AUSTRALIA v. CANTERBURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 58

AUSTRALIA v. CANTERBURY.

CHRISTOHUB.CH. August 26. 'Although rain fell last night and the _ gaorning was threatening, the weather was " fine for the match "between Canterbury and Australia at Lancaster Park this afternoon. JQ?he attendance, however, was not as large its expected, the gate lakings amounting to fel37. After a well-contested game Canterbury won by 8 points (a goal from a try tend* a try) to 3 (a try). The home team jdeserved their win. as they had distinctly ihe better of the play, and but that in the tearly part of the game the passing of the Stacks was very faulty they should have increased their score. The Australians were '«fc&hy at times, but they were met by sound 'defence, and mistakes at critical moments . lost them good chances.' Throughout the game the line-kicking of the Australian ~~ Ibacks - was " much inferior to that of the - Canterbury players. The teams were:— V ;ATTSTRAUA.--Pnll.^back ) Wickham; ihreaU Quarters— M. Smith, Permian, B. Snidth, .and • Ol'Wsh' ; five-eighths, ' Anlezark ; half,' Dor© ; ..- 'ttorwards— Burden, Lucas, Oxlade, Richards, D'Brisn-,HirscHbe<rg, Swannell^ and Murlin. = C'ANTEBBmiy.— Full, back, Turtlll; . suarters— -Fryer, Love, "and Grayj five-eighths, . (weston and FrassrVhalf, ;Burns ; forwards— --HcrgaTi, Shannon, "Mtu^y,. Chambers,' Gaffney, jparlton/ Pearco, and Walters. ' Of the visitors' backs, the best were B. Smith and Penman, while in the forward department O'Brien was conspicuous for his dashing work. Among the Canterbury fl>acks Fryer, played an excellent game. ' ' The visitors . won 'the toss, and played • With a light breeze behind tlfem. The early stages of the game were fought out in inidfield, but "the Canterbury forwards worked the ball to their opponents' -twenty-five, and -as a result, of, too third kicking the Australians were able ' to Bave by forcing. .'After the kick-out^he ball fvss soon back in tH© visitors' territory, but the latter were^awarded- a free kick, and for some little time play hovered between the two twenty-fives. # The forwards appeared very evenly ~ matched, but although J ilaying- against the t wind' the- looar men requently gained -a ,good' deal of ground Jby their line-kicking. Erratic passing by jfche Beds enabled the visitors to- cany the /ball to Tjast their opponents' twenty-five; ftrafc Pearee, Gaffney, and Walters headed *« forward rush to past the centre, and (Fryer further " Improved the position by iiofciSg out of touch well within the - .visitors' twenty-five. The Australian for- • ..wards the ball :haok, but Canterbury stfonT. returned, and Weston marking, JGarlton -made :^a poor attempt at .-goal. • ffil'l^ean kicked back, but & passing run beJfcween, Burns,- Weston, Frasef, and Fryer, lagain placed the visitors- on the- defensive, JMl«ean once more coining io his side's 'sescuo with a good, Jciek. Neither side ■ 'could , claim any decided? advantage until ■■Penman -secured transferred ito B. Smith, who, after -strong, -run, eenton to M. Smith, who scored aiear. the "corner. "Wickham's shofcat goal was good, jfbut the ball-iell short. Serums' arid touch-fline-work in neutral territory were followed iby an exchange, jof kicks, the Australians forcing as the result of a long kick by iTurfcill. The Canterbury backs essayed some passing, but gained little ground until HFryer broke away and reached Wiekham. "lA. fumble by one^of the players behind him spoilt the chance of scoring. Canterbury .**hen set „up a sti*ong attack, 'but when the ended - had failed to cross their Pi'opponentar live, and the teams changed pndiiwitb. Australia 3 points to'the good. The second spell opened with a brisk (attack by Australia, but a, mark by Burns jgot- Canterbury out of trouble. In theScramble that followed Burne's kick, GafF■iney got possession and passed to Fryer, Vho, after a daeh down the touchrline,- i -lucked across the- field, and Gray, following "up fast, scored *■ near the corner. Frasor^ kicked a fine goal. Canterbury kept up the" 'attack, but a lucky speculator by M. Smith shifted play s " to the centre, and then the visitors, set their -backs to work, a passing jush -ending in Bore being pushed into Jtouoh a tew, yards from the goal line. (Some fast, .work followed,' l>ut the Aus- - %ralian attack was met by very sound collaring. Horgan at .length broke away .tyith the ball .at his :feet, <and £Fryer backed -Iris ' work up by • a good kick- which sent£he ball out near the Australian goal line. lAt this stage B. Smith went iull back, and rWickham came'up'to the three-quarter line. •Sound work _by the Australian forwards removed jJayto the Canterbury half, but fcheir work was neutralised by Turtill, who found the line well down the field. Anlezark _ came to the rescue of his side, but Fryer again put the Australians on the defensive, and from a pot at goal "by Fraser the Blues wer© forced. Her© another change was made iif the disposition of . the Australian •backs, Penman and B. Smith changing {places. Canterbury were having decidedly •the better of the game. Burns .gettine: the ■ball from a scrum, began a passing rush, in ,\vhich all the backs figured, Gray " scoring ftiia second try. Fraser's kick at goal fell fehort. The Australians v were kept busy defending, but a timely mark by Bore relieved ' the pressure, and Richards and Burden headed a dangerous rush, but fumbling spoilt an excellent chance, and DFryer was r-esponsiblo for tine removal of p!ay back to the visitors' tw-eniy-five. Sound defensive work by Penman kept Canterbury at bay, and the Australian forwards, headed by O'Brien, made .several dashes, which were nullified by the good kicking of the Canterbury backs. In the closing stages of the game Canterbury held bh© upper hand, but did not increase theiv score, though a shot' at goal from a mark 1 by Fraser went very near. Mr F. Evans was referee.