BRIGHT RUGBY

Southland Times, Issue 21191, 18 September 1930, Page 8

BRIGHT RUGBY

CANTERBURY MATCH SOUTHLAND WIN 24—12 FAST AND OPEN DISPLAY BACKS THROW BALL ABOUT

The curtain was rung down on the 1930 Rugby season in Invercargill yesterday afternoon when Southland defeated Canterbury by 24 points to 12 in a game which sparkled with bright and open Rugby that provided delightful entertainment for over 4,000 spectators. Although the standard of play did not reach a high plane, the game bristled with incident from start to finish, especially in the second spell when the ball was given plenty of air and literally hurled about with that delightful abandon which causes a crowd to become wildly enthusiastic. It was exhilarating Rugby, teeming with scintillating back play by both sides, and was played in glorious weather conditions.

IMPROVED FORM SOUTHLAND’S FINE FORWARDS. CANTERBURY OPEN UP PLAY. Southland’s win by 24 points to 12 established their right to be acclaimed South Island provincial champions. They not only defeated the side whicn secured a decisive victory over Britain, but also completed a series of wins over the major unions of the South Island. After the display of the Maroons yesterday many visitors expressed surprise that such a fine combination lost the shield to Wellington. And there was ample reason for this surprise. The Maroons were not the same team, and had Hazlett and his men played half that game against Wellington, it is safe to suggest that the shield would still be in Invercargill. In every department of the game the home side showed marked improvement. It was again the magnificent work of the forwards, however, which paved the way to success. That dash and devil which was sorrowfully missing in the Wellington game, returned with a vengeance and gave the team the extra pep required to overpower the solid visiting pack. The Maroon forwards commenced well and never looked back, and in the finish made so much of tbe play that they took charge and assisted the backs in the many bright passing movements which characterized the second spell. In this type of game the visitors also shone, and not once did they , attempt to close up the game. Whether on defence or attack, the Canterbury backs threw the ball about and thus contributed greatly towards the brightness of the game. (Some of the open movements were remarkable in their continuity and accuracy of handling, and there were many of the older generation of players present prepared to admit that they had never before seen such care-free Rugby. In one movement alone (and there were many of a like manner) practically every' player on both sides appeared to participate. To sum it up in the words of the referee (Mr Fleury) when replying to a toast at the dinner to the teams after the match, every player but the two full-backs and the referee handled the ball. It spoke volumes for the fitness of the teams that they were able to keep up the terrific pace. Play ranged from one end of the ground to the other with startling rapidity, and despite the slight-heaviness of the ground, t •) players kept at it in refreshing style, luere were occasions when the pace told and stoppages were frequent for minor hurts. With all the pace, the play was also hard and in this respect took toll of three of the combatants who were forced to retire. Kearney retired with a badly sprained ankle, Robinson went oh suffering from a back injury, and Porter left the field suffering from a cheek injury. The packs were more or less evenly matched as far as weight was concerned, but the Maroons appeared to be stronger. This was noticeable in both tight and loose, the home forwards being able to break through the visitors' first line almost at will. In set work (scrums and line-outs) the Canterbury forwards displayed superiority, in that they secured more ball, but this superiority was more than offset by the dash of the Maroons in rucks and open play. Repeatedly they broke through the opposition preparatory to opening up for the backs and in addition participated in the passing movements. The Maroon forwards re-estab-lished themselves as a great - and tigerish pack fit to hold their own with the best in the Dominion. ■ The inclusion of Bird made a vast difference to the pack. His pace and dash were an inspiration and proved conclusively that he should have been included in the side weeks ago. Bird played similarly in the shield-winning match at Carterton last year when his leadership played such a prominent part in the annexing of the trophy from Wairarapa.

Purdue, Hazlett and Metcalfe were again a “big” trio, but for that matter all of the forwards played up to Southland standard. The backs were fairiy eveniy matched. Any advantage that Canterbury may have had lay with Hart, the brilliant All Black winger, whose display was much ahead of that of any other back on the ground. Hart is undoubtedly New Zealand’s best wing threequarter of the day, and his play was in .keeping with that standard. Possessing pace, determination and a dazzling swerve, Hart thrilled the crowd with all of his work which was capped by three grand tries. The Canterbury man’s efforts did not pass unnoticed by the crowd who gave Hart an ovation as he walked back from his trygetting missions. Carleton was off colour and Lilburne was unable to give of his best, but he showed polish in everything he attempted, especially in the second spell when he repulsed several raids with good fielding and line-kicking. Mullan and Hazelhurst were the best of the otffer backs.

On the home side Niven and Sharpe again combined well. Both varied their play nicely and made many openings for the men outside them. Johnson, McKay, Porter and Stubbs were sound on defence. Geddes had a handful in Hart, but apart from getting out of position once or twice, he showed up well on attack and was always dangerous when given room to work. The game was terminated in a unique manner, both teams joining hands in the centre of the field and singing “Auld Lang Syne" to music by the Pipe Band. It was a fitting ending to a bright game, played hard but in a splendid spirit. Mr A, Fleury again controlled the game admirably and largely helped in making it gush 3 spectacular display.

The teams lined out as follows:— ....CANTERBURY. (Red and Black.) G. D. Innes 13.3 G. F. Hart U.S S. R. Carleton 11.9 R. Thompson 11.6 H. Lilburne 12.0 R. Hazelhurst 10.11 T. Mullan 11.2 J. Kirkland 12.4 W. Pease 12.7 R. T. Stewart 16.2 T. Robinson 13.12 J. Manchester 14.0 K. Kearney. 12.8 J. S. Chamberlain 12.11 R. K. King 13.3 In the first spell Kearney retired hurt find was replaced by J. E. Wilders 13.0, and in the second spell J. B. Taylor 13.2 replaced T. Robinson. SOUTHLAND. (Maroon) G. Porter 12.4 A. McKay 10.12 E. H. Diack 11.7 J. 11. Geddes 12.4 R. Sharpe 11.4 L. Niven 11.0 C. Johnson 10.11 L. George 13.3 C. George 13.6 G. Purdue 14.3 W. Southern 13. S W. E. Hazlett 15.1 R. M. Bird 12.12 T. Metcalfe 13.3 J. R. Bell 12.6 Just before half-time Porter retired injured and C. L. Stubbs 13.0 replaced him at full-back. PLAY BESCBIBED Canterbury won the toss, Diack kicking off against the sun and wind. Hart received, but did not find touch, this being left for Niven to do. Bird broke from the line and the Maroon forwards were swarming down on the Red goal line. Innes relieved with a good kick, but the Southland forwards were soon back again. A scrum went down just inside the Canterbury 25, but neither side could hook cleanly. Bell shot round and took the ball through at his toe and after clever footwork he succeeded in falling on the ball as it went over. It was a good effort by Bell, who before he got across was badly obstructed. Diack made a good but unsuccessful attempt to convert. —Southland 3, Canterbury 0. The Reds established play in Maroon territory. Stewart opened up but the passing of the visiting backs went across the ground. An exchange of kicks favoured Canterbury, Hazelhurst finding the line inside the Maroon 25. The Reds tried the blind side but did not get far and Johnson lined near halfway. The Maroon backs tried passing but were bagged. Geddes nearly got his side into trouble through kicking across the goal-mouth. A touch in goal relieved the Maroons. Canterbury kept up the pressure and the backs were seen in a rush that was to prove to the Maroons the folly of not putting the man wieh the ball on the ground. Hart received at the end of the bout but seemed to have no chance of scoring for Porter had his arms round him. Hart stood for a second looking for someone to pass to. Hart Equalizes. Suddenly he reali.ed that he tvas free, so he sped away and scored the softest of tries with a couple of Maroon backs looking on. Lilburne could not goal.—Southland 3, Canterbury’ 3. The next incident of note was a great break by Bird, supported by L. George and Hazlett. This took play to the Red 25, but Hazelhurst improved the position with a stab kick. The Red forwards were holding the Maroons. Niven found the line nicely but the Red backs came away with a nice rush in which Hazelhurst cut in. Diack saved by intercepting. Bell and Purdue went up the field nicely and Diack received to short punt. Bell streaked for the bounce which beat Innes. Hart caught Bell but Purdue picked up and some snappy short passing among . the Maroon forwards right under the posts ended in Metcalfe throwing himself over. Diack missed from in front. —Southland 6, Canterbury 3.

While the try was being scored Kearney was lying writhing in pain owing to an injured leg. He had to go off and was replaced by Wilders. Canterbury pressed through their forwards and Mullan had a shot from a penalty from well out, but his kick lacked direction., The visitors were seeing more ball than the Maroons, but there was a listlessness about the play of both sides. Hazelhurst was running straight and true and gaining a lot of ground for the Reds. The Maroons were penalized for offside play and Lilburne had a shot from well out in front. His kick was low and slightly to the side. Niven was applauded for a brilliant save when Hazelhurst threatened. Play remained for a time in Southland territory, the wind helping the visitors. King set up a passing bout ion the blind side but it was stopped. Next minute, however, the ball travelled through the Red backs on the open side. Hart received at the finish and as Geddes was not in position things were made easier for him. He raced over at the corner and beat a couple of men to touch down under the posts. Carleton took the kick, but there was a hoodoo on goal-kicking for the ball went wide.—Southland 6, Canterbury 6.

Niven Pots a Goal. Southland livened up and invaded Red territory, Hazlett being prominent. Charlie Johnson made a tricky run from which a ruck formed twenty yards out in front of the Canterbury posts. The ball came back to Niven who potted a fine goal.—Southland 10, Canterbury 6. For the next few minutes play was of a burlesque nature, the ball being flung about with abandon and being mishandled almost as frequently as it was cleanly handled. Having worked their way to Red territory the Maroon forwards fed Johnson who worked the blind. He passed to Purdue who fended off Innes’s tackle and went over for a try with a man on his back. Geddes made a good attempt to goal from the touchline.-—Southland 13, Canterbury 6.

In the ensuing play Bird made a great break and Niven got in a fine line-kick. Then came a sensational run by Diack who kicked through, reached the ball first and booted hard. Geddes took up the running and neatly turned the ball in, but Lilburne coolly saved. A long kick by Hazelhurst changed the venue of play but short passing by the Maroon forwards in front of the stand soon had Canterbury defending again. The Maroon backs were set going by Johnson but Sharpe slipped when trying to cut in. A free kick to Canterbury put the Reds beyond halfway and Manchester and King figured in a sortie. A good run by Sharpe when Red passing broke down took play to the Red 25, but Sharpe’s in-pass was deflected by Innes. Some amusing play with both sides providing entertainment occurred on the far side of the ground. A free kick to Canterbury let Lilburne line deep in Maroon territory.

King broke through and passed to Manchester who was well tackled by Porter. The ball went begging and Thompson picked up to cross at the corner. Mullan failed with the kick. Porter was injured in tackling Manchester and had. to retire. Stubbs replaced him.—Southland 13, Canterbury 9. After the kick-off Hazlett opened up passing, Metcalfe making a great run till he stumbled. Purdue carried on but was bagged. Lilburne changed places with Innes, but half-time came before the effect of the alteiation could be seen. Second Spell. Hazlett bore the brunt of a hot attack when he fielded the kick off. Canterbury were the first to attack, but Hazlett and Metcalfe repulsed with dashing play and Purdue carried on to beyond half-way. Canterbury were penalized, Hazlett kicking to Hart who evaded a couple of men and cross-kicked. Mullan fielded it, but was upended and McKay put in a fine line kick to the Red twenty-five. Red passing went out to Hart, but he did not get iar this time. Mishandling was still in evidence, but the Canterbury backs were going better than in the first spell. Southland, however, were the first to cross. McKay received from C. Johnson and ran down the line in front of the stand. On reaching Lilburne he centred judiciously with a short ground kick. Hazlett pursued the ball and bagged Mullan before he could clear. From the ensuing ruck the ball rolled clear and Geddes, who had raced up, gathered in and shook off a tackle to touch down for a good try under the posts. He goaled himself. Southland 18, Canterbury 9. Good work by the Red backs let them penetrate deep into Maroon territory. Southland .were penalized, and Purdue marked splendidly. A penalty was turned to good effect by Hazlett, but Carleton’s line-kick took play to half-way. Southern headed a great dribbling rush which got near the Red line, but the Maroons were penalized. Niven was promindnt and Metcalfe carried on the five-eighth’s good work. A score might easily have resulted if the ball had not rolled into touch-in-goal. Stubbs handled the. ball for the first time following the drop-out and found the line inside the twenty-five with a well-judged kick. Play was fairly willing in the forwards. Southland lost a great chance of scoring when, following a Canterbury passing bout Sharpe picked up brilliantly and ran fifty yards. Niven received and had he been able to pass out a try would have come but his own men as well as opponents converged on him.

Entertaining Rugby. For three minutes play of the most unorthodox and remarkable nature followed. It is safe to say that no time previously on Rugby Park has such queer football been seen. It was most'entertaining, however, and no one knew what was going to happen next. The Reds particularly threw the ball about, but the Maroons were not afraid to emulate them. Southland further increased their lead when after a sustained attack in which one passing movement gave place to another four Maroon forwards played handball close to the Red line and Bird crossed after receiving from C. George. No goal was kicked. Southland 21, Canterbury 9.

Canterbury retaliated with a strong rearguard attack in which it looked as if the Reds might score, but Stubbs saved the | day. Robinson retired with an injured ankle and was replaced by Taylor. Bird was showing a lot of dash; so was Bell. The crowd roared with delight as the Canterbury men threw the ball about in all directions and at. all angles. Most of those receiving stood still, being evidently too tired to run. Hart Over Again. After about a dozen Reds had handled Hart received and went over unopposed Innes made a good attempt to convert. Southland 21, Canterbury 12. The Southland backs were set going by Hazlett and handled well, but Lilburne proved a safe custodian. His fielding and kicking were excellent. Sharpe figured in two great breaks from Canterbury rushes. From the second of these Hazlett received from Sharpe and sent Bird over, but the latter was offside. Lilburne found the line with a good kick beyond his twentyfive. .Scrambling play on the far side of the ground ended in J3eII suffering, a leg injury. He carried on after a brief spell. Diack had a shot from a difficult angle from a penalty, but just missed. Both sides had turns on attack and had chances which they failed to turn to advantage. The ball was being hurled about, but as often as not the side that began the movement would lose possession. One Red rush looked dangerous until near the Maroon line a man got in front. Then the Maroons had a chance when Hazlett, Metcalfe and Diack were associated, but Ron Stewart, who was having a rest among his backs, saved the situation. A minute later Diack broke clear and had Geddes in attendance. He passed to Geddes a little too soon. However a, try still looked likely, but Hart came with amazing speed from behind and lowered Geddes. A Fine Movement. From a scrum inside the Canterbury twenty-five on the far side of the ground Johnson received and sent out to Geddes who had come in to first five for the occasion. The ball travelled out to Diack, who turned in-field. He was blocked, but flung an overhead pass to Sharpe who took it brilliantly and crossed. The umpires signalled a goal for Diack’s kick, but the referee thought otherwise, Southland 24 Canterbury 12 Mr A. Fleury (Dunedin) was referee. STATISTICS OF THE GAME POSSESSION OF THE BALL. THE VISITORS’ ADVANTAGE. The statistics of the game are most illuminating in that they show that the visitors had a decided advantage in their forward department sc far as gaining possession was concerned, but were unable to make full use of their opportunities. Although the ball was delivered from the great majority of the line-outs and the

scrums .were also in . favour of the tourists, this advantage was seldom utlized effectively and several of the Maroons’ scoring movements were the result of Canterbury’s failure to follow up the advantage which possession gave them. Although stoppages due to the ball passing into touch were fairly frequent, neither team used the line to as great an extent as was the case in previous representative games on Rugby Park this season. A tricky wind contributed to this and there were frequent occasions when the ball failed to find tho line. As it was, there were 90 line-outs which would allow one for each minute of play. Line-outs were more frequent in the first spell, the ball passing into touch 53 times against 37 in the second half. In both spells, the Canterburyforwards were more successful than the Maroons, gaining the advantage in 26 lineouts in the first spell against 18 which were in the home team’s favour and 22 in the second spell when Southland gained only 10. Fourteen line-outs in the game were indefinite. The record for the two packs for the game was, therefore, Canterbury- 46, Southland 28. In the scrums, the visitors’ advantage was not so marked and the set scrums were, actually, fairly even. Only 24 set serums were ordered by the referee during the game and of these Canterbury gained possession from 14, while Southland claimed the honours for 10. Neither team shone in clean heeling and the ball seldom came out smartly from the rear of the scrum. In the first spell, the Canterbury pack got the ball out to the backs on eight occasions, while the Maroons were successful in five scrums. In the second spell, the Red and Blacks held an advantage of only one over the home team.

No fewer than 20 penalty kicks were awarded during the game, but infringements were fairly even, Southland being awarder! 11 free kicks compared with Canterbury’s 9. In the first spell, the visitors used the mark to a greater extent than their opponents and three successful claims were made by Canterbury players in this half compared with one granted a Maroon. In the second spell, Southland players reversed the position and five marks were granted to them with none to Canterbury. Playing against a strong wind in the first spell, the Maroons had their goal invaded several times by an overdriven ball and on this account and in an endeavour to secure relief from pressure by the Canterbury attackers they forced down three times. In the second spell, however, Canterbury used this expedient on one occasion. CURTAIN-RAISER TOWN JUNIORS DEFEAT NORTHERN. The Southland junior representatives, chosen from Town junior teams, were too good for the Northern District juniors and romped home in a bright game by 'l4 points to nil. The teams were: Southland (black): Braithwaite; Harrington, Mitchell, Sivwright; Bruce, Fairweather; Maitland; Bews, Bulling; Keast, O’Shannessey, Clode, Cameron, Dick; Gardiner. Northern (yellow and black) : L. Patterson; W. Patterson, Williamson, Smith; Soper, Bailey, AUott; Robb, McDonald; Allen, Northcote, Sherriff; Christie, McNamee, Marshall. Southland took the offensive from the outset, and aided by the wind made the bulk of the play. Cameron scored the first try within two minutes of the start, Bruce cutting in and leaving the opposition standing before handing on to Cameron under the posts. Mitchell missed a sitter. Southland 3, Northern nil. The Blacks were getting all the ball from scrums and rucks and had Northern busily defending. Mitchell secured at midfield and made a brilliant swerving run to score under the posts. Braithwaite converted. Southland 8, Northern 0. Within two minutes Mitchell had scored again, a good opening by Bruce giving Mitchell possession before making another jinky run to beat the opposition badly. Braithwaite goaled. Southland 13, Northern nil. The game was very one-sided, the local boys doing practically what they liked with the visitors. Before half-time two more tries were added, Cameron and Maitland being the scorers. Braithwaite converted one and the halftime score was 21 to nil. The Blacks continued to throw the ball about and a few minutes after resumption Fairweather scored from loose play. Braithwaite converted with a good kick. Southland 2G, Northern nil. Northern made a temporary onslaught on Southland’s line, but Braithwaite’s defence was good and the movement was repulsed. From this position the Southland forwards went away and the ball was sent back by Gardiner to Bruce at halfway. He made a good run before returning to Gardiner, the Old Boys’ sprinter racing away to score under the posts. "Braithwaite converted. Southland 31, Northern 0. Keast was the next scorer. After some ragged play, the Black forwards took charge and Gardiner passed to Keast who went over unopposed. Braithwaite converted. Southland 30, Northern 0. Braithwaite raised the score to 39 with a penalty goal, and Clode brought the final score up to 44 with a runaway try, Braithwaite converting. Mr W. Pay was the referee. WELLINGTON DEFEAT GOLDEN BAYMOTUEKA. (Per United Press Association.) _ Motueka, September 17. At Rugby, Wellington Colts defeated Golden Bay-Motueka by 31 points to nil.