FOOTBALL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 267, 24 August 1936, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

ASHBURTON RUGBY UNION MATCHES ON SATURDAY The senior knock-out competition of the Ashburton Rugbv Union was concluded on Saturday in. excellent weather. Methven and Old Boys met at the Showgrounds and the country side had an easy win. In the first spell Old Boys appeared as if they might hold their own but they soon lost their territorial advantage and Methven piled a, big margin of points up in the second half. . By defeating Methven B, Hinds put itself in an unassailable position at the head of the junior championship. Results at a Glance. Senior — Methven 33, Old Boys 6. Rakaia defaulted to Technical Old Boys. Junior — Rakaia 4, Springburn 4. Hinds 21, Methven B nil. Mayfield defaulted to Old Boys. Third Grade— Old Boys 11, Allenton 3. Methven (33) v. Old Boys (6). Following fast mid-field play at the start Alexander (Old Boyfs) dribbled through, a free kick for OJd Boys following which Lunn failed to put over. Methven took play back to mid-field, where it remained for a while, until headed by Cleeve, Methven forwards broke through into the Old Boys’ twen-ty-five. Cates saved well and the Old Boys forwards went up-field until pulled up for an infringement. Old Boys pressed for a time but could not break through the defence. Todd kicked to send the ball out to his wing but it went to Drummond who snapped it up and cutting through raced over half the length of the field for a try. The kick failed. Methven 3, Old Boys nil. Old Boys returned to the attack and Duncan cut through, compelling Methven to force. Play was quickly transferred but Cutler broke away, starting a spectacular back movement upfield. The ball went to Todd who passed out and received again, struggling over for a try. The kick failed. Methven 3, Old Boys 3. Methven took the ball into the Old Boys twenty-fivo but line kicking saw play taken up to the other end of the field. J. Lilley went away down the side-line and sent in to Cook, the movement ending with Lochliead scrambling ovr. The kick failed. Methven 6, Old Boys 3. After a few minutes Methven again attacked and the ball went out along the back line to J. Lilley, who raced across. McKenzie converted. Methven 11, Old Boys 3. After half-tiino Methven attacked immediately, T. Lilley sending it out to Cook, from whom Robinson secured and scrambled over. The kick failed. Methven 14, Old Boys 3. J. Lilley went away for another good man which was dropped; in the Old Boys twenty-five. The ball went across the field to R. Lilley, who scored under the posts. The same player converted. Methven 19, Old Boys 3.

Old Boys then attacked and were given a free kick which Lunn put over. Methven 19, Old Boys 6. The Methven backs went away, the ball going to J. Lilley. When he was tackled Drummond dribbled across and touched dowu. The kick failed. Methven 22, Old Boys 6. After mid-field play Mathieson headed a dribbling rush which took the ball downfield. Lunn took a penalty kick at goal but it was not successful. Drummond broke away and a loose movement took play up to the Old Boys line, where Mathieson was pulled up for an infringement and a free kick cleared. Methven maintained pressure and, picking up in a loose movement, It. Lilley went over, Kelly converted. Methven 27, Old Boys 6. Kelly broke away in a dribbling movement soon after and beat his opponents in a race for the ball. Methven 30, Old Boys 6. The next Methven try came when Brooker went over in a forward scramble. His kick failed, and the game ended, with the score Methven 33, Old Boys 6. JUNIOR GRADE The match between Rakaia and Springburn at tlie Showgrounds resulted in a draw, both sides obtained four points from field goals. The scorers were J. L>oig (Rakaia) and J. Fagan (Springburii. Mr A. Shannon was referee. Mayfield defaulted to Old Boys. Hinds defeated Methven B by 21 to nil in a match at Hinds. Mr C. Miller was referee. THIRD GRADE Old Boy defeated Allenton by' 11 to three in a match at the Showgrounds. For the winning team Kelly and Jordan scored tries and Biggar kicked, a penalty and converted a try. Chambers scored a try for Allenton. Mr K. Hood was referee. SOUTH CANTERBURY BEAT CANTERBURY. SIXTEEN POINTS TO EIGHT. TIMARU, This Day. South Canterbury defeated Canterbury in a Rugby football match at Eraser Park on Saturday by 16 points to 8. South Canterbury kicked off with

the Canterbury men playing into the sun. Manchester soon crossed beside the posts after the Canterbury forwards, following a kick by Hooper, had bustled the South Canterbury fullback. He was called back, however, for a forward pass. Burke was injured, soon after and AY. Sweeney came on. A penalty raised the siege and then Thompson replaced Duncan. The Canterbury backs went away in a fine run, but Eathorne was well stopped by Heasley. Next time, however, the winger ran round him to score wide out. McAuliffe narrowly missed the kick. Canterbury 3, South Canterbury 0. K. McPhail made a good run, but a forward kicked too hard and the ball went over the dead-ball line. Soon after C. S. Cooper replaced Pablecheque. Hooper kicked high, followed up to take the ball again, sent on to Cooper and the backs were away. Itankin made an extra man and went over for a try, which McAuliffe converted. Canterbury 8, South Canterbury 0. Cartwright brilliantly fielded a high kick and was nearly across on his own, but a drop-out resulted. Finally Adkins picked up at the side of a scrum and dived over. King converted and the spell ended with the scores:— Canterbury ... ... 8 South Canterbury ... 5 Mortlock was injured soon after the resumption, but returned to the field with his wrist bandaged. The South Canterbury forwards wore now making the play, and G. Gaffaney lost a good chance close to the line when he hesitated for a pot at goal. Mortlock brought him down and Canterbury went away in a counter-rush. Rankin made a great solo burst, but lie had no one to pass to when he reached, the full-back. Fine passing, in which backs and forwards participated, ended in Ryan scoring. King missed the kick. Canterbury 8, South Canterbury 8. Again the South Canterbury forwards, with Thompson, Adkins, Strang and McShane prominent, took play to the Canterbury line. They dribbled on, and Gunn fell on the ball to score. King converted. South Canterbury 13, Canterbury 8. Before long South Canterbury was hammering aw r ay at the line once more. Canterbury secured from successive scrums on the line, but the referee would not allow the force-downs and finally King dived over to score. He goaled after the referee had blown his whistle for a free charge. As the referee had not seen the kick King had to make another attempt. This time he failed, and time w r as called soon after with the scores: South Canterbury ... 16 Canterbury ... ... 8 AUCKLAND BEATS AUSTRALIA. WET GROUND AGAINST VISITORS. (Per Press Association.) i AUCKLAND, August 23. The Australian Rugby team opened its New Zealand tour at Eden Park today, and was beaten by Auckland by 8 points to 5. All the points were scored in the first spell. Conditions were exceptionally bad, heavy rain falling throughout the match and the ground was a quagmire. Rain had fallen throughout the previous day. There was an attendance of 5000. The Australian team, in spite of the conditions, showed that it will be veiy dangerous on a dry ground, and it will play exhilarating football. Under fast conditions New Zealand will have to look to its laurels to take the honours in the test matches. 'Different tactics suited to the conditions w'ould have carried Australia to victory to-day. The visitors were not accustomed to such a wet ground, and persistently attempted a passing game. Their methods made the match one of the best wet-day games yet played at Eden Park. The Australian backs and forwards combined to good effect. Auckland, however, had an advantage ovei the visiting vanguard in. close formation, this being the deciding factor m the match. The highlight was Killeen s brilliant cut through, to make a great try for Caughcy. prominent for Auckland were Lockington (forward) and Killeen, and for Australia, Storey and Gibbons were the outstanding backs, and Pauling and Bridle the forwards. ANOTHER TEST WANTED. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 23. As a result of representations made to the chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union (Mi 1 S. S. Dean), the question of playing a third Test between Australia at Auckland or, alternatively, a return match with Auckland, will be considered by the New Zealand Rugby Union. IN OTHER CENTRES. Christchurch. Challenge Cup. Christchurch 13, Albion 8. Wellington—By beating College Old Boys by 3 points to 0, Athletic won the senior championship on Saturday. Other results: Poneke 13, St. Patricks 6; Eastbourne 19, Johnsonville 13; Wellington 28, Marist 3; Hutt 7, Petono 7. New Plymouth—Taranaki. 13, Wanganui 0. Invercargill—Southland 9, Otago 6. Blenheim —Scddon Shield : Marlborough (holders) 22, Nelson 19. THE ASSOCIATION CODE. NOMADS BEAT ASHBURTON. An. association football match was played between the Ashburton and Nomads’ (Christchurch) clubs at the Ashburton Domain on Saturday, and resulted in a win for Nomads by two goals to one. The teiams which, were evenly matched, were:— Nomads—Mcßae, T. Waddell, M. Fail, C. Pickup, W. Waddell, A. Gordon, C. Sharr, A. Billcliffe, F. Adams, F. ’Smith, J. Timms. Ashburton—W. Cowans, T. Thompson, John Gowans, K. McFarlane, D. Gowans, J. Gowans, K. Thompson, S. McElhinney, M. Petersen, L. Wilson, C. Horsborough.

Nomads kicked off and invaded Ashburton’s territory but John Gowans and Thompson cleared. The handling of W. Gowans in goal was very sure. Ashburton then dominated the game and were given three corners in succession but none was successful. Both sets of backs had no trouble in clearing and freie kicking which followed. Thompson scored for Ashburton after 35 minutes of play after beating McRae with a trickery header. Ashburton 1, Nomads nil. On resuming after half-time, Nomads took control and Waddell, at centrehalf, fed his forwards well. Smith and Billcliffe harassed the Ashburton defence. The Nomads evened the score after W. Gowans cleared. The ball rebounded off Timms into goal. With seven minutes to go, Timms scored the deciding goal from a corner. Nomads 2, Ashburton 1. Mr A. P. Warriner was the referee. CHATHAM CUP CONTEST. CHRISTCHURCH, August 22. In the South Island final of the Chatham Cup. Western A (Christchurch) defeated Millerton All Blacks (Buffer) by 2 goals to I. It was a hard fought game, in which the luck was slightly against the losers. Although the play was not a consistently high standard there were exciting incidents and the issue was in doubt right up to the finish. The scorers for Western A were G. Smith and E. Hlal, and for Millerton P. Taylor. In the New Zealand final, Western meet Thistle.