RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12646, 2 June 1919, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

REPRESENTATIVE MATCH, CANTERBURY V. MAORIS. Mio lirsL big Hughygnme of the sea., sou aMnictcu a good crowd 1.0 the Addington Slww I. mu mis on Saturday, ■Hid anticipations ol enlivening display ui loofbiill non; ml|y realised. Victory losLo.d with an tor bury by u good margin of points, but there'was not that much margin between the two teams. The game was played in the best of spirit throughout. The members of tlio Maori J'ioneor team an; a very sturdy lot nod, generally, they are possessed ol miieh puco. Their play is lull ol nip, and they throw the ball about with delightful freedom. They were lacking though in the finishing element ol combination. Canterbury also luui more lone-handed sparklets of achievement than united efforts. in the. curly stages the ivlaori hades displayed acuteness in seizing any opportunity, but the. Canterbury forwards held thorn in check. Jacob was prominent in a -Maori attack when nice work by Pcnborthy saved. Murray and I' it/.gorald were noticeable in stopping a hurricane attack of the Pioneers led by Gardner. Thompson now distinguished himself by some lovely tackling, and soon after had the honour of scoring the first fry of the, match- lb was lather a lucky one, the ball rebounding from the full-back, but it was a case whore following up fast gains the day. Ponbcrthy’s kick at goal was a failure, and so also was an afclempt ho made from a free kick. AVith his forwards getting the ball in the scrum, Fitzgerald was given some opportunities to shine. Particularly line throwing iu on the 'lino-out was shown by both teams, and this had the olfcct of opening np play considerably. It. was a treat to watch the tackling of all the Canterbury men. They went true and hard for their man, and seldom missed. Mullins, Murray and Grant were particularly clever on occasion. The Maoris’ first score came from n. clover piece of play by, Barclay. Ho secured about mid-field, and cutting m punted high. The bounce of the hall was out of I’enberthy’s reach and Barclay gathered in, in lovely stylo, and scored. A great dash by Milk arson, the fleet Maori wing three-quar-ter, saw Canterbury again in trouble, and a red scrum was stove in on the line and Canterbury was forced. The play now become spirited with even scores, ami the enthusiasm of the supporters of the visitors was mingled with characteristic cries. A clever kick and dodge by Mullins drove play hack to the -Maoris’ twenty-five, flag. i AVilkerson made another strenuous clash for the Maori?, and M’Cormaek replied, but was tackled. The Canterbury hacks generally were not working well together; in fact, np to this point there had been very little concerted action among them-. The Maoris freely attempted passing at all times, hut it was of a. rather haphazard nature, lobby and indecisive. , Grant and M’Lcod were busy on these occasions in Rugby Football defensive work, and Penherthy was also found solid. A fine kick by Muir lins was tho prelude to Canterbury’s second score,. A Maori back foozled, and Fitzgerald seized tho opportunity. The Maoris came away and started to throw the hall out merrily. AVilkcrson seemed in for a score, hut M’Leod caught him, Fitzgerald was also handy when the Red forwards broket away, and sent a timely pass to Thompson, .which enabled that player to score his second try, from which M’Leori; converted, giving Canterbury a load ot IT points to 3. The Reds then instituted their most pronounced a 1 tack of tho’day. The movement went, without a hitch, n.nd when the hall readied M'Le-od the Maori, defence was shattered and the Christchurch players; touched clown behind the posts. Tho Maoris made a strong rally, and Hall, the captain, gained a try after_ a scramble near the post- The remaining portion of the game was' briskly contested, but Canterbury stalled off the Maoris’ rushes and won by 16 To 0. Tt was anybody’s game up to halfway through the second spell, when the Maoris seemed to lire. They’ are certainly keen players, and do not spare themselves, hut their efforts could he more effectively directed. Speedy they nearly all are. Tn their full-hack, Kingston, Hie Pioneers hare a most euergeric stamp of player. He takes the hall and kicks well, and on Saturdav put in many serviceable niffs. AVilkcrson shone particularly at wing three-quarter, and Barclay and Jacob were prominent among the other hacks. The forwards may have had a shade the better of the' weights, but both in the scrum and the loose work the local men held their own. and at times fairly worried the opposition. Pcnherthv, at full-back for Canteibury, soh'dlv earned his place in the team. Mullins at wing three-quarters played with plenty of dash throughout, and with Grant at centre expelled many strong rushes by the Maoris. Al’Lccd scored an exceedingly nice try. hut on one or two occasion? he wan close to being ont-generallod. by his vis-a-vis. Al’Curmnck was inclined up to a certain stage to hold on too long (o the hall- Most nleasing was the exhibition given hv Thompson, the other five-eiehth. The, Old Bovs’ representative ulayed a sterling all-round game, and thoroughly deserves both theatrics he scored. 1* itzgerald was übiquitous, and with the fine uack in front of him, each of whom without exception carried his shave of the load, ho was given plenty of chances.