OTAGO'S WIN OVER WAIRARAPA

Chronicle (Levin), 4 September 1947, Page 6

OTAGO'S WIN OVER WAIRARAPA

Press Association)

(Per

' MASTERTON, Sept. 3. Otago beat Wairarapa 8 to 3 in a representative Rugby match before a crowd of^OOO at Masterton Park this afternoon. Otago -'s succ-ess lay in a grand set of baeks who were fast and enterprising and handled beautifully. The home forwards were a match for the visitors in the loose but in the rucks Otago heeled the bait con-sistent-ly. Otago opened its account with a trv by the forward, K. O'Connor, who linished off an attractive • movement initiated by the. half, L. Woodhouse, who whipped the ball infield to the forwards after a bright run. R. Orr} full back, missea the kick. Wairarapa re taliated with a penalty by E. Weleh, full back, who put over a fine kick arising from a serurn infringement. Tho seore remained at 3-all at half time. D. H. Murdoch, who was brillianr for Otago at first five-eighths,. made a spectacular break around the blind side from a ruck and after slasliing the Wairarapa defence to ribbons, passed on to the second five-eighths, T. W. Lynch, a third generation member of a family with a remarkable Rugby record, who seored nieely. Murdoch converted. After fierce rushes by Wairarap? forwards and smart play by Otago backs, the game ended Otago S Wairarapa 3. Both Welch (Wairarapa) and Orr (Otago) were two very sound full backs. The latter clearly showed the polisli of experience but Welcli was his master for strong line kicking. Otago forwards were superb at hooking and the backs were fed handsomely by Woodhouse. From Murdoch to Lynch o.nd out to McKercher, W&ldron and the pacy winger Moore, was an effortless chain. For WTairarapa W. YVaaka was quite tlie outstanding forward. There seemed to be a weakness in the inside backs. Couch, who was moved Ln from second five-eighths to first five eighths well into tlie second spell, played attractively though handicajiped by an injury received iu the match ■gainst Manawatu.