RUGBY

Evening Star, Issue 17454, 10 September 1920, Page 3

RUGBY

WELLINGTON v. SOUTH CANTERBURY.'

The first Ranfurly Shield match played in the South Island, Wellington (holders) v. South Canterbury, _ took place at Timaru yesterday before the largest attendance of the season. The Caledonian Ground was in good order, the weather was fine, and the game provided the best exhibition of Rugby seen in Timaru for years. Play was always fast and open, the ball travelling freely from end to end of the field. The home team showed their best form of the season, and were unlucky in not scoring two or three times, but Wellington excelled them in back and forward passing, and played the breeziest football witnessed in South Canterbury for a long time. Roberts, H. NichoUs, and O’Sullivan made brilliant scoring runs, and Brook gave a fine exhibition at full-back. Price, J. Shearer, and Harknees stood out among the winning forwards. Except in passing, the home forwards were slightly better than the Wellington pack, Scott, Shea, and Cabot being the most prominent. Cooke was the cleverest of the South Canterbury backs. Wellington played during first spell with the sun at their backs, and the early play favored South Canterbury. Scott and Cooke just failed to score from a fast rush, and the visitors were forced. Soon after Wellington opened the scoring from a rush initiated by Price. Roberts dummied through and passed to J. Shearer, who sent on to Caloinai, the latter scoring at the posts. M. Nicholls goaled. 6-0. Doull was nearly over for the home team, and then from a knock back from a lineout H. Nicholls feinted through and gave Price a clean run in. Roberts failed to goal. 8-0. Logan got over the Wellington Hne, but was palpably offside. Then Scott started a loose rush, and Doull picked' up and got to the line, where Cabot scored. ' Scott goaled. 8-5. Scott evened the scores by marking and dropping a good goal. 8-8. * The next score resulted from a slashing run by 0 Sullivan, who ran round behind the posts. M. Nicholls goaled. 12-8. Almost; immediately after Scott placed a goal from | a mark, and half-time was called with the \ score:—Wellington 13, South Canterbury j The local men attacked for some minutes ' after the resumption of play, but Calcinai invaded the home territory, and M. Nicholls goaled from a penalty. 16-11. The Wellington pack assaulted the southern line, and Wilson scooped the ball back to Price, who scored at the posts. Nicholls again added the extra points. 21-11. South Canterbury just failed to score on two occasions, and then from a lineout Roberts swerved through and let Wilson over in a good position for Nicholls to convert. 26-11. A fine passing rush by the South_ Canterbury backs ended in Cooke scoring and Scott placing the goal. 26-16. Another hot attack by South Canterbury ended in a mark alongside the goal posts, hut Scott missed an easy shot. Roberts and Ryan gave O'Sullivan possession, and the wing outpaced his opponents for a try at the corner. Nicholls failed to convert. 29-16 Play was fast and rather ragged for the rest of the game. Shea almost scored for South Canterbury, and then passing by the Wellington forward? ended in S. Shearer crossing near the corner. Nicholls failed to goal 52-16. The home backs made two or three lively ; Sorts, but tries v.-e-e lost by faulty handling, and the game ended: * “ . Wellington 32 South Canterbury 16 AUCKLAND BEATS TARANAKI. These teams met at New Plymouth yes terday in the presence of 4,000 spectat" in fine weather, and on a dry ground. The game was hard and fast, being keenlv contested, and there were some fine bouts of passing. Auckland proved victors by 17 points to 11. MAORI TOURING TEAM. The New Zealand Rugby Union’s Management Committee endorsed the proposal by the chairman, Mr Slade, that a Native team should visit New South Wales next year under the union’ jurisdiction. MOASCAR CUP. j The semi-final of the Moascar Cup competition, Palmerston North High School v. Auckland Grammar School, will be played at Palmerston North on September 18, and the final between Christchurch Boys’ High School and the winners of the semi-final at Wellington on Wednesday, September 22. * ’,