robinson (five-eighth or half), D. Lane (five-eighth), C. Mellish (half), and second year representative. They are all young players who have shown promise and much is expected from them.

Forwards.—C. Lovell (forward), is the youngest member of the team, being only 17 years of age. He played his first representative match last season, is of a rugged type, ( and should go a long way in Rugby. J. Best.—This is his first year as a player in the district. Last year he was a member of St. Patrick’s College team, Wellington. He weighs over 13 stone, and is 19 years of age. J. Drake is a first year representative, young, and of promise. He plays in the front row. R. Dobson, R. Woolley, M. MacDonald, L. Patchett, J. Tayley, D. Hammond, and V. Glennie havy represented the province during the last three years, and are a good type of forward. L. Patchett is an athlete, and was third in the 440 yards New Zealand Championship, held at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, in February last, his time, even third, being under 50 seconds. Like all teams and everywhere else, it is harder to get out of the Southland side than into it. Charlie Pawson (formerly of Ashburton), dashing Eastern forward, is emergency in the first Maroon side. He should have been right in it all the way. Compared with Tiny Galt and Wattie 1 Southern, he is the Campbell Bluebird itself, according to one critic. The committee set up to choose the new dresses for the Ashburton Basketball Association’s / representative players is to be congratulated on the appearance of the teams on Saturday. The girls looked uncommonly smart and trim in their brown gymnasium frocks over cream blouses, set off with brown and gold wide-end ties and stockings to match. In the junior representative match the shooting on both sides was extremely poor, Miss J. Meeking with a score of 5 from 12 shots being easily the best of a weak lot. Canterbury had 27 attempts at goal, and Ashburton had 29 for 6 and 9 goals respectively. In the senior game Miss N. Betts was the only Canterbury forward to do anything with the ball. She ringed 7 of her 14 shots. Miss Hewson for Ashburton put up the remarkable score of 8 goals from 9 shots, and Miss J. McMillan was good with 4 out of 8 shots. Had it not been for this excellent shooting Brown would - have fared badly, for it could get only 20 shots against Red’s 52. The beautiful combination of the Red forwards completely nonplussed the Brown guards, who had an unenviable time. It was pleasing to hear the general comments from visitors on the clean play of Ashburton players in both the senior and junior •-matches. Nine-a-side is being given a trial next Saturday in place of the annual seven-a-side competitions. Entries closed yesterday, and the draw will be made immediately. An entry fee of sixpence per player is charged for this competition. There is some doubt if the finances of the association will stand the cost of medals this year. On August 12 the senior team will try conclusions with South Canterbury at Timaru, and a match with the travelling Hokitika team on either August 24 or 25 will bring this season to an end.

The senior representative team would have liked the opportunity of defending the junior shield it won last year at Invercargill. The decision not to send a team to the Gisborne tournament means that Ashburton will have to return the trophy without an effort to retain it.

The ‘“Back-to-iSchooldays” dance held by the combined women’s hockey club last Thursday evening to raise funds for the touring team to go to the New Zealand tournament was a great success both financially and socially,' It was A’oted one of the brightest and most successful functions held in Ashburton for many years, and by special request the committee has decided to organise a similar function at an early date in the form of a “School Break-up” dance. This will take the form of a welcome-back to the touring team. The first appearance of George Walker, the well-known wrestler, in Ashburton to-night is creating considerable interest. The* box plan is rapidly filling, and it is anticipated that the attendance will be one of, tlie largest seen in Ashburton. Matched against A 1 Pereira, who is famous for his flying tackles, Walker should he extended, and the contest should prove the best exhibition seen locally.

Old Boys P. 3 W. L. D. Pts, 3 6 Mount Somers 3 2 1 — 4 Technical Old Boys 3 1 2 — 2 Methven 3 — 3 — —