RUGBY FOOTBALL RANFURLY SHIELD HELD BY CANTERBURY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27441, 30 August 1954, Page 13

RUGBY FOOTBALL RANFURLY SHIELD HELD BY CANTERBURY

6-All Draw With Waikato EXCITING MATCH ON HARD GROUND hi a game that was full of excitement and incident from ■tart to finish, Canterbury withstood the fourth challenge for the Kanfurly Shield when it played a drawn game, 6-all, with Waikato at Lancaster Park on Saturday. The weather was beautifully fine, and the field, much of which was nearly bare of grass, was hard anc| fast. The weather and the ground were expected to be all in favour of the fast Canterbury backs and forwards, but the Waikato players ahowed that they could handle any kind of going. The score fairly represented the merits of the teams. Nine of the points came from penalty goals, D. B. Clarke kicking two goals for Waikato and Stuart one for Canterbury, the remaining three points being from the only try of the game, scored by the Canterbury captain, P. B. Vincent. The closeness of the scoring and the keenness of the play kept the big crowd in a constant fever of excitement, and all were satisfied with a very hard game between two very fit teams. The tackling was hard and sure, and few moves were allowed to get very far. Features of the play were the excellent handling of the two full-backs, Clarke and Stuart, a sparkling display of quick and accurate passing by* the Waikato half-back, the grand cover defence of'the Waikato backs, and the good all-round play of A. W. C. McPherson and A. E. Efeom for Canterbury.

The forwards on both sides worked from start to finish, but neither team v, a monopoly of the play in any deoartment Mostly because of the efteetivetackling and the inability of individual players to break through, there were few orthodox passing rushes, alHwvrsh in these Waikato showed the neater initiative. From the start of Sgr tte Canterbury five-eighths kicked to gaps in the field in the hope that the rast three-quarters would bustle the opposing backs into mishandling. Too often, however, these kicks failed to find the gaps, and when the ball reached Clarke he gained long nretdies of ground with delightfully accurate line kicks. Kicking with either foot Clarke showed himself to be the longest and most accurate lineinder seen on Lancaster Park this seaam. ad apparently he is just as efficient at place-kicking. Early in the tame he essayed a shot from six or man yards outside half-way. Sections of the crowd voiced their amazement it >ueh an attempt, but it seemed to show just what his team-mates knew him to be capable of doing. Canterbury may have been lucky that Waikato was not awarded penalties within easier range, for Clarke, who moved to centre-three-quarters in the second spell, has proved himself a winner of many matches. His second goal on Saturday brought his total of points in all games this season to 202. At full-back for Canterbury Stuart did not have one of his best days. His ground fielding and taking of high rants were almost without blemish, but some of his kicks to touch were poorly directed and failed to find the lie. These did not get his side into tar serious trouble, and his general defence atoned for any weaknesses in his kicking. Although his kicks at goal were good, all except one failed to find the posts, and his only penalty goal brought his total to 28 points out of «sored by his side in four shield issues this season. a. Good Half-back tedi/Kall-back. Vincent for CanterReid for Waikato, had innumerable chances with a good supply's! the ball, and all honours for fist and accurate passing must go. to Had a light-weight of less than nine and a half stone, who is easily the best half-back to play in a Ranfurly Shield game this season. It was not his fault that his outside backs did not make more use of their chances, for the ball was usually taken on the run and sent awn with one movement typical of file wwrfc of all first-class half-backs. SeMHt did Reid kick, for his nimble fiugaswhisked the ball on to men tn a better position than he was. He was not afraid to go down on the ball in thateeeof the fiercest forward rushes, ■nd wx. enwiatimAe lindpr the

towards. Vincent. on the other hand, realised the bmefit of keeping on his feet and h a position to serve his backs to the tat advantage. When the forward* broke away in the only try-scorinj aonment of the day he joined in tc •ahh off the movement. To balance thia however, he gave Waikato three points when he obstructed the Waikato toward, D. Grant, within handy range •t the goal posts. Vincent was penalised for the same offence iq the toefttand shield game. Of the five-eighths, D. D. Wilson and WWiueun matched the Waikato pair, KA. Cowley and J. R. Bullcik, for wood and handling, although the latter wre getting the better service and Wilson was taking balls flat-footed and opportunities to break-through

he was high and generally very W. McPherson struck his true form, M it would have been all to the adWage of his side had he been.given ■ore chances to make his favourite faight dash for the * line- As it was, W straightened up the attack, and predated several opportunities for Elsom « beat his opposition and show the ■Peed for which he is noted. McPhertackling was hard,zlow, and cerElsom was perhaps the most MBiant of the Canterbury backs, but ■Kherson was the soundest for allttxmd play. showed his accustomed bril■toce and made the most of his limited Jeoces. He always had the edge on «•R. Brunskill, the Waikato centre. _Jne wing three-quarters were Rjved of opportunities in attack, but j? two sharp dashes early in the game g- J- Carrington (Waikato) showed ™*lf a high-grade player. Quick on feet and with an elusive side-step, runs with his full weight, Wilson found when he attempted a “JEh tackle in the first few minutes of ln style and build, Carrington m much the type of Percy Storey, AU Black wing three-quarters of the ®*rly 1920’5. He played in the last All Black trials, and apparently would ™ve done credit to the side.

H. Smith, as usual, was always look- 1 ?? for work, and was prominent in < to score Canterbury’s try, al- ’ g°ugh he was given little latitude by 1 “’•opposing wing, J. A. Roberts. M. j •• Ducon was forced to keep a very j watch on Carrington and was i y t prominent than usual. He nargyly missed a try after a smart dash oown the side-line. _ The Forwards & the forwards S. F. Hill' did the 1 Jwk of three men for Canterbury, and JjJ not let up from start to finish. He , 2! sOme magnificent work in the linefa which he met the sternest opPJJhon of the season, and his tack“W of opposing inside backs helped g restrict their opportunities. K. F. {■brtes was Hill’s most loyal supporter ® scrums and line-outs, and as No. • Boberts gave a clever display of “ttility work. He has the speed and handling of any back, and would * an asset to any team in any posiDavies was never far away from in line-outs, and with a young in E. Bullmore was an worker in a very capable pack. **Bed on to fill the position of hi« gob-mate, E. Hern, who was injured, toillmore justified the confidence Pbjced in him by the selectors. The Waikato forwards lost nothing ® comparison with the Canterbury men, and in B. Manners had a line-|

out expert who jumped high for the ball and often tools it cleanly. His was one of the cleanest exhibitions of line-out play seen in Christchurch for some time. B. Grant, who with Manners locked the scrum, and D. J. McKenzie, on the side of the scrum, provided solid backing in the line-outs. H. C. McLaren, No. 8 forward in the scrums, proved a good leader of a young, virile pack. E. H. Catley did not enjoy the success expected against Canterbury’s D. Young, although he played a serviceable game. The former Southland representative, L. Connolly, was always where the work was toughest Following were the teams:— Canterbury Full-back.—K. C. -Stuart (list). Three-quarters.—M. J. Dixon (12st 51b), A. E. Elsom (12st 31b), R. M. Smith (12st 121 b). Five-eighths.—A. W. C. McPherson (13st 41b), D. D. Wilson (12st 21b). Half-back.—P. B. Vincent (12st 81b). Forwards.—N. Roberts (13st); K. F. Meates (15st 101 b), J. H. Mauger (14st), L. Davies (14st 21b). S. F. Hiu <lsst); J. D. Stewart (13st 111 b), D. Young (13st 121 b), E. Bullmore <l3st 71b). Waikato Full-back.—D. B. Clarke (14st 71b). Three-quarters.—G. J. Carrington (13st), G. R. Brunskill (12st), J. R. Roberts (12st 131 b). Five-eighths.—B. A. Cowley (12st), J. R. Bulllck (lOst 131 b). Half-back.—A. R. Reid (Sst 61b). Forwards.—H. C. McLaren (13st 131 b); R. E. Smith (13st), E. Grant (list 91b); E. Manners (14st 101 b), D. J. McKenzie (14st 41b); L. Connelly (15st 41b), E. H. Catley (14st 101 b), J. T. Graham (14st 11b).

The Play Waikato kicked off from the north end, and a mighty kick by Clarke went over the Canterbury line, where Stuart forced. Play had not been in progress two minutes before a long kick by Wilson made Waikato force. Canterbury gained an early success in the scrum when Vincent whipped a.pass to Wilson, who kicked high and Idng, with Elsom in hot pursuit of the ball. Clarke, however, returned play with a beautiful line kick, and Stuart was called on for sound defence when Carrington neatly side-stepped the Canterbury backs and was left without support. Carrington was in the picture again when he brushed off a high tackle by Wilson, and in a passing rush by the Waikato backs Cowley potted at goal, the ball going just outside the posts. Sound tackling by McPherson stopped further Waikato passing, and Stuart fielded a long kick by Clarke to return it With interest. Waikato waa penalised for offside play by Smith, but Stuart's shot at goal from 40 yards went wide of the posts. Both full-backs put in good line-kicks, and Clarke showed ambition in attempting a Srom well past half-way, the call short and being well returned by Manners, Grant, Davies, and Hiu were doing sound work in the line-out, and after Bullock had shown up on good cover defence a Canterbury passing rush ended when Elsom broke and was well taken by Clarke. Stuart had another shot at goal from wide out on the twenty-five for an infringement in

the Hne-out,. but the ball went just outside. * The next excitement was cause 1 when Connolly, McKenzie, and Manners headed a Waikato forward rush that tested the Canterbury defence. Wilson defended soundly with clever line-kicks, but he misted Brunskill when he attempted ■ high tackle. Alter Stuart had missed a pass from Vincent which might have brought results Cowley kicked with poor Judgment into the arms of Stuart, who gained ground.* Elsom tackled Brunskill just as he received the ball, and Clarke was brilliant in evading Canterbury .forwards before making a long line-kick. Stuart failed to find theline after a long kick by Clarke, and Waikato attacked with vigour. Meates broke away, but his Clarke had a shot at goal from wide out on hall-way that went wide, but he had better luck with a second attempt from a wide angle on the twenty-five yards line, to give Waikato a 3-0 lead at half-time. The Second Spell Soon after the start of the second spell the Canterbury backs swung into action and McPherson raced P*at to settle play on the Waikato line, Reid relieving with soma cleverkicks, snd Bullick improving the position with a sharp run and kick which took play the other end of the field. Clarke misjudged a high punt, and when Waikato infringed in a Une-out Stuart equalised the score with a goal from wide out on the twenty-five yard line. Waikato 3. Can-

te Clar^e 3 fumbled an easy bouncing ball, and a further kick by Stuart went just outside the posts. Passing started by Vincent went to Wilson, and Elsom to break through and send Dixon nn the wav to the goal-line. He just failed to rwehit..nd Cowley relieved with a speculator. Waikato backs threw the ball about freely, and a wild pass spoiled a movement. Excitement grew when Meates shot off the .side of the j. A. Roberts, and as

scrum to tackle J. A. Roberts, ano as the ball came loose R. Smith set the Canterbury forwards on the move. Mauger, Roberts, and Stewart handled in turn, the last-named Passing to Vincent who had ranged UP on the outside, and yin cent’semed. Stuart failed with the kick. McltoiSle; and McLaren fa th 7 farSSt W«i£to atta<*«d with zest, and when Vincent was penalised in a good port tip", Clarke kicked a goal. Canterbury Elsom for holding met with a poor reception from the crowd, a Section jeered Clarke « he took his kick at goal, missed. With Wai kato hot on attack Roberts saved witn a mark artH a long penalty kick by wXto C Ti"try* r^d* n . d 'An^b’ < gS).‘w’aiSto’e Tfadili (Wellington) was referee. ’