FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16495, 4 August 1921, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME, CANTERBURY BEATS TARANAKI* (Per Press Association.) HAWERA. August 3. The Canterbury-Tarnnaki match was played to-day* before three thousand spectators. The ground was very heavy. Rain fell earlier in the day, and a strong wind swept the ground throughout the match, marring many promising movements by both sides, j The visitors proved superior, all the ] forwards playing well and with judg- j ment. Canterbury faced the wind, their kick-off being returned and Taranaki attacking for some minutes: but the home team could not control the ball frequently the kicking was too hard. Canterbury broke away and a great rush ended in Wilson scoring. The try was not converted. Canterbury ... 3 Taranaki ... 0 Another rush followed, in which Canterbury just failed, Campbell saving Taranaki. From a line-out near Canterbury’s line Masters dived over the line and Hooker converted. Canterbury ... 3 Taranaki ... 5 A Canterbury infringement - near their goal gave Taranaki a chance but Hooker’s kick failed. Play continued in Cantcjrbury’s half, but the defence was solid. The spell ended with the score : Canterbury ... 3 Taranaki ... 5 Early in the second half a good Canterbury rush enabled Blazey to score under the posts. Henry converted. Canterbury ... 8 Taranaki ... 5 Wind prevented Taranaki making any progress though solid work was being done by Fogarty, Robertson, Hooker, Malone and Sykes. By strenuous efforts play was carried to Canterbury’s half, but Taranaki were forced back, the visitors’ three-quar-ter line making a good dash, but offside play spoiled the movement. A Taranaki attack for a time looked promising, one splendid rush by the ' backs reaching Canterbury’s twentyfive, where Hickey failed to take a pass and Fitzgerald relieved with a great kick, the ball going out near the Taranaki line. Blazey injured his knee at this stage and Dailey replaced him. Soon afterwards Burson set the Canterbury backs going, the ball travelling from Fitzgerald to Dailey, to Wilson, back to Dailey, who scored. The kick failed. Canterbury . . .11 Taranaki ... 5 Just on time Henry kicked a goal from a free kick. Final score: Canterbury . . .14 Taranaki ... 5 Canterbury i/ere not at full strength and there were also absentees j from the Taranaki team, Kingston being the most notable. The game ; was kept too tight to be spectacular ! and was mainly a contest between the opposing forwards. For Canterbury the j Cummings brothers played finely, as did Henry and Orchard, while for . Taranaki Fogarty. Robertson, Sykes and Malone showed to advantage. Mr A. F. Neilsen was referee. NOTES ON THE PLAY. [From Our Correspondent.] HAWERA, August 3. Canterbury kicked off against a heavy wind. The first exciting incident was a great rush by the Canterbury forwards, who went through the Taranaki pack. A good line kick re- | turned play down field. A kick by Ford was smothered by Sykes, who went down the line Imt failed to get over, the Canterbury tackling being too solid. Tackling held up two or three Taranaki rushes though a force J down just saved a score early in the ' game. Orchard waited for tTTo bounce and was caught in possession, and Taranaki nearly got over, a force resulting. The ball came out from the scrummers and Burson missed, but Ellis picked up and started a rush which took Canterbury up to Taranaki’s line, where Wilson missed a good opening; but immediately afterwards picked up and cut in-field through a crowd of Taranaki players, scoring a •sensational try. Shortly afterwards Ellis started another rush and Ford made a good I run, beating Hickey, but being taken | by Lusk on the line. From a line-out Campbell (Tara- 1 ’ naki) made a great solo dribbling run, } j kicked the ball hard from half-way and j had a race with Orchard. The ball, how- 1 ! ever, went over the dead ball line. ! Taranaki set up an attack and Hickey ! was brought down solidly by Orchard, going out of touch inches only from the line. From the line-out Masters scored and Hooker converted amidst great enthusiasm. Orchard, in fielding the ball a little later, was rushed. He dodged two Taranaki players, but was brought down immediately underneath a “ crowd ” of Taranaki players, being kicked oil the head. He went off, but j resumed subsequently. Play was full of exciting incidents, j and there were great tussles amongst ; the forwards. W. Cummings played a ! great game. Burson did not plav i well at half. Taranaki’s great advantage in having the wind behind them was spoilt by too hard kicking. At the beginning of the second spell W. Cummings rushed Robertson and slipped. Ho seemed to twjst his knee, but resumed play. Fitzgerald made a good run and kicked when collared. W. Cummings, who followed up well, secured and passed in to Blazey, who ; scored under the posts. Henry converted. Shortly afterwards Taranaki were forced. Great forward play followed. Munro and Henderson were associated in a good loose rush down the line, Robertson just saving with a speculator. Orchard stopped a loose rush. From a line-out \Y. Cummings broke away and took play on to the Taranaki line. From his own territory . Fitzgerald started a running rush and i transferred to Henry, who passed in to E. Cummings, who was held up on the . line. Soon afterwards 'Wilson made a great dash but was collared on the line. Canterbury were having the better of the game, keeping play in Taranaki’s half. Taranaki livened up and two fine rushes into Canterbury territory looked dangerous. Blazey retired from an injury to his leg and was replaced by Dailey. Burson picked the ball up and passed to Dailey who, after a good run, sent out to Wilson, who was stopped at the corner. Wilson passed in again to Dailey, who scored in a good position, but the try was not converted. Henry kicked a splendid penalty goal. This was the final score. Of the two packs Canterbury had

slightly the better, and helped by the wind in the second spell Canterbury kept on the attack most of the tjme. All the forwards played well, especially the Camming brothers and Carnegie. Of the backs Henry and Wilson did best. Ford had few opportunities. CHRIST’S COLLEGE OLD BOYS. Tb© annual football match v. Country in connection with the Christ’s College Old Boys’ Association is to be played next Wednesday afternoon on the College grounds. FIXTURES AT ASHBURTON. The annual football match Ashburton County v. Ellesmere County will b© played at Ashburton on Saturday. Mr D. Friedlander has been appointed referee. Th© annual seven-a-side tournament under the auspices of the Ashburton Rugby Union will be held at Ashburton on August 27, competitions to be in senior, junior, third and school grades. LEAGUE FOOTBALL. AVON CLUB. The following will represent the Avon Club in Saturday’s matches: Juniors v. Hornby, at Hornby—Goodall. Gillespie, Stevenson, Richards, Thomson, Kirton, Litten, Vivian, Cummins, Godfrey, Hawkins, Young, Robinson, Dawkins. (’Bus leaves Cook and Ross’s corner at 2 p.m.) Third Grade v. Woolston, at Woolston (1.40 p.m.) —Kirton, Powell, Garrett, Nelson, Tull. Richardson, Johnson, Mac Gibbon, C. Pitcher, Drew, Morgan, Guilders, J. Pitcher, Emms, Boswell. Fifth Grade v. Svdenham, at St Albans Park —Troubridge, Ruthberg, Robson, Anderson, Lisle, Hivgins, Dunmill, Brydone, Barnden, M’Donald, Rochester, Nowman, Deakin, Dawson, Dowler.