ANOTHER DRAW

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22196, 13 September 1937, Page 14

ANOTHER DRAW

SENIOR COMPETITION UNDECIDED UNIVERSITY AND OLD BOYS STILL EQUAL FAST MATCH AT LANCASTER PARK The result of the Canterbury Rugby Union’s senior competition is still indefinite. On Saturday, for the second time this season in a key match, High School Old Boys and University, equal at the head of the championship ladder, drew 3aii. Both sides failed to find the form that earlier in the season distinguished them as the most likely to vie for championship honours. It is five weeks since the last match of the second and final round of the competition was played, and since then neither team has played more than one or two matches. In these circumstances the lapses by both teams were not surprising. To University in particular the mistakes were costly. Two courses are open to the management committee of the Rugby Union to decide the result of the competition. It may decide to match the teams again, or it may bracket them as winners of the championship. It is unlikely that, if the teams are to play again, the management committee will again decide to hold it as a curtain-raiser to an interprovlnclal fixture, as it was on Saturday. The two remaining interprovincial fixtures are against West Coast, on September 18, and against South Canterbury, on September 25; and the absence of representative players in the University and Old Boys teams from these matches would probably affect Canterbury’s chances very materially. The management committee may therefore consider it wiser to decide the championship in a mid-week match. The position will be discussed at a meeting of the committee to-morrow evening. Fine Tackling by Old Boys Old Boys gained their points in Saturday’s match from an unconverted try, and University equalised with a penalty coal. In defence Old Boys well maintained their reputation, and it was their ability in this respect that allowed them to finish tire first spell with a lead of three points. There was some grand tackling by Old Boys, especially in the, first half when University was at its best on attack Had there been more cohesion ana backing up. University might easily have established a decisive lead. The attack of the University backs was enterprising and full of thrust, but its imperfections prevented it from succeeding against a resourceful defence that was never wanting at critical moments. In the second spell the fiery rushes in the loose of the Old Boys’ forwards did much to change the trend of the Same, and these attacks brought out a palpable weakness in the play of the University forwards. Frequently in this spell University’s backs had great trouble in keeping the line Intact after deplorably bad tackling by their forwards had let Old Boys away Too often the Old Boys forwards broke through when hard low tackling would have checked attacks at fire outset. It placed an unduly heavy burden on the University backs but they maintained a defence as effecth e as that of Old Boys in the first spell. University’s Attack The weakness of the University attack was at the second five-eighths. E. Malley, whose handling was erratic. It snouia be H said for Malley. however, he did hold the ball he attacked jh te, U gently and made some good openings. He did his share of defence, tO . 0 ’. niuckilv There was good and Daa. to*, in the play of the University full-back, E M Hav/ He Was handicapped by lack of pace, but he did not lack courage or coolness Speed was essential to stop the movement which brought Old Boys their score, but Hav was bustled off the ball by the forwards and N. J. McPhall picked up and dashed over the line. Admirably served with swift, straight passes from the scrum by J. J. McAullffe, University’s first five-eighths. A L Ellis, was an effective link arid a dour tackier. University’s real thrust was given by the centre threequarters. A. G. Hunter. Although tie ws very closely marked by K. S. Mortlock, whose defence is always first-class. Hunter was the spearhead of the most promising of the University attacks, and only supreme efforts by G. T. Nolan and J. G. Rankin saved Old Boys on two occasions by the narrowest of margins. University was without its fast wing three-quarters. J D. Carmichael, whose place was taken bv N. M. Manssen. Manssen showed surprising pace and missed a try by inches, but the odds would have been strongly in University’s favour if Carmichael had had a similar opportunity. The University left wing. W. V. Hadflelrt. again proved determined on defence and kent the All Black wing, D. G. Cobden, subdued for most of the game. Nolan in Great Form Nolan has seldom been in better form. In almost every phase of full-back play he was little short of faultless, and his very fine work was of inestimable value to Old Boys. Another who came through a heavy dav’s work with credit was S. G. Henry, in the unfamiliar position of halfback. Bad passing /marred more than a few of Henry’s attempts to send his backs away, but he tackled like a demon and made some swift thrusts round the scrum that tried the defence sorely. The play of A. C. Cade, at/first five-eighths, was notable more for defence than for attack. and the second five-eighths, R. P. Round, did not show up on attack until the second spell. He made a brilliant opening towards the end of the match, but spoiled it by holding on when he had the right wing, E, G. Kerr, unmarked outside him five yards from the line. The pick of the Old Boys forwards were W. A. Hearn. F. J. Foley, and J. G. Rankin, the latter being particularly valuable for his covering on defence. MePhail was another who worked tirelessly. Keeping up with the play consistently, he was rewarded by scoring the only try. In the University pack C. W. Williams made some vigorous bursts from the rucks, but they failed through lack of support. I. O. Stace and P. G. Roberts were honest workers, and G. S. Walter and L. Martin used their speed well in the loose. The teams were;— Old Boys—G. T. Nolan; D. G. Cobden, K. S. Mortlock, E. G. Kerr; R. P. Round, A. C. Cade: S. G. Henry; G. Rich, F. J. Foley, J. G. Rankin, N. J. McPhall, F. Leckie, N. L. Schluter, W. A.-Heam, N. Stowe. University—E. M. Hay; W. V. Hadfield. A. G. Hunter. N. M. Manssen: E. Malley, A. L. Ellis; J. J. McAullffe; I. O. Stace, L. Martin. P. G. Roberts. C. W. Williams, G. S. Walter. N. J. Matson, P. Bridges, G T. Wilson. Old Boys led 3-0 at half-time, the try coming well on in the spell after their line had been seriously threatened on several occasions by thrusts by the University backs. Manssen failed to hold the ball after a high kick, but Ellis came round to snap the ball up and shoot it back to Hay. The latter fumbled, and before he could recover he was bowled over by the Old Boys forwards, and McPhall picked up the ball and sprinted 20 yards to score 10 yards from the posts. Cobden’s kick went outside. University drew level about half-way through the second spell, Ellis kicking a penalty goal from near the side-line at the twenty-five-yard line. Referee: Mr J. C. McLachlan, GOOD WIN FOR SOUTH CANTERBURY WAIRARAPA BEATEN BY TWENTY POINTS (press association telegram.) MASTERTON, September 12. A faster and more thrustful set of backs, well supplied with the ball throughout, enabled South Canterbury to beat Wairarapa by 31 points to 11 on Saturday. The first half was even, the score at the interval being 8-all. Wairarapa, however, collapsed in the second session, and South Canterbury, while not appearing particularly effective, scored almost at will. The visiting backs made a lot of mistakes in the early stages, thus allowing the Wairarapa forwards to break through in the loose and keep South Canterbury penned in its own territory. Wairarapa lacked the ability to finish off its movements, and South Canterbury took play into Wairarapa territory. A monopoly ol

the ball from scrums • provided the visiting backs with plenty of scope. Sound tackling made • progress. difficult until Gaffaney went through a gap and sent Ryan racing 20 yards for a try. After a fine solo dash by Denbee, Wairarapa was awarded a penalty kick, and Henderson kicked a goal. A series of back rushes resulted in Ryan scoring for Lundy to convert. Wairarapa equalised again near half-time with the best try of the day. j Wairarapa was in difficulties 10 yards I from their line when Hatton sent a pass | out to Peterson on the wing. The fast Wairarapa player ran almost the length of the field for a try, which Henderson converted. * The scores came fast in the second half. Strang put South Canterbury ahead with a try from a forward scramble. Ryan initiated a movement that resulted in Gunn scoring. South Canterbury maintained the pressure, and was rewarded with another try, scored by Gunn. Wairarapa rallied, and Denbee made a fine solo run for an unconverted try. Wairarapa was a badly beaten team at this stage, and the visitors went further in front when a determined run saw Ryan score a fine try. Then Jamieson shot through the Wairarapa defence to send Wright racing 30 yards for a try, which Lundy converted. The visitors had matters practically all their own way in the closing stages, and they added another six points to the tally when Cartwright and Gunn scored unconverted tries. MANAWATU BEATEN BY TARANAKI (PBES9 ASSOCIATION TILEGRAM.) NEW PLYMOUTH, September 12. Taranaki beat Manawatu by 24 points to 7 in a match in which the winners were not seriously challenged. Taranaki opened in spectacular fashion by scoring three tries in the first 10 minutes as a result of the ball being sent out to the fast threequarters line. Then, strangely, when Taranaki won the ball from the scrums, which was not often, it was sent mostly to the forwards and the rate of scoring became slower. Gillespie scored a try for Manawatu, and Finlay, who played a fine game, kicked a field goal, while Taranaki added three more tries. Taranakl's first three tries were scored by backs, Sullivan and Wetton (2), and the last three by forwards, Murphy, Fastier, and Evans. Collins converted three. McKenzie, the Manawatu All Black forward, showed ability, but apparently was not taking unnecessary risks. J. L. Sullivan, whenever the ball came his way, showed brilliance but had not a great deal to do. WEST COAST TEAM CHOSEN MATCH WITH CANTERBURY ON SATURDAY The following West Coast team has been chosen to play Canterbury, at Christchurch on Saturday:—G. Gilbert; Roberts. Mann, Logie; Hendry, Costello; Vincent; Kirkwood, Thorpe, Daly, A. King, Pascoe, R. King. Wieblitz. Garden. Emergencies—Backs: Agnew and Noonan; forwards, Glenn and Tainui. The team will leave by rail-car on Friday evening.