RUGBY NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20056, 20 September 1920, Page 3

RUGBY NOTES.

WELLINGTON'S WIN, BASHING FORWARD PLAY, THE SEASON'S RECORD. Lost to 'Wellington, 15 to 3. Y’ou against South Canterbury by .16 to 6. TV on against Otago by 9 to nil. Lost to Southland, 15 to 9. Won against Wairarapa by 9 to 5. VI on against Wanganui by 19 to 11, Lost to Wellington, 16 to 13. i Wellington’s win on Saturday was cmo to bolter combination amongst the forwards in the second part of the game. They were not all hanging together by any means. But when one broke away there was always a couple °1 others in attendance, and sometimes a back as well, Canterbury were not helping each other to anything like tho same extent. Some of them were not in good enough condition for a bard representative game, and most of them suffered from faulty line kicking. The result, 16 to .13 in Wellington’s favour, gives a correct idea, of tho character ot the play. There wore plenty of scoring opportunities, aud the visitors bad more “ punch ” when the result was in the balance. Evans had a bustling day at "full-' back, getting more work at times than ho was entitled to. He displayed great gnt in getting down to determined rushes, meeting everything with a. pair ol steady hands and a, cool eye. If he did fail in one slight particular, it 1 wa.s in lus line-kicking. He was in‘dined to sacrifice length to accuracy, but the tricky cross-wind may have had’ something to do with that. In the three-quarter line it was Wilboii’s day. He handled tho ball admirably aud gave every opening'a solid go. People inclined to question his selection as centre w r ere evidently badly Wilson loft all traces of nervousness at home and thoroughly justified inclusion. Ford was fair on the right wing. He was not; very certain about rush-stop-ping. M’Leod never made a mistake, though he was very carefully watched. His tackling, though still high, showed distinct improvement. On. one occasion be pulled up three Wellington forwards when things looked black, and turned defence into attack. D. 'VrConnack was the best of the Canterbury hacks,- aud more than a match tor Roberts at cutting in. It took a stiff tackle to stop him, and ho generally got the hall away smartly, '■non the forwards were going properly in. the first spell, he opened up some movements that left Wellington standing. The other five-eighths,. Fitzgerald, played a long way ahead of his form m the Wanganui match. Ho took his passes while going at full, and varied lus game judiciously. The half-back, Sandman, was not as suvtirt off tho mark ns the Wellington half, hut in defensive work lie beat any other man on tlic field, though pressed heavily by the/quick—to-break-up Wellington pack and sometimes harassed bv oil-side actios. ‘ , In the first spell. Peterson was the best forward on the ground, breaking a way from line-out ' after lino-out? handing the ball on to Iris backs and following up 'brilliantly. In the second spell he was still prominent, hut men on the other side, had followed his example, and, competition was fierce. M’Cleary was another forward who kept up with tho game. He dribbled splendidly and (headed many a rush. Over-keenness took the edge off " his tackling occasionally. Cummings finished up the season with a groat performance. Ho" was unlucky to miss a. try or two. Though tiring towards the end, IT ascii had the best of numerous exhausting tussles iu the tight work. Ho kept Wellington very busy in the scrums and showed them some points in the oppn as well. Carnegie was not the keen wing-for-ward of Canterbury’s southern tour. He is_ probably feeling stale after a gruelling and 1 creditable season. Tho other Canterbury forwards were good in patchesThe outstanding back in the Wellington. team was Ryan. Ho was going at the top of his form in, the second spell, and working iu with lus forwards. Roberts was steadier than nsuaj. (He seldom attempted anything out of the way, hut. ho was an expert at; passing out _ from difficult corners. For accurate l line-kicking ho was a long way ahead of any of the Canterbury hacks. O’Sullivan is a promising type of wing-three-quarter, speedy and coolH. K. Nicholls was tricky and dangerous behind the scrum, though feeling, like the others, a. bit below par after the tough struggles against South Canterbury, Otago and Southland. Harkucss was the best Wellington foi'ward. Ho was in fine fettle and very sure in his handling. Standee, Calcanai and Shearer were going well.’ : 'Hanji” Wilson woke up in tho second spell and helped to make the pace a “cracker.” Altogether, tho game was one of the fastest, liveliest and most interesting seen on Lancaster Park since tho palmy days before the war. No one will grudge 'Wellington their win. When the men warmed up, it was easy.to see why they have so' long been the champions of New Zealand. At, the same time, it was good to see Canterbury playing on their own ground like they played on -tour. The pconle who wore disappointed over the Wanganui exhibition had a pleasant surprise. THE GAME AND THE FLAYER. A fine .speech on tho Rugby game was delivered by Mr G. IF. Mason at the union’s smoko concert, on Saturday night. “Of all the games wc play,” said Mr .Mason, “ there is nothing to beat Kugby loot ha 11 for good comradeship, good fellowship and lasting friendship. No other game ever invented will leach men how to control ' themselves and their temper like Rugby docs. J claim that, our game, if it can do nothing else, can make a man of a hoy, and at the sumo time keep the.man a hoy. It is a pastime that has a great effect on a hoy’s character. A hoy in a Junior team who gets his ‘paddy up’ over a rough tumble, must get over it.very quickly; or his reign is short. Ft is the greatest educational factor wo have outside the schools. I want, the game played for the player; J think wo are going too much on” the spectator’s point of view. Tho greatest criticism comes from those who want morn than their shilling’s worth, and have uovei- played tho game in their life. 1 don’t care how. much you alter the- rules as long as you make the rules for the player, and not for the spectator. 1 want tho game played for the player; if wo make it too strenuous you will sound its death-knell. Make* it a clean sport- and make it a game for the player. Play it in the way it is intended to he played, and I will challenge criticism from anyone.” ODDS-AND ENDS. Mar ists play the Rest of Canterbury on the Oval next Saturday. That will close ‘the season. Five columns of newspaper spacer were devoted by an Invercargill news-

paper to the'report- of the Wellingtonsouthland match! , tho Ranfuvly Shield war. nanded oxer, to- Mr A. J. Gcddes, orewdent of the Southland Union, ou Vednosdny night, the Wellington playcreated som'e amusement bv kissing u *tt®°H'onately, with tbs ‘ remark, Good-bye, pict-o'of wood.” "Wellington has held the shield since 1914, prevmua holders being Auckland, Taranaki and - Wellington. “ I don’t know anything about the amended nilcs- Tbo game’s good enough lor me as it is.”— I "Ranji” Wilson at tire smoke concert on Satur'dav m ght. • THE TONERS. Senior Grade—Murists. ftp?' ol Grade, —Lyttelton.. Third Grade-—Boys’ High School, Fourth- Grade—Marists. Filth Grade—Boys’ High School. Sixth Grade—MaristsSCHOOL COMPETITIONS. Senior—Marists, Junior—Biccartou. Light-weight—Marists: