WITH THE CANTERBURY REPRE SENTATIVES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9217, 21 September 1895, Page 4

WITH THE CANTERBURY REPRE SENTATIVES.

(Bt Ccr Special Reporter.]

I left our doinga in lait week'e issue as we were off to Portobello, and a rij;ht pood time we had. We lefc the wharf about eleven in the steam launch Onslow, aud after about an hour aud a-half steam we were landed at the Portobello wharf. We had not been long there before we sat down to a splendid dinner at the hotel, after which wo lounged about the lawn, il being a perfect day, and talked of bygone battle*, &c. on the football field. At a lUtlt after four o'clocc we embarked again and made for Port Chalmers with the hope of seoing the ?.e. Gothic, but when we came in tight of the heads we saw the gallant form of the large steamer juat coming in, so we had Dot time to wait to ace her. Wβ bad just QnUhed tea when down came the rain and it poured all Sunday night. Orchard, as usual, was up flrer, he being the early bird of the team, on Monday morning waking us all up at fix o'clock ac we had to catch the eight o'clock train for lnvercargill, and many of the team were heard to remark that it was many a day since they had risen so early. After having had n good breakfast and some of the boys had •rud "Au revoir, but nol good-bye," to their friends at the Criterion, we were driven to the station, where J. Duncan came to see us off. The journey to luvercargill was broken for twenty minutes at Clinton, where a real good meal wa3 enjoyed. We arrived at the Invercarglll station just after four, and were inei by Mr R. Galbraith and several other members of Uμ Southland Rugby football

Union, and with the Invercargill City Band in front we were driven to Descbler's

Hotel, our headquarters. In the evening the boys went to hear the GarrUon Band playing in the Rotunda.

On Tuesday the team had a practice on the Southland Union ground, which is a very nice property. It has an asphalt track a quarter of a mile round, also a fine grandstand and two spacious dressingrooms. The rain came on during this practice, and all were wet through before they reache-d home again. The team having found out that Cowlishaw's birthday was on Tuesday, the team presented him with a lamb. The following extract from a local paper on the affair speaks for itself: —" At Deschler's on Tuesday evening as the Canterbury Rugby Union team were enjoying their evening repast Mr Evans, on behalf of the team, presented Mr F. I. Cowliahaw, ono of the wing threequarters, with a " model" lauib in honour of his birthday. Mr Evans, in making the presentation, apoke of the kind heart Mr Cowlishaw alwaye showed to "dumb" animals in hope that he would look after the poor creature. The recipient thanked the team for their memento and appointed Mr Sandy Korr the custodian of bis woolly pet, which in the«e days of excited wool markets may become very valuable."

The conditions under which the team found out Mr Cowliahaw'a liking of such pets, wai through the three-quarter purchasing a black elephant with a red cover at the North End Boating Carnival at Dunodiu, and it was always placed on the top of the banner pole as we went to play. All were in bed early on Tuesday night, and we woke on Wadnerday, the day of the match, full of hope, as the day was beautifully fine, but ere 3 o'clock arrived clouds started to gather, but, as luck bad it, it did not rain until ten minutes before the close of the game and it did come down then iv right good earnest, all the spectators having to rush away home to get out of the pouriujr rain. The players, of course, were wet to the skin, in fact some of them remarked that the rain hurt them as it was driven into their faces wikh such force. I had forgotten to mention that we went to the water tower on Wednesday morning, the gardens and several other places of interest. Another little thing, but which might have been serious, was the breaking down of the drag as we were going to the match, the axle giving way.

To come to the game against Southland. Hobbs was lucky enough to win the toss, and be took ad vantage of the gale that wae blowing, and it must be said that the Southland team played extremely well against such odds. In the second half the wind certainly went down a litile,bufc at the end of the game it was blowing as hard a« ever, but was more, if anything, in favour of Canterbury. The City band played on the ground, and also went through their marching competition drill, which they are to compete for at Tim iru next month. The gime on the whole was mostly of a forward nature, but at times when the visitors got the bill they showed soraegoodpaseing. The Southland forwards area lino lot, being very fast, good tackier*, and the best team Canterbury have met this year at getting the ball in the scrum, but, sorry to relate, they made very poor use of it, their backs not being up to date in the art of passing. What little of this kind they did Ko in for was done too hijgh ; hard and low passing is what they must do to bring about some good passing rushes. If they continue their preaentmode of passing khey <vill find an opponent will nearly always get there as soon as the ball. The local forwards appeared to mc to tire in the latter part ol the second spell, and they did not play with such dash and carry the scrum so often as earlier in the game. The Southland backs include some good individual players, but they have not got into the knack of playing together with such advantage as the Canterbury men. However, I do not think that there is any doubt but that they will profit by the visit of the Canterbury team in thi* respect.

Orchard, the Canterbury* full back, played his usual safe game, never making a mistake. He stopped what looked like two certain tries by his fine work, once by tackling and the other by taking the ball from the forwards' feet and dodging two men and kicking well down the line into touch. Cowlishaw played, without doubt, the best threequarter game on the ground. Not only was his offensive play good, but his defence was perfect, he doing work on both sides of the ground. His two tries were got by very clever play, for which he was loudly and deservingly applauded. Stringer, who got a nasty kick early in the game, did very little in the first spell, but improved as the game wore on. His dash was much admired by the spectators. Hobbs did not play up to form; his kicking was not ao good as usual, and his passes at time* were indifferent. White was good in his all round play, he and Glendinning playing well together. The last named at half was smart in sending out the ball, and he also kicked and stopped rushes with good effect. Oram and Johnstono did not get down on the opposing backs as quickly as they should have done. The forwards in the pack all worked well, always getting quickly together, On the whole they showed better form in the second half, when they got the ball oftecer.

Cockrofr, the Southland full-back, cannot be said to be a good man In the position, as he lacks the two best points in a full-back, i.e., tackling and kicking. He is good at stopping rushes, however. Hurst is a fair three-quarter ; he is a safe tackier, but not a good kick. Manson, in the centre, waa good, and wa» the most scientific man, Iα my opinion, behind the

Southland scrum. Bain, the fast wing three-quarter of the team, got down on the Canterbury bscka more than once and showed good defence. Jenkins and Ramsay were better than Hurst behind the 9crum, but all these men would do well to pass more, and whatever they do they must not wait a second but send the ball out quickly and low, not throw it with two hands over the head of the other men. As I mentioned above tbe forwards are all good, prominent amongst whom were M'Robie, Ramsay, Martin, and Molloy.

I must now say a word for the fine work done by Mr J. M'Cleary as referee. It will be remembered that this gentleman was once captain of the famous Aihambra Club. Hi* decisions were smart, and when it is known that this is the first big match be baa officiated in, it must be said that ho did wonderfully well. Both sides were fully satisfied and stated so at the dinner after the match. Appleby placed two good goals from Covrliehaw's triei, one being from the touch-line. Hurat'a kick from a mark was also a good one.

After the match we were entertained at a dinner by the S.R.F.U., at which the usual complimentary speeches were made, songs sung, &c. We broke up !about 8.30 and attended the opera "Rip Van Winkle," which we* being played by amateurs at the theatre, where seats had been reserved for u». Next morning we left by express for I/unedin, (jiving three hearty cheers for Mr and Mra Deadlier and one for Miss J. Morrison, who had been very kind to the boys, and we left Invercargill after having had a good time. We had dinner at Clinton and arrived at Dunedin at about seven o'clock, when we were met again by some of tbe officials of the Otago Union who had kindly goc a drag in readiness for us. We saw the last of Dunedin on Friday morning with a real good send off. Just before leaving the Criterion Hotel Mr Liston, tbe proprietor, asked us to drink his health, and with three hearty cheers, and wishes for good health, we drank long life in champagne.

Mr Lightfoot mot us at Timaru, and several members of the South Canterbury R.U. called on us in the evening, including Mr E. Jones, with whom we had a pleasant chat. We were taken for a drive on Saturday morning, and started the game at 2.30 o'clock.

The day was beautifully fine buk the attendance was very poor, owing to the holiday of Timaru being universal only on Thursdays. The game was a poor one throughout, Canterbury pl&yine the woret game of their tour. This, no doubt, was due to the fact that Cowli&baw, Johnstone and Frost were far from well, and the team as a whole lacked dasb. Stringer had the misfortune to put hie ankle out early in the game, and Orchard, toward* the latter end of the game, twisted his ankle so badly that he had to be carried oil the ground. These mishaps were due to the hardness of the ground and the Canterbury men having failed to take off the large leather buttons they bad on their bookrf to play with further south on the wet grounds. The South Canterbury men have improved a IoD since their last season's game with Canterbury, their knowledge of the finer points of the game being much better. White, Glendianing and Orchard played well in the back department for Canterbury, while Fraser, Appleby, Kerr and Lynskey were the best forward. The Boys brothers, Helean and Upton were the pick ot the South Canterbury backs, while Gardner, Macintosh and Taylor were good forward. White, CowlUhaw and Glendinning (2) scored tries for C*nterbury, and Curtis crossed the line for South Canterbury, the scores being 12 poiuts to 3. Though Appleby did not register a goal his kicks were all f*ir one*, two going over the post. The high wind was, I think, the cause of his non-success.

We left Timaru by Saturday evening's express, and were uot sorry to get to Christchnrch, into which station we rushed singing " Home, Boys, Home." There was a great crowd to meet us from whom we received a hearty cheer.

I must now say a word .for the kindness shown us by everyone we met, more especially Messrs Montgomery, D. Duncan. J. Duncan, Hutchison, and J. Marshall, officials of the Otago Union, and alco Mr J. Glendinning, manager of the Roslyn Woollen Mills, who took no end of trouble with U3. Mr R. Galbraith, the South, land Union's secretary, was also very kind, and the team showed tbeir appreciation of hi-i kindncsa by presenting him with a handsome walking stick, which was engraved with his initials. Mr Kenny Cameron also did all in his power to make our stay in Invercargill enjoyable, and I must; not forget Mr Lightfoot, of Timaru, whose genial face is a treat to see.

It is strange what people you meet when travelling about. At Dunedin we met J. Dancan, the old Sydenham player, and also an old Canterbury "rep." We also ran across Geo. Dunn in Invercargill, who U3ed to play for East Christchurch in days gone by. Plank and Haakins, old Merivale men, also looked us up in our travels, and we met J. Cow at the Ashburtoa station. Geo. Williams, who it will be remembered was one of the native team that went to England, is now in the "force" at Invercargill, and li on the selection committee of the Southland Union. He told us many good stories of his trip home, and also showed some photos at the dinner of the team Lord Sheffield got together to play the Natives at home, and which Mr Williams says in his opinion wa» the best team ever got together in the world. It included men from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wale*.