THE VISITING ’VARSITY

Evening Star, Issue 18070, 11 September 1922, Page 3

THE VISITING ’VARSITY

SYDNEY BEATS CANTERBURY. [Special to the ‘ Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, September 9. A glorious spring afternoon, a warm sun, a hard, fast ground, and a big crowd of spectators, wSre the conditions under which the Canterbury and Sydney Universities met. It was a day for cricket rather than football. Shortly after the start Canterbury were awarded" a penalty, and Bennett, from near halfway, landed a splendid goal, the ball hitting the post and bouncing over the bar. Canterbury 3, Sydney 0. A lot of close, uninteresting forward play in neutral ground followed, the two packs being very evenly matched. Twice the Canterbury forwards broke away, and scrambles near the line ended in the visitors being forced. Some line kicking by Raymond gave the New South Welshmen relief,_ but the Canterbury forwards came at dt again, and tho visitors were penned in their twentyfivo for some time. Then tho scene was changed in a minute. Black secured, beat three men with a neat “dummy,” and when tackled passed to Raymond, who kicked, and Woodhead, _ following up, scored in fairly handy position. The kick failed. 5 all. On resuming play again centred in the visitors’ territory, tho only outstanding feature being the dullness of the football all round. Once Foote and Raymond broke away with some showy passing, but Foote was collared before the visitors’ back machine got properly in motion. Play became a bit livelier, chiefly on account of the work of the Sydney backs, who gradually transferred play to the homo territory, where Woodhead made an opening and passed to Black, who scored, and Raysmith converted. Sydney 8, Canterbury 3. Play hovered near the centre for _ some time, neither side showing any ginger, until Langbein, after a Canterbury forward rush, passed to Smart, who transferred to Bennett, on .the wing, the latter, after a strong run, scoring near the corner. No goal resulted. Sydney 8, Canterbury 6. The game now livened up somewhat, and the visitors tested Canterbury’s defence to the utmost, but it proved equal to the strain, the collaring being particularly deadly. Half-time came with play at the centre. The first spell needs no comment. It was a deadly, dull exhibition of Rugby, almost without a single redeeming feature. Tho two teams appeared to be very evenly matched in all departments, but that did not account for the want of sparkle. Weariness seemed to pervade both teams. The visitors started to sling the ball about at the opening of the second half, but the home forwards commanded the ball, and neutral territory was again the scone for a long spell of uninteresting play. Canterbury backs woke up, and’set up’an attack that,was distinctly refreshing, tboimh the combination was ragged, and several chances of scoring were missed. The monotony was broken by Bennett, who kicked a good goal from a penalty, planing Canterbury in tho lead.,. Canter' Jbu^

This reversal of fortune had a welcome effect on, the visitors, who opened up the game to some purpose, and soon had the | homo tgaan penned in_ their twenty-five. Eventually Cooper relieved with a fine | lino kick, and neutral territory once again became the scene of hostilities. From here 1 the homo backs broke away with a fine passing rush, which ended in nought. Raymond, with a. very fin© run, gave welcome relief to his side, and Canterbury had a spell of strenuous defence, from which thev emerged unscathed'; and ’Dewar, with a great lino kick, sent play to halfway. The visitors returned to the attack, but for a long time they could not penetrate the home defence. Then Raymond initiated a passing movement, and the ball travelled across the ground from back to back, Foote finally scoring. It was the prettiest piece of play of the afternoon. Raysmith kicked the goal. Sydney 15, Canterbury 9. The visitors, who. were now playing a much better game all round, kept up great pressure, but could not take advantage of their chanoej. to score. Canterbury, led by Calder, swept down the around like a flash, and a lucky mark by the Sydney full-Back saved what looked like a certain score.. The closing stages of the game saw most of the play near the centre. The visitors “shook it up” in the last few moments and attacked vigorously, but Canterbury’s defence was tiger-like. A most disappointing game thus ended: Sydney ’Varsity 13 Canterbury College 9