NARROW WIN FOR CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25903, 8 September 1949, Page 6

NARROW WIN FOR CANTERBURY

RUGBY FOOTBALL

EACH SIDE SCORES THREE TRIES

MATCH AGAINST SOUTH . CANTERBURY From Gut Own Reporter TIMARU, Sept. 7. Some excellent loose play among the Canterbury forwards did not entirely compensate for their lack of conesive team work in the tight in the representative Rugby football match between Canterbury and South Canterbury, at Fraser Park, Timaru, to-day. Canterbury's 16-13 victory was not altogether a meritorious one. The side did not play up to expectations. Three tries to each side gave an indication of the teams’ merits. Although Canteroury secured far more of the ball in the line-outs, the general standard of football was only on occasions impressive. Handling among the forwards was sometimes good, but holding on too long was more than once the cause of failures to score. South Canteroury were screwing the set scrums in the first half, and although Canterbury were winning most of the scrums, P. B. Vincent, the Canterbury half-back, and the men outside him, were handicapped by getting the ball too late. G. is.itchingham, first five-eighths, had sometimes to make a complete turn before handing on. Vincent settled down later and played a good game, and his elusive style enabled him frequently to gain a lot of ground. K. Stuart, Canterbury fullback, looked a polished player. His kicking was adequate, and His fielding of the ball in the air and on the ground was excellent. P. Scannell, South Canterbury half-back, played magnificently. He sent his backs away m a capable fashion and went on his own with good penetration. The fiveeighths were an even lot, but D. Jones, Canterbury second five-eighths, combined excellently in scoring movements. Kitchingham’s defensive line-kicking was frequently a help to his side. Canterbury Three-quarters Impressive D. Reeves and R. Smith noth looked class three-quarters whenever they got the ball, and in the first spell Smith beat man after man in a succession of runs up the left wing. Reeves resembled the’ former Canterbury All Black, C. J. Oliver, in his style of play and in his ability to clap on pace wnen required. R. Carter did not get the same opportunities on the other wing. Reeves's defence was always robust and decisive, but he sometimes I had his hands full with J. Taylor, the South Canterbury centre. Taylor went off hurt in the second spell. ' R. G. Prattley. South Canterbury fullI back, was competent, and T. Doherty, who later went into centre in place of Taylor, combined well with the replacement, B Robertson, in some fast runs. J. Bryce, N. J. Hobbs, W. R. Swap, and P. Fitzgerald were the most prominent in forward play for South Canterbury. A. Couling, C. Hardie, and G. Bond distinguished themselves in the loose for Canterbury. N Dalzell and B. Chandler were outstanding in the line-outs, which Canterbury won 29-16. Stuart opened the scoring with a good penalty for Canterbury after 17 minutes’ play. From a passing rush to the left wing, Reeves bumped through for Jones to pass on for Smith to score. The kick was disallowed. South Canterbury's first points came after a passing lush. Hobbs passed to W. Grant, who scored in a handy position. Pratltey converted. Canterbury 6, South Canterbury 5. Carter had the ball taken from him on the run by Grant, who nearly scored but had no one to pass to. South Canterbury were pressing at half-time. Canterbury returned early to the attack and after a'short bout of passing Chandler scored. Stuart converted. Canterbury 11. South Canterbury 5 A. R. Moore, South Canterbury second five-eighths, kicked the ball out of Vincent’s hands, collected it from a favourable bounce, and scored close to the posts. The kick missed. Canterbury 11. South Canterbury 3. After a good loose rush in which nearly all the Canterbury forwards took part. Vincent went on his own on the blind side and ran round under the pests to score. Stuart converted. On time. Grant got the ball from a ruck and outpaced several opponents to score. Pratt•ev converted. The final score was: Canterbury 16. South Canterbury 13. The teams were:— Canterburv: K. Stuart; R. Carter, D. Reeves. R. Smith; D. Jones. G. Kitchingham; P. B. Vincent: A. M. Henderson, C. Hardie. N Dalzell. B. Chandler, Z. Dalzell, G. Bond. O. Seiwood, A. Couling. South Canterbury: R. G. Prattley; T. Doherty, J. Taylor, W. Grant; G. W. Pratt, A. R. Moore; T. Scannell; D. O’Reilly. P. Fitzgerald, A. Bennett. J. Brvce, J. McMaster. W. R. Swap. N. J. Hobbs, and I. Pateison. The referee was Mr R. R. Beattie.