FOOTBALL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 238, 22 July 1935, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

ASHBURTON BEATS LINWOOD. i , TOURING PREDOMINATE. Arranged to supplement the Ashburton Rugby Union’s touring fund and to give the team which will visit Nelson and Marlborough next * week a try-out, the football match in the Ashburton Domain on Saturday afternoon saw the County team defeat the Linwood Club’s senior team (Christchurch) by 23 points to 3. The feature of the match was the manner in which the County forwards dominated play practically throughout. In the second spell, tries for the local team came fairly rapidly and although the visitors made one or two determined bids, the result was not in doubt.

There was a fairly good attendance of the public and many bright incidents were seen. Any weakness in Ashburton’s rear division as a. combination was more than made up> for by tiie splendid work of the forwards. Tne backs did not work together very well, but several players gave brilliant exhibitions. The side is a promising one and should represent the County with great credit in the north.

The Limvood team was strengthened by one or two players from, other Christchurch ciubs. The backs displayed speed and co-operation, but hard tackling by the local men did much to prevent it from being too dangerous. In a curtain-raiser, Methven thirds beat High School by 9 points to 3. Mr O. T. Miller was the referee of this match. The teams were as follow: Ashburton. Full-back: S. \V._ Kerr (Old Boys). Three-quarters: L. Vessey (Allenton), J. Varcoe (Technical Old Boys) and G. Stephen (Methven). . Five-eighths: T. Cates (Allenton), and 1). McCormick (Methven). Half-back: G. Hay (Technical Old Boys), captain. Forwards: H. McKenzie (Methven), A. Young (Methven), A. Hoig (ltakaia), C. Pableclieque (Methven), N. Hawke (Technical Old Boys), A. Dolan (Methven), S. Pennal (Allenton) and G. Halton (Methven). Emergencies: it. Rose, K. Doig, B. Doig and C. H. Davison.

Linwood. Full-back: L. Mason. Three-quarters; J. Hattersley, G. Brown and G. Busfield. Five-eighths: D. Robb and C. Field. Half-back: G. Steven. . Forwards: D. Callanan, R. Lilley, C. Wilton, A. Erickson, K. Armour, D: Whillans, D. Duff, and M. Gunderson. Emergencies: R. Garrett, J. Maxwell. and D. Quaid. Description of the Play. Ashburton took command at the kick-off and had l a territorial advantage for some time. Day was prominent in the early stages, breaking through time and again when lie received from scrums and line-outs. The first counter-move came when Robb (Linwood) made a good solo run from half-way, but he was held up inside the twenty-five. Ashburton opened the score shortly afterwards when the forwards carried play bade into enemy territory. Hawke and Dalton ran right through and Day carried on to pass to Cafes, who got across well out. Kerr’s kick did not convert. Ashburtcon 3 Linwood 0 Play swung back to Ashburton’s end of the field, but the home team was not to be penned up and Day soon relieved with a beautiful line-kick which went out near the goal-line. Mason cleared for Linwood shortly afterwards, but Varcoe dummied his way through and Pableclieque and Dalton were responsible for a strong attacking turns . The second score came from Ashburton’s forwards in a few minutes. A scramble near the twenty-five line saw the pack make strenuous efforts to penetrate the Linwood defence and Dalton managed to fall across. Varcoe’s kick did not go over. Ashburton 6 Limvood Activities were kept at Linwood’s end ’of the paddock, except for an occasional break away. Mason proved liimself a fine line kick, but Kerr also found the line when it was required of him. The home team went near to

scoring its third try when Kerr sprinted down the. line and handed to Day. He sent the ball on to Stephen, who got to the line, hut ai scrum five yards out was awarded. With the Ashburton backs out of position, Brown broke through the back line and set off at top speed for the line with practically a clear field ahead. After covering three-quarters of the distance, he passed to Field and thus evaded_ the full-back, Field touching down in a good position. Brown’s kick did not add the major points. Ashburton 6 Linwood ... 3 Thanks to the work of the home forwards, Ashburton kept on the offensive and in the succeeding play Varcoe was prominent. He went within striking distance when, he wormed his way through the whole of the opposing f orwards, but Mason saved tfie situation by snapping up the ball, running round the back and finding the line with another nice • kick. Vessey, on Ashburton’s wing, proved l himself capable. Varcoe passed to McCormick who gave Linwood a few seconds of uncertainty, but a serum was awarded on the line and a penalty gave relief. Half-time sounded with the score still: Ashburton 6 Linwood 3

There was a slight alteration in the back division of the visiting team after the spell. Garrett replaced Robb at iirst live-eighths and Maxwell took Field’s place at second. The game sLowed up a little, but there, was still plenty to interest spectators. The Ashburton backs were not handling as well as they liad done earlier in the match. Hawke was prominent among the home forwards, taking the ball at toe and bustling the opposition. The local forwards dominated play for the next little while and were mainly responsible for two more tries. When the, Linwod full-back failed to get his kick in, the forwards caught him m possession and Young? Hawke and McKenzie were associated in a foil ward thrust for the line. Day carried on and he and Dalton combined to score Ashburton’s third try. Dermal did not convert, Ashburton ... ••• 9 Linwood 3 The next try came soon after, Vessey making the opening for McCormick to touch down. Varcoe failed with the kick at goal. , Ashburton 12 Linwood ... 3 The change in the Linwood second division did not improve the rearguard for the visitors’ bucks did not display the form they had in the opening half. Forward play was responsible for another try, good bustling work by the Ashburton pack taking the ball to the line, where Pablecheque scored. The try was not converted, Vessey’s kick going wide. Ashburton 15 Liuwobd 3 Pablecheque repeated his performance when a further aggressive movement had Linwood defending strenuously. Kerr’s kick at goal did not rise and'the failure at goal-kicking of those who endeavoured to convert Ashburton’s tries was by this time arousing the ire of the spectators. Ashburton 18 Linwood 3 Linwood made one ox - two efforts to score, but was unfortunate, and Ashburton produced its third runaway try just before the whistle. (Stephen had to leave the field. A forward rush gave Cates the chance to add three points and when Pennal converted there was loud cheering from the sideline. Ashburton *3 Linwood 3 Mr A. H. Guiney was referee. THE! COMPETITION MATCHES.

The junior, third and fourth grades of the ‘Union’s competitions were continued in various. County centres.

Results at a Glance.

Junior Grade — Methven A 13, Hinds 0. Springbuim 12, Technical Old Boys 5. Methven B 0, Old Boys 0. Third Grade— Methven 9, High School 3. Technical Old Boys 13, Allenton 0. Fourth Grade — Tehcnical 13, High School 3. Junior Grade. A draw, with no score on either side, was the losult of the match between Methven B and Old Boys, played at Methven. Mr D. Wood was the referee. . ... . _ 0 Methven A had a decisive win by 13 points to nil over Hinds. H. Drummond, G. Blaekmore and D. Watson each scored a try and J. Mclntosh kicked a field goal. Mr A. C. Triggs was the referee. The match between Spnngbum and Technical Old Boys, played at Springburn, resulted in a win for the home team by 12 points to 5; For Springburn, T. Gitkins and D. Lamb each obtained one try, J. Fagan kicked a field goal and J. Taylor converted a try. Mr A. A. Cox was the referee.

IN OTHER CENTRES. » Christchurch —Town 32, Country 14. Timaru —Harris Cup: Old Hoys 17, Star 3; Zingari 11, Celtic 8; Teinuka 14, Waihi 14. At Fairlio. South Canterbury 27 beat Mackenzie 14. Auckland —Otahuhiu Manukau 6: University 13, Grammar 0.15. II; Grafton 25, Ponsonby H; Manst 14, College Rifles 8. . Wellington—First division: 1 (done 10, Hutt 8 - Wellington College O B. 11, Eastbourne 4; Poneke 8, Wellington 11; Oriental 0, Athletic 14: Jolmsonvillo 3, Manst Old Boys 10. Second division: University 17, Berliampore 0. „ - n. Dunedin—Southern 6, Ziiigan 3, Dunedin 9, Alhambra 5- Union J, Kaikorai 9; University A 10, Pirates 8; Taieri 13, University B 3. the association game. IN OTHER CENTRES. Christchurch —Western A 1, ,St. Albans 0: Thistle 3, Technical 0.13. 0 ; Rangers 5, Western B' 2; ISomals 3, Linwood 3. , Auckland—Comrades 2, North Shore 1; Ponsonbv 0, Ir.M.C.A.l r .M.C.A. 0; Thistle 3, Mt. Albert 2; Metro College 4, Eastern Suburbs 4. Wellington—Chatham Cup, local

final: Hospital 2, Waterside 0. First A division: Petone 4, Institute 0.8. 0; Lower Hutt 0, Swifts 8; Marist 0, Diamond 3. First B division: Technical 0.8. 2, Scottish Wanderers 1. Dunedin—Mosgiel -5, High School O.B'. 2; Roslyn-Wakari 2, Northern 0; Mornington 5, Technical 0.8. 2; Maori Hill 4, t Seac.liff 3.