A DRAWN GAME

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 250, 4 August 1941, Page 3

A DRAWN GAME

COUNTY v. SOUTH CANTERBURY. FIRST REPRESENTATIVE MATCH. SCQHL POINTS EACH. A dr»wn>-eight-aU-**was a fair indiear lion of'the match between Ashburton and South Canterbury, played at Fraser park, Timaru, on Saturday. The Ashburton pack had the advantage in weight, and they made good use .of it in the scfums, from which they secured possession on a majority of occasions. Fortunately for the home side, tire ball did not always come out cleanly, and this gave them a chance to smother the inside backs before they had any paee on. The visiting fiveeighths made a few attempts to create openings, but found Morrison and Lundy very solid, and they gave up the attempt. The pace of the visitors often carried their wings to Goddard, but he tackled in fine style. On one occasion he was faced with four men, but he made certain of the man with the ball. His display generally was right up to representative standard, particularly his kicking, which siSved the forwards tremendously. In the line-outs, South Canterbury

were completely overshadowed, due to the presence of two or three very tall men. who had almost a monopoly. On the occasions when the Greens did get a chance, they generally managed to break clear; Garty, in particular, showing up prominently. The South Canterbury back line made several promising movements, but the lack of speedy wingers was a definite handicap. Morrison and Lundy, though com tantjy changing places, combined well, Morrison’s covering work being a feature. Hay was not too happy in the centre berth, but he tackled solidly. South Canterbury showed up well in the loose play, and in this department they shaded the visitors, who failed to work in unison. The standard of play in Jhe first half was not particularly high, but in, the second session, following Ashburton’s first , try, the pace increased considerably, and both teams gave good exhibitions. The Play. South Canterbury (Green) kicked off from the western end. and the visitors opened up in two back movements which caused the home side to force >to save. Garty and Fitzgerald then broke through down the centre, but a knock-on pulled them up. From a scrum Fitzgerald and Smith had a chance, and they carried play to the visitors’ twenty-five, where Belirnes gathered in to find touch. The Greens were now settling down, and the backs paved the way for a solid forward rush, which saw Fitzgerald well held right on the line. Then the Greens opened up in a.pretty run, the whole line handling for Stewart to go for the corner, but he was solidly dumped a yard short. Play now ranged on the visitors’ line, % with Morrison and Lundy both making fruitless efforts to score. A penalty relieved for Ashburton, but the Greens were soon back on the attack. The ball came back to Goddard, who essayed a field goal, but the kick went Wide.

Ashburton cleared, following a good run by Withers and Lemon, and for a time the forwards took charge. A long kick by Campbell found touch inside the home twenty-five, but the advantage gained was nullified through an infringement. Then Campbell, the visiting full-back put in a good solo rtiri before sending to S. Lemon, who was grassed short of the line by Goddard. The Greens soon effected a clearance, hut White skipped through a gap and transferred .play back to the centre. Here Brooker was penalised in a scrummage, but Stewart’s effort failed to rise. Garty was showing up prominently in the line-outs, making' several fine breaks, but he lacked support. Breaking away from a scrum, Goodson set the South Canterbury backs going, Kelly centring when blocked. Campbell was trapped in possession by Fitzgerald, and when the ball rolled clear Goodson snapped up and went away with Stewart. He dropped the hall, but the bounce favoured him, and he in-passed to Fitzgerald, who had a clear run in. Lundy added the extra points. South- Canterbury ... 5 ' Ashburton 0 A few minutes later the South Canterbury forwards set up a hot attack, and Mulcahy emerged froui the ruck with the ball at his feet. He snapped up and beat three men to score near the corner. Stewart failed to convert. South Canterbury .., ... 8 Ashburton 9 A try looked certain for Ashburton when Behrns, Withers and S. Lemon went down the wing in a good rush, but Goddard made certain of the hying wing with a fine tackle. Bad handling by Doig and Campbell let South Canterbury in, a smart back rush ending in Hay being grassed in corner. Half-time was called shortly after with the scores:

South Canterbury ® Ashburton 0 Tha Secorut Half. For a few minutes Ashburton attacked on resuming, but Goddard extricated his side well, transferring play back to the centre. Fitzgerald failed with a penalty alul play settled m neutral territory until Garty was detected off-side. Then Tully, Hill and Boss slot up a solid rush which threatened danger, but again Goddard saved the situation. A penalty was given against Goodson for obstruction, but Campbodl failed to find the posts, Goddard bringing the play back to hairway. A good Ashburton rush looked promising, but over-eagerness spoilt the movement, as it had done several Others. Hill, Moore and Watson broke clear in a solid run, which was carried bn by Shannon, the visitors reaching

the home line, where solid scrummaging ensued. White opened up well, and the ball travelled to Doig, to Behrns, to Withers, to S. Lemon, who raced round for a fine try. Campbell converted with a good kick. South Canterbury 8 Ashburton 5 The greens swarmed fo the attack from the kick-off. and solid scrummaging ensued on the visitors’ line, the hall coming high across to Kelly, who failed to field cleaply. S. Lemon snapped up, and with South Canterbury ali opt of position, he raced 70 yards to score. Campbell failed tp eppyert. South Canterbury 8 Ashburton ... ... ... 8 Play npW livened up considerably, both sides infusing plenty of vim into their work. Ashburton wer« on top for a time, the forwards using their weight to good effect. Then the greens got away, Morrison, Lundy, Goodson and Butler featuring in a pretty piece of play. Twice the .visitors opened up, but each time a forward pass pulled them up. Gradually they worked clear, but the green backs reversed the position, and Fitzgerald and Garty dribbled, right to the line, where the ball swung' away from Garty and Campbell forced. Ashburton came back in an equally fine run, and play was in neutral territory when time was called with the scores: South Canterbury ... '... 8 Ashburton ... .8 Mr L. K. Murray was referee. WELLINGTON BEATS CANTERBURY. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 2. One of the strongest teams that has represented Wellington for many seasons, which included some of the country’s leading players now stationed at Trent!)am camp, had no easy task in defeating an enterprising Canterbury side by 17 points to 12 at Athletic Park this afternoon before about 12,000 spectators. The visitors paid the local side the compliment of recognising their strength, by setting out to bustle them into errors, and in making very sure that each player got his opponent. Soi successful were these tactics that though Wellington always appeared to have the game in hand they were sorely pressed on occasions in the second spell. The result was a fair reflection of the run of the play. Wellington scored four tries to two. Finlay \( Wellington) and Herman (Canterbury) were the two best forwards the former showing an uncanny sense of anticipation. The Wellington backs succeeded in penetrating the defence twice, but were forced into many' errors from which Canterbury nearly scored on geveral occasions.

NORTH OTACO BEATS WAIMATE.

North Otago beat Waimate bv 11 points to six tir the annual representative match played at Waimate on Saturday. The small margin between the scores was somewhat unusual, as the visiting team had most of the ball, but the backs lost the advantage through bad handling.