BRITAIN AGAIN BEATEN

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1930, Page 11

BRITAIN AGAIN BEATEN

CANTERBURY VICTORIOUS BY 14-8

25,000 WITNESS THRILLING MATCH

HOME TEAM DEFINITELY SUPERIOR

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, June 7. By a try, a converted try and two penalties (14 points) to a converted try and a try (8 points) Canterbury defeated the touring British team at Lancaster Park this afternoon. Conditions were ideal and the game was witnessed by about 25,000 spectators.Though it was not their best team the visitors gave an excellent exhibition of Rugby but did not combine very well. Matters improved to some extent in the second.half, when Bowcott moved up to fly half. He was the outstanding player on th? ground. Aarvold also was very good. On the whole Canterbury had much the better of the game, the British predominating only for a brief period in the second spell when .they had Canterbury rattled. . The play throughout was exceptionally fast. Canterbury lasted it out the better and had all the better of the concluding stages.

LILBURNE OUTSTANDING BOWCOTT’S WONDERFUL PLAY. v MISTAKES MADE BY THE BACKS. The forwards were good on both feldes, but the backs displayed on several faulty handling which robbed them of scoring opportunities. Lilburne was outstanding for Canterbury, making only one error. On three occasions he came right through his opponents, and on the form he displayed ft will be hard to keep him out of the New Zealand team. The teams were the same as originally chosen, except that Bonner displaced Basset as full-back for the tourists. Bassett is suffering from an injured ankle. Canterbury won the toss and Britain kicked off against a light breeze and the sun. Canterbury ■ immediately became aggressive. Bonner was caught in possession, but' kicked in time. Reeve saved the situation by speculating to the line. The Canterbury side was passing well. Carleton intercepted a pass from a British back and kicked, Innes just failing to reach the ball, which went behind the dead area. t Britain was not handling with accuracy. Bowcott made the mistake of Hot passing when the Canterbury, men jyere all, out of position. .Following a pot by Lilburne which failed to rise, the British line swung into action, but a to Jones-Davies was forward and Lilburne found the line well down. From the ensuing play Hay marked and dropkicked at goal, Britain forcing. Canterbury was keeping the visitors busy, and Bonner just forced in the nick of time. A scrum infringement cost Britain a penalty, and Dailey found the line near the corner. Britain came away but Welsh was off-side. Hart caused .a roar when he evaded half the opposition, and Innes brought the crowd to its feet with a pot which went very close. ’Bonner misflelded a kick by Dailey, and things were looking black when Poole took- a great mark. Canterbury was having the better of play, but all the movements were stopped by solid tackling and mistakes. GREAT DASH BY HART. Poole and Wilkinson broke away and made 50. yards before Hay pulled Wilkinson down. It was the third occasion when Britain was over the half-way line. Dailey started a movement, but Innes dropped his pass. Oliver kicked over the line and Bonner forced. Hart made a great dash down the line, but was tackled and from the ruck Stewart scored. Carleton’s, kick hit the post?. ' Canterbury ' . 3 Britain 0 The kick was marked by King, who found the line at the twenty-five. Carrying a s.crum, the Canterbury forwards made for the line, a British back throwing the ball out. Wilkinson, Aarvold and Reeve were associated in a great dash. Lilb'.rne failed to stop Reeve, but Carleton pounced on Wilkinson when he took Reeve’s pass and Hay forced. Mar-

tindalo was penalised for hanging on, and Canterbury cleared to the other end. A British passing rush went astray and Oliver streaked down the line, Boycott .collaring him in fine style. From a serum infringement in line with the posts Carleton increased Canterbury’s total to six with a perfect penalty kick. Canterbury 0 Britain ...... 0 Dailey fielded the kick and passed to Stewart. The whole team - went down the field in the best movement of ihe day,- but Carleton dropped his pass and a score was lost. The ■'•ball was kicked «:,>/;■••< .... rr<-:0 ynmnd'. ..K .■■?■}>.W ; /r oaf a

over the line by Olivet, but Bonner got there first. Another sensational movement on the other wing saw Britain kick over to save. Stewart started Canterbury off again, but Oliver’s kick was sent out by Bonner. Play was very fast, both sides making it open. Half-time came with play in midfield, and the score: Canterbury -. /.... .. 6 Britain 0 ■ Both sides remained on the field at the interval. The second half opened with a Canterbury passing rush which made a little ground before the ball went out. Bowcott went up to fly half, Knowles going to left centre. Beamish was offside, and Dailey found the line in British territory. Stewart was penalised for illegal charging on the line-out and Bowcott put in a great kick to the line. The. British swung into action, but Lilburne fielded well and sent them back. Britain came again, headed by Reevesj and Carleton saved with a short kick to the line. Britain was not to be denied, and from loose play Black dived over, and converted his own try. Canterbury ........ 0 Britain 5 Play, if anything, became faster. Canterbury raked from a serum and the ball travelled along the line to Oliver, who was collared.. Bowcott gained a big stretch with a kick. Britain was pressing hard, but Lilburne relieved. Rush and counter-rush followed, Jones-Davies being well tackled by Hart. Lilburne came right through the British team, but the rush broke down ar 1 Wilkinson was within an ace of scoring for Britain. Bowcott immediately afterwards missed narrowly with a pot. jwcott was playing a great game, and his running and kicking were brilliant. Canterbury .swept down the field after a British attack, but was pushed back. Lilburne aid Oliver were conspicuous for great dashes, but the defence was too sound. Bowcott started a movement which tricked 'Canterbury and .<ilkinson went over the line for a fine try near the goal. Black missed with an easy kick. Britain ’ .......j 8 Canterbury ......... 6 Britain attacked, but Lilburne came fight through and passed. Hart was thrown out by Aarvold. From a scrum within' the twenty-five Britain was penalised, but Carleton missed the goal. .The British forwards were playing with great dash and getting the ball out to the backs on every possible occasion. Canterbury came down in line, but Carleton hung on instead of passing, to Oliver, a likely ..chance being lost. Aarvold pulled them up a few moments later with a mark. ■ Hay short-punted, arid though two Canterbury men went over the line behind the ball Black got there first. .Stewart missed a shot from a mark and then Innes secured the ball and after a brief dash passed to King, who scored. Lilburne converted.

Canterbury .......... 11 Britain ■•:,■•- 8 The din was deafening, the-crowd urging Canterbury on. Canterbury was keeping Britain within its own: half. Obstruction in a line-out gave Canterbury another chance, Lilburne’s effort falling short. Aarvold pulled Canterbury up by getting in a good kick to the line from under the goal, and then a free, kick gave further relief. Hay tried another field goal, but it was a poor shot. Boweott shot away, but Knowles failed, to take a bad pass and a fine opportunity was lost, there being only Lilburne to pass Lilburne kicked and play went back to the British 25. Scrimshaw caught Bonner in possession, but help was handy. Then Britain was penalised for a scrum infringement, and Lilburne landed a goal, making the scores:

Canterbury 14 Britain 8 The whistle was blown immediately for time. Mr. M. Floury (Otago), was the referee. DEFEAT BY A BETTER TEAM. FRANK ADMISSION BY BRITISH. Christchurch, Last Night. The manager of the British team, Mr. James Baxter, speaking at a dinner on Saturday evening, when both teams were the guests of the Rugby Union, admitted frankly that his team was beaten by a better aide. Equally frank admissions to tho same effect were made by Prentice (captain) and Beamish (who led tho side in the match-), “Sometimes things happen in a game whereby a team’s defeat can be excused;” said Mr. Baxter, “but in to-day’s game we were beaten by a far better side, and I should like to pay a tribute to the Canterbury team for the magnificent way in which it played the game. The team displayed extraordinary fitness and powers of quick thinking. I should like to congratulate” (the team and the’ cap'tain i ' ft.? • •