AUCKLAND-OTAGO DRAW

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20027, 28 August 1939, Page 11

AUCKLAND-OTAGO DRAW

CARSON BEST FORWARD TOURISTS’ STRONG BACKS 1 (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. With'an improved forward line, the Auckland representative team held the touring Otago XV to a draw, three points all, in a Rugby match played at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon. Overhead conditions were fine, but the ground was .like a quagmire after heavy rain at mid-day. Auckland was the first to open its account, five minutes before half-time, with a try by Smith after a forward melee on the Otago goal-line.

Sixteen minutes after the interval Otago equalised with a penalty goal by Periam. Trevathan took numerous shots at goal, but all failed. There was little between the forwards, and hooking honours went to Otago by 19 to 18. The visitors had line-out superiority, however, gaining possession 25 times to 19.

The Otago three-quarters, D. Murray, N. A. Mitchell and W. A. Black, were very brilliant and showed that they were all in line for All Black selection. The best forward on the field was the Auckland player W. N. Carson, the double New Zealand representative at cricket and Rugby. Pearman played a good game as the Auckland first five-eighth.