Canterbury Notes.

NZ Truth, Issue 274, 1 October 1910, Page 3

Canterbury Notes.

North v. South.

The victory of South Island against North on Saturday last is one of those boil overs one sees m football occasionally, although sundry alterations Vk both teams partly prepared some people for the result. 'North Island selected the best team that could be -got together, and South Island picked a raw crowd, assisted by one. or two proved players. Defections occurred m" both teams, and, whereas, the substitutes weakened the North, tbe South selectors rushed the opportunity to bring m one or two proved men. The addition of Gray m the South Island team made as nruoh difference as Freddy Roberts would have made to the North combination had he been playing, and when things .sorted themselves out the South had one of the best forward teams that could be picked m New Zealand. The backs were weak, and the forwards won the game by 14 to 10.

The hero of the match was little Green, of Buller, who, when first picked, was not identified by the public with the ex-Petone and Wellington provincial rep., who would have shone more conspicuously if a star of magnitude like F. Roberts were not his rival m the Empire City. Green practically scored the eleven points notched by South Island m the first spell. Two sinuous, serpentine streaks finished across the coveted line, and Green' obtained the mark from which a goal was kicked.

Coles, of South Canterbury, was a frightfully weak link m the passing chain, and Green promptly discontinued his lightning passes from the scrum when he found the other man making a hash of things. Later, Gray moved up five-eighth, and the pair worked splendidly together. Wall played up to junior form, and Anderson was little better, but Colvin put m some really fine work at times, whilst Scott was a safe full. The magnificent work of the forwards gave them every • opportunity.

Although an irresistible vanguard, the northern hookers were cleverer, and fed the black North backs frequently. (The North were all black and the South all white). The fine spoiling tactics of Murray, Green, Gray and Colvin nullified many of the attempts. Paton, Patterson, Bain, Graham, and Murray, with beefy reps, from South Canterbury and Marlborough, represented an appalling Wall of flesh whenever it got moving, which was all the time, and the allegedly brilliant northern backs were exhausted by the necessity of repeatedly going down to rushes.

Francis was the pick of the visiting forwards, who evinced a disposition to do the cunning trick and wait around for opportunities, while their energetic opponents played themselves to a standstill. But the southerners had been told so persistently by the public that their chance was Buckley's that they played with the fury of fifteen imps of Satan, and lasted out the two forty-fives.

The remarkable amount of boot put into his kicks by Paton was very discouraging for the North, who found themselves pulled back time and again by these unnatural kicks, whilst the crowd made remarks about the southerner's bootmaker.

E. Roberts had few opportunities of displaying his worth, owing to the ferocity of the southern forwards, who surged over him like a sea of harpooned whales.

Murray crawled all over Avery at wing forward, and is undoubtedly the best man m tbe position m the Dominion. Murray was originally a three-quarter. ■ ' • ■ :

McLeod sent the oval out neatly when he got it, but Kaipara, bis supporter, is too swift to take the ball. When the leather is approaching, the brown person doubles up like a tiger about to spring, and is away like lightning, with or without, the ovalvery often without it. When he does get away with it he makes things hum, but moves so rapidly that he is m the midst of the enemy before he can pass. He was the break .m the passing chain, but if he could be induced to remain calm, coal, and collected, he would be a remarkable back. Mitctoinson had a lot of work to do, and Dawson bad occasional chances, which showed bini to be pretty slick. Grace was the failure of the backs. O'Leary was beaten badly by Green at full, but otherwise tackled and kicked well. His potted goal was a magnificent effort from a I difficult angle near the 25 flag. I This match closes the season m Canterbury, which is looking forward to summer games.