Wellington v. Canterbury.

Otago Witness, Issue 1865, 19 August 1887, Page 27

Wellington v. Canterbury.

Wellington, August 11.

There was excellent weather for the mafch between Wellington and Canterbury to-day 8 and the ground had dried better than was expected, so that with the -exception of two or three patches it afforded a very good foothold. Some 990 people found their way out to Newtown Park, most of whom went there in anticipation of the defeat of the local players. The event proved that the Wellington players had been underrated, for they won the match, and more than that they held their own all thrdugh. Both sides had the good luck to score a goal in the first spell, but after that the only score was a try, which the rapid followings of the local forwards secured them. Taken as a whole, the Black forwards were superior to their opponents, especially in the vigour with which they pursued the ball. The visitors seemed to fail in combination, and did not keep oa the ball nearly so well as the others, the consequence being that the Wellington men several times broke clean away, and carried the game before them half the length of the field. Helmore did not play wing, and the Wellington running men pressed the half backs and quite spoiled their play. Both Taiaroa and Smith, and afterwards King, did excellent work in this position; and though exception is taken to the habit of all three keeping aloof from the scrum, there is no denying the fact that they had a powerful influence on the progress of the game. Partly from this reason, and partly because the forwards kept the ball very much to themselves, the Canterbury backs, who were supposed to be the strength of the team, had absolutely no show, and there was no opportunity of criticising their play as compared with the Wellington men. They certainly did not get a dozen paces f rcm beginning to end ; and, generally speaking, it may be said there was not much passing on either side, at any rate of an effective kind. There were a good many appeals, which, together with the close style of play adopted, made it mostly a forward game, with too many scrums. This was disappointing, as a fast open match had been looked forward to ; while in effect, until the last quarter of an hour, there was scarcely any continuously interesting play from the spectators' point of view. The collaring of the Wellington players was very good, and apparently much better than that of their opponents, some of whom were rather weak in this department. It unfortunately appeared tbat just after the start of the game Helmore was hurt and rendered useless for the remainder of the day. While in the act of catching the ball King, the Wellington captain, fell upon him, crushing his brother skipper's ribs to such an extent that it would have been better had he given up his place. He played on, but was not able to do more than throw the ball in from touch, and of course the loss of his services had a material effect on his team. At the end of the spell King himself came to grief. He collided with Allardyce, and split his forehead open, tha force of the blow being so great as to cut throHgh Allardyce's jersey and trousers, and gash his hip. King was advised by the doctor to retire, but, like Helmore, he preferred to stay, merely changing places with Taiaroa; and extremely well he played despite his ugly-looking wound. Messrs Knapp, Webb, and Cotterill were the officials of the game, which began at 3.20.

Helmore won the toss, and King kicked off from the east goal. A gentle breeze blew, but did not interfere with the game. At the start the local men gave their opponents a vigorous shaking up. The Canterbury full back kicked the ball into the advancing Blacks (Wellington), and seizing their advantage they pushed their way up close to the corner flag. After some vigorous scrums Roberts saved his side by picking the ball from the feet of the Wellington men, who were dribbling it over the line, and was pushed into touch in goal. This result was not much advantage to the visitors, for the local forwards then got the ball when it was kicked out and forced it towards the other corner. There Taiaroa obtained a mark about 3yds from touch line. M'lntyre, of of the Foneke Club, has established a reputation for kicking goals from difficult angles, and though he was supposed to have fallen off lately, he justified the confidence reposed in him by sending the ball fairly and truly over the centre of the bar. A goal scored in the first 10 minutes was a welcome bird in the hand to the Wellington players, who did not dream of such, good fortune, but it also had the effect of livening up the visitors, whose play so far had been very stiff and inactive. From a mark Francis had a place I kick, but the ball fell short. The Reds (Canterbury) put on a spurt and dribbled close up to the line, where Helmore fell on the ball just when he seemed about to score. Another mark snapped up by Roberts gave Francis an opportunity for a place kick similar to M'lntyre's, and so near did he go that loud shouts of " goal " were raised. The ball, however, just went outside the flag waving from the goal post. It was at this point Helmore got hurt. Almost immediately afterwards he got a fair start, and dodged all the Wellington backs but one, when his strength failed him and he faltered. Still he passed the ball back, but noDody was there and it went into vacancy. Helmore would almost certainly have got through, but for the squeeze which had taken all the strength out of him. After this spurt he collapsed completely, and was able to do little more than hold the ball when it came in his way. A hurried pot shot by Francis sent the ball behind the Blacks' line, whence Fairbrother, by a short spurt endingwith a kick, took it up to the centre flag. The Reds for a time had somewhat the best of the frequent scrummages, and in their efforts to clear their quarters some Wellington man kicked the ball over the heads of the forwards. Francis, ever ready, took it beautifully in mid-air, and with almost one and the same action dropped it across the bar at a distance of some 35 yards from the posts. This equalised the score, and the East Christchurch crack was loudly cheered. The resumption.of the game saw the Canterbury men still near the Wellington goal, whither Roberts, helped by some passing, carried the ball. But Fairbrother again came to the rescue by kicking into touch. Thence to the end of the spell play was of an uninteresting nature. The forwards kept the game pretty well to themselves, and helped by frequent appeals and the ball going into touch, there was little but a succession of scrums. In about the only piece of loose play King charged AJlaydyce, aa men*

tioned above-, and got badly,, hurt, shortly after which the whistle sounded for the interval. ' So far, the 6xce£ti6n_of the first quarter of an hour, the Visitors had rather the best of it, but now the Wellington players came to the front. Richardson with a smart punt drove the ball down to Richards, who failed to < take it cleanly, and only just saved himself by putting it into touch. Some close scrummaging followed in the Reds' twenty-five, out of which. M'lntyre came through with the ball in front of him. Moorehouse, following behind, let drive at the rolling ball and sent it beyond the posts. Wilson and Fairbrother had, a, race for possession, the former getting in first by a "short head." King following up smartly spoiled Allardyce's attempt at kick; but, aided by some long kicking, the Reds pushed Wellington back, and Francis attempted a pot at goal, which only rer suited in sending the ball along the ground and forcing the local men down. Allardyce returned the ball from the kick out, and following his effort rapidly smothered the opposition back, With a well-judged dribble Bean picked his way through the Blacks close up to the goal line, causing a period of some excitement. The Canterbury forwards were too eager and kicked the ball over the line into Coopers hands, where, much to the relief of the local partisans, it found a secure resting place. The Wellington forwards responded vigorously to this effort of their rivals, and charged brwtly down the northern side. The visitors seemed momentarily panic-stricken, and so completely were they scattered by the • rush that the van of the local men reached the goal line with scarcely a Red man in sight, and four or five crossed the line. At the last moment Francis made a brave effort to save his side without avail. After a brief moment of indecision, caused merely by inability to tell which of the numerous Blacks had the ball, the umpires allotted the try to Storey. M'lntyre made a good effort at goal, but without luck. Emboldened by success, the Wellington men with much spirit, especially in the loose, kept their antagonists moving, and presently broke clear away again, and were only brought up at the goal line by someone throwing himself under their feet. A succession of hard scrums momentarily threatened an addition to the score, and the suspense was only put at rest when the ball was driven into ,the hands ofone of the backs behind the line. Wellington at this stage were playing freely and boldly, and whenever they could get clear of the scrummages had all the best of it. Time slipped away, and it was apparent that there was little chance of the result being favourable to the visitors until Bean, who all through played a very fine game, came out ahead with the ball at his toe. Sutherland was instantly by his side, and followed by several more Reds, they passed from one to another with their feet in a manner that completely baffled the Wellington backs. One by one the latter were evaded, and a headlong race ensued for the goal. Sutherland attempted to pick the ball up in order to run in, but h& could not secure it, and it flew across the line hotly pursed by a medley crowd of mixed uniforms. Here, as many a time before, the Wellington skipper's sprinting powers stood him in good stead, and after an exciting chase he came out triumphant. This was:the most brilliant episode of the match, and had both sides kept to this style of play it would both been a more interesting game and probably there would have . been more scoring. The end being near the play became more open, Canterbury seeing their only chance was to keep the ball moving as rapidly as possible, and give their backs an opportunity of utilising their lacking abilities. Alladyce, ! who in the early part of the match had scarcely ever had the ball, struggled had without avail, and Francis in vain strove to get a clear chance for a pot. The collaring was too sure, and all such efforts were nipped in the bud, so that when "No side " was called, the Wellington score had not been wiped off, and they were victors by 4 points to 3. Their success agreeably surprised' those' who had been inclined to underrate their capabilities, nor did their backs, who were not supposed to be first-class, prove incapable. The Canterbury backs were not fairly treated by their forwards, and were moreover weakened by Helmore's accident. The full back, however, seemed scarcely reliable for the position, as none of his play was marked by- determination or accuracy, and his kicking, which should at anyrate be a strong point in a full back, was feeble.

This evening the Canterbury team were entertained at a smoke concert. Holmore is confined to his bed, his ribs being badly bruised, but not broken. King's injury was less severe than was anticipated, and he is now recovered.