OTAGO UNIVERSITY v. CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9271, 25 June 1908, Page 1

OTAGO UNIVERSITY v. CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

The annual match between teams representing Otago University and Canterbury College was played . yesterday afternoon at Lancaster Park The overnight rain had made the ground heavy, but the surface was fairly dry, and with a dry ball the teams were able to play a fast game. The interest which the annual match always has for the collegians and tLeir friends was added to by the fact that a fifteen had to be picked from the two teams to compete against a combined team from Auckland University College and Victoria College (Wellington) in Wellington. The players were all anxious to secure the honour of selection and the game was a hard one. The visitors, though they were without the services of their "star" back, R. Daneey, who was playing in the South Island team in Wellington, showed that they possessed a capable scoring combination behind the scrum, though their forwards were not the strongest that have represented the University. For two-thirds of the game the College forwards beat them both in the pack and in the open, but the backs failed to lend the support that the forwards deserved. Towards the end the local forwards played themselves to a standstill, and the visitors were able to run up a large score, winning by 21 points (three goals and two tries) to 3 points (a try). • The teams were as follow : — Otago University — Full-back, Borrie ; threequarters, Hay, Uttley and M'Bride; five-eighths, Lomas (captain) and Nuku ; half, Ongley ; forwards, Tansey (wing), Fenwick, Watt, Lang, Potter, flartgill, Davie and Seed. Canterbury College— Full-back, Chrystall; thr^equarersj Rhodes, Blank and ■M'Callnm ; five-eighths, Ferguson and Reid; half, Henderson ; forwards, Haskins (wing), Williams, Wilson, Collyns, Grace, Currie, Young (captain) and Wigley. Mr W. Woods was* referee. Canterbury kicked off, and the forwards set up an attack, play remaining for five minutes near the Otago line, but Uttley and Lomas relieved by kicking. At half-way Ongley passed from a scrum to Lomas, who ran round on the blind sidjb and gave M'Bride the ball, but he was tackled by Chrystall on the College line. Nuku kicked over the line, forcing Canterbury, and they were again forced by an unsuccessful shot at goal from a free kick. The home team were unable to work fhe ball outside their own twenty-five, and" after some loose play Nuku found an open ing. Beating two or three of tbe College backs he ran to the Hue where Chrystall tackled him and he lost the ball, but Lomas picked it up and fell over the line, scoring the first try for the visitors. Hay kicked a goal.. Chiefly by their superior piay in the scrums the College forwards reached the Otago twenty-five, but of! side play spoilt their attack. Chryst^'l had an unsuccessful shot at goal fy. jja a mark by Henderson, and the College backs made a good passing rush, but Lomas relieved with a fine kick to halfway. Chrystall' s kicking . was chiefly instrumental in removing play to Otago's territory, but the home forwards heeled the ball out to their backs, who made no use of their chances, and at half-time the position was unaltered. Soon after play was resumed M'Bride failed to take the ball at the Otago twenty-five, and Grace picked it up. He passed to Wigley, who sent the ball on to Rhodes, enabling him to run in unopposed. Ghrystall's kick at goal failed. The visitors gained a little ground by using the touch-line, but the College forwards rushed back to their twenty-five, and Chrystall missed a by no means difficult kick at goal from a penalty. Passing by the Otago backs placed Canterbury on the defensivei and th' forwards carried on the ball by good foot-work to within ten yards of the Canterbury line. After two or three attempts Ongley shot the ball out to Lomas, and he sent it on to M'Bride, who dashed over the line. Hay's kick at goal failed. More passing by the visitors was spoilt by Nuku dropping the ball, and Reid started a dribbling rush, Grace and Ferguson carrying it on to the Otago twenty-five. Ferguson made a good run and passed to Reid, who attempted to pot a goal, forcing the University. Play remained in the Otago twenty-five for a few minutes, but Hay obtained possession from a kick, and after a splendid run passed to Lomas, who beat a man and gave the ball to Uttley, enabling him to score an easy try. Hay placed »< goal. After another run by Hay, who was stopped only just in time, he College forwards worked their way to the visitors' twenty-five, but Nuku broke away, and after one of the best runs of the day passed to Hay. The ball was handled by half-a-dozen players, and' Hartgill scored, but Hay's kick failed. Canterbury were now beaten, and in the remaining five minutes the visitors attacked strongly. Hay ran to near the line and centred. Seed snapped uo the ball and ran in unopposed, and Hay kicked a fi n o crt\ si 1