UNIVERSITY v. CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13940, 27 June 1907, Page 10

UNIVERSITY v. CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

EASY WIN FOR THE HOME TEAM. Tho probability of seeing a fast game on a dry ground between a team from Canterbury College and th& local UniversityClub attracted upwards of a thousand pretators to the Caledonian Ground yesterday afternoon, despite the piercing wind from the south-west, which insinuated itself into every hole and corner of the stand. Almost simultaneouslv with the commencement of tho game, however, a drizzle set in, which gradually thickened throughout (he course of the first spell, v.'ith the result i hat play was considerably spoiled by a greasy bail and a treacherous field. For all that play was for the most part of an open character, and _ the local backs tossed tiie ball about at times in a manner reminiscent of their best form. In this department the visitors wore absolutely outclassed, though their tackling perhaps ivas on a par with that of the local division. On attack tiie visiting backs wore nowhere; but not so the forwards, who were, occasionally, the dominating feature of the game, and usually more than held Iheir own in the scrum. The local hacks played a good game throughout, and handled tiie ball with confulcnoe. College (maroon) took tho Held' with a fairly stiff breeze in their favour. The first incident of note was a mark secured bv Hopkins, tho vistors' lialf back, at halfway. Ryder attempted a long shot without success, and Maeplmrsou, snapping up tho leather, put in a characteristic run to neutral territory. Making use of the wind, College attacked, pinning tho Light Blues within thoir twentj-fivo, until Tansey relieved tho pressure by smart following up. Just later M'Chesney, at full back for University, slipped when about to tako the ball, leaving Taylor with a clear run. Nuku sot out in pursuit, and appeared to bo catching Taylor, who. however, kickcd over the lino and touohed down. Taylor failed with the attempt at goal. A shot from a mark by Ryder was fruitless, and thereafter the Light- Blues took k hand, Macpherson very nearly scoring on one occasion. At length from a forward rush Tansey got over, and Dansey made a gocd but. ineffectual shot _at goal. The home team were not long in again asserting themselves, and with a strong forward rush swept down the field, Tansey being in front with the ball at his toe. Rhodes, who was playing a safe game, accounted for him. but' tho ball reaching Lomas went in quick succes£lon, fiilray and, Macpherson, the latter scoring at tho corner. Tho kick at goal failed. College forced the game on resuming, but found tho Light' Blue backs a hard problem to solve. From the loose Dansey snapped up the leather, and quick work between Lang and Tansey broke down file defence, the last-named registering in a good position. Wi Rcpa made a poor attempt to kick a goal. With a greasy ball anil a ground affording but a precarious foothold, the remainder of the spoil was remarkable more than anything else for the frequency of the whistle, and no further incident of note occurred save that University was forced on ono occasion. On the resumption of play tho local hacks quite demoralised the 'Maroons by their passing, and within the first two or tlu-co minutes Wi Rena potted a fine goal, tho score then.,standing 13—3. 'The local backs continued to throw the ball about very effectively, and the visitors were somewhat lucky in averting a score on ono occasion. At length, however, from quarter way Gilray made an opening for Macpherson, who "streaked" for the corner with a great turn of speed, and was successful in fending all opposition off. Dansey made a good but fruitless" attempt to incronsc tho score. Subsequently Rhodes was just- successful in frustrating a run up tho field by Tansey, and gradually College made up the lost ground to lose it again through the alertness of tho Light Blue backs. From a screwed scrum within the twenlftfivc Tansey and Leyden imt away together, with tho result that- the latter scored a well-deserved trv in a gond position. Wi Kepa, was again unequal to the occasion. On resuming, Tansey again emerged from a scrum with the ball at bis t<;e, and kickcd hard past Rhodes over tho line, tho only man in the rnunipg with