RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Grey River Argus, 7 June 1943, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

CANTERBURY BEAT .BULLER WESTPORT, June 6.

Canterbury reps beat Buller at Rugbv by 13 to 5. The teams were: Canterbury: P. Callanan; W. C. Weenink, C. A. Wilson. A. Cochrane; R. B. McCammon, D. Jones; G. Harvey; D. H. Taylor, C. Taylor, R. i Rothwell, G. Bond, C. Lindstrom, A. 1 R McKenzie, D. Herman, L. Young. Buller: E. Nicholson; N. Comerford, O. Smallholme, R. Humphries; R. Kirkwood, T. Harsby; J. Tyler, W. Munn, T. Coyne, A. Moseley, T. Anderson, J. Beveridge, D. Neighbours, C. Dalzell, S. Kitchen. Canterbury backs threw the ball about at every opportunity. Wilson, McCammon and Jones were always prominent. Wilson early picked up a loose ball and, beating opposing backs, sent to Cochrane, who raced between the posts. Callanan converted with a good shot.—Canterbury 5- Buller 0. Buller forwards broke away from a line-out, but were pulled up by Taylor, who was penalised for hanging on but Nicholson missed with a place kick. Buller forwards hammered at the Canterbury line till Dalzell forced his way over. Nicholson converted with a grand kick. Callanan put Canterbury in a strong position with a hefty linekick. Weenink and Wilson gained further ground. Moseley broke up the movement. In a hard battle between the forwards Buller made a determined onslaught on the visitors’ line, but Callanan and McCammon saved.

Canterbury forwards attacked on changing ends, and were almost over. Following a scrum ten yards out Wilson made a great effort, but was nulled down by Kirkwood. Canterbury backs passing saw McCammon caught in possession with Cochrane having a clear run in. Dalzell, Buller’s skipper, had to retire through an injury, and was replaced by Dixon. Weenink nearly got a try when he kicked through but was beaten by Humphries for the touch-down. Buller forwards rucked to the opposing 25. but Canterbury backs kept them out. Moseley was applauded for a strong kick,' but Callanan replied with a nice line shot. The Buller forwards continued to bombard the Canterbury line, but failed to get through. After dashing play by the visiting pack, Herman got the ball, and. catching the opposition on the wrong foot,' ran over betweeen the posts unopposed. ■ Callanan converted.—Canterbury 10; Buller 5. Cochrane, following a grand passing bout in which all the backs handled. raced over at the corner flag for a beautiful try. Wilson failed to convert.

Mr H. Burgess refereed. A curtain-raiser match was played between St. Canice’s and State Combined. The former were much too good and won by 12 points to nil. Scorers for St. Canice’s were O’Hara, MeEnaney and Adams. Adams kicked a penaltv. Heavy rain that fell overnight .and on Saturday morning made the ball greasy to handle. Buller forwards were the better pack, but Canterbury backs outclassed the locals.

TO-DAY’S MATCH. To-day, the annual King’s Birthday Rugby fixture between the Canterbury "and West Coast representatives will be staged at .Rugby Park. The friendly rivalry of West Coast and Canterbury has been an established feature of South Island Rugby football for some years now, and they can always be depended upon for excellent football. Judging b their performance at Westport on Saturday, Canterbury will be formidable opponents and the more inexperienced' Coast team should have a hard battle. Although there has been rain over the week end, the ground is still firm and if it remains so. high class football should be seen. The curtain raiser will be played between Greymouth and Hokit.k. third grade representatives.