FORWARDS IN GOOD FORM

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20504, 24 August 1936, Page 8

FORWARDS IN GOOD FORM

REARGUARD NOT SO IMPRESSIVE CANTERBURY WELL BEATEN In expectation of bright and interesting football, a crowd of between 3000 and 4000 persons assembled on Fraser Park on Saturday to witness the annual contest between Canterbury and South Canterbury. The home team won by 16 points to 8, and fully deserved success in one of the most solid forward struggles seen in Timaru for years. The South Canterbury forwards in the second half rose to great heights and played as fine a game as any pack which has represented the province for years, not excepting last year’s match against Canterbury in Christchurch. The visitors, led by the All Black captain, J. E. Manchester, were practically at full strength, which makes the win of the home team all the more convincing. Travelling teams are always at a disadvantage, and in this case Canterbury did not arrive in Timaru until 11.30 on Saturday morning, but even allowing for the three-hour train journey, their form in the first half did not suggest that they were finding difficulty in settling down. As the teams took the field it was evident that the Red and Black pack had a decided advantage in weight, and this they demonstrated in the early stages of the game. They held the home side in the scrums without apparent effort, and also displayed pace in the loose, from which they created a number of snappy openings. The visiting backs, displaying speed and combining well, made full use of the openings presented by the forwards, and it was not long before the visitors had opened their scoring account. They had to play up the slope of the ground, and with the sun in their eyes, and not a few South Canterbury supporters were feeling uneasy regarding the outcome. In fact, the early run of play led many to think that the Green and Blacks would suffer defeat by a substantial margin. Quite early both sides lost a man through injury, Burke (Canterbury) having to be attended by doctors, while Duncan (South Canterbury) went off with an injured leg. Subsequently he was taken to hospital. Later in the game Canterbury lost Pablecheque from the pack. The play in the first half gave the impression that the teams were not taking any risks in view of their engagements with Otago this week, but in the second half any such impression was dispelled. The South Canterbury forwards revealed themselves in a new light, and Canterbury were forced to meet, as best they could, the unexpected change in form. The visitors themselves had set a particularly fast pace in the first 20 minutes, and South Canterbury now called the tune. A freshening breeze and a bright sun did not deter them in the slightest, and they went about their work in a manner which the big Canterbury forwards did not expect. Packing solidly, tackling soundly and hard, and staging smashing dribbling and passing rushes, the Green and Blacks time and again swept right through the opposition. The superiority which the visitors, both forward and back, displayed in the first half, rapidly disappeared, and it was only occasionally that they got within striking distance of the home line. These efforts were short-lived, for the home forwards invariably smashed through in the loose or broke smartly to smother the efforts of the Red rearguard. So marked did the superiority of the home side become in the set scrums that towards the end they were electing to take scrums in preference to line-outs. Brilliant Pack Canterbury packed beautifully and their smart heeling was a treat to witness. Generally the ball got a clear passage, enabling the inside backs to work the line, and it was this factor which prevented the South Canterbury score from being larger. Only in the last two games have the South Canterbury forwards indulged in passing. They figured in several bright movements on Saturday, generally following a fine breakaway in the loose, but they erred in endeavouring to pick up when near the line. Having carried play at times 30 yards, and with the opposition on the run, the forwards endeavoured to open up, whereas by driving right to the line they would probably have scored on two or three occasions. Apart from this tendency, the South Canterbury pack gave a brilliant exhibition, and the honours of the clear cut win must go to them. Every man in the pack justified his inclusion. Until he re-

tired, Duncan was going well, and he is distinctly unlucky in receiving an injury which will rob him of the tour south. The uniformity of the pack was one of the features leading to the success achieved in the set scrums, and it was quite clear that the forwards have benefited by intensive coaching. They have been moulded into a most effective unit, and given good conditions on Wednesday should fully extend the southerners. McShane, Gunn and Higginbottom fitted in well in the front row, and with the weight being properly applied behind, Gunn managed to win 11 out of the 20 decisive scrums. All the forwards are deserving of praise on their fine showing, but mention should be made of the line-out work of Thomson, who was easily a match for Manchester on the day. On his showing, it will be difficult to keep him out of Wednesday’s team. Strang, Robertson and Gunn were always to the fore in the loose rushes, while Adkins was never far away. Home Backs Sound The South Canterbui-y backs were continually harassed by Rankin, Scandrett and Cooper, and as a result were not permitted to figure to any extent in the early stages. Later, however, both G. Gaffaney and Cartwright pierced the defence, and well backed up by the forwards, started movements which almost completely broke up the defence. King’s service was at times erratic, and as a result Gaffaney suffered, but his defensive work, and that of King and Cartwright was sound. A. Gaffaney did not play up to his best form, being several times caught in possession. McPhail made the most of the few chances he had, while Ryan, after a moderate showing in the first half, staged a number of determined runs, displaying a powerful fend. Heasley was disappointing at full-back. His handling and tackling were sound, but his kicking was very weak. The Canterbury pack will probably benefit as a result of the hard game, and will be a harder proposition on their southern tour. There are few points in the game which they do not know, but they did not altogether escape the eye of the referee, who found it necessary to administer warnings to one of the front row men. There was a good deal of offside play, particularly in the loose scrummages, and this prevented the backs from being as prominent as they might have been. McAuliffe varied his play nicely, but Hooper, apart from one or two openings, was never really dangerous. Mortlock played a good defensive game, while Eathorne displayed pace and skill on the right wing. Behms had handling lapses, particularly when bustled, but his kicking was a big asset to his side. THE TEAMS The teams were:— South Canterbury Full-back: J. Heasley (Old Boys). Three-quarters: E. Ryan (Old Boys), A. Gaffaney (Temuka), K. McPhail (Celtic). Five-eighths: G. Gaffaney (Old Boys), C. Cartwright (Star). Half-back: G. King (Star). Back row: H. Graham (Old Boys). Middle row: G. Adkins (Star), captain, R. Duncan (Zingari), W. Robertson (Mackenzie), J. Strang (Old Boys). Front row: B. McShane (Geraldine), T. Gunn (Star), A. Higginbottom (Temuka). Canterbury Full-back: I. L. Behrns. Three-quarters: G. B. Eathome, C. H. McPhail, R. Chinnery. Five-eighths: K. S. Mortlock, J. A. Hooper. Half-back: J. J. McAuliffe. Back row: J. G. Rankin. Middle row: M. Scandrett, J. E. Manchester (captain), H. Milliken, C. Pablecheque. Front row: N. J. McPhail, R. Burke, J. Mahoney. The Play South Canterbury kicked off with the advantage of a strong sun. From a 25 scrum McAuliffe broke away smartly and in association with Chinnery took play to South Canterbury territory. Canterbury were away from a scrum and when McPhail failed to handle cleanly Pablecheque was nearly over, Heasley managing to get his hands on the ball to force. Burke was carried off injured and was replaced by Sweeney. Canterbury were heeling splendidly from the scrums and they continued to give the home side some anxious moments, a penalty bringing relief. In attempting to smother Duncan took the full force of the ball on a knee and retired, Thomson taking his place. The visitors were away again from half-way when Mortlock ran round Cartwright and sent on to Eathorne who was thrown into touch by Heasley. South Canterbury gained ground as a result of a penalty, but Canterbury again broke through only to be penalised. King secured the ball from a scrum in the visitors’ 25 and the

South Canterbury backs all handled. Ryan was bottled up with no ground gained and Chinnery got through to clear to half-way. With South Canterbury attacking Milliken threw a long pass to Hooper to Mortlock to McPhail who sent on to Eathorne, the wing leaving Heasley standing after a 30 yards’ run to score a fine try. McAuliffe’s kick failed. Canterbury 3, South Canterbury 0 The South Canterbury Backs opened up in Canterbury’s 25, A. Gaffaney in-passing to McShane to Adkins whose transfer to Thomson was ruled forward about five yards from the line. From another scrum King handed to McPhail, the winger getting through on the blind side. He kicked, and in the race for the ball Behrns got there first. The visitors were penalised 10 yards inside half-way and G. Gaffaney had an unsuccessful shot at goal. For a period play was even until a speculator by Ryan placed South Canterbury on the attack. McAuliffe sent out to Hooper wgho brought play back to half-way by finding the blind spot. Pablecheque left the field with an injured knee, Cooper filling the vacancy. Following a clever centre by A. Gaffaney, South Canterbury started a businesslike rush, with the forwards dangerous. A line out near halfway saw Sweeney break through and pass to Hooper who made a fine run before sending on to McPhail and Rankin who scored wide out. McAuliffe made the score: Canterbury 8, South Canterbury 0 A good kick by G. Gaffaney placed South Canterbury on the attack. Canterbury were penalised in the scrum and G. Gaffaney failed with a long kick. Cartwright made a brilliant opening when he fielded a kick from Manchester. He short punted past Behrns and McPhail, raced up to kick

too hard and send the ball to the dead ball area. King opened up from the loose to G. Gaffaney to A. Gaffaney to Ryan who swerved infield linking up with his forwards, but a pass went astray. South Canterbury heeled and screwed the scrum, Adkins picking up to dive over near the posts. King converted to make the half-time score: Canterbury 8, South Canterbury 5 King staved off a strong visiting rush when he took a hard ball and found touch in his own 25. Here Strang broke through and sent on to King who brought play to half-way. Behrns broke away cleanly and things looked bad for South Canterbury until Heasley took a brilliant mark and cleared. Canterbury were opening up from all quarters and their fast open thrusts kept South Canterbury busy. Strang started the best forward rush of the day when with ball at toe he led the South Canterbury packmen to the 25. Hooper cleared with a splendid kick to half-way. Ryan who was playing with great determination made a fine run back to Canterbury territory where McAuliffe snapped up smartly and brought relief. King, Strang and Thomson staged a good rush which reached the Canterbury line where King incurred a penalty through diving into the pack, Canterbury earning a much needed respite. Again South Canterbury attacked, A. Gaffaney making an opening only to be caught in possession through hesitating and Canterbury cleared to half-way. Here a long pass came from the line out to G. Gaffaney to Cartwright to A. Gaffaney to Ryan who lost possession. A. Gaffaney again secured and went away supported by the forwards and Ryan, a great rush ending in the winger going over wide out. G. Gaffaney’s kick failed. South Canterbury 8, Canterbury 8

Canterbury pushed downfield with a smart concerted rush but Gunn broke through with the ball at his feet and supported by Cartwright took play to the Canterbury line where solid scrummaging ensued until Heasley had a shot fr~m the field and missed, Behrns forcing. South Canterbury came again with a brilliant rush which was started by A. Gaffaney, who sent on to Strang. The forward kicked high and Gunn and Adkins bustled Behrns. The Greens swarmed round and went over the line Gunn claiming a good try. King converted. South Canterbury 13, Canterbury 8 Within a few minutes South Canterbury were back on the attack the forwards completely bustling the visiting backs. After a series of scrums near the line, South Canterbury hooked and pushed the Canterbury forwards over the line, a forward going over in a melee. King goaled but the referee had blown for a free charge and the kick was disallowed. King’s second kick went outside the posts. South Canterbury 16, Canterbury 8 A South Canterbury forward was penalised for a late tackle and McAuliffe had a shot at goal which fell short. The game ended without further score. South Canterbury lu, Canterbury 8 Mr R. G. Sampson was referee.