NOTES ON THE PLAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 58, 6 September 1909, Page 3

NOTES ON THE PLAY.

[BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL TO THH POST.] CHRISTCHURCH, 4th September. Lancaster Park has usually been an unlucky ground for Wellington teams, but this afternoon the visitors broke the spell, and registered a win which they unquestionably deserved. The conditions were all in favour of a fast game, the ground being in good order. It was generally recognised that Canterbury's chances depended on the ability of their forwards to hold the Wellington pack, and so enable their backs to show their skill. This the Canterbury vanguard failed to do, and, taking a general survey of the game,,they were badly outplayed by their opponents, who showed much more Hash and skill. Once the ellington team settled down it was plainly seen that their forwards would be able to control the game, and this they did to such effect that the Canterbury backa were compelled- to act on the defensive for the greater portion of the time, and when they did get a chance of attack they were hustled by the dashing following up of the Wellington forwards to such an extent that iheir passing became very ragged, and ihe ball very rarely reached the wing three-quarters. With two such experienced and resourceful backs as Roberts and Mitchinson to lead them, the Wellington rearguard put in. Borne very effective •work in attack, though a great deal of credit is due to Green (the Petone half-back), who played a very clever game behind the scrum. M'Leod, who partnered Roberts at five-eighths, was in no way behind his more renowned colleague, and one opening that he made was particularly attractive. The wings, Evenson and Walsh, did all that they were asked to do, though the latter's over-eagerness in the second half lost him at least one good chanca of scoring. Cvnningham. the Wellington .full-back, was evidently suffering from nerovusness. and this affected his play to a certain extent. "Jbe majority of opinions as to the best man in the forward division would unhesitatingly declare in favour of Rangi Wilson, who seemed to be never-tiring. Bruce and Tannahill also played well, as did Avery, though there was a tendency to too much off-side work. ! The Canterbury team was certainly disappointing to its supporters. With the forwards beaten, the backs got practically no chances at all. Once the Wellington players found their feet this was well illustrated by the fact that the ball only reached Fryer about three times during the whole game. Fuller was not at his best, and Burns had to devote most of his attention to defensive work. The forwards call for no mention, as, generally speaking, they were not up to representative form Otago is credited with having a particularly good forward team, but on today's form Wellington should win again T»ext Saturday.