OTAGO TOURISTS BEATEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20021, 21 August 1939, Page 12

OTAGO TOURISTS BEATEN

WELLINGTON’S WIN FAILURE OF BACKS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Playing the first match of their northern tour, Otago was defeated by Wellington by seven points to three at Athletic Park on Saturday. The ground was soft after heavy rain, but it did not slow down the play to any great extent.

The deciding factor in the game was Wellington’s superiority in the scrums and line-outs. They won the ball time and again and though the backs were seldom able to penetrate, they had Otago on the defensive for long periods. Lambourn, the Wellington Hooker, gave his side great service in the set scrums of which there were many as Wellington took them in preference to line-outs. With the exception of Tindill and Thompson, the Wellington backs were not impressive and failed to make the most of their numerous opportunities. Fulton, at centre, played indifferently and was the cause of many movements breaking down. He had a difficult task as he was well marked by Mitchell, the Otago and All Black captain, but on attack he was unenterprising and his handling of the ball was never certain. Mitchell had few opportunities in the orthodox passing rushes, but always was dangerous and gave Wellington some anxious moments. He and Perriam showed fine understanding. Playing opposite Berghnn, the All Black Thompson, the Wellington first fiveeighth, acquitted himself well. He was easily the best of the Wellington backs and the only one who showed any penetrative ability. Berghan played a sound, if unspectacular, game.

Much interest centred on the play of the two full-backs. Taylor, Wellington. and Silver, Otago. .Silver was called on to do much more work than Taylor, but scarcely made one mistake. He handled faultlessly and his line kicks were long and accurate. Taylor played up to his best form, and also scored all Wellington's points. His place-kicking, however, was not up to its usual standard. In the first spell Taylor potted a magnificent field goal from near half-Way and Mitchell scored a try for Otago. Towards the end of the game, Taylor took a hand in a passing rush by the Wellington backs, crashing through a tackle and scoring near the corner. He was unable to convert the try.