CANTERBURY’S CLOSE CALL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 852, 28 August 1933, Page 11

CANTERBURY’S CLOSE CALL.

Ranfurly Shield Retained After Great Battle With Otago.

THREE-POINT MARGIN BETWEEN TEAMS.

CANTERBURY’S GRIP on the Ranfurly Shield was thoroughly tested by Otago on Saturday afternoon, and the holders emerged from a great game with a victory by the narrow margin of eight points to five. Down by five to nil at half-time, the Shield defenders had to call up all their reserve energy and skill to place themselves in front at the finish. The victory was gained by means of a try r and a converted try scored early in the second half, against a converted try claimed by Otago mid-way through the first spell. It was expected that Otago would fully extend Canterbury, and they made a great bid for victory'.

The Oval at Lancaster Park was in tip-top order for the match. After the rain earlier in the week the playing surface was* soft without being holding, and two fast and efficient teams were able to show their best form. Watched by a crowd of about 17,000 spectators, including a band of 500 enthusiasts from Dunedin, the game, without achieving any sustained brilliance, provided easily the best display seen in Christchurch this year. It would have been difficult to place two better balanced or more evenly matched teams into the field, and right up till the last whistle it was touch and go for Canterbury. Both sides adopted similar tactics, playing a fast attacking game from the word go. The ball was not allowed to hang in the scrum, but was brought out into the open at every Opportunity. The result was bright football. The showing of the Canterbury forwards in the match with Southland on the previous Saturday had caused many to believe that the pack would quickly outplay Otago. But, no such thing happened. In. the first half it was the Otago forwards who were in command. They did not have a big margin of superiority, but what they had was sufficient to keep them on the winning side. Better Hooking. Otago’s All Black skipper, J. Hore, was beating Wade for the ball in the scrums with the consequence that the Otago backs were receiving more scope than the Canterbury rearguard. Play throughout the first spell was slightly but definitely in Otago’s

The Otago backs had one bad fault, and it was in evidence right through the match. This was the fault of kicking too much. When they have had a little more experience they will know that in football, just as in anything else, possessiqn is nine points of the law. Otago gained a number of scoring chances only to throw them away by injudicious kicking. It was the inside backs who were mainly to blame. There, were times when they appeared to have forgotten completely the existence of the centre and the wings, for rather than pass the ball out they tried and invariably failed to penetrate the Canterbury defence by kicking. Nolan was Accurate. With Nolan giving a wonderful exhibition of safe handling and positional play at full-back, it was foolish of Gillies and R. M’Skimming to persist with these tactics. Nolan accepted every kick that came his way and repulsed the Otago thrust with accurate kicking into touch. Had the Otago backs done more with the ball while they had it there can be little doubt that Canterbury would have been considerably more than five points down at half-time. Every ounce of energy that Canterbury could muster was thrown into the issue at the start of the second half. It was a shock attack that had Otago overwhelmed for a few minutes, and it lasted long enough to give Canterbury the lead. Ilazelhurst, who played a clever game in departments of the five-eighths role, opened a gap for Mortlock, and in a flash the Otago line was crossed. This was followed up by a dash that showed Hart at his best; the wing made a dazzling run down the line and, going well round, scored in a handy position. Nolan converted. That was the end of the scoring for the day.

Although both sides were ever on the look-out for an attacking chance, neither was able to penetrate the defence of the other. Otago finished strongly and were having the better of Canterbury in the closing stages. Great Forward Work. For the forwards of both sides there can be nothing but the highest praise. Every man put his best into his work. Otago had a great leader in Hore. Not only did he make himself a winning factor in the scrums and in the tight scrummaging, but in the open he was often seen heading the forwards in solid rushes that sorely tried the Canterbury defence. His work in the lineout also bore the stamp of thoroughade, who was Hore’s opposite number was slightly overshadowed. That not discredit him. Hore produced the form that made him an All Black, and Wade, a younger and less experi-

enced man, did well to run him so closely for possession of the ball. Some will say that the Canterbury pack did not produce the great form that was shown against the Southland giants. Such an impression would be due to the fact that the work of the lighter and faster Canterbury pack was enhanced against the background formed by slow and cumbersome Southland men. Against Otago, Canterbury met men who were their equal in every way, and they played at tneir best. Cottrell, Wade and Bowes did wonderfi|J things in the front row, but they were not superior to Lucy, Hore and Service. Hartnell, Howell and Manchester were perhaps seen at their best in the line-out, while King and Andrews were great fighters in every department. The work of the Canterbury backs suffered somewhat through the disappointing form shown by Mortlock, whose passing was below standard. He made many mistakes in handling, and was not the secure link between the scrum and the outside backs that he might have been. His try was scored in a moment when he seemed to have recovered his best, but it fell a long way short of compensating for his mistakes. A Patchy Half. Simon’s work behind the Otago scrum was patchy. He lost more than one attacking chance for his side by sending out passes that were either too low or too high to be taken, and yet dangerously easy for interception. Oliver spotted this weakness, and more than once turned Simon’s errors to Canterbury’s account. Mullan played another fine game, overshadowing Simon both on attack and defence. Otago carried out their threat to mark Oliver closely. Smith watched his every move and so did M’Skimming and Gillies. The Canterbury centre was given very little quarter, but once again he rose above the heads of all other backs on the field. On attack he was the leader of the Canterbury side, while his wonderful defence was the salvation of Canterbury on many occasions. An impression that stands out on its own was that made by the rival fullbacks, Nolan (Canterbury) and Taylor (Otago). Nolan was perhaps called on more than Taylor, and he answered every call with distinction. Never out of position, he was as safe as a rock on defence, handling with grace and skill. His line kicking was always accurate and his wonderful judgment in this respect saved his team a great deal of work. Taylor was not far behind Nolan. Both men played up to the highest standard of the full-back's job.

In a game in which the strain was on all the time, it is remarkable that the injuries were comparatively slight. Hart and H. M'Skimming, who played opposite each other, had to retire in ithe second spell. Both had given good displays, and their loss was felt by their respective sides. There were few stoppages otherwise. With a little more experience among the backs. Otago might have beaten Canterbury, but on the day’s play the better side won. TEAMS ENTERTAINED. Good Feeling Between Two Provinces. The good feeling existing between Otago and Canterbury was referred to at a complimentary dinner to the Otago touring team on Saturday night at \\ arner’s Hotel. The president of the Canterbury Rugby Union (Mr A. E. M’Phail) presided. In welcoming the visitors, the chairman said that the spirit of Rugby football was what mattered. The Otago men were somewhat unlucky in not winning the Ranfurly Shield. Had they won, Canterbury would have had pleasure in warmly congratulating them. The spirit between the two rival teams was good, declared the manager of the visiting side (Mr W. Pearson). The visitors appreciated the hospitality of the Canterbury Union. Congratulations to Canterbury on the victory were extended by the Otago captain (Mr J. Hore), who said that the game had been played in a wonderful spirit. The hope that, when the shield left Canterbury, this province would be good losers, was expressed by the Canterbury captain (Mr A. I. Cottrell). Mr j. K. Moloney, in proposing the toast of “The Otago Rugby Union,” said that Otago’s turn to hold the shield would come probably next year. Responses were made bv Messrs James Mitchell, president of the Otago Union, and James Wootten, vice-presi-dent. Trotting and Racing Trainers A match played during the week-end between a. trotting trainers’ team and a side composed of galloping- jockeys and by 17 points to 3.

IN OTHER CENTRES. Hutt Beat Wellington Champions. < Special to the “ Star A) WELLINGTON, August 28. Hutt beat the Wellington champions, Wellington College Old Boys, in what is virtually- the champion of champions game when they won the National Mutual Cup by 8 points to 6 on Saturday. Right on time Old Boys might have won with a try in the corner. The movement, a brilliant one, started at half-way in the last minute of play. Claridge got the ball in the line-out and passed to Hollis, the winger, who drew the Hutt forwards and then passed to his half, B. Sadler. M’Neile, probably the best forward on the ground, joined in the movement, and the ball went through the hands of all the backs to Wright, who was knocked on to the corner flag as he was about to ground the ball. It was a matchwinning effort that failed by six inches and Old Boys went down to defeat. For once Old Boys, who have won most of their matches with their forwards, altered their policy and decided to play three loose packmen. This was fatal, as the Hutt forwards were playing brilliantly in scrum, line-out and loose, while the backs Were showing tons of pace. Served well from the scrums and line-outs, Lilburne adopted the Osier policy and kept the ball too much to himself. Killeen played a dazzling game. He has improved out of sight this season and will be unlucky to miss the North Island team because of the stronger claims of the Auckland centre, Oaughey. Still he is a decided possibility as second five-eighth. Lamason and M’Neile were Old Boys’ best forwards, while Barry, Wilson and Stevenson showed fine form for Hutt. M’Neile, who goes on tour with the Wellington colts’ team, is the most improved forward in Wellington this season and is sure to be heard of later. WALLABIES BEATEN. Lost Fourth Test by One Point. CAPE TOWN, August 26. There was warm, breezy weather for the fourth Rugby test match, played at Port Elizabeth, when South Africa beat Australia by It points to 10, the score at half-time being 5 to 0 in South Africa’s favour. Twenty thousand spectators were present. Turner and Venter were unable to play owing to injuries. The first spell was uneventful, the South Africans using the line, and winning most of the scrums. Poor placekicking. by Cowper cost the Wallabies points. After twenty-five minutes’ play White scored a spectacular try. which Osier converted. In the second spell De Yilliers, who had received a kick on the head, came on again. Billman. owing to an ankle injur)*, joined the pack, Sturtridge replacing him as fly-, half. The Springboks continued to dominate play through their forwards. S. Louw scored a try. Osier failing with the kick, and Brand landed a penalty goal The Australians were mostly bottled up in their own territory.

West Coast Team. (Special to the "Star.") GREYMOUTH. August 27. A team to represent West Coast against Canterbury f or the Ranfurly Shield next Saturday will be selected from the following twenty plavers who have been chosen to travel to Christchurch: G. Gilbert, L. Martin, B. Taafe, C. Schroder, A. Fong- (captain), W. Hughes. B. Scandrett. M. Kelly. J. Kirkland (vice-captain), M. Scandrett R. King. Freitas, M. Thompson, L. Hughes. E. Jones. B. Kelly, M. Jamieson, W. Buchanan, .1. Beban, M. Davidson. The team, which will leave Greymouth on Thursday, will be under the care of Messrs J. Dcvaney and A. O. Evans. The final selection will l»e made in Christchurch on Friday.