FOOTBALL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 286, 16 September 1935, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

METHVEN’S CLOSE WIN. AGAINST CHRISTCHURCH OLD BOYS. In a bright and fast game at Methveu on Saturday, Methven defeated Christchurch Old Boys by 21 points to 19. In the first half the bright, fast movements of the Old Boys backs was more than Methven could cope with, and the visitors ledl at half-time by 13 to 5. However, in the second half, Methven’s heavy lonvards found their feet and the home side was definitely superior for the remainder of the game. The game opened at a fast pace and Methven forwards carried on a loose rush, headed by Loehhead and Pablecheque. However, Old Boys were soon away with a beautiful passing rush in which the whole line of backs handled for Fleming to score w-ide out. D. G. Cobden missed with the kick. Old Boys 3, Methven nil. Methven came back and G. Stephen cut in beautifully and transferred to J. S. Lilley, who scored near the posts. T. Lilley converted and Methven led 5-3. Tile next score came when Old Boys were in hot attack. A. P. Cobden suddenly propped and potted a nice field goal. Old Bolys led 7-5. ' Old Boys were immediately on the offensive and the backs handled! well--Eathorne cut a man out and sent Fleming over unopposed. Eathorne missed with a difficult kick. Old Boys 10, Methven 5. Soon after this A. P. Cobden cut through beautifully and let Eathorne over. D. G. Cobden missed the kick, and half-time was called:

Old Boys ... 13 Methven ••• 5 Methven were quickly on the offen-

sive, and Drummond made a nice opening and let Lochhea4 over for a good try, which was not converted. Old Boys 13, Methven 8. Immediately afterwards Dalton got over after a fierce forward rush. The kick at goal again failed. Old Boys 13, Methven 11. Methven came again, and Pablecheque, who was playing a magnificent game, broke right away and transferred to J. Lilley, who scored in a good position. G. Lochhead converted. Methven led 18-13.

Old Boys renewed the attack, and Clarke scored an unconverted try, to make the scores 16 all. Both sides battled hard for the advantage, and after a hot attack T. Lilley shook off several tackles and scored between the posts. Lochhead converted, and the scores were: Methven 21, Old Boys 16. Old Boys made desperate efforts to oven the game, and right on the call of time the backs made a beautiful passing rush for Eathorne to go over wide out. The equalising kick missed, and the game ended: Methven 21 Old Boys 19 Mr J. Harris was referee. After the match the visitors were entertained at dinner and later at a dance in the Anglican Hall. Music for the dance was supplied by Cook’s orchestra, and Mr J. Dolan was M.C. As a curtain-raiser to the principal match, a match was played between teams representing Married and Single, which ended in favour of Single by 6 points to 3 after a hard-fought game. Mr W. Cook was referee. RUGBY REFEREES’ MATCH. The annual Rugby football match between the Ashburton and Canterbury Rugby Referees’ Associations for the “Cock o’ the Walk” Shield was played at Ashburton on Saturday and resulted in a win for Ashburton by 12 points to nil. The teams were as follow:

Canterbury—W. Douglas; D'. F. Johnson, E. H. Robertson, G. Ked; H. T. Coulter, G. A’Court- A. Day; B. Brown, IS. McGeorge, W. Scott, B. Frame, W. J. Mason, C. McOallum, F. Morgan and S. Murray. ' Ashburton —G. Cartwright; 6. Alexander, J. Lewis, D. Wood: 0. Day, G. Cates; C. Wellman; A. Bennison, A. C. Triggs, E. A. Osmers, O. Stevenson, L. Hadley, R. Pye, A. A. Cox and C. Miller. The first serious forward rush was led by Osmers, Canterbury retaliating, but had an unsuccessful kick at goal. Coulter was on the point of opening Canterbury’s scoring account when he was tackled by O. Day, From a. forward movement, C. Day broke away and scored for Ashburton. The kick failed. The next scoring movement came from a rush headed by Osmers, who over-ran the ball. Alexander followed up and 1 scored wide out. Ashburton 6, Canterbury nil. Wellman made a good solo run, but spout the effort by holding the ball too long. Canterbury attacked, Frame leading the play to Ashburton territory, where Coulter" was collared on the line. McOallum narrowly missed a penalty goal. The second half was opened by good back play, at the end of which Wotlman scored in the corner. Ashburton 9, Canterbury nil. Both teams played willingly at this stage, J. Mason, the veteran who lias played in every match since the fixture was instituted, showing up well. In the final stages or the match A. Day was securely tackled within an ace of scoring. Just before the final whistle Osmers dived over to make the final try. Ashburton 12, Canterbury nil. Mr N. Robilliard was referee.

The Annual Dinner. The annual dinner was held at the Hotel Somerset after the match, and was followed by a smoke concert. Mr J. MacMillan (president of the Ashburton Referees’ Association) presided. The following toasts were honoured: “The King” ; “Canterbury Referees Association,” proposed by the chairman and responded to by Mr- E. A. Erapson: “The Ashburton Referees Association,” proposed by Mr C McLachlan and responded to by the chairman; “Canterbury Rugby Union, proposed by the Mayor of Ashburton (Mr W H Woods) and responded to by Mr L Clemens; “Ashburton Rugby Union,” proposed by the Rev. E. A. Osmers and responded to Mr F. Kennedy: “The Teams,” proposed by Mr Empison and responded to by Mr b. Alexander (secretary of the Ashburton Referees’ Association); “The Refeiee, proposed by Mr C. Wellman and responded to by Mr Robilhard; Kindred Sports,” proposed by Mr E. Bur-or-ess and responded to by Mr C. Marks. Items were given by Messrs A. n. Todd, W. Denley, G. Robertson and J. MacMillan. . During the evening the shield was presented to Mr J. McCaßum, captain of the losing side.

RANFURLY SHIELD MATCH

CANTERBURY’S CLOSE CALL CHRISTCHURCH, September 14. Fast, open football was witnessed at Lancaster Park this afternoon, when South Canterbury attempted to wrest the Ranfurly Shield from Canterbury. The conditions were perfect, and there was an attendance of over 14,000. Ihe Canterbury team had been weakened by injuries. (Poison could not take liis place in the three-quarter line, and Rankin was missing from the forwards. Rankin was replaced by A. Milnken. . SOUTH CANTERBURY Full-back: F. Blue. Three-quarters: L. Martyn, T. Moirison, E. Ryan. Five-eighths: O. Cartwright, C. Gaffaney. Forwards: Front row: D. O'Sullivan, T. Gunn, H. Higginbottom; second row: J. Strang, W. Robertson, 1. Thomson,* G. Giddings; back row, L. Lee. CANTERBURY Full-back: I. Behrns. Three-quarters: R. Brown, C. H. MePhail and N. Dunshea. Five-eighths: K. S. Mortlock and J. Gaskin. Half-back: J. J. McAuliffe. Forwards: O. Hattersley, R. Thompson, R. Innes, H. Deavoll, G. Howell, W. Sweeney, G. W. Thompson and 11. Milliken.

Canterbury won the toss and defended the northern end with the advantage of what sun and wind there were. A scrum infringement gave Deavoll a difficult shot from a penalty. The kick missed, but Blue (South Canterbury forced, and when his kick failed to find the line Canterbury were again in an attacking position. Canterbury’s passing rush in a dangerous position

met with resolute, defence. Canterbury were sacrificing a lot of ground through the failure of the backs to find the line. Gaffaney put the home team in an awkward position with a short punt, which Ryan followed up very fast, Dunshea fell on the ball, but the South Canterbury forwards were there and secured the ball. In the resultant scrummage King was round the scrum like a flash and sent a neat pass to Strang, who, in a 10-yard dash for the line, threw off a tackier and scored in a handy position. Gaffaney’s kick failed. South Canterbury 3. Canterbury ... Nil.

With, their solid defence, their good kicking, and their speed to take advantage of opportunities, the visitors were showing themselves to be a firstclass side. Mortlock cut through in great style in the next Canterbury rush, but though Dunshea ran into a good position and a try seemed imminent his in-pass to McPhail went astray and again a Canterbury chance went abegging. Another hot South Canterbury attack, with King again making a dangerous diye for the line from a scrum, was nullified, by' a penalty, and halftime came with the score: — South Canterbury ... 3 Canterbury Nil. South Canterbury attacked immediately again through the medium of clever kicking. The Canterbury forwards took a band this time, however, Deavoll and. Milliken leading a slashing rush well into the visitors’ territory. Mortlock played it leading part in a series of brisk Canterbury attacks, which were all promising, but which all found the defence equal to the occasion.

Canterbury’s first try was a pretty effort from a scrum in the centre of the field. Gaskin and Mortlock swung swiftly round to the unmarked side, and smart running and brisk passing saw Brown, the right winger, in full cry with no man in front of him. The South Canterbury men backed up at a great rate, but Brown had the pace, and hurled himself over for a fine try at the corner. Deavoll’s kick missed. Canterbury 3 South Cantirbury 3

Gaffaney broke through the Canterbury attack, and fast following up again had Canterbury in bad trouble. Martyn secured;, and hurled himself over, with Mortlock grasping him. A scrum was ruled, and when South Canterbury secured, King ducked round the hedge of the scram to hurl himself over for a clever try. Martyn converted, making the scores:— South Canterbury ... 8 Canterbury 2

Gaskin, picking up in a ruck, made a splendid opening, which Mortlock followed up with, a clever cut through. For lack of support he was tackled with the ball, but again South Canterbury infringed, and from straight in front of the posts Deavoll kicked a penalty goal. South Canterbury ... 8 Canterbury 6 For the first time Canterbury took the lead when Deavoll kicked another penalty goal from straight in front. Canterbury 7 9 South Canterbury ... 8 A clever cross kick, again by Gaffaney, had Behrns and Brown hard pressed to stave off a try. Behrns picked the ball out of the scrum and from the free kick Martyn kicked a beautiful penalty goal. South Canterbury ... 11 Canterbury 9 The game was resumed amid intense excitement. A long kick by Behrns saw Blue misfield, and then fail to find the line. McAuliffe fielded, ran up, and sent an accurate centre into the exact spot. Fast following up saw the ball rushed over the line, and Gaffaney from inside his own goal, found the line only a yard from the corner. The Canterbury forwards lined up quickly, and the ball was thrown in before South Canterbury realised what was happening, and Hattersley hurled himself over tor a try wide out. Deavoirs kick missed, and the game ended with the score:— Canterbury 12 South Canterbury ... 11

MANAWATU BEATS WANGANUI. FEILDING, September 14. Manawatu beat Wanganui by 25 points to 11. Manawatu worn all the way, superior backs playing with a concerted plan, which Wanganui apparently lacked. At half-time Manawatu led by 8 points to 3.

WELLINGTON BEATS TARANAKI

WELLINGTON, September 15. Wellington beat Taranaki at Athletic Park on Saturday by 17 points (five tries, one converted) to 13 (three tries, two converted). Taranaki did not put up any convincing performance in view of the Ranfurly Shield challenge, but this was probably accounted for because the team was suffering from the effects of a. hard game against Southland two days earlier.

DULLER RETAINS SHIELD.

WESTPORT, September 14.

Against the strongest challenge of the season Buller (the holder) this afternoon defeated Nelson (challengers) for the ISeddon Shield by 17 points to 5.

WELLINGTON COLTS BEATEN. BLENHEIM, September 15. Playing the fourth and last match of its tour of the" Seddon Shield districts, the Wellington Colts’ team received its second defeat, when it last to Marlborough by 20 points (two penalty goals and three tries, one converted) to 8 (a converted try and a penalty goal).

OTAGO DEFEAT AUCKLAND.

AUCKLAND, September 14,

In one of the best and mast thrilling games seen at Eden Park for some time, Otago defeated Auckland to-day by 17 points to 11. Otago scored three tries (one converted) and two

penalty goals, to Auckland’s two tries (one converted) and a penalty goal. Conditions were ideal, and there was an attendance estimated at 11,000.

SYDNEY CHAMPIONSHIPS.

SYDNEY, September 15

Northern Suburbs beat Manly by 22 points to 5, and won the Rugby Union premiership.

IN OTHER CENTRES

Auckland—Jubilee trophy semi-finals: University 23, Otahuhu 9; Technical 13, Marist 3.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

OTAGO MINS THE JONES CUP. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Otago beat Canterbury at English Park, for the J. GEL Jones Cup, by three goals to two in the first game played in Christchurch between the provinces for ten years. The game was the most spectacular seen her for some years, play being throughout fast and interesting.

MATCHES IN OTHER CENTRES. Auckland —Falcon Cup knock-out final- Mount Albert Grammar 0.8. o, Y.M O.A. 3 Senior championship: Ponsonby 2, Comrades 2. Ponsonby won the championship. Wellington—Playing for the Alt WiLliams Cup, Marist created an upset by beating Hospital, the Chatham Cup winners, by 6 goals to 4. In the v ictory Cup replay, Scottish Wanderers beat Seatoun by 2 goals to, 0.