RUGBY FOOTBALL REPRESENTATIVE MATCH

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26528, 17 September 1951, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL REPRESENTATIVE MATCH

CANTERBURY DRAWS WITH AUCKLAND

KELLY AND HOTOP IN FORM

In hard, fast-playing, rugged forwards, backed up by speedy, straight-running backs. Canterbury met in Auckland at Lancaster Park on Saturday a team different from those it has played this season, and Canterbury was often hard pressed. The game was played in sum-mer-like weather on a ground which, hard and fast, was far removed from the ideal for winter sport. Each side scored 11 points, and Canterbury was possibly lucky to hold Auckland to a draw. Several times in the first spell, the tw'o breakaways, R Stuart (Canterbury) and J McGuigan (Auckland), adopted tactics more suited to the boxing ring than the playing field. Other tempers became frayed, and blow’s were exchanged. But for these incidents, the game was a good exhibition of fast, open football. For the first quarter of an hour or 20 minutes in each spell, Canterbury seemed to be on top, but for the remainder of the time Auckland had the better of the play. In orthodox passing Canterbury seldom looked like scoring, for the Auckland backs played in their correct positions and, if anything, shaded the Canterbury men for speed. The Canterbury backs did not move with precision in some of the easier

games, and it was only when the wing-three-quarters, R. Smith, raced in to first five-eighths that the attack was given thrust. Smith played a part in the only try scored by Canterbury. When from the blind side he raced across field, his opponent, P. Erceg, thought that he was going to make the extra back, and went across to meet him. This left a clear field for the first five-eighths, J. Hotop, who quickly moved to the blind side and went over in the corner. It appeared a simple try, not the first of its kind manoeuvred by Smith, Vincent, and Hotop. The most spectacular player was the Canterbury first five-eighths. Hotop. who appeared a problem every time he had the ball. His strong, elusive runs sometimes had the defence bewildered, and quick-breaking forwards appeared his main obstacle. His line-kicking was quick and precise, and as in previous games his backing-up was a feature. In these bursts he showed anticipation and amazing speed. Outside Hotop, the Canterbury back-line did not function smoothly, and the centre men found it almost Impossible to straighten up the attack with speed and thrust. Hotop revealed in this game the same weakness of cross-ground running that he had shown earlier in the season, and the habit of selling the dummy to his own men. Both P. Kearney and B. McCormick took their passes flat-footed, and had little option but to kick. In this part of the play, McCormick, who had replaced Kearney, did the better, for he found gaps in the field that had the Auckland men in trouble. Vincent, behind the scrum, had his hardest game. When the Auckland forwards broke away with the ball at toe. they were vigorous and tackled hard. In an occasional break ftom the base of the scrum, Vincent made valuable ground and did not overdo the move. A. Elsom, at centre, and W. Langley, wing three-quar-ters. met their strongest opposition in R Brady and W. Vernon, both hard runners and resolute tacklers, and with the attack only half developed, their opportunities were restricted. Pillars of Defence Canterbury’s strongest defence was in Vincent and K. Stuart, full-back. Stuart had a great amount of work to do in the face of hard following forwards, and not once did he fail. He fielded with unerring precision, and though he could not break through oncoming forwards, as he had done against weaker teams, at no time did he lose control of the ball. He scored eight points with two penalty goals and a conversion, bringing his score in representative games to 86 points. In club games he has scored 33 points. With an easier game at full-back for Auckland than Stuart had for Canterbury, J. W. Kelly, former Canterbury player, was the best back on the Auckland side, giving the polished exhibition of a New Zealand representative. Kelly, who has developed physically since going to Auckland, appeared the ideal stamp of Rugby back. When in the South Island he played in different positions, but this year he has concentrated on fullback play, and has scored more than 100 points in club footban, including 12 tries, a remarkable performance for a full-back. In this game he showed himself a good positional player, a strong kick, and the fastest back on the field. His handling was without fault except once, when he raced up to the three-quarters line. Like Stuart, he kicked two penalty goals and converted a try. In P. Erceg, an All Black, and W. H. Vernon, Auckland fielded two brilliant wing three quarters. Vernon showed great speed when he outpaced Langley, and only a miskick prevented a try from being scored. Only 20 years old, Vernon plays five-eighths for his club. Grammar Old Boys. Even more impressive was Erceg. who was matched against R. Smith. Erceg lived up to the high reputation he earned in Australia for his sound tackling, clever footwork, and strong running. A. Gumbley, five-eighths, retired in the first spell and not enough was seen of his Play to form a sound judgment He did little that was wrong. His place was taken by the All Black, H. W. Black who at once brightened up the play and formed a strong link with the half-back, G. Kearney, a fine rush stopper with good hands and a swift pass. Although Black was opposed by Hotop and made few attempts to break through, he gave excellent service to his outside man, D. R. Wightman, and varied his play with wellplaced cross-kicks to his wing threequarters, Erceg, who was unlucky in not scoring at least one try from this move. Wightman and R. Brady at centre, were more solid than brilliant, though each spoilt good chances because of dropped passes. The Auckland backs threw the ball about freely, although their handling was not as sure as that of the Canterbury backs. Contrast in Forward Styles The Canterbury forwards played as a compact scrum, with the exception of the breakaway. The Auckland eight were the more mobile, and some of their backs with the ball at toe brought back memories of Auckland forwards of many years ago. Only in style of play did they teach Canterbury anything. Although Auckland appeared to have the taller forwards honours in the line-out were evenly divided. Of 47 line-outs Auckland won 24 and Canterbury 23, and of 28 scrums 11 were won by each side. The referee, Mr W. J. Brown, awarded nine penalties against Canterbury and seven against Auckland. The nicks were about evenly divided.

Outstanding in the Auckland forwards was B. D. Johnstone, a 6ft lock weighing 16 stone. With J. McGuigan and J. Skeen he was often seen in open passing rushes with the No. 8 forward, R. Walls, who showed surprising speed when he snapped up • stray pass and scored Auckland's only try. H. White was another sound worker.

The Canterbury forwards, although not in control of the game, played as well as they have done in any match this season but they were not able to give their backs much assistance on defence. Again N. Dalzell was the best, with a grand display of hard, rugged football. In lineout or loose ruck Dalzell was always the main force in the Canterbury pack. R. Duff used ad his weight to the best advantage and with Dalzell and B. Stuart shared the honours in the line-out. A. M. Henderson was at his best on the end of the line-out.

It was a proper test for the Canterbury team in a game which demanded a high degree of physical fitness. Following were the teams:

Canterbury.—K. Stuart; R. Smith, A. E. Elsom, W. H. Langley; P. V. Kearney, J. Hotop; P. B. Vincent; A. M. Henderson, B. C. Stuart (captain), G. N. Dalzell, R. H. Duff, F. Hill, P. Eastgate. D. Young, A. Couling. In the second spell B. McCormick replaced P. Kearney, who was injured.

Auckland.—J. W. Kelly; P. Erceg, B. Brady. H. Vernon; R. D. Wightman. A. Gumbley; G Kearney (captain); B. Walls, J. Skeen, R. Johnstone. G. Loft, F. S. McGuigan, B, Bracewell, M. C. Castle. H. White. During the game N. W. Black replaced A. Grumbley, and B. Mackenzie played when M. Castle retired. Scoring Movements After several tussles between side-row forwards McGuigan was ruled off-side, and K. Stuart’s kick from half-way went slightly wide. Twice in succession Canterbury hooked the ball and each time Smith made ground when he raced in from the wing. Hotop gained further ground with a line-kick. Canterbury defended for the first time when K. Stuart had to jump to take a high kick by Wightman. It was a brilliant catch. Canterbury forwards and backs set to work in a passing rush that had Auckland pressed, and Duff raced over the line, only to be called back for taking a forward pass from Smith. Canterbury was having the better of the play, and the Auckland inside backs mishandled in one of their few passing rushes. Hotop raced through the inside backs with a brilliant burst, and Langley was applauded for fine fielding. K. Stuart broke through in a passing rush started by Vincent. Hotop and Kearney, and he had the Auckland full-back, Kelly, in trouble when he centre-kicked. Dalzell and Eastgate car- ? n '.. on!y to b * • ent back by of Kelly’s 40 yaids line-finders. In an Auckland passing rush Wightman cut through the Canterbury backs and was well sto ?P*? by Smith, who with Hotop. Kearney and Hsom, counter-attacked. Kelly just missed with a long shot at goal, and Black replaced Gumbley In the Auckland backs. Auckland attacked, and a good chance was lost when Brady gave Vernon a forward pas*. With Auckland hot on attack a pass by Smith was intercepted by

• Walls, who went over for a good try. 1 Kelly converted. , „ ! When Auckland was penalised K. • Stuart's kick tell short. Walls and Loft > began a rush that was carried on by S. 1 Keen, G. Kearney, and Black. Black ' kicked to Erceg's wing, and a try was narrowly missed. Canterbury almost ! scored when Kelly relaxed after he > thought the ball had gone out. He made 1 a brilliant save. Brady made a good > break, but a bad pass to Erceg was ' dropped. Krom a penalty Kelly scored 1 from 35 yards out. ! At half-time Auckland led by 8 points 1 to 0. , From the kick-off fumbling by an Auckland forward ended in a scrum near the 1 posts. A penalty against Auckland al- ' lowed K. Stuart to kick a goal. Auckland Infringed several times in quick suc- | cession, and from an easy position K. 1 Stuart kicked his second penalty goal. An unsuccessful pot at goal by K. 1 Stuart was charged down, and White ■ seemed on his way for a try when he was well taken by Elsom. When the ball was ’ kicked over the Canterbury line Hotop ; knocked-on. and when Canterbury was penalised Kelly kicked his second penalty. Mishandling by two Auckland backs had the side in trouble, and when a scrum was formed near the side-line Vincent and Hotop worked • the blind side for Hotop to score. With a fine kick K. Stuart made the scores even. P. Kearney retired and his place was taken by B. McCormick, who immediately earned applause for a well-placed crosskick which was taken by Hotop, whose run put Canterbury on attack. Castles, the Auckland hooker, was injured, and was replaced by McKenzie. Vernon made a brilliant run, outpacing Langley, when he took a reverse pass, but when Hotop fielded a weak kick by Black M. Henderson was nearly over for Canterbury. The game ended without further score. CANTERBURY B TEAM TO PLAY ASHBURTON Players to practise for the Canterbury B team to play Ashburton at Ashburton have been announced as follows:—C. Rhodes (Sydenham), J. Alderson (H. 5.0.8. G. Bond (Albion), R. Bowen (University). W. Garlick (Albion), M. Kilworth (Sydenham), J. Steele (University), M. Loversidge (Linwood), R. Carr (Albion), S. Southall (Marist), P. Collins (Marist), M. Dixon (Sydenham), E. Heenan (Marist), C. McAuley (Linwood), B. Simpson (Marist), L. Grant I. Jackson (Technical). J. Houghton (Christchurch), D. Wilson (H. 5.0.8. Players will train on the lighted ground at 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.