WELLINGTON v CANTERBURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 59

WELLINGTON v CANTERBURY.

.WIN FOR NORTHERN TEAM, & HARD-FOUGHT GAME. CHRISTCHURCH, September 4. The annual football match between the representatives of Canterbury und Wellington took Dlace on Lancaster Park this after&oon in the presence of a laige crowd of spontators. The gate money amounted to £248 9s The ground, though slightly heavy as the result of the recent rains, was in very fair order. The game, as played by the Wellington team, was a very fast and attractive one, but the home team's display was very disappointing. The game opened in a manner that promised a win for Canterbury, as a smart op^ninsr made by Burns 1 enabled Weston to score before the game had been going more than five minutes. Once the Wellington team settled down it was clear that it wa3 the stronger combination. This was particularly so with regard to the forwards, who, all through the game, showed muck more dash and skill than their orpopents. This gave the Wellington backs some openings of which they made good use. With their forwards beaten, the Canterbury backs got very few chances in attack, and their combination was not what it should have been. Burns captained the Canterbury t^am, and Roborts the Wellingtin Fifteen. Roberts wou tho toss, and Canterbury kicked off from the south end against the wind. An exchange of kicks followed the kick-off, pl<iy hovering between the Wellington twenty-five flag and half-way. The Reds getting possession, their backs essayed some passing, but Fuller's transfer to Mitchell went astraj, and Evenson saved. Passing at once went out to the other wing, but without result, and tha forwards took a hand in a scries of fast rushes, which took play to the Wellington line, where Burns secuied the ball and passed to Weston, who scored. He took the kick himself, but. failed, tho wind taking the ball just outside the post. Canterbury 3 points. 1 Wellington Nil Wellington at once 1 allied, and the play was on the Canterbury line, when the ball went out to the Wellington backs, and a darrgeious att.irk wa^ threatening when Fuller and Fryer put in some brilliant defensive work, and Wellington were defending ;ijrain. Fast for -vard work, aided by sound line-kicking, got Wellington out of j trouble, and a moment later .the visitors n-ere attacking. '" Ranji " Wilson and Avery ueing prominent in a rush that was onlj' stopped by fault} handling -.f the ball. With the play on the Canterbury line the home team was penalised, and Mitehinson had a shot at goal, the ball going just outside the posts Play slowed down for a while, the principal featuie being some useful line-kicking by the backs of both sides. Wellington gained the advantage in this respect, and set up a strong attack. Green was almost o\er, but was held up ju.st outside From the succeeding scrum lie secured tho ball, and worked an opening for Walsh, -vho scored at the corner. Roberts's kick was unsuccessful. Canterbury 3 points. Wellington 3 points. When play settled down again the Caaterbury hades got the ball, but their passing was not accurate, and Evenson broke through with the ball at his feet, Murray saving with a very lucky speculator. Wel- ! hngton was now paying a stronger game, j ! and M'Leod. making a nice opening, pa«ssd to Green, who &ent the bail on to Walsh, and the wing three-quarter ecored at the corner. Roberts kicked a fine goal. Wellington . . 8 points. Canterbury . 3 points. Canterbury livened up for a moment, but sound tackling met the attempts of the backs. From a long kick by Mitchinson the ball bounced very awkwardly for HoweM, who was beaten b) the fa-st following up of tho Wellington forwards, I " Rangi " Wilson feooring. Robcrts's kick was unsuccessful. Wellington . . 11 poirits. Canterbury 3 points. Play was fatill in the Canterbury twentyfive, and from a mark there wa.s a very I I bad shot at goal, Canterbury ben:.^ forced, j I The Wellington forwards were, showing I much better form than thoir oppoi'^nts, and " Rangi " Wilson broke away from a line out. and pas*rd to Bruce, who was ! tackled in time. Good work by Andersen I and Shanks t;ave the R<vis a little relief, but the Wellington backs were fycon attacking again, and it wa^ only a knock on that prevented another r-core. Some sound defensive work by Burns kept off a hot Wellington attack, and tb->n Menzies brok<; j away, but was not we! l s-upporfed, and a good chance was lost by .Shanks knocking on. The Wellington backs quickly turned the tables, but offside play gave the RMs 1 a free kick, which stopped a n:sh. The . Canterbury backs, ju. s t to vary tli3 monotony, secured the ball, but their pa-<ing wsis stopped when th* > -all erot j to Murray, who tried to get tco far with j it. A lucky line kick found touch near i the W<?Jlington goal lino. at:d for only the j fourth fcirr-3 sir.cc the opening of the game pay was in the Wclfinajto'i tw-pnty-fiv". The whistle, however, founded for half time, with tlie score: — Wellington 11 po--'^-Oa.r.'terbuiy 3 poir..tsIn the secoi ■:! ppel! the f'»ip,'i>'biiri K^ck-; i HO'-e rcarraritro-'l, Murray plaji'ig wii^ , three-quarter, Mitchell cpntiv. t-s d Fu'lyr t Me-eighth Ti..- opc-mr.'j: of tli c- -ell wi 1 Wellington etill attacking. ai:d a lor«-e nifth , eiK>d in Ca:it?rburj Lvin^ forced Wellington kept up the prr^uio u*<til Vr.d-rr- ! io'i aixl Shank*. )>y fa«L fr-l'-wir.? up. h..'l play in the 1-' tors' twenty fh o M'Lcol chocks a rii'li by a useful line kick, ;ind a penalty gave Wellington t.till further leJief Sound kicking by the Wellington Lacks drove Canterbury "etill further back. '

An attempt at passing by the Canterbury backs was not well carried out, and Mit-cb-inson, who attempted to intercept, got offside. From the shot at goal, Weston made a b-plendid attempt, the ball dropping short. Wellington was quickly attacking, but Shanks broke away with a dribbling rush, which Roberta stopped by a clever mark Tlie Wellington backs put in some very pretty passing, in one rush in particular, which ended -with the ball bei-niH' handled by five of the backs. The tacbnin^, however, was sound, and some kicking by the Red backs had play in the Wellington half, Mitcbinson. bringirvg off a very good mark. Play slackened down fox a time, the Canterbury forwards having one or two chances, but lacking the dash of their opponents. Fryer, who had had practically no opportunities, broke away and kicked down to Ounning'hiam, who found the line with a lucky speculator. Play was in the Wellington twenty-five, but the attack was not pushed home, and Green brought off a fine save Mitehinson followed this up with so me gocd work, but Weston regained lost ground. A moment later Shanks and Button headed a very strong rissh. and Cunningham was hurt in attempting- to stop it. However, he soon recovered. From a loose scramble Burns got (possession, and sent out a long pass, which Shanks securpd, and sent on to Murray, who scored near the corner. Weston's kick went wide. Wellington ■ II points. Canterbury ... . . 6 points. After the kick-out, Wellington was quickly at work again, and a very strong attack was spoilt by a knock-on From the succeding scj;um the ball went out to Roberts, who was tackled and penalised for holding. Very little ground was gained by the kick, and play settled down at midfield. Bruce was prominent in a loose rush, which Doell stopped by marking. Canterbury appeared to have shot its bolt, and Roberts, after a tricky run, passed to Evenson, who was tackled near the line, and a moment later the Reds were forced. Loose work, in which M'Kellar was prominent, placed Wellington again in an a'tacking position. Green shot a long pass, which Mitehinson fielded beautifully, and sent on to Evenson, who was tackled right on the line. Canterbury gradually pushed its opponents back, and near the half-way flag Wellington was penalised, Weston making a good but unsuccessful shot at goal. In the last few minutes the game slowed down, Wellington being content to play for the line for the most part Jusl before time they made another attack on the Canterbury line, Evenson potting unsuccessfully, and the forwards making a final effort, which forced Canterbury just as time was called, with the score : — Wellington -5* *.* ... 11 points. Canterbury 6 points.