CANTERBURY VICTORY

Rotorua Morning Post, 31 August 1931, Page 3

CANTERBURY VICTORY

Press Association-

AUSTRALIAN TOURISTS DEFEATED IN CLOSE , GAME. THREE POINT MARGIN. .

— Copyrifrht.

By Telephone— "Post" Special Service.' «

CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. In a closely eontested game, Canterbury, the new Ranfurly Shield t holders to-day defeated the Austra--ian tourists by 16 pointg to 13. The Australians showed considerable pace and dash and had the .shield holders well bustled on occasions. Australia dominated the opening stages of the game, and good combined work among the rearguard, compelled Canterbury to force twice. Excitement ran higb when the scores stood first at 10-all and then at 13 -all ,and it was only in the final hectic minutes that Robertg elinched .the game by putting over a great penalty for the shield holders. The mateb was played in fine weather but with a strong cross wind. A srowd of 12.000 watched the game. The visitors set a great pace for the opening whistle and a brilliant run by Ross put Au"tralia well into Canterbury territory. Towers attempted to dfop a goal from the field but t Roberts forced. Exciting tlashes of open play followed, but the defence was sound on botb sides. Ross, by a magnificent lcick, repulsed a forward rush, and Australia pressed hafd. v Visitors Open. After a poriod of defence, Canterbury reached the other twenty-five for the first time, but Hart and Oliver were blocked, From near halfway Cowper got the ball from a scrum, cut in, beat tbree men badly, and passed to Towers, who ran over unjpposed near the posts. Ross convertsd. Australia 5. Canterbury 0. Canterbury retaliated witb considerable vigour in a series of attacks,, First Towsrs and then Ross were tack.ed with the ball. A lob pass by Day was intercepted, and Australia cleared. A long kick by Roberts resulted In Australia forcing, for the first tirne after thirty minutes' play. Led by Cerutti, Perrin and Judd, Australia again attacked, but Innes saved by grassing Cowper. ,At half -time the score was still unehanged. Seeond Spell. A shower of rain marned the opening of the seeond spell. Australia broke tbrough, led by Cowper, to the other end, where Hart saved. Canterbury immediately retaliated in thrilling fashion, -.and a try would have resulted but for a mistake by Williams. Canterbury forwards were now showing their real form "aird countering Australia's fast breakaways. King made a fine opening, ran .o Ross and passed to Millan, to Sweeney. who scored near the posts after a speedy run. Roberts goaled. Canterbury 5, Australia 5 Canterbury now made attack after attack, bewildering the opposition. Day cut in and beat Towers, pa sed .j Oliver. who passed to Innes, and Andrews bad a clear run in. The try was converted. Canterbury 5. Australia 5. Levei Scoring. Australia caught Canterbury napping after a" line-out, and Bonis scored at the corner from- a loose rush. Ross converted woncerfuliy. Austraa 10, Canterbury 10. Still more thrilling play followed. rt.ustralia being pressed, but a penalty relieved them. Tow.rs cut in after x scrum, passed to Hemingway, who xutstripped th'e opposition and scored mder the posts. Ross missed the asiest of kicks. Australia 13, Canterbury 10. Soon afterwards Australia were penalised for lifting in the scrum, .md Roberts goakd, making the score 13-all. It was a mo t exciting game. Canterbury se.t up an otber attack, in which Hart beat Palmer, raced to iU.ss anu , kieked over his bead, hut in the race for the ball Malcolm won and forced. From a. scrum inside the Australian twenty-five Canterbury hooked, and Oliver almost got through. The defence wag alive, and Primrose kieked to tbe line. Then the Auvtralian forwards won a line-out and their oacks eommenced, hut a forward pass pulled them up when Oliver grassed -Towers from hehind. Both sides kept going strongly. In the last five minutes Canterbury finished most strongly. Australia was penalised in front of the post.-, and Roberts put over his fourth goal. Australia made a esperato effort to win, but could not do it, the final score being: — Cantsrhury 16, Australia 13.