RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25589, 2 September 1948, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

CANTERBURY BEATS POVERTY BAY 12-3 MARGIN IN HARD GAME

Poverty Bay, in its first game in the South Island on its quest for the Ranfurly Shield, introduced to Canterbury a style of football all its own, and one that did not appeal to referee, opponents, or a fair crowd of spectators at Lancaster Park yesterday. It was a style of football that showed that the experience of the Poverty Bay players has been too restricted, and that they wiH need many games outside their own district before they can compete with success against a major union. The material is in the team. All. that is needed is competition with outside unions. The game was full of interest if only for incidents resulting from the style 6f play. Canterbury won by 12 points to 3, and had there not been mistakes at critical periods, the score might well have been doubled. The game played yesterday may improve the Poverty Bay team. It would appear that the team has a very slim chance of taking the Ranfurly Shield back to Gisborne. The ground was in excellent order.

Canterbury performed little better than it has done in previous matches this sea - son. and the many penalties awarded against Poverty Bay helped Canterbury to win. Apparently the North Island players had been allowed to carry on with a style of play that would not be permitted in the main centres. Obstruction was an offence for which Poverty Bay was too often guilty, and offside, shepherding and jersey-pulling were frequent. There seemed no reason for these lapses, and had the forwards concentrated on taking the ball to the goal-line their play would have been much more effective. At times the good, rugged Bay forwards showed their merit in loose dribbling rushes that tore through the Canterbury inside backs, but these efforts were spasmodic, and towards the end of the game the Canterbury forwards had control. When the ball became loose the Bay forwards were at their best, and their fast, hard following-up had the Canterbury backs in trouble more than once. Canterbury Forwards in Form Canterbury had the advantage in scrum work because the forwards pushed as a pack, and the Poverty Bay siderow men, Birrell and Elliott, broke too quickly and unbalanced the scrum. Ferguson, Brown and Carrington were always honest workers in scrum and lineout. and for a good part of the game shaded the Canterbury forwards. Towards the end of the game Bond, Herman, and Hardie gave the visitors a lesson in ball control in fast dribbling rushes, the best of the season. On the day’s play, the Canterbury backs showed a better idea of the game than did their opponents. With the Poverty Bay backs standing up very close, Roach, first five-eighths, elected to kick more than usual, and his correct placing often caught opponents unprepared. Roach played masterly football when he kicked. There is no better line or positional kicker playing. In passing rushes—he received excellent service from Vincent at halfback—he was much too slow in getting rid of the ball, and his cross-ground running left his fine three-quarters line without reasonable chance of getting results. Vincent, at half-back, played his best game to date. He sent out smart, accurate passes that should have been raced into, and in several smart dashes from the base of the scrum he had the defence all at sea. Vincent varied his play with very sound defence and initiative that was refreshing. McNally and Richards, both sound on defence, were never getting the ball soon enough to do any good with it, and the outside backs suffered. Argus had more chances than Kelly, but both showed form against weak opposition when it came to a question of speed.

More than usual interest was taken in the form of the junior player, at full-back, and the Canterbury selectors have no reason to be disappointed with a bold experiment in giving him a trial He handled the ball well, and his kicking was powerful, although in the early stages he sacrificed direction for length. When he was called on he tackled like a real footballer. Stuart has something to learn, but he is a bright prospect for representative football next year.

Bond at His Best Bond, the Canterbury front ranker, has played, many fine games at Lancaster Park, but he has given none better than his display yesterday. Always working honestly in tight forward play, he rose to great heights in the second spell, and with ball at toe, set an example for young players. Herman and Hardie were always in support of Bond when he broke away and all three were in the limelight when Argus scored his try. Stuart, No. 8 in the scrum, was one of the best line-out forwards. and Chandler was a loyal supporter. Crack Centre Neglected Poverty Bay’s two outstanding backs were McGregor at full-back, and McKinley at centre three-quarters. E. Lee, behind the scrum, did not have the chances that were given to the Canterbury half_back, and when he did send the ball along the three-quarters were not given many chances. The five-eighths, N. Kane, trussing more to his forwards than his outside backs, elected to kick over theocrum to the blind side in the hope that his quick-breaking forwards would follow the ball. It was a clever move—a bit overdone perhaps—which often found gaps in the defence. The public would have been more pleased, however, to have seen more of the centre three-quarters, McKinley, who did everything in the manner of a tradesman. Powerfully built—he weighs 14st—McKinley showed All Black form when he set off for the line, and the ease with which he bumped off tacklers made the defence look weak. Poverty Bay made a grave mistake in not giving him more work to do. McGregor at fullback, -handled really well and gained long stretches with his kicking. Early in the game. Canterbury realised the reliability of this man and found line-kicking better than sending the ball to him. The lack of initiative by the five-eighths appeared to be the main trouble, and the wing three-quarters, Barbour and Edwards, with few chances, were overshadowed by their opposite numbers, Kelly and Argus. In the Poverty Bay forwards, Elliott and Birrell played the loose game effectively, but there was no better forward than Ferguson in the team. King was often prominent for sound footwork and tackling, and Brown and Carrington were always in the tough work. All, however, will need much polish before they meet Otago. The Scoring The first try of the match went to Canterbury when Kelly and Richards did clever reverse passing which took play to the Poverty Bay twenty-five. Kelly’s centre-kick ended in hard scrummaging, and when the ball came out to Vincent he raced through on the blind side and scored a good try. McGregor saved several times for Poverty Bay. After McNally had stopped a hard forward rush with a mark, he potted a goal. At halftime Canterbury led by 6 points to 0. Soon after the start of the second spell, Canterbury was penalised for lifting in the scrum, and with a 40-yards kick from well out, McKinley kicked a great goal. Canterbury missed a fine chance when Argus failed to take a pass from Vincent, and gained relief when Poverty Bay was penalised four times in quick succession. From the last of these, Richards kicked a goal. Splendid work by Bond, Hardie, and Herman gave Argus a try after Herman had kicked over the line. In the final stages of the game Canterbury had all the better of the play. Canterbury won by 12 points (two tries,

a penalty goal, and a goal from a mark) to 3 points (a penalty goal). Following were the teams:— Canterbury.—K. Stuart; W. G. Argus, T. Richards. J. W. Kelly; I. McNally, J. Roach; P. Vincent; G. J. Bond. I. Mitchell A. Couling; D. Herman, B. Chandler, R. Woodham, C. Hardie; R. C. Stuart. Poverty Bay.—R. J. McGregor; J. Barbour, R. McKinley, W. F. Edwards; N. LKane, R. A. Clay; E. S. Lee; J. Ferguson, N. Summersby, W. R. Brown; J. G. Elliott, W. Carrington, I. G. Shaw, R. B. Birrell; G. F. King. Mr D. F. Jcanson was referee.