CANTERBURY DEFEATS WANGANUI. WANGANUI, August 8.

Otago Witness, Issue 2735, 15 August 1906, Page 57

CANTERBURY DEFEATS WANGANUI. WANGANUI, August 8.

The football match Canterbury v. \San £&nui was played here to-day before *

large number of spectators, and resulted, after a strenuous and exciting game, in a well-deserved victory for Canterbury by 16 points to 8. The play from start to finish was very fast and interesting, the -work done by the visitors' backs being of a high order, and repeatedly evoking the applause and enthusiasm of the spectators. The opposing forwards were fairly evenly matched in general scrum work and in the loose, but Shannon and Murray, -the Canterbury hookers, the Wanganui pair, and obtained the ball with a regularity that became almost monotonous. As a result the Canterbury backs had ample opportunity to show their ability, and they gave a fine exhibition of combined play, running, passing, and tackling with great clev-er-ness and judgment. The play of Fryer, Burns, and Gray was particularly good. The Wanganui team -contained several meu who had just recovered Irom recent injuries, but it was, nevertheless, .considered a good team, and its supporters were fairly , confident of its success. In fact, the home players were .more fancied locally prior ■ to the game than the visitors were, but the latter were also quiethy -confident. Punctually to time the teams took the field las follows: — CANXBfißrax.— Full hack, W. Wood; threequarters — ~W. Fryer (captain), G. G-iay, and P. Egan; -&ve-<eighihe—i\ . Fitzgerald anfl JD. Fraser; half hsick, P. Burns; -forwards— -IS. Tyne, W. Shannon, C. IPearoe, ~F. Murray, C Roes, 3. Lenauze, C. Evans, H. Young. WiNGAirui:— Full back, A. Pownall; threequarters — J5. MacDanald, A. lakaxitngi, T. Craig; five-eighths— it. Mitchell and H. Bell (captain); half back, McCarthy; forwards— JD. Corbv, Fowler, Robinson, A. Anflerson, J. Mogan, A. Guscott, W. Dostin, R. Sharpe. Wangaimi won the toes, and Pe»roe ' kicked off, Craig finding touch at the ' centre. The visitors' backs essayed a pasßing ran, but mulled the ball, and Taka- ' rangi and M'Carthy rushed through, but ' Fitzgerald reached the Wanganui twentyfive with a good kick. The Canterbury : 'backs at once showed a disposition to make the game -open, but in the fixst few bouts they fumbled, letting the home team ] regain the lost ground. Eventually Burns ' and Fryer made a passing run to the Wanganui twenty-five, where Fraser had a futile shot At .goal from a. free Jtiek. Play became very fast, rushes by the forwards and backs of .both sides alternating ouickly. The local forwards showed some fine footwork, which was met by safe fielding atnd line-kicking by the visitors' backs, Burns passed out smartly on several occasions, but Mitchell. Takarangi, and Carby intercepted and collared quickly. A rush by the Wanganui forwards readied the visitors' line, but Lenauze. Evans, and Hoes at once dribbled the ball back, Mitchell finding touch. Murray, Lenauze, and Shannon broke away to the Wanganui line, where Burns passed out, but Mitchell intercepted, and the Wanganui forwards, joining in, rushed through the visitors' line, Woods forcing. A strong Canterbury rush reached the centre, and Fraser "found tne line at the Wanganui twenty-fijae. Burns passed neatly, but when the backs were - dangerous .Fryer fumbled -a pass, amd Mitchell again intercepted, ;and threatened to score, when Woods saved splendidly. The Wanganui backs then had a .turn, and after capital play Fryer oollared Craig in . the .nidk of time. From loose play in ftont of goal Canterbury were penalised, but Fowler failed l with an easy kick at goal. Tyne dribbled away from the scrum, and, going through the Wanganui backs at express speed, got over the line near the posts, but Pownall managed to force. Mitchell then opened up the play for Takarangi, who made a run, and passed to. Craig, who was again brought down by Fryer when a try was imminent. The visiting forwards then reversed matters, and charged over the Wanganui Hue in a body, Mac Donald saving cleverly. The game was now very fast, both sides having Beveral narrow escapes. Mac Donald kicked ' well down the field to the Canterbury twenty-five, where Fraser stopped a rush, ' and transferred to Gray, who ran round, and, feinting to pass, deceived Craig, and made a pretty opening for Fryer, who raced down the touch line and scored at the corner. Fraser converted splendidly. Good kicking by the Wanganui backs pressed iie visitors, who were penalised, but Craig failed to kick a goal. By means of a nice passing run Burns, Fitzgerald, Gray, and Fryer reached the Wanganui line, where Shannon got over, but lost the ball, a force resulting. After an excellent bit of , work by Mitchell, Bell, Takarangi, and Mac Donald, Bums got the ball away, and , a magnificent passing run by the visitors' backs was spoiled by Fryer failing to take the ball. The spell ended in favour of the ' visitors by 5 points to nil. On resuming, M'Carthy ran to the visitors' twenty-five, where Gray hroke away and kicked over the Wanganui line, Craig forcing. The next incident of note was a pass by Burns, as the outcome of which Fryer was pushed out noar the comer, whei3e Wanganui- were penalised, and Fraser kicked a fine goal. Anderson, Cor by, t Sharpe, and Hogan rushed through to the - Canterbury line, where several scrums were contested. Eventually Corby, Mac Donald, Sharpe, and Hogan dashed over, the former scoring near the pests. Fowler converted, making the scores : Canterbury ; 8 points, Wanganui 5 points. The Canterbury backs .got off several pretty passing runs, but , found the defence sound till a : particularly brilliant effort by Burns, Fraser, Fitzgerald, Gray, and Fryer enabled the last-named to outstride his opponents and run behind the posts. Fraser converted. After a spell x>f even play at the centre the Canterbury becks reached the Wanganui end, but Bell, Hogan, Sharpe, and Corby dribbled through -to Woods, who extricated his side with difficulty. The Canterbury forwards then attacked, and Fitzgerald was almost over, Craig and Pownall forcing successively. Canterbury ' maintained a vigorous attack on the Wanganui line, and Mitchell was penalised for off-side, this enabling Fraser to .kick a neat goal. Mac Donald and Dustin brought off a pretty piece of passing, and Wanganui attacked in turn. An excellent run by Ihisfciu was supplemented by a useful ' dribble by Corby, Anderson, Hogan, and Dustin, who compelled Woodfe to force. The local men now showed improved form, the forwards and hacks making several strong attaoks. to which the visitors responded gamely. The play, which was very fast, was hovering between the twentyiives, but eventually good passing between M'Oarthy. Mitchell," Takaraugi, Bell, Takarangi, and then back to Bell, enabled the last-named to score at the corner. Fowler failed to convert. From this out the play was very -fast, and was chiefly confined "to the visitors' end of the ground. Th© Canterbury backs did clever work, but could not

penetrate the defence, and the game ended .with Wanganui attacking, the scores being: Canterbury, 26_points ; Wanganui, 8 points. Mr Maning (Palmerston North) refereed sat isfaetorily.