FOOTBALL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 256, 12 August 1935, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

ASHBURTON BEATS BULLER. VICTORY BY 15 POINT|S TO 12. Before a fairly good attendance of the public in the Ashburton Domain on Saturday afternoon, the Ashburton Rugby Union’s touring team defeated the Buller representative team by 15 points to 12. * The smaller and apparently lighter Buller team, which is retumnng from a southern tour, played a good game, and maintained its form throughout. Not discouraged by the points put up by the home team early in the fixture, the players gave a good exhibition, displaying speed, smart handling, and splendid kicking. As a result, they crept up to Ashburton’s total, and might easily have made the match a draw. Holder and Dunn were prominent in the rear division. ' Ashburton opened well, and the ioiwards were mainly responsible for two tries obtained within a very few minutes of the kick-off. Buller secured a penalty goal, and then Ashburton proceeded to pile up its total until there were 15 points. A try for Buller came just before half-time to make thetally 15-6. In the later, stages of the match the Ashburton team lacked finish, the forwards particularly being their earlier form, ihe score was no added! to. The rear division as a whole played better than the forwards. 1 There were only fom- tries scored in match, three by Ashburton and one by Buller. All the other points came fiom penalty kicks, three for Buller and two for Ashburton. „ The teams were as follows. Ashburton. Full-back: A. Wood. Three-quarters: G. Stephen, A. B ford and L. Vessey. , . . A Five-eighths: G. Day (captain) and J. Varcoe. Half-back: T. Cates Forwards: N. Hawke, R. IRse, . Pablecheque, K. Doig, A Dolan, B Doig, G. Dalton and J. W. Stephens. Buller. Three-quarttrs^U 1 . Power, E. Holder ( TSgKh S f' Tstaohau and F. Stewart. Half-back: M. HiU. „ r. Forwards: J . Stewart, G. Oldman, R. Pratt J. Buttress, S. Lowtlier, O. Robinson, 0. Todd and J. Easton. The Play Described. Ashburton opened the scoring account within a minute or two of the first whistle. The home forwards carried plav into enemy territory when a scrum was ordered inside the 25 hue. Fiom a melee, Pablcchequfe dived over the line. Varcoe’s kick narrowly miss ed. Ashburton Buller V The pressure was kept up, and Ashburton had its second try m another minute or two. I roni a scrum nea the 25 line, Cates sent his backs away, and Varcoe, Bradford and Day handled usefully for the latter to score near the corner. Varcoe’s kick again missed. Ashburton 6 Buller 0 Plav swung to the other end of the field with the Buller men using some good turns of speed, to get within striking distance. The visitors were knocking at the line, and one man got across, but he received offside, and Ashburton gained relief. Buller was not to be deprived, and the position looked dangerous. When Ashburton was penalised for an infringement, Holder goaled his kick, to open the visitors’ score. Ashburton 6 Buller ... ... 3 Long kicks were exchanged, but the Buller three-quarter, Power, got going down the line. His in-pass went astray, but F. Stewart snapped up the ball and wormed bis way through the defence. He reached the line, but an infringement resulted in a scrum. The Ashburton forwards under Dalton retrieved the situation by taking the ball at their toe well down field. Varcoe made up for his failure with the two conversion kicks by goaling a beautiful penalty practically on the half-way line.

Ashburton ■ 9 Buller ... ... 3 When Ashburton was awarded another penalty soon after, Varcoe goaled again from the 25.

Ashburton ... ... 12 Buller » ... ... 3 Buller attacked again, but Ashburton took the edge off it when Cates set off down the field. He and B. Doig and Stephen were associated in an exchange of passes.. These three passed backwards and forwards, and gained half the field. They had the Buller full-back fooled, and Rose got across in the corner. Cates handled the ball four times. Varcoe failed with the kick * Ashburton 15 Buller 3 Buffer's first try came shortly afterwards, when Holder and Power made a good run down the sideline. They were held up on the line, but from the scrum the backs handled. The movement broke down, and from a loose ruck J. Hill ran round to score in the corner. Holder did not convert. Ashburton 15 Buller ... ... 6

There were a number of injuries before half-time. Dolan collided with M. Hill, and left the field, being replaced by 13. Newton. Hill carried on till half-time, when A. Graham took his place. Bradford left the field temporarily, but returned after having received medical attention. Asjiburton was using its weight to advantage, and the tackling was fairly safe. Halftime sounded with the score:—

Ashburton 15 Buller 6 Buller faced a heavy margin of

points, but commenced the second spell with some dash. Graham goaled a penalty for Buller early in the spell, to make up> some of the leeway. Ashburton Buller ... 9 The visiting players were showing some bright pieces of work, and Ashburton’s play was inclined to lack polish Several good opportunities were lost. Buller sent a beautiful linekick out, but Bradford brought play back to the visiting line with a fine solo run, with nothing ahead. When the full-back opposed, he passed to Day, but the next pass;, went astray. Buller got nearer to Ashburton’s points when Graham put another beautiful penalty over from just inside halfway. 'Buller’s line-kicking was also very safe and sure. Ashburton 15 Buller 12 Pratt left the field with an injury to his knee, and was replaced in Buller’s forward division by B. Allan. Much of the succeeding play was in Buller territory!, but the visiting team staged one or two break aways. From a line-out Dalton got away, and set sail for the line. He passed to Rose, who got across, but the pass was forward, and a scrum was taken on the line. A nice long kick eased the position. The handling was crude. S. Lowtlier suffered a blow on the back of the head, and was replaced by J. Brown. Two determined attacks were instituted by the visitors, who went close to scoring. On the second occasion Dunne snapped up the ball and dived his way through. Easton carried on, but J. Hill ran out at the corner flag. The whistle closed the game shortly afterwards, with the score still—• Ashburton ... ... 15 Buller ... ... 12 Mr C. W. Wellman was referge. JUNIOR GRADE.

As a curtain-raiser to the representative fixture, Hinds and Old Boys played a juniior competition match, and the town team won by 18 points to 11 in a keen, fast game. For Old Boys, F. Jordan scored a try, and kicked a field goal, while D. White converted the try and kicked three penalties. F. Neil obtained a try for the country team, and' D. Molnnes converted qnd 1 also kicked two penalties. Mr L. Hadley was referee. Methven A had a runaway victory over Springhurn, at Springburn. The score reached the unusually high total of 46 points to nib Technical Old Boys defaultedi to Mayfield in this competition.

RANFURLY SHIELD MATCH. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, August 10. In its second match this season in defence of the Ranfurly Shield, Auckland lost the trophy to Canterbury at Eden Park to-day. The teams were: Auckland. Full-back: Bush. Three-quarters: Currey, Neal, Grant, Five-eighths: Murdoch, Hedge. Half-back: Frankliam. Forwards: S. Hadley (capt), Bond!, Brown, Lockington, Weber, Butler, Anderson and Solomon. Canterbury. Full-back: G. B. Eathorne. Three-quarters; N. Dunshea, J". Poison, R. Brown. Five-eighths: K. S. Mortlock, G. A. Parsons (capt). Forwards: R. Thompson, R. B. Burke, O. Hattersley, G. W. Thompson, G. J. Howell, W. Sweeney, H. Deavoll, J. G. Rankin.

Within a few minutes of the start, Bush kicked a penalty goal for Auckland, but Canterbury soon began to make most of the play. A weak clearing kick by the Auckland backs let Dunshea through, and the winger passed to Deavoll, who dived over. The kick at goal was forfeited. Auckland regained, the lead, when Bush potted! a magnificent goal from 50 yards’ range, but a crisp Canterbury back movement allowed G. W. Thompson to follow" through to score at the comer. Deavoll’s kick missed by inches. Shortly before half-time Poison cut through brilliantly to send Rankin oyer between the posts. Deavoll goaled, making the half-time score: Canterbury ' ... ... 11 Auckland ... ... ... 7 For a time in the second half Auckland held the upper hand, and Frankham, with lightning bursts from the scrum, was a continual source of danger. Finally a short punt by Hedge allowed the Auckland forwards to break through: Anderson scored, but Bush missed the kick. A few minutes later a scrum penalty gave Bush another goal. Auckland now appeared) to have the game in hand, hut the visiting forwards played with renewed vigour and Parsons and Mortlock proved far too good for Hedge and Murdoch. From one scrum Parsons cut through the Auckland defence for a brilliant try, which Deavoll converted. Less than 10 minutes remained, and Auckland passed frequently in a desperate effort to score. The final stages were- easily the most thrilling of the match, and just on time Bush took a penaity kick from near touch. The ball swung wide of the posts and Canterbury forced down at the final whistle. The final score was: Canterbury Auckland 13

MANAWATXJ BEATS TARANAKI

NEW PLYMOUTH, August 10

Bustling tactics throughout the game won the representative Rugby match for Manawatu against Taranaki, by lo points to 13. Play was of a poor standard, except for a few bright patches.

OTAGO DEFEATS SOUTHLAND. INVERCARGILL, August 10. Otago defeated Southland by 20 points to 3 in the eightieth Rugby game between the provinces, played at Rugby Park to-day in fine weather. The ground was slightly heavy, hut the ball was dry throughout, and there

was no excuse for the drab exhibition of football to the large crowd. IN OTHER CENTRES. Christchurch.—ln a .Rugby seven-a-side tournament, Sunnyside beat Merivale by 13 to nil in the final. Timaru. —Beri Cup match: Star 8, Zingari 5; Old Boys 21, Geraldine 12; Waihi 14, Celtic nil. Wellington.—Senior A: Petone 5, Eastbourne 4; Wellington College Old Boys 10, Poneke 19; Hutt 17, Athletic 6; Oriental 10, Marist Brother:*. Old Boys 19; Johnsonville 3, Wellington 12. Dunedin.—Otago 20, Southland 3. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. RESULTS IN OTHER CENTRES. \• • ■ Auckland.—'Comrades 4, Thistle 3; Eastern Suburbs 2, Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys 1; Ponsonby- 3, Metro College 1; North Shore 4; Y.M.O.A. 1.

Dunedin.—Seacliff 1, Mosgiel 0; Mornington 2, Northern 2; Maori Hill 1, Roslyn 1; High School Old Boys 7, Technical 2. The position now is that Mosgiel and Maori Hill are equal: with 20 points each, and will play off in the final next Saturday. Christchurch. —Nomads 2, Western B 1.

Grevmouth. —Chatham Cup match: A scoreless draw, after 20 minutes of extra play.