JUST TOO LATE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20418, 24 September 1934, Page 11

JUST TOO LATE.

West Coast Make Great Effort. HOME BACKS TOO FAST. Taken all round, the representative game cn Saturday proved that Canterbury, the winners by 25 points to 21, were the better side; but the credit must go to the West Coast men, who, with a seventeen-point margain against them, turned on some splendid forward play, and came within five point? of success. It is not often that a side will come* to light with such a deficit against it. The West Coast forwards, however, rose to the occasion and gave the crowd some real thrills. Canterbury have had a lot of footl>all and showed an inclination to staleness. The forwards worked hard, some in a most commendable manner, but for vim and dash the Coasters left them standing, and it was in that department that the visitors did so well in the second spell. R. King, the West Coast All Black, was the outstanding forward on the field, and after him came L. Hughes, M. Scandrett and M’Xeight. The Coasters have the open game developed to a high degree in the forwards, and when the Canterbury back? made mistakes. as they did not infrequently, it was liable to prove costly. A. Bowes, who played for Canterbury last year, was a prominent worked in the visitors* front row, and Olsen, the hooker, gave Cottrell a hard tustle all afternoon. The visiting backs, while solid individually, did not combine well on attack, and lacked the speed necessary to secure the odd man against Canterbury. Fong. Schroder and Muir played well in the three-quarter line, and B. Scandrett was always solid behind the scrum. A. King, who took Gilbert’s place at full-back, impressed as a fine footballer, and many would have liked to see him on the wing, his usual posi- i tion. Hooper's Day “ Off.” M’Auliffe again played a good game behind the Canterbury scrum, and sent out good passes. Hooper, the first five-eighth, did not go as well as in previous games. Hooper is a young player who is fast gaining experience, and has the intelligence to profit by his mistakes, so that by next season he should be a top-noteher. On Saturday he was stopping as he passed, and making Mortlock’s chances less. In the previous game he was going a little too far. and it is evident that in trying to remedy the defect he went to the other extreme. Hooper defended gamely and at times did well on attack. He should not he disheartened by an “ off ” game occasionally, as it all means invaluable experience.

Hart and Oliver, of course, plaved excellent games. Their try when they broke through and dribbled over was exceptional. Mann also played well, and Mortlock was solid all the time, though only on one occasion did he get a real attacking opportunity. Then he ran to good account, paving the wav for a clever try. At full-back Roberts did some good kicking, but did not show ability at handling on the bard field, and was bustlffH several times on defence. Hazelhurst’s Departure. R. Hazelhurst, the ex-South Island ami Canterbury Rugby representative player-. -left Chrfetchurch bv aeroplane yesterday morning for Wellington on the fist stage of his journey to England to play Rugby Reague for the Warrington Club, near Birmingham. Hazelhurst. piloted by Mr K. L. Page, a member of the Canterbury Aero Club, left W igram Aerodrome at 10.30 o’clock and was in Wellington shortly before one o’clock in the afternoon. Mr Page will make the return flight to-morrow morning. The wrestler, Gus Sonnenberg, also left by air for Wellington yesterday. With Mr K. R. Johnston, of New Zealand Airways, Timaru, he left the Wigram Aerodrome at three o’clock in the afternoon. Beckenham Club. The annual smoke concert of the Beckenham Rugby Football Club was held on Saturday evening. Mr S. M’Alister welcomed those present, and referred to the club’s activities during the past season. Mr V. Moir was chairman. The following was the list of toasts;—"The King." proposed by Mr \ . Moir; " Canterbury Rugby Union,” proposed by Mr S. F. Randall, responded to by Messrs E. V. Phillips and W. Bailey; "Beckenham Club" (Mr W. Bailey; Mr H. Poskitt); "Referees’ Association” (Mr J. Inkster; Mr C. M'Laughlin) ; “Kindred Clubs” (Mr S. r\ Randall; Soccer. Mr S. Cawtheray; ■ ricket. Mr D. Bateman; Rugby League. Mr M’George; bowling. Mr S. C. Lurking); “The Artists" (Mr V. Moir; Mr S*. Brown); ’ The Newspapers " (Mr S. Fleming; Messrs O. G. Evans and H. W Brewery); ’The Ladies" (Mr S. F. Kandall: Mr J. Redmond); "The Chairman" (Mr H. Poskitt; Mr V. Moir). The following artists gave items:— Messrs Neill Down (songs), Frank Brown (monologues), James Laurenson ( comic stories). Len Cummings (song and monologue); Frank Brownie (ventriloquist), Harry Beresford (comic songs) and Geo. Clements (stumo speeches). The pianist was Mr Willoughby Brown. Auckland Club Final. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND. September 23. The final of the Auckland Rugby T nion's senior championship was plaved in fine weather between Grafton and Manakau and resulted in a draw, each side scoring six points. It is probable the game will be replayed next Saturday. Wellington Beat Maoris. WELLINGTON. September 23. The Rugby season was closed on Saturday. when Wellington defeated the Maori team by 11 to 6 in a patchy game. Wellington led 6-3 at the interval. but the scores stood equal at 6-6 until late in the game, when the Maori forwards tired, and for the first time in the game Wellington played like a team. The Maoris showed individual cleverness, but lacked smooth combination and their handling was uncertain, while they passed recklessly. In Other Places. NAPIER. September 22. Technical Old Boys 14. Hastings 7; Celtic 13, Marist Old Boys ff. BLENHEIM. .September 22. Marlborough confirmed the right to the Seddon Shield by decisively Defeating Buller, the season’s final chal lengers, by 10 to 7. ASHBURTON. September 22. Ashburton 18, North Otago 16.