FOOTBALL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 280, 9 September 1935, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

ASHBURTON DEFEATED.

SOUTH CANTERBURY’S BIG SCORE.

TIMARU, This Day

In the concluding representative match of the season to be played at Timaru, South Canterbury on Saturday overwhelmed Ashburton, the score being 55-13 in favour of the home team. For some unaccountable reason, the Ashburton Union accepted a match with Otago B at Dunedin on Saturday, and so the team which was sent to Timaru was not representative of the strength of the northern Union. The visitors were never in the hunt, and had the South Canterbury players extended themselves, the score would have been greater. The match resolved itself into a practice for the South Canterbury team, which with one or two exceptions, will be that which will meet Canterbury next Saturday for the Ranfurly Shield. At no stage were the home forwards or backs fully extended. They secured possession from a majority of the scrums, and when they willed they pushed the visitors in loose scrummages. In the line-outs South Canterbury were vastly superior, and Wright, and later King, were kept busy supplying the Lacks with the ball, and they staged rushes which at times swept half the length of the field. Almost all the backs cut through the defence at will, and generally they hai} a field day. In the absence of Gaffaney, who was resting an injured leg, King played at first five-eighths, F. Blue, a High School player, figuring at centre Hie made some pretty openings and linked up well, and the selectors have suTcient confidence in him to v/mant taking him to Christchurch, this week. The South Canterbury represent.! tives have played six games this season, and have'won them all with thj exception of the first game wit' North Otago, in which they went down oy a narrow margin in the last few minutes

The teams were as follows: South Canterbury: Seiton; Ryan, Blue, Morrison; King, Cartwright: Wright; O’Sullivan, Gunn, Higginbottom, Strang, Thomson, Giddings, Duncan, Lee. Ashburton—R. Lilley; Wood, T. Lilley, Marsden ; McAlister, Keeley; Flatman; Pluck, Stevens, Dolan, Alexander. Newman, Young, Mead, A. Young. The scoring so far as South Canterbury was concerned was almost equally divided in the two spells. Before the interval South Canterbury had a tally of 26 points to eight, and later scored another 26 points to Ashburton’s five. Tries were scored for South Canterbury hv Ryan (4), Morrison (2), Lee (2), Blue, Giddings, Cartwright, Thomson, and O’Sullivan, eight of which were converted, while for Ashburton three tries were scored by Pluck, Alexander and Mead, two of them being converted by T. Lilley. Mr S. Hollander was referee.

ASHBURTON JUNIORS DEFEATED

Fielding a superior team, the South Canterbury junior Rugby representatives defeated the Ashbui-ton Union’s team by 25 points to 6 on the Ashbui’ton Showgrounds. 'Hie visiting forwards played a better game all round than the Ashburton boys and', except for the weakness of the second fiveeighth, the backs also combined to better advantage. An infringement near the Ashburton line gave South Canterbury a penalty which W. Auld goaled. Following a scrum, several players handled and R. Morgan, following up a short kick, scored a try which Auld converted. Hie next try came when all the visiting backs handled for the winger to dodge the defenders and touch down. This made the score 11 nil. Shortly afterwards, Drummond accepted a nice pass arid sold a dummy to score, in a good

position, Ashburton’s first try. D. White’s ldok at goal hit Hie post and missed. When the ball was kicked over the South Canterbury line, Mathieson fell on it to bring the lialr-time score to South Canterbury ... 11 Ashburton 6 Ashburton went better in the early stages of the second spell and nearlycrossed the opposition line again. Offside jilay by a home player, however, gave South Canterbury a penalty, which Auld goaled. From a soramhlein Ashburton territory J. Opie fell on the ball to give South Canterbury a lead by 17 points to 6. Snapping up the ball near half-way, R. Morgan worked his way to the Ashburton line and scored a try, which Auld converted. With a temporary territorial advantage Ashburton looked like adding to its points, but could not penetrate and a little later the South Canterbury backs sent the hall to Morgan, who scored Iris second try, making the final score: South Canterbury ...< 25 Ashburton ... ... G All the Ashburton forwards played steadily, with Mathieson, Wilson and Lochliead the most prominent. Neale, Burgess and Drummond were the best of the hacks. In the South Canterbury team, Bright, Harrow, Munro and lies (forwards), Bruceffeld, Opie, Auld and Morgan (backs) gave the best display. Mr S. Alexander was the referee. RAKAIA WINS JUNIOR. CONTEST,

Tying in the junior grade of the Ashburton Rugby Union’s competitions, Riakaia and Mayfield met in the second play-off at the Showgrounds on Saturday afternoon, and the northern team was victorious by the narrow margin of one point. Tliero was no score when the teams met in the first play-off and Saturday’s contest was naturally very keenly contested. The sides were fairly even, but an over-keenness robbed the match of finished play. The pace was hot from whistle to whistle, and there was a large following of supporters of both clubs, who spurred the players on with plenty of barrack. The Mayfield team was superior in the early stages and led' by three points to nil until the last ten minutes when play became more even and Rakaia obtained a field goal, which placed it in the lead. A territorial advantage was held by Mayfield from the commencement and after a quarter of an hour’s play this culminated in a try. A kick to the centre of the field struck the goal-post and W. Young fell on the ball. I. Anderson failed to convert. Mayfield 3, Rakaia 0. Rakaia took a turn at attabk, but Mayfield was soon pressing again until determined efforts saw Rakaia within striking distance. Fumbling lost chances and Mayfield took the upper hand once more. Mayfield appeared to have a. better forward pack, but Rakaia was superior in the back division, the Mayfield men standing two deep. More heart was given to the Rakaia team when R. Cornelious kicked a field goal, making the score Rakaia 4, Mayfield 3. Interest on the side-line was now 1 at fever heat. When, Rakaia was in trouble, line-kicks cleaned the goal-line and Mayfield was called upon to force. However, the game ended before Rakaia could push on with any more vim. Prominent among the Rakaia era were T. Shannon, J. Doig, R. Cornelious, P. Brown and M. Bireach. In the Mayfield team, T. Whiting, S. Wilson, Goldsmith, Sewell, and. !W■ Young gave the best displays. Mr J. MacMillan was the referee.

RANFURLY SHIELD MATCH.

CANTERBURY DEFEATS WEST

COAST.

CHRISTCHURCH, September 7. In the third match in defence of the Ranfurly Shield, Canterbury beat West Coast by 16 points to 11. About 12,000 people watched the game, which was played on a firm turf under perfect conditions. Play opened at a tremendous pace, and for 20 minutes electrifying bursts up and down the field succeeded one another in breathless succession. At this stage it was the most spectacular game of the season. Later on there were lulls, but for the last 15 minutes, when the scores were close, the excitement rose to fever pitch. The score at half-time was 8-3, and the most exciting stages ip the second spell were when the Coast got as close as 6-8 and! 11-13.

The main strength of the visitors lay in their forwards, led for the most part by Freitas, M. Scandrett and Thiele. Olsen and Martin shared some of the hardest work in the tight, but every man kept going solidly all the time, and the fast following up of the visiting pack was a persistent source of danger to Canterbury. Of the Coast backs, the full-back,\G. T. Nolan, did magnificent work all day. Mann, in the threequarter line, played an outstanding game in the second spell. The Coast inside backs, Vincent, Hughes and Hooper, combined well - enough, but their passing did not have sufficient snap about it. Vincent was a tricky half, and he did great work on defence. Had they seen more of the ball, Pfahlert and Sliroeder, the wingers, would have been far more effective. They made some dashing runs. Against a heavier pack, the Canterbury forwards again had a severe test, and they came out of it with flying colours. Hie Canterbury backs did) not have opportunities to combine in as many passing movements as they did against Wairarapa. The reason for this was the fast breakaway of the Coast forwards. However, under these circumstances, McAuliffe and Mortlock made a number of smart openings and kept the pace on. Canterbury scored first in a movement in which nearly all the backs and forwards joined. Behrnes turned defence into attack, and then Milliken, Thompson, Sweeney, Rankin and McPhail handled, Rankin coming round again and scoring just as two opponents dived for his heels. Deavoll missed with the kick. Later McPhail started an attack, in-passing to the forwards, IDeavill sending the ball back to Mortlock, who broke clear from a press of opponents and raced as far as the Coast full-back, passing back over his head five yards from the goal posts. McPhail secured and scored, Deavoll converting. Hughes made two brilliant openings for Coast, the second of which took Canterbury by surprise, Schroeder, who had changed to the right wing, scoring a try which Cox failed to convert. At half-time the score was: Canterbury 8 West Cbast 3 With the resumption Coast worked

hard. Vincent made a great dash and passed swiftly, Pfahlert scoring near the corner. M. Scandrett’s kick missed. Excitement rose high. After a scramble Moytlock raced away to the right as if to open up play on McPhail’s wing. Instead of that he feinted and sent a scissors pass to Poison on his left. Poison went right through an easy opening, ran to the Coast fullback, and handed out to Rankin, who scored a fine try, which Deavoll converted. A brilliant Coast movement followed a line-out. Mann: snapped up the ball at half-way, raced past Poison, accelerated, and finally swerved round Behrnes to score a wonderful try. Just as he touched down Rankin came across surprisingly fast to grab him by tbo heels. Vincent cbnveitod. In the closing minutes Dunshea, Deavoll and Innes were associated in a. lightning dash, Innes scoring a splendid try, a reward for smart backing up. The kick failed, and time was cabled with the scores: . Canterbury 16 West w Coast 11 HAWKE’S BAY BEATS TARANAKI.

NEW PLYMOUTH, Slept. 7. The Hawke’s Bay Rugby representatives defeated Taranaki by 22 points to 14 in a keenly-fought match which was always exciting and in which Hawke’s Bay was always just too strong. The Bay team, through its tour, has welded! into a very strong combination. The backs all played soundly, and passed the ball about spectacularly, and the forwards worked magnificently in the loose. The players were fit andi played vigorously to the end.

AUCKLAND BEATS SOUTHLAND

AUCKLAND, September 7. In a fast second half Auckland overwhelmed Southland at Eden Park today by 26 points (six tries, four converted) to 12 four penalty goals). The Southland forwards held the local pack well in the first halt, but the backs were weak. When the play was made open there was only one team in the picture. Conditions were good, but the attendance was mocleiate. WELLINGTON BEATS OTAGO. WELLINGTON, September 8. In a game which was exciting without promicing any footfall of high standard, the Wellington representatives beat the touring Otago team, at Athletic Park, by six points to five. Wellington had the better backs, and the forwards obtained more ball. Ihe Otago players were possibly better individually, but almost every concerted movement broke down. BULLER BEATS WELLINGTON COLTS. WESTPORT, September 7. Playing superior football both in the forwards and backs, Buller defeated the Wellington colts’ team by 28 points to 9. Buller scored eight tries, two beino" converted, and Wellington l scored two 'tries and kicked a, penalty goal.

TARANAKI BEATS KING COUNTRY

TAUMARUNUI, September 7. In fine weather and on a fast ground a Taranaki team defeated King Country r by 13 to 8.

NEPIA’S FAREWELL.

REMINISCENCES OF DOMINION’S GREAT FULL-BACK.

“Little more than a week ago the Sydney Cricket Ground Gate clicked behind George Nepia, as he strode manfully from the field of his last grand conquest.,” states the Sydney “Ref--61*60. ’ ’ “The gate shut. George Nepia walked on. "Slowly on, to toasts he has honoured before, to the gauntlet of backslaps, handshakes, and smiles. On, out of an atmosphere ho has loved so well ; an atmosphere that has meant life to him. For if George Nepia has meant something to big Ilugby, the game has meant as much to him. It will continue to do so, for an influence that has shaped a life becomes part of it. But Ntepia and Rugby have ceased active partnership on the grand scale. Club football will continue to know him perhaps for several seasons. In the representative sense he has finished 1 . “I came up with him from the dressing room. “That’s that, George.” He was looking out across the held, deserted now, and deep in shadow. The flags flapped silently on top of the posts, vivid white against the green, like silent sentinels, seeing, perhaps, what Nepia saw . . . Now an empty ground! with its hazy linos, but a living picture of men and boys in a game that has no end; a cavalcade of shaded faces, figures, incidents, through 15 years of memory. “Tli© gate clicked, soitly, yet distinctly, like a reluctant fullstop to an epic of sound and! action. “That’s that,” he said. And so closed a career in big Rugby that challenges any in colour, glamour, and achievement. That implies a lot, and might even provoke argument, but if a few others h.ave in their time enjoyed equal distinction, non© will deny George Nepia a place among the game s immortals. He has won to a lofty pedestal, and until the time comes when one even more worthy will displace him this' Maori marvel will be regarded as the paragon of full-hacks. And even when his exploits are excelled, George Nepia will he remembered. ' , , . , Even though the game’s most prized honours are his; though nations have acclaimed.'him the “greatest ever ; though crowds in four continents have cheered him to hoarseness, and critics run out of superlatives, his proudest moment came at the end of his careei. “Some may think that selection with the All Blacks, the thrill of playing at Twickenham or Murrayfield, would make experiences on this' Australian tour seem dull by comparison, fsot for me. Everything that has gone before in my football career is so impressed that it will never fade. I his tour with the Maoris . . . a team of niy own countrymen . . . just rounds

everything off. No other finish could have been so satisfying. “Football for me is full of memories. This last will be the sweetest.” Two Great Personalities. Naturally, to one who played so grand a part, the tour of the Home countries by the 1924 “Invincibles is an imperishable memory. But there are two each, of personalities and matches that are particularly rememOne of the personalities is the Lansdowne and Ireland full-hack, W. E. Crawford, whom Nepia considers to be the best full-back lie has seen, and one of the two players he rates as the best met on the tour. The other is none other than Dr. R. L. (‘ ‘Pup ) Raymond latterly attached: to the Royal Air Force in India, and formerly ot New South Wales. “Raymond,” said Nepia, “was, m my opinion, the finest wing three-quar-ter we saw in the Home Countries. He was certainly the greatest winger I have seen, or ever hope to see. Simply, he said: “He was my idol And this from the player who, at the same time, was being toasted as the “best ever.” .. , _ The games on that tour against Oxford University and Wales are the most vivid in Nepia’s memory. He rates them the hardest of his In®- the scores would not indicate as much for Oxford was beaten 33-15, and Wales by 19-0, and tour .records reveal many nar rower wins. But that is not always a guide. “Oxford,” said Nepia, “scored more points against us than any other team, and we were glad when the game was over. It was a long time before we had the match won, and 1 will never forget the brilliance of the Oxford backs, among whom was Raymond. W r ales did not score against us, but it was one of those terrifically hard, gripping games that live.” Nepia Selects Best Eight, Great names have been linked with Nepia’s in many teams, and it was no easy job for him to name the four backs and four forwards whom he considered the best he has played with. But he did it, and his ranking is given without comment. Backs: A. E. Cooke (three-quarter), K. S. Svenson (threequarter), Mark Nicholls (five-eighth), J. Mill (half-hack). Forwards: C. G. Porter, Maurice Brownlie, A. (“Son’ ) W r hite, J. (“Jock”) Richardson. All “All Blacks” of his own year. There is a farm “outside of Gisborne,” with fields to plough and covvs to tend. From the hurly-burly of big football, George Nepia will have time there to think back on a career that has been pure gold; to think, and perhaps to build dreams for the football future of George the younger. “Five now, and strong as a lion. The kid never has a football out of liis hands,’ as George says. We trust that “the kid” will need a bigger football soon: that he will follow the example set by a worthy father. Rugby could do with another George Nepia.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

IN OTHER CENTRES

Christchurch. —Dewar Cup (juniors), Canterbury 12, Westland 0; English Cup, semi-final, Western 3, Nomads

Auckland.—Falcon Cup serni-finals: Young Men’s Christian Association 1, Metro College 0 ; Mount Albert Grammar Old Bbys 5, Ponsonby 2.

RUGBY “STARS.”

OVERTURES BY THE LEAGUE. CHRISTCHURCH, September 8. English Rugby League authorities are making a. bid to strengthen their playing ranks by inducing New Zealand Rugby stars to change their code and make the trip to Britain. No details of definite offers are available, but it is understood that the players to be approached are H. DOavoll (Canterbury), E. Holder (Buller), H. Lilburne (Wellington), C. Smith (Hawke’s Bay) and F. Solomon (Auckland). Deavoll stated to-day that no offer bad been made to him.