RUGBY

Evening Star, Issue 22440, 10 September 1936, Page 15

RUGBY

AUSTRALIA’S HARROW WIN NORTH OTAGO BEATEN BY THREE POINTS FAST AND EXCITING EXPOSITION HOME SIDE'S GOOD SHOWING In one of the fastest expositions of Rugby seen in Oamaru for many years the Australian touring team narrowly defeated North Otago yesterday by 16 points to 13. The issue was in doubt till tho final whistle, when the call of time saw the home side making strenuous efforts to gain the ascendancy, and brought conclusion to a thrilling game full of incident. The Australians made the play at every opportunity, but brilliant defence thwarted their efforts to cross, and the tide of battle was surprisingly often turned by smart interception and judicious kicking.' A feature of the match was the remarkable display given by the North Otago forwards, all of whom played the game of their lives, particularly in the latter stages, when quick sorties and thrusting movements helped to bustlei ■the visitors, who relied for the most part on their backs to clear a way' through the defence. The Australians, were a much faster and heavier combination all round, and showed superiority in the set scrums and line-outs; but in the loose scrambles and rucks the North Otago forwards more than held their own. The home side’s backs were put in the shade in so far 'as attacking . movements were concerned, but, they more than made up for this deficiency with splendid tackling and defensive work. Perhaps the hero of the local side was S. Easton, who gave a sterling display at full-back and frequently got his side out of danger with smart fielding and kicking. ,His tackling also was beyond reproach. The visitors came to light with some splendid passing, but the tendency of the second five-eighth and centre to run across the field often spoiled promising movements and interfered with the wings. Infringements were general, hut the referee imposed little restriction on the players, so that the game was kept open for the most part. The encounter will certainly go down as being one of the finest expositions of Rugby given by a North Otago team against such stern opposition. The teams:— Australia.—Rankin, Dorr, M'Lean, Egan, Richards, Tiammon, Gibbons, Walden, Stone, Malone, Hutchinson, White, Ramsay, Bridle, Windon. North Otago.—S. Easton, Cameron, M'Kenzie, Ledingham, Dwyer, M'Laren, Stichman, Carrodus, G. Newlands, Dougherty, A. Newlands, Park, Easton, Carrington. THE GAM£ DESCRIBED Playing conditions were excellent, and 'thetfground 'was' in perfect ofdef when Australia met North Otago at the Oamaru Show Grounds before some 4,000 spectators yesterday afternoon. The home side kicked off in an entire absence of wind, play going to Australia’s twenty-five, but smart work by Gibbons saw the ball go into touch at halfway. Carrodus was prominent in leading a forward rush, but good tackling by M'Lean up-ended the local player. Making a combined effort, in which the forwards and backs handled in turn. North Otago again invaded the visitors’ territory, but, when in a good position, Easton’s pass was not accepted, and a set scrum was ordered. Cameron and S. Easton each attempted to open the account with field goals, but were unsuccessful. Play was confined to Australian territory at this stage, North Otago keeping up a hot attack. Ledingham came into action, and rushing play to the fullback (Rankin) kicked past him for Johnston to touch down between the posts. Easton converted an easy goal. North Otago 5 Australia 0 Playing with a great deal more thrust the Australian backs were seen in a series of fast passing movements, but the tendency to run across the field or go too far’spoiled the attacks. Rankin attempted a penalty, but narrowly missed. More passing by the visitors had the local backs continually defending, until Park came through the ruck. Rankin, however, was rooklike on defence, and saved brilliantly. Keeping up the pressure Australia nearly succeeded when Dorr made a break down the line, but he was tackled by S. Easton when yards from the goal line, and the ball went into touch. Quickly seizing the opportunity Dorr threw in smartly for Bridle to score. The ball had not been thrown syds, however, but the referee apparently failed to notice the infringement. Rankin missed with the kick. North Otago 5 Australia 3 Up-and-down play followed in quick sequence. Dwyer, with a nippy little kick, found touch near Australia’s twenty-five. Easton was given a chance to raise the score, but just failed to find the posts. The crowd was brought to its feet when McLaren cut through in fine style, but his pass was not accepted and a good chance -was lost. M'Lean turned the tables by dribbling 50yds, only to be thwarted by A. Newlands and Ledingham, the latter finding touch near halfway. From a passing rush Dwyer cut in beautifully and nassod out. The ball beat Rankin and M'Kenzie raced over to score. Johnston converted. North Otago 10 Australia 3 White was next seen in action and had a clear run in, but a knock-on spoiled a good movement. Gibbons, Hnmmon. and Richards were making valiant efforts to cross, hut were unable to penetrate the defence. Dwyer again got away and, supported by Dougherty, caused a lively scramble. However, their efforts were not allowed to succeed, and Australia was again attacking when half-time was called. North Otago ... 10 Australia 3 With the change over Australia came into its own. as it were, and fast passing by the backs ami forwards soon gave a lead over North Otago’s total. Dorr and Egan essayed a sortie, but again a good movement was spoiled when a knock-on occurred. Shortly after North Otago gained respite with a force down. A smart forward rush had the Wallabies in trouble, Brankin returning play, however, with a judicious kick. Bustling the opposition, M'Lcan secured near halfway and

beat several attempts_ at tackle to score wide out. Rankin converted. North Otago ... '... 10 Australia “ Spurred on by this success, the visitors again crossed the home side’s line after a quick piece of play, Walden being the scorer. Rankin again was successful with the kick. Australia, .... ••• 13 North Otago 10 At this stage of the play the Australians were definitely on top. M'Lcan again after a forward rally. Rankin missed. Australia ... 16 North Otago 10 Carrodus and G. Newlands broke through the Australian pack in brilliant fashion and nearly achieved another try, but in attempting to pass out Newlands knocked oh, and spoiled. From the ensuing scrum M‘Laren sent out, the hall travelling through many hands before Stichman dived oyer amid loud applause. This was one of the best movements of the day. Johnston failed •to convert. Australia 16 North Otago ... 13 The local forwards were playing as if inspired at this stage, and nullified the efforts of the opposition with bustling tactics. J. Easton was prominent as also was M'Laren, and G. Newlands came through once only to be called back fdr an infringement. Attacking hard, it looked as if North Otago would Again score, but a change was brought about by Walden, who intercepted brilliantly and took play to the home side’s twenty-five, blit Easton was safe ’ and brought off a hard tackle. M‘Lean secured and centred, but Ledingham came round and saved the situation by finding touch. From the lineout Gibbons sent out to Hamraon, to Richards, to Egan, who was thrown out .at the corner flag by Easton, thus saving a further try. Play returned and Australia was obliged to defend hard to withstand the onslaughts of the local forwards, who were making a great effort to equalise the scores. An infringement gave Easton a chance to effect this, but he failed to accept the opportunity) and time was called shortly after with North Otago attacking desperately. The final scores were;— Australia ... ... ... ... 16 North Otago 13 Mr A. B. Rowlands (Timaru) was the referee. CLOSE SHAVE FOR ALL BLACKS FULLY EXTENDED BY SOUTH CANTERBURY SOLID TACKLING OF HOME TEAM [Per United Press Association.] TIMARU, September 9. , For the first time m the history of Rugby football in South Canterbury an All Black side played a matoh in Timaru to-day, and the crowd of 4,000 spectators were treated to a fast, open exhibition, the All Blacks being fully extended to win by 16 points to 13. The occasion was a great one so far as football in this ’ district was concerned, and the home team rose to the occasion in great style, revealing themselves in their true form from start to finish. 'They kept the game going at a fast pace, and, though the_ New Zealand team had nothing but its reputation at stake, and may have been trying to keep out of harm’s way in view of the test match on Saturday, it was forced to meet spirited opposition and combination. These factors resulted in a game which delighted' the crowd. The All Black forwards were bigger than the home eight, but there was no difference in weight, and the scrums went down fairly well. In the first half Hadley duthooked Gunn, the home hooker, hut the latter secured possession sufficiently to give the Green backs a number of runs. It was in the lineouts and the loose that the All Black forwards shone, their quickness to make use of openings providing the backs with a feast of ball. _ If the crowd expected to see something brilliant from the New Zealand line it was disappointed, for rarely did the backs flash right down the field in scintillating movements which a side of the calibre of the All Black team should have done. The lino was not at full strength, however, but, with the exception of Killeen, who played on the wing, the others were in the right positions and were either test players or reserves. Sadler opened up play nicely, but Gillies was inclined to be selfish and go too far after making openings, with the result that the wings were more or less starved. Pollock, who gave a brilliant display at full-back, came up to the five-eighths line for a period and straightened the attack, but after 15 minutes resumed his place, Griffiths going back to second five-eighth. Sullivan impressed with his speed, but did not have enough chances to display his true ability. The forwards bandied well and indulged in nippy, short passing rushes, but failed to work as a unit in the loose, frequently over-running the bail and letting the home forwards, who were always taking advantage of mistakes, set up hot counter-attacks. The outstanding feature of the game was the solid tackling of the home team, especially the backs, who repeatedly broke up the All Hlack rushes. Only twice did the New Zealand backs score from passing rushes, the other two tides going to the forwards following solid scrummaging near the luie. Lockington had a hand broken in the first half and retired, being replaced by Dalton. The home backs were unable to penetrate very far in concerted rushes, but were often dangerous. Following a breakdown in an All Black movement on one occasion, Griffiths cross-kicked to the corner flag, Ryan beating Killeen for possession. Instead of forcing, Ryan set off down the field, reaching halfway before being forced into touch. Morrison also made good runs, but the chief feature of his play was his tackling of N. A. Mitchell, and later Sullivan, who went to the wing. Gaffaney played a sound game at full-back. The _ pick of the home forwards was Adkins, the 1935 All Black, and Strang. South Canterbury were seven points up in the first. 10 minutes, Ryan kicking a field goal and King a penalty goal. . . a Pollock made a nice opening to send Mitchell over. Pollock missing with the kick. Then Lockington scored from a scrum, Pollock converting. Just before half-time Rankin scored for Pollock to convert, making the half-time score: New Zealand ... 13 points. South Canterbury 7 points, y

The play was very even for a long period in the second half. Following a scrum on the line, the All Blacks hooked and Caird dived over in front of Sadler for a good try, which was unconverted. A nice opening by Griffiths saw Killeen race over wide out, Pollock missing with the kick. New Zealand was penalised 30yds out, Gaffaney putting over a fine goal. There was no further score. New Zealand J 6 South Canterbury 13 NORTH AUCKLAND TROUNCED CANTERBURY’S BIG TOTAL [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH. September 9. Their play marred by frequent mistakes and by a total lack of cohesion, the North Auckland representatives were no match for Canterbury to-day, the home side winning by 43 points to 9. At half-time there was a margin of only nine points in Canterbury’s favour, but from the resumption of play the home team dominated all phases of the game, backs and forwards combining in rushes that smashed through the defence with almost monotonous regularity. Towards the end of the game, however, the North Auckland backs began to show some combination, and the Canterbury defence failed before two rushes. The attendance was about 3,000. The ground was in excellent order. The Canterbury side was by no means the province’s full strength, but all the new men justified their inclusion. The scorers for Canterbury were Gillespie (2), Round (41, Manchester (2), Scandrett (2), C. H. MThail 1. M’Auliffe converted two of the tries, and Scandrett, M'Phail, and Brooks one each. For North Auckland White kicked a penalty goal and Osbaldiston and M'Cracken scored tries. WELLINGTON ON TOUR STRONG SIDE SELECTED [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 9. The Wellington team to tour the South Island is as follows: Backs. —Pollock, Edwards, Fleming, Hansen, Nees, Griffiths, Baldwin, Sadler, Tindill, Upchurch, and Crisp. Forwards.—Leahy, Lamhourn, Hull, Wright, Wells, Devine, Fraser-Smith, Lamason, Andrews, Guy, Barry, and , Kenny. The manager is Mr Harold Murphy. THREE-POINT MARGIN MANAWATU BEAT TARANAKI [Per United Press Association.] PALMERSTON N., September 9. Manawatu defeated. Taranaki by 23 points to 22 in a fast, open game, the result of which was in doubt until the end, WAIROA OUTPLAYED WIN FOR WELLINGTON COLTS [Per United Press Association.] WAIROA, September 9. The Wellington Colts’ Rugby team to-day beat the Wairoa representatives by 38 points to 8. The game was played on a hard ground before a fair attendance. Wairoa was completely outplayed in ever.y department, Wellington giving a delightful exhibition of Rugby, scoring eight tries, six being converted by Trapp. SECOND TEST MATCH NEW ZEALAND V. AUSTRALIA The public are looking forward to witnessing a high-class exhibition of Rugby at Carisbrook on Saturday, when the second test match will be played. The Australians put up a good game in the first test,' and many who saw the match consider they were somewhat unlucky in being defeated. The visitors play bright, attractive Rugby and endeavour to open up the game at every opportunity. The New Zealand players are also capable of giving a bright display of Rugby, and will be anxious to secure the Bledisloe Cup, which the Australians at present hold. A further attraction will 1m the Payne Trophy match between Southern, premier team of Otago, and Suiinyeide, premier team of Canterbury. The visitors have a strong pack of forwards and safe backs, and are expected to prove a tough proposition. Although Southern have not had a game together for some weeks, they are expected to put up a good game. A further curtain-raiser will be played, commencing at 12 noon, between Pirates fourth grade and Cliitha, subject to the ground being in a lit state. ~ „ , , The Australian and New_ Zealand teams will arrive this evening. The Australians will stop at the Grand Hotel, and the New Zealand team at the Excelsior Hotel. The Simnyside team will arrive on Friday and will stop at the Criterion Hotel. Mr H. J. M'Kenzie has been appointed referee for the test match. The box plan is now open at Messrs C. Begg and Co., and will be closed at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The gates will he opened at 11.30 a.m. Reserved seat holders will be admitted by special gates in Burns street. Official guides will be on sale as usual.