Fast Match at Christchurch

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 September 1946, Page 8

Fast Match at Christchurch

Visitors 9 Belter Showing in Second Spell Fielding a much stronger side than it did against Buller on-the previous Saturday Canterbury easily defeated West Coast at Lancaster Park to-day by 24 points to 13. It was a fast game, played on a hard ground, but players on both sides showed signs of stalsness after a heavy season, and only at intervals did the game provide the highlights of Rugby. Canterbury assumed the offensive soon after the start, and excepting for spasmodic shows of brilliance by the West Coast backs,' retained its superiority. ■ Lindbpm, the West Coast fullback, was sound and his line-kick-ing was at times brilliant. Silcock, at wing three-quarters, was the best of the backs, but Ambbrger and Dewar, at five-eighths, and Horrack, at half-back, stood up gamely to solid .defence. The continuous, attacks of Canterbury found weaknesses and at times the tackling was defective. Birchfield, • Constable, Nelson and Weiblitz were the best of the West Coast pack. Fine Game by Argus. Monagatti, at half-back for Canterbury, was not unduly harassed by the 'West Coast breakaways, and played one of his best games. Argus, the strongest runner on the field, played bright, constructive football. The West. Coast backs found him a handful, and his straight bursts and good footwork gave tries to his teammates. Kelly, at full-back, gave a good display of clean handling and long line-finding. He was caught out of position more than once, but his speed retrieved the errors he had made. The Canterbury forwards elected to play the loose game, and while Herman, Hobbs and Lee often shone out in bright moves, the bulk of the work was left to Rhind, Bond and Duff. The teams were as follows:-— Canterbury. J. W. Kelly, G. Drummond, G. Bolton, W. G. Argus, W. McHugh, J. Roach, R. Monagatti, G. Bond, A. Lee, P. K. Rhind, F. Hobbs, R. Duff, H. Sturrock, D. Herman, M. Henderson. Half-way through the second spell Kelly was injured, his place being taken by P. Kearney. West Coast: J. Lindbom, W. Millett, J. Carroll, L. Silcock, W. Amberger, D. Dewar, K. Horrack, P. Kirby, K. Fisher, A.’ Thompson, R. Weiblitz, W. Butler, R. Birchfield, G. Nelson, B. Constable. The Scoring. In the first spell tries were scored for Canterbury by Herman (2) and McHugh, two being converted by Kelly. The score at half-time was: Canterbury 13, West Coast 0. The second half was more even, for while Canterbury added 11 points (tries by Drummond, Hobbs and Argus, one converted by Kelly), West Coast scored 13 points (tries by Amberger and Horrack, both of which were converted by Lindbom, ' who also kicked a penalty goal). Auckland’s Sixth Win of Season (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 20. f The Auckland Rugby representatives gained their sixth win of' the season when they beat the Taranaki touring team by 20 points to 14 at Eden Park on Saturday. The match was played in perfect conditions before a crowd of nearly 10,000. Features of the game were the displays of the opposing full-backs, R. W. Scott and H. Johns, each of whom kicked three penalty goals and con-, verted one try. E. Boggs was again the outstanding Auckland back. Of the visiting forwards, J. West, W. Bell, and J. Bourke played well. In addition to Scott and Johns, the' scorers were: Auckland, tries by C. Don, Boggs, and J. Simpson; Tara- | naki, a try by J. Muirson.

Buller Defeats South Canterbury As part of the Buller Rugby Union’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, a representative fixture between Buller and South Canterbury was played on Victoria Square before a large attendance on Saturday. Buller won by 16 points to 5. Buller playing against a strong wind in the first half, sent their backs away, but resolute tackling by McPhail and Ryan upset some likely movements. South Canterbury, in the next few minutes, swarmed to the Buller line, and from a scrum Parsons sent Ryan over for a try which was converted. Buller returned to the attack, and S. Anderson goaled from a penalty, bringing the half-time score to S. Canterbury 5, Buller 3. Scon after the resumption of play, Hawkes barged over for a try which Phipps converted. The Buller side combined in a good rush, for Smallholme to score in the corner. Buller increased its lead further when Anderson intercepted a pass, to score under the posts. He convert- j ed his own try. Mr. R. Pratt was referee. Jubilee Celebrations at Westport Although it is 52 years since the Buller Rugby Union came into existence at Westport the union is this year holding its diamond jubilee, the celebration having been, postponed from its original date because of the war. A series of functions, which commenced on Thursday, were held. In welcoming back to Westport the; many old time representatives of the various Rugby football clubs in the j .Buller district for the celebrations,; Mr. J. P. McEnaney, president of the Buller Rugby Union, expressed the, hope that they would join in celebrating the jubilee in a most fitting manner. Since 1894, the union had worked unceasingly for the good of: the j game of Rugby and the success of its ■ efforts had been proved in recent 1 years, when the representative team : had developed into almost major union i class, he said. <