THE BRITISH TEAM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 224, 15 June 1908, Page 4

THE BRITISH TEAM.

AGAIN DEFEATED. - ' A LUCKY WIN FOR.CANTERBURY. VISITING BACKS SHAPE .POORLY. \ .ter 'rsLSoniPa.—rit?!Sß absocii.TlOß.l ' Christohurch, June 13. The Canterbury team had a decidedly lucky victory over the Anglo-Welsh team tit Lancaster Park to-day in defeating them'by 13 to 8. The . weather was all that could bo desired, i'and about 16,000"persons assembled, to witness the match. The ground was in excellent order, and tho conditions generally were in favour of a ' very fast and open game. Both teams wero out to win, and consequently play was vory fast, the accurate passing; of ..tho 'British v, ' ' backs causing the local .team consido'rablo trouble and making tho gamo interesting throughout. The Canterbury forwards wero more than' evenly matched,, and during tho first spell the visitors, with ono or two exceptions// secured possession ;in the scmni Bv;ry time. Canterbury, howc.ver, were more successful in the second half, and Burns did not forget to mako the best possible uso of it. Canterbury backs did not play up to ex-, pectations, though they put up a vory good performance. Somo of thorn wero rather weak .on,attack,at-times,'and consequently, good chances ! were lost. The visitors. also lost, exceptionally . good i ; chances, and in the last stages'of tho second | ' spell they missed a golden opportunity which | in all probability would have equalised Can- .*'■ • terbury's' score. Archor instituted a drib- .. bling rush and took tho' ball up to the Cani torbury goal posts,-where he allowed Dibble and Ritson to. take possession. - One of these" kicked behind tho posts, and both followed ,after it. They were hesitating what ■to do when Fullor, who had followed up fast, darted in between of them and forced. • t The following.wen! the respective, teams:— CANTERBURY. v J '•• V Full-back:. A.;E. DoelL/ ■ Three-quarters: F. C. Fryer,.R. G. Deans • (captain), W. B. Fullor. Five-eighths :. G. D. Gray. , a.nd E., B. M'Donald. ......... .... Half-back: P. Burns. Forwards: J. Mahoney. T. Bond, W. Menkes, J. Baker, 8., Hoplcins,, C. Evans, T. Bain, D. M'Phail (wing);-- - :• •" > BRITAIN. '...- : ; Full-back.; J. C. Dyke (captain). Three-quarters: F. Chapman, P. F. Al'Evedy, J. Ponty Jones, J. L." Williams. Half-backs: W. Morgan, J. Tuan Jones. Forwards: R. Dibble, E. Morgan, T. Smith, P. Down.'H. Archer, L. S. Thomas, J. A..S. Ritson, R. A. Gibbs (wing).

Tho Britishers won tho toss, and Bain kicked off for Canterbury, who lia'd- the sun in their faces.' Gibbs marked and returned . tho ball-down the field. ' Canterbury forwards, however, adopted loose play, and the game then returned to the visitors' tweniy- , five, whore from a. scrum the oval camo out I to Burns, who, assisted by Fuller, mado an eflorl; to. get over, 1 but lost the ball, and Ponty Jones touched down. Morgan obtained the ball from; a scrum which ensued from the kick out and transferrd-to Tuan Jones, who found tlio lino well down tho field. _ The British forwards broke away from 4 the lino •iout; and Gibbs rushed Doell, who e» was about' to kick, and secured tlio ball. Ho passed to-Bibble, but tho latter was tackled and pushed out in touch-in-goal. Britain continued to attack, but' Gray, by 'intercepting a pass, looked dangerous. Tuan Jones came to the rescue ana saved in fine style. From an .exchange.,of kicks. Dyke failed to take the ball through it bouncing ■ awkwardly, and Canterbury looked as though they wero certain "'to'.score. hut Bain was off-side and a penalty brought relief.The. British forwards now had the tipper hand in the scnjms, which allowed Morgan to give 'Tuan Jones, Ponty Jones, and Williams a chance at attack, which they did in good style.. Fryer,•■-Lowerer;- effectually' settled the last-namod player when he was making a dangerous run by sprinting across to the opposite'-wing. M'Evedy- -was the means of stopping, tho Canterbury team a little latfer, 1 but they returned to the at- ... tack, and Mahoney, with Gray supporting him, boat Dyke .badly." Tho ball was taken over the goal-line, but Gibbs, by a good sprint, saved the, situation. From a scrum near the line Burns sent tho ball out to Gray, and from the latter it was transferred to Fuller, who dashed over near tho corner. Ho took the kick himself, but tho ball wont across the field. Canterbury ... ... ... 3 Britain ... ... 0

The British forwards save their backs somo chancos after the kick-out, but faulty hand- 9 ling of tho ball spoilt them.- ■ Ponty Jones 1 had a kick, but it was-stopped by Canter- l , bury forwards, who immediately began to attack vigorously. Fryer secured possession c at this period, but be ran into the thick j of the fight arid was tackled. A free-kick to the visitors gave slight relief, but owing ' to M'Phail's fast following, up Dyke had to 1 force. A kick by Ponty Jones and-fast , following up compelled Canterbury to, force Play then centred, and Morgan secure'd the ' oval and sent it out to .M|E\'edy, who, after ; making all tho running, passed to Ponty 1 Jones, and ho scored. Gibbs's kick went ' wide. •.'. ' ; • | Canterbury ... ... 3 Britain ... 3 . A-fine rush by the home forwards was 1 stopped by Polity Jones, and then Gibbs gave i a lino display of dribbling. Gray mai-Ked,' stopping a British forward rush, and shortly afterwards Chapman started the home forwards and put his side on ther offensive, an attack which was ended by Ponty Jones kicking to touch. After M'iSvedy had gain-, ed some ground, Fryer got possession, and put in a toe run, but stumbled when looking dangerous, and Ponty Jones.kicking to Doell, tho latter sent the ball, into touch. Halftime was then; cajled. Canterbury 5 were penalised in the loose , work which followed the kick-out-, through • • M'Phail being off-side, and a little later Burns started a passing rush, but Deans was tackled. Gray later transferred the ball to; Fryer,'who by a long kick sent it over the joal line, and a force resulted.. Chapman and Morgan were, instrumental ,iii putting Canterbury on the defensive a little later, the latter" almost getting over. Canterbury forwards, by loose work, brought relief, but a mark by Morgan stopped them 'from placing-the visitors on the defensive. Burns kicked tlio ball into tho centre a little later, and, through M'Evedy making a slip, M'Phail secured the ball and placed it close, to the goal posts.' Fuller added the major '" points. Canterbury ... ... 8 Britain 3 Doans marked Gibbs' kick-out, and found touch at half-way. M'Phail was hero conspicuous.in a-rash 1 which took pliiy into tho visitors;- -twepty-livfl. ..-'Tlje' threatened, danger was removed by a fueo kick to tho Britishers. Canterbury forwards soon came back, und. Fuller essayed a goal from a penalty for offside. Tlio "attempt was fruitless, and, Bain marking tho kick-out, Deans gained a lot of ground with a high punt. An exchange of kicking among tho backs followed, and after Fuller had taken a mark, W. Morgan was 1 temporarily, laid out in stopping a rush. A well-directed kick' by Fuller forced tho Britishers. Burns, obtaining possession, passed to Gray, who sent on <to Fuller. Tho latter made a good try to get through, but ofisido play gavo tho visitors another free . kick. Canterbury forwards ca'mo again with another fine.'rush, which Dyke stopped by marking. The local men soon returned to tho attack, and in a loose scramble Bain got over, Fuller again kicking a goal! , . Canterbury ..;... ;<... 13 Britain . ... ;3 'On the bail being set in lhotion, some fino ' passing by the "visitors-took play into-the lionio twenty-five, Evans;. Bain, and M'Phail being mainly Responsible for taking tho ball back again. Fuller put in a line run, and was well'stopped by, Williams., Fino footwork by E.-Morgan relieved'his sido, and .hen M'Phail was largely responsible for the eather going back to tlio 'British twenty-live.

Tiiari Jones, .by. running. and, kicking,... turned, Gray marking. Chapman directly afterwards gained applause by a fino dodgy run whilo in Canterbury territory. Tlio same -player, a littlo ( Inter was well stoppod by Doans - wlien ' lo'oljihg very dangerous. Aftor»:Some lo'oso."play; ini.tho centro of tho ground Archer broke n}vny, and, nfter sonio splendid footwork"' scored a fine try, which was converted .by Gibbs.-, Canterbury, ... '13 Britain — 8 Directly after the kick-out, misfieldiug by. Deans let the British backs ill again. Polity " Jones'• kicked"' aoross'"to. Chapman, who instituted au.attack;.,A loose rush liv tlio visit-, ing forwards, in Tvhicir'ATchcr, Dibble, and Ritson took most part, took tlio ball over tho line. Ritson and Dibble both hesitated to touch down, and Fullor, rushing up, forced, .1 cortain score being .thus missed by tho Britishers. Two or threojong kicks followed between tlio'backs, ;ahd tlio whistlo sounded, tho scores being:—Canterbury, 13; Britain, 8. Mr. F. Laws, of "Wellington, was rcforeo. WHY CANTERBURY WON. DYKE'S WEAKNESS "WAS A BIG factor: ; . (by telegraph.—special cottrtEsros dent.") Christohurch, June 13. ■ Tho-colours-ofßritain onco again fell, this tiino at the' h.ii\d's"bf Canterbury oil Lancaster Park. The local team was represented by-a'''stroirg,tjattackii)g;-back division, but only "a reasonably powerful forwartj team. Tho Britishors wero represented by a splendid forward paek.Mt on the run of to-days play; tlio brilliant''British .backs did not show up-to such advantageous in tho. matches against Southland and South Canterbury. Tho local team took tho field favourites, and they",justified confidence by securing a win in a strangely even game. Tho first naif saw Britain clearly on top, the British backs distinctly were lacking in crisp attacking„movemcnt. Truth to_ tell, the Briglimpses of that pace, • lifo, and movement which they have shown in previous, matches. Having seen tho British backs goinu; in swift passing rushes, bursting througn the defence Into through a. paper hoop, your representative was painfully? disappointed at to-day's. exhibition, -which was--tho. worst display given by tho British 'rearguard on the present tour. The British forwards played magnificently, showing superb footwork. and_ play, frequontly dribbling tho ball right up to the enemy's iine, where only tho sterling defenco by Canterbury -prevented certain Bcores. While tho British forwards wero playing so superbly, overy man doing tho best for his sicfoj the British centre, of tho three-quarter-lino broke down, badly. This was owmg to faulty fielding consequent to some extent on the sun being in their eyes. On raro occasions only did tho British backsget on effective passing rushes. Tho machinery clogged badly in tlio middle and broke down .at tho psychological* moment , when scores weie imminent.. , . .

DESPERATE ATTACK AND' DEFENCE. ' :In .the first half the"' Canterbury forwards were failing to. hold.the desperate British pad;, whoso-"backs - - wcrovcrumbling in attack. In the sccond- spell the positipn was obviously reversed. Tor thirty minutes_ in tho second spell Canterbury was" giving Britain another tasto of colonial football. Ponty Jones and Williams, of "Wales,, and tho midget Welsh half, Morgan, were fighting. like tigers, to keep the enemy out. It r/as a hot time, with play right down on tho British line. It was good to see the desperate attack and the equally desperato defence. No parlour-'game this; no man standing, and eveiy.. man being up-ended with delightful omphasis.' The British defenders did not on any occasion stop to beg pardon, Britishers and New. Zealauders going down together. It was a refreshingly interesting game throughout to its final termina-tion,-and-was not won until absolute-call of ' How did Canterbury-win? Mainly through the failure of the British full-back,who failed dismally in attack and defence, and was tho weak line of the defensivo formation, which tho Canterbury backs played to and found wanting. Again, Canterbury won mainly by, the .agency; .of'o.their-bocks, who 'for thirty" minutes.-'in "tho second spell were always dangerous, and never gave Britain timo to think, keeping tho flying British 7 vSngii'Sfd - pcnTietl" up like sheej) in their own line. It was on theso occasions that Ponty Jones and again J. L. Williams, tho Welsh International, were doing such superb defensive work iii defence of their own line. - '- : -. " " _j; •_

HOW A SC.ORE yAS MISSED. -. .. At the: business end of this fine strugglo q for Rugby supremacy"'Britain cauio with a j, late run, and buried tho enemy in tho rush, a sweeping over the Canterbury line with the ball.at their toe, .thrco British forwards to one' Canterbury defender. Ritson, Dibble, > and Morgan wore in tho rush, and the ball 0 lay within, reach; of Ritson's hand. He had s only to touch down to score a try, but, thinkin" he was off-side, he held back. The move* y mont.was fatal/fas Canterbury slipped in and j forped, saving;tho game. Britain failed, be- t causo they .laoked the crisp and swift passing ( movement -of' tho backs, because their full* j back was lamentably off colour and crumbled \ badly, letting Canterbury in on at least two ] occasions. '• ~ « •It is conceded on all: sides that had Jackett 1 boon playing full-back,'. ; Britaiu would ■ un- \ doubtedly bavo won. relied on , tho system' of, attack-with tho high punt ( down the paddock'. -While his.rival, Doell, , of Canterbury,' was nursiug his forwards with < fine line kicks, Dyke, tho British full-back, was letting Canterbury ■■ pierce the defence without effort. ' ' '. Tho British three-quarter, line played well as individuals, but without combination. One feature of the British back play was their t solid and' deadly tackling, and no one stood out better than Ponty Jones and J. L. Williams, who were in tho thick of a hot game throughout. Ponty Jones often came to Dyke's , rescue When that player was in trouble. Tuan Jones at outside and Morgan at .half played, well on defence and attack, and it- was not their, fault if tho centres failed to tako passes. Of a fine lot of forwards, Dibble, Ritson, Morgan, Smith, and Archer were very conspicuous. On tho Canterbury sido Doell at full-back playod splcn'didly,' while Fryer, Deans, and Fuller were always dangerous in tho three-quarter lino. Buriis behind tho scrum and Gray at fiveeighths ~ playcdVweir iu passing movements. ■ Tho Canterbury ; forwards • wero; weak, and j were not too successful in securing tho ball. Of ; an-ordinaryWtj "Bain, and Mahoney'wero tlio pick." '' *-** "" Mr. Laws, oT Wellington, was only fairly successful -as referee, and somo of his- decisions .were -past understanding to tho Britishers. The gate is estimated at £1000. : , THE REFEREE. ; ' OBJECTS 5 TO • VISITORS' REMARKS. ' . (BY IELEfIriAPn. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) The gate totalled nearly £1000, the attcndaiico being -14,800. In conversation with a reporter after tho game, tlio refereo expressed tho opinion that on the play-tho best team won, and tho points scored were about tho indication of tlio game. He stated" that ho was far from satisfied with .tho manner in which many of his decisions wore accepted by tlio .British team during tlio game, and the statements , made by several of tho players after tlio game in tho dressing-room -in his presence were in bad taste and should not have been mado by. .the defeated sido. Mr. Laws is of ' opinion that the ball was placed in tho scrum- • mage fairly by tlio British team on> most : occasions, and that tlio manner in which ' it. -.is scrowed ,by tho front rankers r is totally foreign to the manner 5 adopted by Now ' Zealand players. It • is thrown in quickly, and, bumping against r tho foot or leg of tho Britisher ill front, is • sliot out again either on tlio side of tho > pack or straight behuid. Tho British team r throughout tho game took exception to most of the rulings, especially when their side wero penalised, and Mr. Laws stated that his \vork was far from pleasant. Ho further stated that he had no occasion to take exception to any of tho Canterbury players, and tliev accepted his rulings in the manner I? that New Zealand players always do. .