SATURDAYS "REP." MATCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11153, 11 August 1914, Page 2

SATURDAYS "REP." MATCH.

NOTES AMD COMMENTS. (By QUIDNUNC.) Although there ivaa a tendency in some quarters to resent criticism of a winning representative team, there is no gainsaying the statement that Canterbury's showing -against . South Canterbury was undeniably disappointing. The play was ot a nondescript character and anything but satisfying to tiie eye. The general impression left, after closely following the match, was that the local team's very imperfect performance, ignoring for the moment tho scored that gained a win would leave no permanent trace on the province's records. Considered as a team ,there were few—distressingly few—phases of the match that showed any marked degree of excellence, and the inexact, lifeless exhibition will need galvanising into some semblance of life, urn ess the tour r.f tho North Island is to end in utter rout.

Tho local forwards, from whom much was expected, showed up invidiously when compared with tho hustling, vigorous visiting pack. Their collective work was inert and shapeless, and only on one or two occasions during the match, did they show glimpses of what could be considered tho true form of forwards who liavo earned representative honours, in a season when tho club form of the different packs has readied a high standard. Their showing lacked verve and dash. ■They were as meek and mild as if they had been playing in a Sunday school picnic; match. In the sharp work at close quarters they were hopelessly beaten by the visitors, and the fast dribbling rush that has been tho chief characteristic, of most of our club football was shown-to be more conspicuously absent, by the one or two dashes that they so parsimoniously distributed over tho entire match. The most annoying feature is the knowledge that they have the capacity for a much higher standard of play.

Less fault can be found with the Canterbury backs, though one or two individual defects will need more than an ordinary amount of patching before the general appearance can be considered as ordinarily presentable. On the other hand, individual excellences were shown that augurs for a ?ood representative back division vhen the defects' referred have received the attention their importance l

deserves Tlie outstanding itault of their work was the orthodox aivd futile passing movements straight across field to the side lino. True, beih trios obtained b,v M'Lcod wore gained in this way, but the position from which the scores came was about the only one where it can l)e carried out with any hope of success. On each Occasion a scrum was formed wide out and close up to the opponents' goal line Passing straight across field then, throws the whole onus of defence upon the three-quarter line; for the closeness of the line prevents any cutting oil movement, and a fast man on the attacking wing is provided with an excellent opportunity lor scoring. Hut the same m a nam vre further back in the field does not succeed once in twenty times. ct backs stick to the same old conservative policy. What was good enough for our ancestors is good enough lor us to-day, is their unshaken belief. The other extreme of attempting to break through the defence on every occasion is equally futile. But flie player of initiative plays the orthodox, until his opponents come to expect it, and Ihrn he does the unrxp?cted. Even should the attempt fail ho has not only gained a few yards,- but it will be a creditable failure in striving after great returns.

The placement of the Canterbury backs was open to serious criticism when Crnwshaw was played -it hn'l'. Not only is it an unusual position for him, but he is far more valuable further back. A great measure of the success that has came to his club team this Reason was due to the clever openings he made, and it would have wiser on the part of those responsible had they played Caldwell at half, and •given Crawrhaw the position he is accustomed to. He is such n sterling five-eighths, and such' a splendid little sport, th-it one hesitates before saying that he was not happv in his disnU - ' Q ~- 1 Inst Thn blame is not his, and the reputation he has 'ii _ . h j :." season is not sub f ract<xl from in the smallest degree by the match against South Canterbury, Probably ho is being trained as general utilitv man, and may eventually find himself asked to fill a place among tlie forwards.

A disquieting feature of the match was the illegal piny on fie line-out. There were not one or two isolated cases, but it was noticeable riojht from t.ha beginning, and toward- the end it -b n cnme almost the usual thin-* for :• player to handle the man in front of him before the ball was half-way to its destination. On one occasion when the I'ne was bunched, a player on the outside threw the whole line into, confusion by initiating a new game of human ninepins. The result was certainly effective from his standpoint, but it was hardly football. obstruction was not uncommon, though in most ca<s°s the just penalty was enforced. But the most objectionable feature was the roaring exclamations of one of the visiting forwards to stimulate his side to greater efforts. Such a continuous stream of noi c e is below the dignity of a representative match, and should not be tolerated. Besides, it is an insult t-o the other players, to imagine that they will give only of their best when bull-dosed by a raucous, bellowing voice that would be more fittingly employed in the less intellectual pursuit of " bullock-punching. 5 '

At full-back for Canterbury, Bain played a very poor game. The only explanation that could adequately cover his many blunders was that he must have had a bad attack of nerves. His fielding was inaccurate, and his kicking was streaky. Any back is liable to make mistakes, but he made them so consistently, and failed so badly when caught in a tight corner, that one is forced to the conclusion that his (showing on Saturday was too weak even to represent partially what he is capable of. Like somebody else, " when tie is good, he is very, very good; but when Ee is bad, he is horr.d.'' M'Leod gii'es promise of developing into a first-class back. With a pair of very safe hands, pace above the average, and a gritty desperateness in his dashes, he will always prove a very dangerous scoring back. His showing in this match wa/3 distinctly pleasing, and given a little more experience, he may well fill a place in the Canterbury three-quarter line that has had more than one vacancy for a first-class wing for some time past. Boag was quite sati factory, making several characteristic dashes, and using his pace on several occasions to save what looked like certain tries aga.nst his side. Cade was keen and alert, and both in d. fence and in attack showed that his game is still on the upgrade. Some of his corkscrew runs on Saturday suggests that he might do well as a centre if occasion Offered, especially as he has successfully lived down a reputation for shirking the " hot stuff." Watson and Gray were solid, getting through a great amount of work with credit. Though fault coald be fount! with the combined work, or rather the lack.of combined work, of tie forwards, there were individual players who performed splendidly, while in one or two cases the stewards "should demand an explanation. Maxwell, on the wing, was conspicuous, but if asked for thj best < forward on the day the writer would unhesitatingly plump for Carnegie.

For South Canterbury, D. Scott at full-back lived up to his New Zealand reputation. If the full-back in the present New Zealand team is above the standard of the Timr.ru player, ho must be a champion of champions. Probably Scott's chances of selection suffered through his belonging to such an out-of-the-way district a? South Canterbury. iisd he belonged to one of the most important cities in New Zealand. he would have been a certa nty, but belonging t-o limaru, what influence could he possibly have? M'Grath and Monson, both got through their work with credit, but on the whole the backs, of course excepting Scott,, lacked finish. They were w-ling, alert and active, but their energy was misdirected. Ino lanyards are a at-renuou; lot and their overshadowing of the Canterbury pack must oe some consolation for their fe'V ' lanc Ued, and with some skilful coaching, tney would be able to give a good account of themselves against any team in N ew Zealand - but on Saturday lest their outstanding defeet was their inability to niaks full use of the advantages that their strength and willingness so liberally provided.