RUGBY

Evening Star, Issue 23374, 18 September 1939, Page 4

RUGBY

PAYNE TROPHY MATCH CANTERBURY COLLEGE BEATS UNION CLOSE FINISH TO BRIGHT GAME Three thousand spectators at Carishrook on Saturday afternoon saw Canterbury College (Christchurch premiers) defeat, Union (winners of the Dunedin competition) by 13 points to 12 in the annual game for the Payne Trophy, which was played under excellent conditions, the weather being fine, with very little breeze, and the ground hard and fast. The issue was in doubt until the final whistle, and although the visitors held a territorial advantage in a game which was marked by plenty of incident and movement, it was not until seven minutes from time that they regained the lead which they had lost in the first spell. Even then Union staged a response in the dying stages which might still have changed the fate of the game, but. the University team held on to the one point margin and became the holders of the Payne Trophy for the first time since 1928,. Dominating possession from scrums, line-outs, and rucks, the Christchurch premiers made every attempt to open up play in the first half, but mishandling by the backs and solid defence by the Union team prevented many movements from culminating,- and with the local champions often able to _ make play from their opponents’ mistakes Union led by 8 points to 5 at halftime though the run of play had favoured the visitors. In the second half Union showed improvement in the early stages, aiid with backs and forwards working well together ran into a 12-5 lead, but-the effort was not sustained, and, still commanding possession in all departments of the game, Canterbury backs threw the ball about with abandon, and two tries came fairly close ‘together, the final try being converted by Ellis, Canterbury’s tally being two converted tries and an unconverted try to a converted try, a penalty, and. a field goal. In the first spell Canterbury won 14 scrums to Union’s 7, 11 being indecisive, while Canterbury’s work on- the line-out gave them possession 15 times to Union s 8, 7 being indeterminate. The rucks also favoured the, Varsity team by 10 to >6, 6 being indeterminate. Union had seven penalties and Canterbury College sis. Union’s pack played better together in the second spell, but tho figures still favoured Canterbury, the visitors winning 15 scrums to 10, 10 being indecisive. Canterbury gained possession from 10 line-outs and Union from 7, 5 being indeterminate. Canterbury won 11 rucks to Union’s 9, 4 being indeterminate, while 6 penalties were awarded to Canterbury aiid 3 to Union.

Canterbury. fielded a solid, hardworking pack, and had there been any crumpling on-the part, of the Union clefeiice or a shade more finish on the part ot Canterbury’s inside backs the score would \have been larger. The All Black C- W. Williams led the fori words outstandingly, his work in the tight and loose and ,on the line-outs being first rate. While he gave a splendid all-round exhibition of for-

ward play, he very little overshadowed G. S. Walter, a Canterbury rep., who was at the head of many bustling loose rushes and also did fine work on the line-outs C. C. Foote and P. G. Roberts were another good pair, the former doing some'good dribbling and Roberts following up smartly. The Canterbury backs were given good service by their half-back, .1. J. -M'Aulitfo, who sent out well-placed passes and varied his game by playing back to his forwards when the occasion warranted it. A. L. Ellis showed some hesitancy at first five-eighth, which was costly to his side on a number of occasions, but H. M. Kimberley and A. G. Hunter staged some good moves, marred on some occasions, however, by mis- * handling. Hunter was closely marked by Silver, but he made several penetrating runs, and whenever given room to work in was dangerous. Kimberley cut in very nicely, though inclined at times.to go just a shade far. J. S. Cartwright got few chances in passing right along the chain, but he made one or two fine runs, though closely marked by the hard-tackling Werner, At full-back M. P. Donnelly, the New Zealand representative cricketer, acquitted himself very well, fielding well in the air and on the ground and kicking with length hnd judgment. Several of the Canterbury players arrived just before the game, but, on the other hand, the Union team was also below its full strength. The forwards, however, lacked the dash and vigour of their competition games and they were well beaten in the scrums. There was more method in their plav iu the second spell, and more than once loose rushes looked like being crowned with success. A tireless worker in all departments was V. Newall, who was the best forward on the side, with F. H. Vorrath and D. Slyfield showing out ■on the lineouts and in the loose. W. Ireland was another noticeable for a lot of good work. B. Samson played soundly behind the Union scrum, and filling a last-minute breach at first five-eighth, J. Walker, the Otago rep. forward, made quite a . good fist of his unaccustomed position, keeping Ellis well in check. The most . dangerous attacking back on the Union side was' Mathewson, the second fiveeighth. who showed a lot of initiative and resource and was very quick to seize an opening in tho defence. His potted goal was a very good effort. R. Silver, at centre, did not have many opportunities on attack, but bis defensive work was of a high order and he backed up ably. Xe>ther Werner nor Elder handled very often in com- ‘ hined movements, but both defended well, and M'Kcrrow, at full-back, also played quite a usgful game. Werner made one very fine run which looked like being ctowned with success, but a twenty-five was ruled. The teams:— CANTERBURY COLLEGE. (Maroon.) Full-back.—M. P. Donnelly 10.6. Three-quarters.—J. S. Cartwright 13.3, A. G. Hunter 12.6, R. Hudson . 11.7. Five-eighths.—H. M. Kimberley . 12.6, A. L. Ellis 13.10. Half-back.—J. J. M'Auliffc 12.5 (captain). Forwards.—H. E. Garrett 12.5, G. T. . J. Wilson 11.13, A. J. Lake 12.7. G. S.. Walter 13.7, C.-W.. Williams 14.10, P. Lynch 15.5. C. C. Foote 12.12, P. G. Roberts 13.2.

UNION, (Light Blue.) Full-back.—A. M’Kcrrow 11.3: Three-quarters.—L. Werner 12.7, R. Silver 12.8, D. Elder 13.0. Five-eighths.—C. Mathewsou 10.5, J. Walker 14.3. Half-hack.—B. Samson 11.9. Forwards—T. Gensik 13.0, C. K. .lenkins 11.8, J. Anderson 12.0, V. Newall 14.6, F. H. Vorrath 14.7, D. Slyfield 14,0, W. Gibson 14.8, W. Ireland 12.7. FIRST SPELL Canterbury College kicked off, and when Walker kicked well upheld Donnelly returned to touch past halfway. The Union forwards, led by Vorrath, staged a rush, and the backs came away in passing, but the defence stood tho strain, and Walter came through from a ruck at half-way. Possession from the scrums so far had been fairly even, play being of an indecisive nature. Union wore making play from the line-outs, and Vorrath ami Slyfield broke through in short passing, offside play pulling Union up. Good work by Walter on tho line-out enabled MlAuliffe to scud the Canterbury backs away, but a promising movement wan spoilt when Hunter knocked on. M'Auliffe was endeavouring to get bin backs going, and from a scrum lie sent to Ellis, who made a strong run, with Williams m support. • The. visitors were now having the better of the scrums, and M'Auliffe started passing again, Cartwright coming in to give them the overlap, but just when a good opportunity presented itself Hudson knocked on. The Canterbury backs continued to throw the ball about, and tlicir persistence was finally rewarded when, after Kimberley had been caught in possession. Hunter snapped up smartly and sent in to Williams. _ who scored in a handy position. Ellis converted. Canterbury College 5, Union 0.

Canterbury were dominating possession from scrums and rucks, but Union made a loose rush to the visitors’ twenty-five, having a shot at goal from 35yds out, which went just outside, Canterbury forcing. Union rallied and Mathewson made a good burst up the centre of the field, Slyfield carrying on. Several Union raids were repelled ■ by Donelly, who was fielding well and kickpassing reached Hunter, who was well taken by Silver, but passing swung in again, and Kimberley was nearly through. Newall and Slyfield headed a Union rush inside Canterbury’s twentyfive, a penalty from 28yds out enabling Silver to kick a fine goal. Canterbury College 5, Union 3.

' The Union forwards launched another loose sortie, but Foote broke through from the twenty-five, and play moved to the other end, where Roberts followed through fast, M'Kerrow kick inf" over the dead-ball line. Play sparkled up, and Ireland made a break from a scrum, sending on to Werner, who made a fine bid for the line and went across at the corner, the referee ruling touch-in-goal. The homesters were not to bo denied, however, and Walker, Vorrath, and Slyfield swept down on Canterbury’s line, where from a ruck Newnll forced his way across for a try which Silver converted, half-time sounding with the score: Union 8. Canterbury College 5. SECOND SPELL On the resumption, Canterbury staged some bright passing, and Hudson came across from one wing to send to Cartwright, who was nearly over on the other flank, Union forcing. Roberts led another Canterbury raid on Union’s line, and M'Kerrow saved in good style, Newall and Vorrath heading a Union rush beyond halfway. Although the visitors were still obtaining more than their share of ball, the backs could not pierce the defence, and Mathewson made one break up the centre of the field, the Canterbury forwards soon returning play to the twenty-five. The Union forwards made a sally well past halfway, Gibson, Slyfield, and Vorrath taking part in shortpassing, which shifted play to Canterbury’s twenty-five. Walker checked a Canterbury breakaway, and the Union backs combined in passing which reached Silver, who was forced into touch. Piny swung infield, and Matbewsou gathered smartly on the twentylive, and potted a neat goal. Union 12, Canterbury College 5. The Union forwards and backs were playing better together now than at any stage of the game, and possession was more evenly divided. Walker, who was playing soundly in his unaccustomed position at first five-eighth, stopped Ellis several times, Canterbury’s back movements being nullified by some indeeisiveness on the part of Ellis. Silver, too, was showing excellent cover-defence, and his keen anticipation frequently Jed to the breaking up of Canterbury attacks. Canterbury made strenuous attempts to cross, but always at the crucial moment something went wrong, and Silver cleared beyond the twenty-five. Canterbury’s persistent attacks _ were finally fruitful when M'Auliffe, Kimberley, and Hunter mine through in passing, and from the •ensuing loose play Cartwright secured and went across wide. Ellis failed. Union 12, Canterbury College 8. ' The visitors strove desperately now to regain the lead, M'Auliffe launching passing in both directions. Union endeavoured to clear, and Hunter made a strong thrust up t)ie centre, Lynch and Roberts carrying on. Canterbury maintained the pressure, and Cartwright made ,a fine run. Garrett, Wilson, and Williams carrying on in « loose rush. The last-named dived for the ball, but the referee ruled a force-down. The visitors had Union hemmed in the twenty-five continually now, and M'Auiiffe, Ellis, Kimberley, and Hudson were in passing which stopped when Elder brought Hudson down. M'Auliffe tried further passing, hut the defence held, and Donnelly, fielding a clearing kick, tried n pot which fell short. Canterbury had been doing everything but score, and M'Auliffo’s efforts to open np finally met with success when passing reached Hunter, who cut through cleanly to cross in a good position. Ellis converted, and with seven minutes to go the score was: Canterburv College 12, Union 12. With Canterbury pressing, Slyfield broke away in a nice piece of dribbling, and. from a penalty 47yds out Silver went wide, and the Canterbury backs staged passing which took play to halfway. First Silver and then Werner made breaks on opposite flanks, and from a penalty 20yds out Silver missed narrowly and Canterbury forced. In the last minute of the game AVerner tried a pot which fell short, and the game ended: Canterbury College 12 Union 12 Mr D. M'Kay was the referee.