FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18480, 7 September 1925, Page 13

FOOTBALL.

Ipfe . RUGBI. '• "'/W ; - ' .

lucky win FAST PLAY IN MUD. the Otago team which met , jJ f .t.itrv at Lancaster Tark on \ was regarded genera 11 y a a a ' second-rate combination, t0 the inability of a number of Tjlnio the trip, it gave 'Cana big fright before by 17 points to 14. The " nc at t,IC start ' 1 bough --L told/and at the commencement of spell rain and hail fell, j ball difficult to handle. The | rtW*'** 8 hcav - v ' aud thc junior i "\lggQt4tiTC game, played as "a did not improve it. On 1 Jfim of the play tbe visiunlucky to Jose, for though JTgfri&fl off the game in very un--gstyle, they later improved and in the second spell Qt itfUVds especially gave an exhithat coujd not have fallen far the best Ot.ago beam could giv«u Canterbury had its best fcl&'lttfo iviilablc, for though Nixon select ' on *° r the jgH^tr v position he probably gave a yftjf jjjiplay than either Harris or would have given under t)t forti*'" 8 - Oliver, who usually ikn ]jad a worthy successor in whoso play for tho latter jUt the B6MOQ has Bet critics why he was not givea the in the ceatro position. ys[, McGregor, Hay, Ford, and jj^j[i|y»d.tgflfe 411 available, and the ivirion went well together, tnshes being a feature of

great defensive player, HHKs a wet ground, was not as usual, and it that the Old Boys' lialf-back aljont enough football for the McGregor played a good game, in &U BorU of passes cleanly, Mtiag atwigH and going on his own M yi ottuion demanded, but perhaps ll»"brighter ' eatnre of his P la y was i-jji?fofly; tackling. McGregor 'a last have revealed in the young drflttbnrch Clnb player thoso sf.erltiimtfcHties that earned him such a in the All Black team. Both (fltttek and defence he reminds one yi'tifftjin extent of G. D. Gray, CtfUtfrory't great five-eighths of fM&yean ago, though not yet snch a nir posaessing the older wrY ability to make openings, jjflfttor wastes no effort in his kick- } Ti® baU is meant to, travel a wm'iiafeiMV&nd it goes no farther, ; WUmfr ?yti it travels is a yard JwaiMM have been better served ' but his display was *jjttppandlmg being especially 1 kicking was invalwwi& eido. while his. tackling was , «g|*4 Bobilliard, atwing threethough notoverburdened chances, were responsible fefevoral very fine efforts. Nixon's I Mocking and sure hanging of the fpjr ball were especially pleasing, ; W?inkmped him as a reliable cus•ong with the disuryb&cis as a » Bobilliard is md of the in-pass, light dash for the ire of his play in i season. Iness of the Otago wenty minutes of r would probably during this period down, and it )ig scoro would bo je and St. George sion waanot truly b in Webb they •three:quarter who goal-line and the ng there. By his he pfoVed himsolf iree-quarter on the e&lly bad luck in two moro triqs. »er wing, showed «rienee, and Calvary in and out. tha played'a first,a and attack, and that the scoring ral Johnston at the game in good >ll, but altogether ck of Combination g. Next time out tly improved form, i gave a good dia--1 on a number of upset the defence ttaek. Knox was of affairs, while i, and Donnelly ous. In the lineshowed how the fhat uneven work ; k, a great deal of was thrown upon i, aijd it is fortumcn had such a Iribbling the Cannow very little, i to be to handle the line-out—-and S at times w ' at wing-forward, aa energetic as many mistakes New South Wales aken the edge off nd' Waghorn were ■bat did not show e interval a sevenpupils of under a tho Hornby and » played, and the gators amused the :">i

Otago. (Dark Blue)

Full-back: D. Stevenson Three-quarters: R. Webb R. Callendcr J. Peterson Five-eighths: Ross A. Townsend Half-back: R. Johnston Wing-forward: E. Pcarcc Forwards: 0. Knox J. Henderson G. Polworth G. Donnelly H. McMillan IS. Dunne M. Brough THE PLAY. Ota~o kicked off against a light sou'wester, and Canterbury immediately set. off to attack with a passing ru?h. wh'ch rained a lot of ground, Dallev being the last to luir.ulc Otago were goon in trouble, Stevenson fumbling, Nixon v*s on him in a flash, but knocked on close to the line. However, McGregor claimed a mark, and kicked a goal. Canterbury 3 Otago • • . . . 0 Otago transferred play to the opposite end of the field, where Nixon was bard pat to clear, but did so efTe-'tively. Melvin and Haird look play dnwnfirld, whore Webb *?»ved in fine style. A penalty was awarded Canterbury. and oarleton made uo mistake yith the kick. , Canterbury . 6 Otago .0 The Otago backs -were showing plrntr of speed iu defence, and this.was saving them time and again. Ford secured, and made a dash down, the line, passing to Melvin. who, although tackled a yard or so from the line, wriggled across to score. Carleton failed with the kick at goal. Canterbury 9 Otago . . .0

Otago broke away in a nice passing rush, the ball being passed to Webb, who handed on to Townsend, to Dunne, to Johnston, who knocked on when a try was within, reach. Otago continued to press, but their efforts lacked finish, and Canterbury were able to keep them at bay. A good kick by H»y put Otago on the defensive. but W«bb tiecured, and cleared with i> useful kirk. Play was confined for some June to Otago's twenty-five. At length, from a smart piece of passing, Tiallcy cut out two men. and passed out to Carleton, who gave tho ball to Ford, that player making a fine run, and scoring in a hiaijdy position. Carleton converted. Canterbury .. . 14 Otago . . ' .. 0

Canterbury made another great dash, but when a try seemed assured, Scrimshaw was tackled a yard from the line, and could not get across. The ball slipped from his grasp, and W ebb was able to force. Otago transferred play to the other end of the field, where a line-out took place.. A scrum followed, asd Pierce picked up, and throwout to his bucks, McMullan going over unopposed. Stevenson failed to convert. Canterbury 14 Otego 3

Otago, whose backs -wero playing close up to thair thus preventing them from opening up the game as they intended, got a chance of scoring a few minntes later, a smart piece of passing ending in Oallender penetrating the defence. Stevenson converted.

Canterbury .. .. 14 Otago .. .. 8 Canterbury returned to the attack, Carleton making an opening which resulted in the ball coming out to McGregor, who had com,e round on the outside. That player, however, missed the ball, ■which -went out, halftime sounding just afterwards, with the score:

Canterbury .. .. 14 Otago .. .. 8 Tho wind -was fresher when tho second, spell commenced. Otago, with a pood kick, soon had the Reds on the defence in their own twenty-fiVc. Webb got away once down tho side-line, but was pushed into touch before getting really dangerous. Otago started passing, but it did not gain thorn ranch ground, McGregor intercepting and making a fine run until jumped on, from behind. A moment later the Canterbury backs again got away, find the ball was sent out by Hay, after a good run, to Ford, who was crowded into touch a few yards from the line. Nixon was called on to save a hot Otago attack just afterwards, and did so after eluding tho tackle of- two opponents, his kick being a handy one. Otago were using the wind to advantage, and koeping Canterbury on the defensive. After a period of up and down play, Webb broke away, and a try seemed imminent, with three backs in line awaiting the pass out. McGregor, however, intercepted at the psycholigical moment, and. saved.

Ford w»s the next to show out, making a fine dash up tho fiold, which left ylay in neutral territory. A hot Otago forward rysh took play to within a yard of Canterbury's line, where Nixon just managed to *lear. Otago wore not done with yet, as they showed just a few moments when the ball was whipped out from the ruck to Webb on the blind side, and the Speedy winger ran, over the line to touch down behind tho posts. Stevenson failed with an easy kick. Canterbury .. .. 14 Otago- .. i• ■ • ■ 11

Webb then made a sensational run, down the field from his own twenty-five. faced by the full-back, he kicked, and chased the ball. It lopked as if he must score, but Ford, coming across from the other wing, managed to kick tho ball over the dead-ball line just as Webb was about to fall on it. It waa a pieco of hard luck for the Otago winger. t _ ... A Brttty passing rush by Canterbury, started by Ualley, saw the ball handled by the chain of backs. ' Bobilliard was the last to receive it, but was well tackled by Webb. Otago, turning defence into attack, sent their backs off on a smart passing /usn, » nd Webb, accepting a difficult ball, dashed over at the corner. Canterbury •• " ?I ' Otago • • • • 14 Otago were now having the better of the play, making full use of tho wind, which was accompanied by sleet, and Canterbury were hard' put to it to keep them out. A long kick by Otago saw the ball go out a yard from Canterbury's line. From the line-out which followed Webb was given tho ball, and, dashing round infield from his wing, was held up on the line. A force _down resulted, and then play was transferred to the end of the field by kicking and fast following up. The ball Was booted across the line, and McGregor raado a dive for it, and scored. Niion failed to convert.

Canterbury - • • • Otago .. • * Ota?o playing with great dash, in which both forwards and backs participated, took play to Canterbury's line, wherea foredown resulted. Canterbury cleared but Otago's backs came away in pasLg rush. Webb made a dash d°w» «.e line, but Nixon was equfl to the> °"' and tackled Wm beautifully. A otaeo to Canterbury's line was carried by Otago, and the ball was setft out on the blind side to Webb who must have scored had tne ball not bounced off his chest goal. Time was called a few moments later with Otago attacking strongly, ended: Canterbury •• ** Otago .. - •• •* , Mr E. Perry, of Wellington, was referee.

third grade. a SECTION. At North Park, St Bede's Boys Aby 3 points to 0. Mr Kw»s referee. q At South Park, Sydeniam d^ 6^ wi by 6 points to 0. Mr H. Walker was re w

UNDER .20 SECTION. ' At South Park, Boys' High School defeat ed Y.M.C.A. by 0 w 7 - defaa i t . Morivalo defeated Old Bo>s B 7

REMAINING FIXTURES. September 12—Canterbury v. fo'ith Canter bury, at Lancaster P, arJ: ' r /na!>md v. September 19—Test .New /calana v. New South .Wales, at Auckland. September 26—Canterbury v. \Sangan Lancaster Park.

ELLESMERE SUB-UNION. SEVEN-A-SIDE TOURNETt. The Ellcsmero Sub-Union s %how tournament was played at the kees Grounds on Saturday. There was a gooa attendance, and the weather was fine untu late in the afternoon. Itftsults.* SENIOR TOURNEY. In the final game between A and Waihora tliero was no sco b4n( j on minutes' play, and it was decided to aeanao the game till a later dato. JUNIOSS. United won the junior tourne?"- M Dunsaadol in the final by sis »® n THIRD GRADE. United and Southbridge final, the former winning in the pi*? SCHOOLBOYS. The schoolboys' tourney was won T Southbridge schdoL