NARROW WIN FOR CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25301, 29 September 1947, Page 5

NARROW WIN FOR CANTERBURY

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MATCH AGAINST WEST COAST KELLY SHOWS GOOD FORM Public interest showed a big falling off frorh that of the previous week, when Canterbury and West Coast met on Saturday in the last representative Rugby football match to be played at Lancaster Park this year. The attendance was comparatively small and West Coast did not have the army of supporters who in previous years have accompanied the team. The play generally was of the usual end-oj-the-season standard, and it seemed that the majority of the players will be content to put their football togs away until next year. Canterbury won by 6 points (two tries to 3 points (a try) and may have been lucky to win by even this narrow margin. A drawn game would not have paid undue tribute to the work of the West Coast backs and forwards, who played sound and orthodox football, without showing quite the same speed as the Canterbury backs. Some interest was taken in the work of the two full-backs, J. W. Kelly (Canterbury), who has been chosen to represent the South Island against the North at Invercargill next Saturday, and J. Lindbom (West Coast), who by many was considered unlucky not to be accorded this distinction. On Saturday’s game alone there is no reason to find fault with the judgment of the South Island selectors, although on the hard ground and with a lively ball neither full-back was seen at his best. The handling of the ball, with which a strong easterly wind played many tricks, was very good, and each man tackled as he was called on. In this department, Kelly was the better and his great speed gave him control where the other failed. Kelly showed initiative in joining up with his attacking backs, and. while this is risky. Kelly used sound judgment when he decided to join U P- On a softer ground and with reliable backs in front of him. he should worWiily fill the position for which he has been chosen. West Coast Backs Lack Speed With perhaps the exception of L. Silcock, wing-three-quarters, and E. Walk’er, the centre, there did not appear to be much speed in the West Coast back division. The half-back, Tainui, shot the ball away smartly and accurately from the scrum, and the other backs handled with snap and precision, but there was never enough pace on to pave the way for a try. The Canterbury backs, all fairly fast, had no difficulty in getting across to bottle up the three-quarters. Walker, a powerfully-built centre, made several valiant attempts to break through the defence. but he was generally unlucky enough to have two or more men to deal with. Possibly the greatest weakness in the West Coast backs was in the tackling of the two five-eighths, a weakness that J. E. Roach, the Canterbury five-eighths, did not hesitate to exploit. Several times in

the second spell he went straight through a gap, and only the speed and good tackling of Silcock prevented tries from being scored. Roach was easily the best of the Canterbury backs, and some of his quick dashes were reminiscent of his best form of several years ago. Roach had to make his own play for he was again unlucky enough to receive many ‘'ballooned” passes from the scrum—a fault that has handicapped the Canterbury backs all through the year.

Jones, the centre, earned his place because of his good tackling, and W. McHugh. who replaced A. Cochrane, again showed great speed and a readiness to tackle. McHugh was slow to find his form this year, but at present is playing in his top form. Tainui. the West Coast half-back, did a lot of very sound work, and it was not his fault, that better use was not made of the ball. His passes from the scrum were snappy and always well-directed. Davidson, a big, heavy centre threequarters, played for the Southland Ranfurly Shield team last year. He is sound but would need better company than he was in on Saturday to show his true form. L. Silcock, a wing three-quarters, imoressed by his good handling and steady tackling, and although he was beaten for speed more than once when McHugh got the overlap on him, he did much fine defensive work. The other wing threequarters, K. Reay, has physique to help him, but he lacks experience.

Hard-working Forwards B. Chandler and G. Bond were agal anterbury’s most honest and reliable foi ards. Besides doing good work in th ne-out, F. G. Hobbs was often out i •ont leading the forwards in dribblin

rushes. The Sydenham forward, C. Hardie, played his best game of the season and was always doing his fair share in heavy rucks and loose rushes. The most prominent forward in the West Coast pack was G. Nelson, whose fast following up caused the Canterbury backs a lot of trouble. With R. Birchfield, P. Eastgate, and P. Kirby, Nelson led many forward rushes that took stopping. The Scores At half-time the score was 3-all, CoulIng having scored for Canterbury and Eastgate for West Coast. In the second spell the only score was a try by Clarke for Canterbury a few minutes before the end of the game. Following were the teams:— Canterbury Backs: J. W Kelly. W. McHugh, D. Jones, R. Clarke, J. E. Roach, P. V. Kearney, L. Savage. Forwards: G. Bond. G. Gordon, A. Couling, C. Hardie, R. Duff, B. Chandler, F. Hobbs, R. Stuart. West Coast Backs: J. Lindbom, L. Silcock, E. Walker, K. Reay. W. Amberger, M. Thomas. H. Tainui. Forwards: G. Odell, R. Eastgate. R. Thompson, B. Mettrick. P. Kirby, G. Nelson. R. Birchfield, P. Eastgate. Mr D. F. Johnson was referee.

CANTERBURY COLTS BEAT SYDENHAM

In a curtain-raiser tc the representative game between West Coast and Canterbury, a team of Canterbury Colts beat Sydenham, winner of the senior championship and Payne trophy, by 19 points to 5.

For Colts tries were scored by McGuire (2),’Kinley, Steel, and Bodger, two of which Spencer converted. For Sydenham, N. Atkinson scored a try which Reid converted. Mr J. O. Johnson was referee.

WEST COAST REFEREES BEAT CANTERBURY A team of West Coast referees beat Canterbury by 22 points to 3. For West Coast tries were scored by Fong, Davidson, Roberts, and Howell. A.

R Lindbom kicked a penalty goal and converted three tries. For Canterbury Cook scored. Mr H. T. Coulter was referee. $ OLD BOYS’ MATCH Christchurch High School Old Boys beat Westport Old Boys at Lancaster Park on Saturday by 19 points to 6. For Christchurch tries were scored by Thomas, Duggan, Robertson (2), Columbus. two tries being converted by Parker For Westport Phipps kicked two penalty goals. Mr R. Condliffe was referee. *

LOWER GRADES

Senior Reserve.—Ellesmere 18. Canterbury 16. Third Grade.—Ellesmere 16. Canterbury 8; Christchurch 3. Miramar 0. Under 17.—Canterbuty 11. West Coast 3. Under 7st 71b.—Canterbury 22, Primary Schools 3. Under 6st 71b Seven-a-side.—Marist 14 Spreydon 0.