RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 249, 29 July 1940, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

THE REPRESENTATIVE MATCH. ASHBURTON BEATS CANTERBURY The main feature of Rugby football in the,County on Saturday was the victory of the Ashburton representatives over a Canterbury team by 21 to 14. Competitions were continued in the junior and third grades. Results at a Glance. •\ Representative Match — Ashburton 21, Canterbury M. Junior Grade— Hinds 13, Springburn 6. Third Grade— Technical Old Boys 21, Tinwald 0. Old Boys 21, Hinds 3. Mayfield 29, Eiffelton 8.

ASHBURTON WINS AGAIN. TWENTY-ONE; TO FOURTEEN. Exciting and often brilliant football was seen in Ashburton on Saturday, when the Ashburton County representatives defeated a Canterbury team by 21 to 14. In the first spell, due largely to the bright individual efforts of the backs, the home side established a lead of 16 points, but in the second half, when the Canterbury back line opened play up by brilliant combined movements, they greatly reduced this lead. Had Canterbury produced in the first spell the form it showed in the concluding stages it is extremely doubtful whether Ashburton would have won. 011 the whole the game was very bright, with play moving up and down the field very rapidly in the second half. The Ashburton back division did not show the same combination that was seen in the Mackenzie match. A Sampson, at five-eighths, played a solid, reliable game, as also did D. White, at half-back. Neither D. or S. Lemon were so prominent, hut S. Lemon played some hard football. J. Doig and P. O’Reilly showed up at times. O’Reilly replaced G. Leith, who was indisposed. V. O’Donogliue was somewhat erratic at full-back. The forward pack gave their usual solid performance against an extremely wellbalanced opposition. When the Canterbury backs were seen in action toward the end of the game every man, was handling cleanly and running hard, and the Ashburton defence, which up to then had been sound, was cut to pieces. The brains of the division was R. Garrett, who played a sterling game and frequently had Ashburton in trouble. F. McCarthy, who replaced J. J. McAuliffe behind the scrum, was consistent. T. Ryan, on tlie wing, showed Ashburton a clean pair of heels on two occasions and was unlucky not to score again. His was a good performance. The Canterbury forwards were a heavy pack and commanded a good share ol the ball. The teams were: Canterbury. Full-back—J. T. Thacker (Christchurch). Three-quarters —E. G. Boyce (Menvale), J. Elkis (Southern), T. Ryan (New Brighton). Five-eighths—R. McCammon (Technical), R. Garrett (Albion). Half-back—F. McCarthy (Albion). Forwards—W. McNeight (Christchurch), W. McCammon (Southern), J. Gorman (Linwood), H. Watson (Southern), G. Bond (Albion), A. A. Trotter Od Boys), D. Hayles (Technical), J. Monk (Linwood). Ashburton. Full-back —V. O’Donoghue (Old Boys). Three-quarters—D. Lemon (Methven), J. Doig (ißakaia), S. Lemon (Old Boys). ... Five-eighths —A. Sampson (Teohmcal Old Boys), P. O’Reilly (Methven). Half-back—D. White (Old Boys). Forwards —Front row : D'. Brooker (Methven). J. E. McKenzie (Methven) (captain), A. Rowell (Old Boys) • middle row, D. Harrison (Methven), I. Hart (Methuen), B. Newton (Old Boys), A. Mathieson; lock, B. Doig (Methven). The first half was described in the second edition of the “Guardian” on Saturday. The Second Half. • Canterbury attacked on the resumption of play and when they gained the ball from a scrum in front of the Ashburton goal mouth they had the home side in trouble. Good work by the backs relieved the position for Ashburton. Canterbury cut in through the Ashburton defence and Gorman scored under the posts. Garrett converted. Ashburton ... ... 16 Canterbury 5 Canterbury were pressing desperately. Garrett suffered an injury to his fingers and the game was stopped while he received medical attention. On the resumption of play Garrett put the ball out near the corner and again Canterbury were attacking. Mathieson broke through and took play well down the field. Ashburton were awarded a penalty but Doig failed with his kick at goal. Garrett once more had Ashburton in trouble when he put the hall out near the corner flag with a penalty kick. White brought play down the field and some even play about half-way followed .

From the half-way line McCarthy sent the ball out from the serum for all 1 the backs to handle clev-

erly before T. Ryan raced over in the corner. The kick failed. Ashburton .... ... 16 Canterbury 8 Almost immediately Canterbury repeated the same movement and Lemon prevented a certain try when he brought Ryan clown from behind. Ashburton got relief from a twenty-five. From some loose play in mid-field Matheson broke through and scored a well-deserved try. White kicked a goal. Ashburton 21 Canterbury 8 Shortly after Canterbury were awarded a penalty and Garrett made no mistake with his kick. Ashburton 21 Canterbury 11 Some brilliant movements were now seen on both sides. A fitting conclusion to the match was a brilliant try by Ryan who finished off a passing movement iby racing; along the side-line from half-way to score. The kick failed. The final score was :—• Ashburton 21 Canterbury 14 (Mr ,K. Hood was the referee. JUNIOR GRADE. Hinds defeated Springburn by 13 to 6 at Mayfield on Saturday. For the winners G. Wilson and B. Chisnall scored and A. Wilson kicked a penalty goal and R. Kirker a field goal. Springburn’s points came from two penalty kicks by G. Burgess. IN OTHER CENTRES. I Christchurch—Canterbury College 26, Otago University 3; Metropolitan 15, Combined Services 6. Waimate—Waimate 15, Mackenzie 5. Qamaru—North Otago 8, South Canterbury 0. Auckland—Colts 14, Thames Valley 9; Auckland B 26, South Auckland 20. Masterton—Wairarapa 6, Bush 4. Pfilmerston —Army 18, Manawatu 14. Wellington—Athletic 14, Eastbourne 0; Wellington 17, Poneke 6; Petone 6, Johnsonville 3; Marist 6, Hutt 3; Old Boys 14, Oriental 0; St. Patrick’s 8, University 8.

Dunedin—Union 18, Zingari 16; Southern 11, Alhambra 0; Taieri 16, Kaikorai 6; Pirates 19, Dunedin 7.