FOOTBALL. TOWN v. COUNTRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9633, 28 August 1909, Page 5

FOOTBALL. TOWN v. COUNTRY.

The second*, match between teams representing the Canterbury Rugby Union and the conlbiiied sub-unions affiliated to it was played at Lancaster Park this afternoon. Heavy rain fell throughout the game, and the ground and ball we very greasy. In spite of .the conditions the play was thoroughly I interesting, the Country - representai tires giving a much better exhibition than m the previous match. The- forwards especially did good work, making many fine loose rushes. The Town backs Were a good deal superior, and it was laigely owing to their efforts that the Town team won by twelve points (a penalty goal and three tries) to six points (two tries). . Both teams were altered owing to the absence of I players originally accepted, and they (took the field as follows: — Town — Full\back, A. E. Doell; three-quarters, F. C. Fryer. A. Cresswell and D. Guthrie; Lve-eigKths, W. B. Fuller ahd L. lutclnngs ; half. P. Burns; forwards, 3. HaselT, E. Button,- G. Anderson, W. Menzies, J. Borough, W. Maxwell,, T. 3ain and H. Shanks. Country—Full>ack, W. Burrows (Ashburton) ; threequarters, L. Cordner (Ashburton)j A. M'Meekan (Malvern) and L. Brown (Ellesmere) ; five-eighths, P. Tainui (North Canterbury) and H. Murray (Ellesmere); half, R. Mason (Banks i i'eninsula) ; forwards, G. Smythe, C Fittock, M. Daily and T. Rattray (Ashburton), B. Jordan (North Canterbury), G. Ormond, C. Howell and A. Corrie> (Ellesmere). The Country forwards opened with a good rush, Jordah dribbling well, and m>m a scrum near the line a short rush carried the ball over, and Doell forced. Getting possession, in the jcrunifc, the Town teaan were aggressive, but the backs found the greasy ball hard to'hold. A loose rush reached the Country line, but the ball went j into touch in goal. A fine passing irush by the Town backs reached the i Country line again, and Hasell and Anderson broke through from a scrum, the latter scoring. Button's kick at goal failed. After some close play«at half-way, a good kick by Murray found touch at the Town twenty-five. The 'country backs attacked with some good passing, V M'Meelsan. was tackled as he got tim ball. From the scrum Mason marked in a good position, but the kick at goal failed. A strong forward rUBh reached the Town line, but ! offside play robbed the visitors of a jtry. Ormond started a passing rush 'which again went near the line, but Guthrie relieved. The ball went out ito the wing, and Fryer dribbled' cleverly right up the ground, beating everyone but Murray, who fell on *he ball. A free-kick was given against him and Doell placed a fine goal. The Town team, who had been one short, were now strengthened by the arrival of Burns. A strong Country rush wa6 i stopped by Guthrie at the ' Town twenty-five, and Tainui stopped the ro turn rush with a good kick. Howell found the ball in the loose, and following a hard kick compelled Doell tf find touch near the twenty-five- A penalty checked the Country forwards on the Town line, but a fine return by Murray had the Town line again in danger. From a acrum Murray took a good pass and just got over the line, but the kick at goal failed*.

Shanks started some passing, and Cre&sweM kicked to the Country twenty-five. The Country . forwards rushed ' back to half-way, but M'Meekan failing to hold the ball the Town forwards broke away, and Shanks kicked over the line, but just failed to reach the ball in time to score. Tainui put in slome good footwork, but a Town rush again beat the Country defence, and fi fore© resulted. Half-time was then called, the teamß changed over and went straight oh. The Country team- Was forced at

once, Fryer following a kick well. Passin s between Fryer and Fuller again had the visitors in troußJe, but in" another rush Oresswell lost the ball, and the Country forced. The visiting forwards made a good effort after the kick out, but Cresswell returned well to half-way. Cordner got away and made a good run, but was not well supported, and his pass went astray. From some loose play at half-way Fuller got away and finished a fine run on the Country lino by passing to Fryer, who 'scored an ©aay try. Doell made a good! but unsuccessful shot at goal. Another

rush from half-way followed at once, I and after Hutchings and Fryer haa | dribbled to the Country line the latter I picked up and scored, but failed to ! kick a goal. Howell started a good 'dribble, and Daily assisted him, but Doell saved well. Another dash, however, beat the defence, and a bunch of 'Country forwards went over the line, Howell scoring. Mason made a good at'icnipt at goal. Cresswell placed the 'Town in an attacking position with- a good run. but the .Country forwards })u\il their own. A strong run by Cto.fchrie, Fryer and Fuller was -well stopped, anct though a penalty kick assisted the vistors, Doell returned to the twenty-five. wi*h'» fine kick. Some fast play followed, and a good Country rush took the bali past half-way. Ormond 3 x»adod a good rush. Burns just saving ren yards from tho line. The- Country

forwards got round from a scrum too J quickly, "and a free-kick enabled Doell ]to make- touch, at the twenty-fire.

More kicking was in favour of the Town team, but Brown, fielding the ball remarkably well, kicked too hard, and Doell forced. The Country for- ! wards made another good effort, and Ormond just failed to sootre, but- from the ensuing scrum the Town forwards cleared the line. Ormond and How-ell broke through again, but a ha»rd kick enabled Burns to force. '