CANTERBURY B WINS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27055, 2 June 1953, Page 11

CANTERBURY B WINS

3-POINT MARGIN OVER MID-CANTERBURY The annual match between a Canterbury B team and the Mid-Canterbury representatives, played at Lancaster Park yesterday, provided a ragged display of football in which Canterbury B, without scoring a try, won by 9 points to 6. The game was open enough and fast almost all the time, blit the many bungled passes and cross-ground running of some of the Canterbury backs took away much of the lustre of what should have been a bright game. The Canterbury B forwards were an ill-assorted lot and had none of the fire, sure handling and determined tackling that should mark the efforts of men aspiring to higher honours. A young team, Mid-Canterbury showed commendable enterprise in opening up the game and throwing the ball about in a manner that called for all the defence of the Canterbury backs. A surprise packet for Canterbury appeared in the big half-back R. Scott, of Mid-Canterbury, one of the best backs on the ground. He was solid in his work from start to finish and proved once again that a half-back is not necessarily the light-weight of the team. He had a wealth of the ball from set serums and line-outs, and always got it away to his five-eighths oi quick-breaking forwards. His kicking was good, and when he elected to run with the ball he always had men in support. Scott is a half-back of whom more will be heard.

The Mid-Canterbury team was unlucky in losing the services of its full-back, T. Gallagher, in the first spell. He retired with an injury to his back. The Canterbury B team never appeared to be a happy combination for the forwards were consistently beaten for the ball, and the backs did not move with the rhythm expected of men who wear the Canterbury jersey. 1 Weakness in Canterbury Backs With his forwards outplayed and with fast breakaways to worry him, the Canterbury half-back, P. Creedy, had much against him and he gave a grand display under the conditions. His passes were invariably well-directed, but apparently some were too fast for the inexperienced five-eighths, Cadigan, who made some mistakes in handling. The weakness in the Canterbury back line, however. was nearer the centre of the field, where Brown and Heenan failed to combine as good footballers should and did not show the penetration that would have given their wing-threequarters a chance. The two wings, Davidson and Bowick, were compelled to make their own play and, while both had the crowd thrilled at times with sharp bursts, the little ground they had to work in gave the Mid-Canterbury defence of fastbreaking forwards time to stop the advance.

Although Canterbury failed to break through in passing rushes, many of which broke down, full credit is given the MidCanterbury backs for full-blooded tackling. Canterbury backs found that the Mid-Canterbury men were just as ’fast as they were and more keen on their work. Lynch and Moodie. when playing five-eighths, were superior to the pair opposing them, and later Lynch, at fullback, made no mistakes. S. Goodwin was always the complete centre threequarters, and he was never seriously troubled in the face of opposing passing rushes which he helped to drive across field. One of the most promising of the young Mid-Canterbury team was the right wing-threequarters, A. Nettleton, who was sure in his handling and displayed a good turn of speed. The good handling and passing with men alwavs Ji ake t P e bail - were features of the Mid-Canterbury display. With experience against good teams Mid-Canter-tu™,on football with better finish than it had yesterday For fast-breaking forwards it would ™ rd to find two Quicker men than W. Maw and I. Gallagher. Bath were effective in their tackling and stopped many moves before they had developed into scoring prospects. Dennis and Tonks did more than their share in the lineouts and R. Dawson, in front of a wellpacked scrum, was the better hooker on the day.

There was not much combination in the Canterbury forwards, the best of whom were Cochrane, Rathgen, Kilworth, and Stewart. All were consistent toilers, however, and with experience together would improve. The Scoring After a short bout of passing by the Mid-Canterbury backs, play developed amongst the forwards and from a scramble on the line Tonks scored the first points for Mid-Canterbury. The score was evened when Mayo kicked a goal for Canterbury after an opposing back had been penalised. At half-time each side had scored three points. Mayo put Canterbury in front with his second penalty goal soon after the start of the second half, and later in the spell a fumbled pass was picked up by Brown who potted a very neat goal. In the last minute of the game a scrum on the Canterbury line broke up and Maw scored fo» Mid-Canterbury. Following were the teams:— Canterbury. B.—Full-back, D. Mayo: three-quarters, K. Davidson, E. Brown, R. Bowick; five-eighths, J. Cadigan, E. Heenan; half-back, P. Creedy; forwards, M. Macdonald, J. D. Stewart, J. Steel, M. Kilworth, A. Care, R. G. Cochrane, I. Rathgen, L. Halligan. Mid-Canterbury.—Full-brck, T. Gallagher; three-quarters, A. Nettletoix S. Goodwin, R. Patterson; five-eightlfe, O. Lynch, P. Moodie; half-back, B. Scott; forwards, R. Ashworth, R. Dawson, K. Murphy, W. Maw, M. Dennis, R. Tonks, I. Gallagher, W. Tonks. Canterbury B won by 9 points (two penalty goals and a potted goal) to 6 points (two tries). Mr S. Whtteford was referee. CURTAIN-RAISER In a curtain-raiser to the representative game Canterbury Teachers’ College beat Wellington Teachers’ College by 22 points to 14. For Canterbury tries were scored by Lewis, Meyell (2), Taylor, and Duncan. Taylor kicked ’ a penalty goal and Skinner converted two tries. For Wellington Kara, Kelly, and Parekowhai scored tries, Cameron kicked a penalty goal and converted a try. Mr B. J. Drake was referee. NORTH CANTERBURY MATCHES

In the first match for the Delargey Shield played at Culverden yesterday, Hurunui, the holder, was beaten by North Canterbury, 11-3. In a curtainraiser match, the North Canterbury under 20 grade beat Hurunui, 9-8.

RUGBY LEAGUE

NORTH SOUTH MATCH

BAKALICH TO REPLACE EASTLAKE (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. June 1. C. A. Eastlake will not be available for the North Island Rugby League team which will meet the South Island tomorrow at Carlaw Park. Eastlake injured a leg in a club game, and it was decided to take no risk until he had fully recovered. V. Bakalich will replace him. T. O. Baxter has been appointed captain of the North Island team. The South Island players will arrive by air at noon tomorrow.

SCHOOLBOYS’ DRAW FOR

SATURDAY Bst 51b Grade.—Dal! v. Mar, Sylvan st., 11 a.m. (D. Southerwood); Lin v. Horn, Horn Dorn, 11 am. (J. Cook); Pap v. Wool, Wool Pk, 10 a.m. (L. Knight); Syd, a bye. Ist 31b Grade.—Dall v. Horn. Horn Dom. 10 a.m. (C. Courtenay); Syd v. Pap, Brad Pk, 11 a.m. (W. Forbes); Chch v. Mar, Jer st., 11 a.m. (V. Warr); Rice, a bye. 6st 31b Grade—Dall v. Chch, Syd Pk, 11 am. (L. Truman); Rice v. Pap. Rice Dom, 10.30 a.m. (V. Fanning); Syd v. Horn, Brad Pk, 10 a.m. (B. Finlay); Add, a bye. sst 71b Grade.—Wool v. Rice, Ath Pk, 10 a.m. (H. Williams); Dall v. Chch, Avon Pk, 10 a.m. (W. Smith); Add v. Lin, Jer st., 10 a.m. (S. Dennis); Syd v. Pap, Syd Pk, 10 a.m. (R. Allen). sst Grade.—Show Grounds, 10 a.m.: Bantams: Add v. Syd; Chch v. Horn. Midgets: Dall v. Pap; Chch B v. Wool; Mar v Chch A. Fly-weights: Add v. Horn; Mar v. Chch; Syd v. Dall. Referees: K. Diggs. A. Stuart, R. Booth, B. Finlay. sst Grade.—Fly-weight seven-a-side: Syd v. Mar, Show Grd, 3 p.m. (A. Stuart). —Advt. Farm Sold at £95 an Acre.—A price of £95 an acre was paid at auction for a 117-acre farm property at Willowbridge, sold on behalf of Mr William Smith. The bidding was spirited, and started at £6O. Half an hour later at the same auction a lease-in-perpetuity property of 143 acres in the Waikakahi area was sold on behalf of Mr J. T. Flynn for £7000. (F.0.0.R.)