INTER-PROVINCIAL RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 214, 4 June 1920, Page 9

INTER-PROVINCIAL RUGBY

$ WELLINGTON DEFEAT CANTERBURY AND RETAIN RANFURLY SHIELD The first intorprovinclal Rugby fixture Of tho season vas decided at tlie Athletio Park yesterday afternoon, when Wellington met and defeated Canterbury by la points to 3. The afternoon was, brilliantly fine, and fully 9000 spectators Y[nro in attendance. General Birdwood arrived on the scene 6hortly after the cliango of ends, and his arrival was heralded by a spontaneous outburst of chcering—loud and sustained. The teams wevo as follow:— Canterbury: Evans, Ford, M'Cormick, Thompson, Yates, Boag, Sandmann. Carnegie, Munro. Hasell, Bannister, Murray, Cummings, . Parker, Henry. Wellington: Jlalin, ll'Arthur. Alear, E.-Eyan, Byrne, J. Tilyard, E. Eoberts Gilchrist, Elliott,! S. Shearer, Moiitt. Harkncss, Wilson, Price. J. Shearer. Tho game was woll up to the.interprovincial standard. There was an entire absence of wind, but the turf was heavy and inclined to be greasy. Tho sun shono throughout tlio first half to tho discernJiturciof the visitors, who had lost tlio toss, but by tho timo the second Inlf was under way it had disappeared behind the hills. Tho difference between the respective scores. does not convey a true estimate of tho relative merits of - tho teams. On the afternoon's play. Wellington, on account of tho superior combination of their backs, must be acclaimed the superior, team, but theirs was by no means an easy win. At half-timo tho scoro was 10-3. and although Wellington subseauently added another five points to their tally they were bady beaten in ail departments throughout the last thirty minutes' play. Canterbury showed themselves to be possessed, of great staying power, and lack of finish only militated against their chance of converting defeat Into victory. Eight from the jump the visitors com menced to get the hall out of tho scrum, and thence onwards it invariably camo their way, tho Wellington pack not getting a look in. Another weak point about the home fifteen was tho wing-forward, Carnegie (the Canterbury wing) repeatedly "putting it all over" the local man Evans, tho Canterbury 'full-back, was a particularly safo man. and did some ex eellent work. Ho refused to get bustled, and cool-headedly ropelled many an onslaught,' not once . failing to get his kick in. In J. Tilyard and Byrne —the Wellington five-eighth line-Can-terbury found a nut which, try as thoy would, they could not crack, Both played brilliantly, and of tho two, Tilyard was th 4 more dangerous opponent, and Byrne the more spectacular. Eoberts was reliable, but inclined to flashncss. The safest line-finder was Eyan, who never mado a mistake, aud on defence was as solid as a rock. Algar, although rendering extremely valuable service, was not In hi» best form but he ivas responsible for the mpst brilliant individual eflqrt of the match. This was when he scored Wellington's opening try.

Eoberts set tho ball in motion, and transferred to Tilyard. Then Algar cut in. and recelying with great'dash elusively drove a wedge in through an almost impenetrable block of opponents, and scored in a good position. Of the local forwards J. fjbearer and Prico were the most effective on attack, frequently bursting their way through the pafck. Ford and M'Cormick were the brightest, stars In the Canterbury firmament. They 10peatedly picketf up and put in brilliant runs, finally ltfsing out through lack of suDDurc. Their fellow-bacus" vorked hard enough, but they lacked 'vmbisation. Tho fact that their half (Sandmann) indulged •In far too many wild passes also told fteainst them.. Their forwards wero a line lot. and it would be difficult to discriminate. Carnegie iwing-iorward), Parker (a provincial runner of " considerable prowess), and Cummlugs were the pick. Tho all-round tackling of the visitors was excellent.

Canterbury's first and only score came fairly early in the came from a penaltygoal kinked by Hasell. They maintained this lead until Algar scoured his try. I!oberts. in converting this retrieved himself, ho having, just previously mado a bad. miss in failing. to goal from a penalty in an easy position. Heady play by tho Wellington forwards, in which Price was conspicuous, kept Canterbury on tho defensive until Ford relieved in grand style. The home backs now set un a series of spectacular concerted attacks, and onco J'ilyard beat down tho defence and touched down only to bo recalled on account of a knock-on. Sandmaun, who '(tot busy with his old trick*of diving: through tho scrum, was getting the ball • from tho scrum often enough, but did not always make tho best use of it. . M'Arthiir figured in a promising attack.' but lie Slipped at a critical moment. Jack Shearer annexed Wellington's sccond try, picking the leather uji duriug a scramble near the uprights adn" boring his way through to success. Hoberts added the m?jor points. The home team's territory' not free from invasion, however, w Cormick more than'once penetrating as tar as the'last line/of defence. A seri'es of serums—there were far too many halts on account of infringements-Baw Cantcrpury cet the ball evory time, and onco Hascll had an ambitious kick at goal -a penalty-froin nearly half-way, the Ml 'jußt falling . short , underneath tho bar. Wellington then delivered several punishing attacks, and during one of tnese a clever, passing rush in which Roberts, f)lva.nl, JloSitt, and J, Shearer figured, ended in the latter player losing the bull on tho line. When half-time arrived Wellington were_ still vigorously pressing their opponents. Upon resumption of hostilities, some altfffations were made in the disposition of tho Canterbury backs. Yates and Ford mo t e .? i'P to first and second fivecighths respectively, Boag wont to centre,' artel Thompson to tha wing. The change proved for tho better, and gradually Can ttrburr became more and more aggressive Wellington were ctill attacking frequently, however, and Eyan earned much applause on account or a brilliant'dash, but was eventually, intercepted Ly Boag. ltvan came on again, and after beating half the Canterbury team transferred to Alear h^Vr2£ e fi tbe m 1 i no - on . 1 ? t0 bo held up 5, Cor "! lok ' The position was reversed ►iJn -ir ir , lwar i t ! s ' anl ' Parker got'over, tho Wellington line. ' He was 1 smothored ov Byrne, however, before he could touch down. Give-and-take play followed till during a brief onslaught on tho part of Wellington the ball went through the side of the scrum into the hands of Gilchrist who frdl over tho line and touched down. Boberts converted. Wellington 15, Canterburv 3. There was no further scoring, »ml lov tho last half-hour of tho game Canterbury had Wellington penned up in, their, own twenty-five. The home team more than once sought sanctuary in a S ( l"wn," and the visitors repeatedly great dash. They lackcd finish' however, otherwise the score-board would have told a diltercnt tale. In tho dying stages the Wellington backs manattack 0 r 0 "° brilliant but ineffective •llr. 11. I'aton was tho refqree. "curta¥raiser"

INTEK-'VABSITY MATCH. As a, "curtain-raiser" to rile big match an inter-Varsity fixture. Wellington v. Canterbury was staged. Tho honours were earned ofl by Wellington after h ragged exhibition. In the lirst half Canterbury attacked at tho outset, but prem, lo . tor ' a . College forwards got going. They invariably secured tho tall from tho scrum, with the result that their backs were able to get moving, m,d scorcd pret y frequently, mainly through tho E of t ? arkor > Aitkou, and Tracy. At half-time the score stood 14 to nil in favhMf v- ! • loatn - 1,1 4110 Htcond r ..T ,c , ona ,P, cllc « a , d(lcd . "i"o points to linr, ?i, ®"' IOII P' I tile visiting forwards ihone to bettor advantage than in tho mr> Tf linc-liickiiip on tho tlnn mn, r .'1 3 " IS ° ' SaVO(l 11,0 tion ju more than ono occasion. Tho Earns ended 23 to nil. H.'Scott kicked a penalty-goal in the first half ami scored a try, which ho himself convtrted. /it., ken and lMghf.on notched uncolivortcd n-ies. In the second half Hanson. Tracy and Day scored a try each. Nono of vaTretoe*. 00nTerted ' Mr ' H - -Brookor

WAIRARAPAV. HAWKE'S BAY

By Telegraph—Pross Association i , . Napier, Juno 3. n /preventative match Wairarapa v. nmW I ,f y ; »■», JPtaycfl this afternoon Of ni,? con,lit ' lon s in the presence Jw ? spectators. Play was somew»f cd in the > flrst s » e11 - durl "ff' iw rtlrara .P i \ scpied eight points (tries >. I?™ 0 * 16 "' one of which Z.Jr i'i cr , tc ? by Mu Vray). while tho home team failed to score, -althoueh very close lo it on several occasions. In the second „™ ay W S 3 . very fast ' boU > sides cxertihn, a eflort ; ® 10 h<"iio forwards Sn» .•i UP i I, ? rt ' cl,lal, ly well, and, mainlv due to their fast, sweopin? rushes, Hawk'o's itl-iT , wf 1 Polo's- Johiißon XioUeil two magnificent penalty soals from dltilcult ancles, and also converted a try "cored by Hwain, who made a great run f, r ,i n „i oyer half ,T ay ' Just on time a try was also scored by Bntnhelor, Wairaraun l hre ® ■ )olnlß to their score, ami thus Buffered defeat by 14 points toil. Jajor E. Cockroft was rcforeo.

MANAWATU SEVEM-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT. By Telegraph—R.icrkil Correspondent. Palmorston North, Juno 3. Perfect weather was experienced in Palraerston North to-day. 'j'hero was a Jarco attendance at tho Manawatu Rugby Unions seven-a-side football tournament. was interesting throughout, and la the E&mo between Palmorston Hish

School and Wanganui. College 'the formsr ivon by 35 to nil. In tho senior final Kaitoa defeatrd -VcUdlug by 6 to 3. lu tho juniors, iugn School boat Western United by 25 to 3. Tho Primary Schools fln.il resulted: Convent A team, 14; Campbell Street School, 3. AUCKLAND V, KING COUNTRY. By Telceraph-'Preps Association w Tauniarunul, Juno 3. A representative football match, Auckland versus King Country, was played here to-day in lino, weather. Thcro was a largo attendance. Tho King Country toam put up a good fight in spite of the visitors' heavy scoring, making the gaino fast and interesting. The final scoro was: Auckland, 32; King Country, 6. Thomas, Nicholson, Wilson, Lucas, Taylor, Gasnarlch anjJ Y. Bodeley scored for Auckland. Ea'den and Thomas scored twice for King Country. Dick Roberts, the well' ■"known "rep.," played a sound gamofor King Country. WANCANUI V. TARANAKI. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, June 3. ' A representative Eugby football match betweeu Wanganui and Tarnnaki was played here to-day in beautiful weather. In the first half, Scott and A. Leokett scored tries for 'Wanganui, and Stewart converted ouo. Wauganui led by 8' points to mi until twenty' minutes from the call of t'ime, when the visitors, who had tho heavier forward team got tho upper hand. From a scrum on tho home line, Brown scored a good try. Soon after King and Malono scored as a result of forward rushes, Colnian converting one. The final scoro was: Taranaki, 11; Wanganui, 8.