LOST CHANCES.

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

LOST CHANCES.

Otago Backs Were Not Smart in Attack. CANTERBURY’S BRIEF BURST. (Written for the “ Star.”) The time-honoured game between Canterbury and Otago, played at Lancaster Park on Saturday, was quite up to the usual high standard seen in these contests. Canterburj', from the start, seemed anxious to get their forwards linking up with the backs, whilst the Otago vanguard got very little support from its rearguard. The Otago backs played up very shallow, evidently with the intention of nipping any opposition back attack in its initial stages. This probably caused the Canterbury backs to go in for short punts in the hope of driving back the opposition preparatory to an organised rearguard movement, but the kicking was not always judicious, usually it was abortive and always it failed in its object. An Intercepted Pass. Otago’s only try came from what was practically an intercepted pass, but it w*as a capital piece of work, as it naturally caught the opposition backs out of position and speed by M’Skimming finished off the moyement satisfactorily. Whilst the Otago forwards continually looked dangerous in all departments, the backs never executed a satisfactory conclusive movement. In fact, the combined back play of the visitors was a great disappointment, except on defence. On the other hand, Canterbury seemed to be overshaded in the front, but the rearguard, when in possession, always appeared to have a chance of success. With five points against them Canterbury set off at top speed at the commencement of the second spell, and, gaining a couple of tries through bright back play, gradually faded away and were being kept very busy defends ing in the last twenty minutes against a side whose backs, however, were unable to avail themselves of the many opportunities presented. Not a Dull Minute. The game as a spectacle was never dull or uninteresting, and a great many of the best features of Rugby football were seen. There was a lot of ruck work, in which the visitors were best, but well away from the pack the home side players showed to advantage, and a few good movements were noted. Although it was a hard game throughout, there was a total absence of objectionable tactics, and the contest was fought out in fine spirit. The only serious blot on the game was the laxity of the referee in allowing players on both sides to hold on to the ball when collared. I did not see one free-kick given throughout the day for this breach, and the failure to penalise tended to make the game much slower than it would have been. W.G.G.