RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17878, 26 August 1918, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

WELLINGTON v. CANTERBURY. WIN FOR VISITORS. The interprovincial match between Wellington and Canterbury was played at the Show Grounds on Saturday, hefore a very large crowd. Tho teams were as follow: Canterbury (Red and Black): A. D. Tench, A. M'Leod, 11. E. Boag, J. 0. Mullins, J. Hirst, C. E. Gumey, E. Fitzgerald, I. Gray (wing), T. Cowiishaw, C. Hegaruy, C. Murray, W. Cummings, E. Cummings, A. Henry, 11. Drake.

Wellington (Black): R. Scott, 0 Porter, M. Corner, W. Thomas, F. Tilyard, C. Morris, H. Nicholls, A. Parker, Albert Parker, T. Troy, D. Eberhard, A. Scott, J. Marks, H. Tancred, A. Bowes. Referee: Mr J. F. Peake. Wellington were a heavier team notably in the backs, while they had great weight in the pack. Winning the toss, Wellington elected to play with a slight advantage of wind. There were some nice bursts of Canterbury passing early in the game, but Wellington tackled very effectively. A •ebound from a Canterbury kick in the irst ten minutes went into touch-in-.£oal, and from the drop-out Canterbury were again hard pressed, but iluilins marked a dangerous kick by Thomas. Wellington pressed hard .and 'iad passing averted a likely score, but finally Guiney fielded well and shifted play'to the Wellington half. Here Wellington were penalised, but Tench failed to find touch, and play came back. Tench was beaten by the bounce, and Marks cross-kicking Porter gathered tho ball and, throwing l M'Leod off, scored near the flag. Troy failed to convert. Wellington « ' ■ • 3 Canterbury . . .0 Gray led a Canterbury rush, but a kick by M'Leod was charged. Drake and Gray led a fine loose rush to the Wellington twenty-five, but Wellington were very well served by Nicholls, who was very quick to get tho ball away to his backs. Morris started a fine rush for Wellington with a very fast run. but Boag marked on the line, and from a long kick Boag forced. Wellington charged the drop-out, and in subsequent plav Tilyard marked in a nice position, but Nicholls missed the kick. A penalty shot by Tench fell short, but almost from the kick out Mullins broke through, finding touch close up. Here Canterbury passed out, but Boag, after breaking'through, slipped, and a likely score was lost. Wellington rallied, and just before iialf-tirne a rush started by Morris travelled out to Corner, who scored with Thomas in attendance, but Morris's kick failed. Wellington .... 6 Canterbury .... 0

Guiney dropped into touch, and from the scrum Tilyard was all but oyer, but lost 'the ball on the line. The game surged back, and Wellington were penalised twice for off-side at their twenty-five, but overlooking found touch in goal. Half-time sounded a little later. Canterbury had what advantage there was in the wind in the second spell, which opened smartly, mostly with forward rushes. Fitzgerald let the ball out, and Boag kicked u«ffu field, but the "Wellington full-back just got back in time to force. Then Wellington took a hand, Morris showing a wonderful turn of speed, but Canterbury were back again, a high kick having Wellington in trouble, but they forced before M'Leod could get up. There were very exciting moments for both sides, as the forwards of both sides fought on the line-out and in the loose with varied, fortunes. Finally Wellington were penalised for playing the ball off the ground, and Tench had a. shot, . which just fell short. Canterbury tried an up-and-under dropout hut the forwards overran the ball, and Porter, with a brilliant run, passed infield to Troy, who scored a great try, but Porter's kick failed. Wellington . . . . 0 Canterbury . . . • 0

Canterbury lost a good chance to score when W. Cummings and Hegarty charged the full-back who fumbled. The referee gave a scrum, when the application of the advantage rule might have meant-a Canterbury score. Apart from' this the rest of the match was more in favour of Wellington than Canterbury, but the score remained unaltered. It was a hard-fought game, in which the Canterbury forwards had to tako more than, their share of the work. Undoubtedly the better team avou.

RETURN MATCH AT WELLINGTON. The Canterbury Rugby Union will <end a team to Wellington tins week to olay a match against Wellington on Saturday, followed by a second match igainst 'Trentham,.on Monday. The following is the Canterbury team: —Tench, M'Leod, Boag, Grant, Mullins. Guiney, Fitzgerald. Crawshaw, Hegarty E. Cummings, W. Cummings, Murray, Drake, Henry and Gray; emergencies, Ellis and Hirst. _ The team will hold a practice at Lancaster Park on Wednesday ment, and will leave for Wellington on Thursday night. '_ ~ It is probahlo that the Trentham team will visit Christchurch next month, playing a return-match against Canterbury on September 14. WELLINGTON B v. WAIRARAPA. [Pi'.n Pots* . Association.] "WELLINGTON, August 24. The Wellington B and Wairarapa match was played to-day in dull weather. The game was all in favour of Wellington, who won by thirtythree points to three. INTER-SCHOOL MATCHES. [Pek Press Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, August 24. The first of a triangular series of football competitions took place to-day, when Auckland College Grammar School met and defeated New Plymouth High School bv 55 points to 10. On Monday Auckland Grammar School and Kelson College will meet, and on Wednesday Nelson will play New Plymouth.