CANTERBURY v. SOUTHLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9315, 15 August 1908, Page 5

CANTERBURY v. SOUTHLAND.

Canterbury ar.d Southland met at Lancaster Park to-day in tho presence of a large number of spectators, in bright weather, and on an ideal yoi-nd. Southland put a reputably good forward team in the field, and, although the Canterbury team we're all proved playery, especially in the back ranks, a fairly interesting contest was looked for. It soon became apparorit that Southland might make the game v^ry interesting, for their forwards held the upper hand in the loose, and on the line-out, and the Canterbury backs were hard put to it to stop some of the rushes. However, the Canterbury forwards were still a fairly clever combination, and as the game progressed they improved in the scrum, and gave the backs sufficient opportuni- | ties to register a fairly largo score. Deans, Burns and Fryer particularly wer.e in good form, and some of Fryer's runs were quite sensational. The visiting backs were very good in accepting openings, but on the whole they were not properly keyed up to the pace of the local back division, and Canterbury won by 1 twenty-two points (two goals from tries and four tries) to five points (a goal from a try). The teams were as follow: — Canterbury — Full-back, A. E. Doell; j j three-quarters, E. J. Eathorne, R. G. I Deans (captain), F. C Fryer; fiveeighths', TV..B. Fuller, G. *D. Gray; i half. P. Burns; forwards, J. Mahoney, 1 G. Thompson, J. Baker, W. JMenzies, j Ct. Webb, C. Evans. T. Bain and D. | M'Phail (wing). ; Southland-r-Full-back, L. Foster; three-quarters, R. Pyle, A. M'Neece, ' W. Broad; five-eighths, G. Fraser, J. M'Neece; half-back, J. Blackham; forwards, J. Ridland, F. Glasgow, ,M. Ryan, D. Knidit, G. Coster, G. Small, A. C. Miles and I. Jenkins (wing, captain). Mr W. J. Wilson, of Dunedin, was refaree. THE PLAY. Canterbury won the toss and played with advantages of wind and sun. From a succession of line-outs Ridland kicked down the. field to Doell, but Knight was off-side, and the ball came back. From a line-out the Canterbury backs eventually got going, the ball being handled by Burns, Gray and Fuller, but Deans missed the pass, and further passing between Burns and Fryer saw the ball out across the field, no ground being gained. From a forward rush Broad kicked back and followed up fast, and from further loose play Canterbury were forced. From a scrum at half-way Burns sent the ball out to Gray and on to Dearis. Eathorne took a good pass, and fending Broad off raced to the line, but went into touch in goal. Further work by the Southland forwards was stopped by Deans, but A. M'Neece and Fraser put in some fast work and removed play to halfway, where Eathorne found touch. Good work by Small and a clever mark by Blackham had Canterbury penned on their line, J. M'Neece being nearly over, but a penalty relieved. - From loose play at half-way Deans dashed through, and picking up. the ball cleanly ran a dozen yards and- passed to Fuller. Fuller sent the ball on to Fryer, and 'he just dashed over at the " corner as A. M'Neece tackled him. Fuller had a good shot that just went under. Canterbury three; Southland nil. Bad passing spoilt further Canterbury efforts,, and Southland forced . from a long kick by Fryer. Glasgow led a good rush to Canterbury territory, but Doell found the line. Immediately afterwards Broad -passed in to Ridland, and a score seemed imminent, but a penalty relieved, and a loose rush in which Bain was prominent took play back to the visitors' twentyfive. 'Jenkins next, broke through, but Fuller 1 saved. Southland carried a scrum, but A. M'Neece missed tjie pass when in a likely position. In another dangerous passing rush Blackham got off-side near the goal-line. Blackham was putting in some very clever work behind the scrum, both in attack and defence, but the visiting forwards were sent back time and again with long kicks. A. M'Neece, Broad and Pyle were associated in a smart passing rusi|, and Pyle got in a good kick when .tackled. Southland continued to attack, Broad making a fine run down the line, but Evans and Baker relieved. In a loose scramble at the Canterbury twentyrfive Fryer picked up cleverly in the' loose, and ran up to Coster and Pyle, transferring to Burns, who fielded the ball excellently. Burns dodged, and waiting for Fryer to come up sent a pass in to him, and he ran in under the posts. Fuller's kick failed.

Canterbury six; Southland nil,

Ajded by good kicking by Deans, Canterbury again attacked, and M'Phail was nearly over. From a scrum M'Pbail picked up and sent the ball on to Burns, Gray and Eathorne, the lastnamed scoring. The try was not converted. Canterbury nine; Southland nil. Thompson picked up in further loose play and nearly bullocked over, but a penalty was given for holding the ball. Burns took" a hot mark, and Bain had an unsuccessful shot at goal. In a further attack Burns, Gray, Fuller and Thompson handled the ball, but a force-down resulted. Menzies led the next attack 3 feinting and passing to Mahoney, but the ball was knocked on. Half-time sounded with Canterbury still pressing. On resuming Aitken went on in place of Eathorne, who had injured his shoulder. Canterbury soon got on a passing rush, in which Burns made all the opportunities. The ball was hand- . led by all the backs, Aitken passing to Fryer, •who was thrown out at the flag by A. M'Neece. Broad cleared from another hot attack, but Canterbury, who were now getting the ball in the scrum, set up frequent attacks, in which Burns and Deans were prominent. Blackham, Broad and the M'Neece brothers wear© smart in defence, and eventually the Southland forwards aeserted themselves. Ryan led them to the ''Canterbury line, but the ball went into touch-in-goal. Southland had the best of the play for about ten' minutes, but Burns then raced round the scrum at his own twentyfive, and tackled 'Blackhain with the ball, kicking it down, the field. Pye returned, but Burns again got possession, and, running up the line, crosskicked. Fuller came fast, and ran straight in, outpacing the opposing backs. Fuller converted. Canterbury fourteen. Southland nil; Pye made a splendid run from half-way, but sent / a bad pass to Broad, and a possible score was lost. M'Neece- and Fraser. with good kicking, undid a lot of the Canterbury forwards' work: but eventually Thompson picked up in the loose and passed out to Fryer, who gained com6iderable ground and passed to Gray I and Fuller, the last-named scoring. Canterbury seventeen, Southland nil. Blackhara then picked up smartly and passed out to Pye, who made a .good run, neaaly to the line, and passed in to Coster. Coster sent i,t on. to Jenkins, who scored under 'the posts, Gjasgow converting. Canterbury seventeen. Southland five. Shortly afterwards Deans took a pass off-*ide from Burns, and A. M'Neece had a fruitless shot at goal. Southland again swarmed in, and from another penalty Glasgow made a good attempt. Deans, Fuller, .Aitken and M'Phail were prominent in a good passing rush, but subsequent attempts were spoilt by forward passing. Event-i .-ually Burns and Baker took play down the line, where Menzies foil over, but struck the corner flag. The forwards cleared, but Fryer picked up at Kalf- : way and ran right in. beating all opposition, and scored an excellent try at

the side of tho posts. Doel converted, and. after a spell ot even play time was souuded, with Canterbury twenty-two, Southland five. 1890, at Dunedin — Canterbury -won, 6 points to 4. 1593, at Christchurch — Canterbury won, 9 poict3 to 5. 1595, at Invercargill — Canterbury won, 10 points to 4. 1596, at' Christchurch — Drawn, 3 points each. 1597, at Invercargill — Southland won, 18 points to 3. / 1398. at Christehurch — Canterbury won, < points to nil. 1399, at Inverca,rgill — Canterbury won, 6 point 3 to 3. 1900, at Christchurch— Canterbury won, 3 points to nil. 1901, at Invercargill — Canterbury won, 12 points to 3. , 1902, at . Christchuroh — Canterbury won, 21 point's to 6. 1903', at Invercargill — Southland won, 10 points to 6. 1904, at Christchurch — Canterbury won, 8 points to 5. 1905, at InvercargiU — Canterbury won, i pointo to nil. 1906, at Christchurch— Canterbury won, 14 points to 3. 1907, at Invercargill— Canterbury >ron by 1* points to 8. 1908, at Christchurch — Canterbury won by 22 points to 5. OTHER MATCHES. The Papanui Guild played a match at New Brighton against New Brighton Juniors, the former winning by twenty points to eight. For the winners B. Derrett scored four tries, W. Cawdery two, one of which was converted by D. Kruse. For the losers A. Bellamy scored and converted. Woolston won by default against St Albans. A match between th© North Canter- , bury Rugb^ Union and the WaiauCheviot Union was played at. Mackenzie this afternoon, and resulted in a win for -North Canterbury by nine points to nil. Tries wore scored by Donald, Allison, and Barrett. The junior and third grade competitions of the South Canterbury Rugby Union, were continued on Thursday in fine weather. In the junior competitions Zingari (22) beat Timaru (8), Temuka (14) beat Pleasant Point (nil), and Celtic (6) beat Star (3). In the third grade matches, Celtic (12) beat Old Boys (nil) and High . School (30) beat Pirates (o). The fourth grade competition was concluded by & match between the two leading teems, Celtic beating Temuka by eight points to six points, and thus winning the premiership.