FORTY-SEVEN MATCHES

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 25, 29 July 1933, Page 6

FORTY-SEVEN MATCHES

CANTERBURY AND WELLINGTON .

Matches between Canterbury and Wellington date back to 1870, and- all told thero have been forty-seven, of which Wellington have won twentynine and Canterbury seventeen, the other having been drawn. In,the early days, the scoring was ' different from that now in vogue, one particular ditfcrence being that force-downs wcro taken info the reckoning. According to a record drawn tip by Mr. G. i\ W. Jackson, the first game between the .unions was played at Lower Hutt in 1876, Canterbury scoring a decisive victory by 18* points to a. In thoso days force-downs counted halt 1 point, and the' Canterbury backs took full advantage of their kicking powers, tho score comprising two tries and twenty-five' force-downs. Two of Canterbury's finest exponents of the art of kicking word the Potts brothers from Akaroa'. Tho next meeting between the unions took place at Christchurch in 1870, Wellington winning by 1 goal to 1 try. The Wellington team for this match was drawn-from, members of the Wellington, Athletic, Wanganui, and Wairarapa clubs. jNo further game -was played until 188o' when Wellington won on their own ground by 1 try to nil. In 1885 at Christchurch Canterbury won by 0 points to nil, andvat Wellington in 1881 the local side ..secured a-' onc-~{>oint yiqtoryby 4 points' t6:3. . The next.match, was played in 1891 at' Christchurch, ahd:Cai{terbury>won decisively b,y 1G points/to" 1. liuthe next,year atjSew-i town Park \Yplliii£ton:ivQn'Tjy: i2,points> to 3. ■"■'■' ■■';"•;■■ ':::'-- From 1895 the fixture: became an annual one, each aide having its, suc•ccssetf riVi(t''defe&i3;^;ilihSt|ici:-l'Bo.B.'matcli.; drawn: 1 In 5196.0 •■WcUin^ii,,;at ' home; secured.-a big victoj-y ,byer..Canterbur.y •by,3iVpoints-:to''.D.>,1 .■■■'■■'.'■■'"'■"■.;;.■'"'■■.. ;: ' j g)&o' wariperiod no^garnosjwero .pjayedywb'ut ;;on ; ,;tho;;:f eftupjpJ4o.li; of ■ Series* iii/Bl&:¥wo.:games^^c^playctf,. one itf:^ollingTon'ian(t':,oiie:.; fiii.^hrist-; cliurcli/td^ClKiigtoJi. won botli,..|Kp ! flrs.t; by 18' points to'S," find the secoiia b'y,',;9 points. to nil.! In. IPI9 also home and home matehes'werc-playedy-bbth for the Banfurly Shield,'then hold-by ton. The first game was played at Wellington on June 3, Canterbury making a special trip at tho invitation of the local union. Wellington again won both games, at. Wellington by 23 points to 9, and at Christchurch by 21 points to- 8. Tho game- at Ohristchurch was notable by reason of the 'fact that it marked the first occasion on which the title to' ,the Eanfurly Shield, was contested on a ground other than'that, of the Shield holders, and it. was "also the first occasion on which any. union was granted two ehallcmgeVniatchcs for the trophy in the samo/feseason. In 1920 ■two matches were^'ljisyccl, Wellington winning'by 15 pdiiitsl'it*)' 3, and by 16 points to 13. r;;'*.,■'•"■ : '' In 1921 and sijcccediugyears until 1926 only one matcli:;^each. season was played, -jn 1926■(two A'gamcs, both in CiirislehurcX wora'played;,, Canterbury being'the victors in both, in one by 13 points and in ',th,o,'..other by 41 points to 14. Canterbury's score on this occasion is the ldgh'est f recorded by either union during the whbje series of matches. In 1927 and in 1928 Welling-, ton again took the honours, in'l927'at Wellington -by-20 points to 17 S and in 1928 at Christchurch''by 11 points to 3. Two matches wore again played in 1929, and Wellington proved ■victorious ,in bo(;h,;: at. Chris'tcKurcK-, by' 16,;; arid at Wellington by 34 points to 6. '■■■■• In 1930 at Chriatchurch Wellington, who had just previously won tho Eanfurly Shield from Southland,' defeated Canterbury by 11 points to 3, but the Shield, was not at stake. In 1931 at Wellington,-.. however, Canterbury were successful in their 'challenge for the Shield, winning a hard'f ought game by 8 points to. 6. Last year at Christchurch Canterbury withstood Wellington's return challenge by a margin, of one point, the game finishing with the score at 9-8 in Canterbury's favour.