EVERY MINUTE

NZ Truth, Issue 1176, 14 June 1928, Page 14

EVERY MINUTE

Varsity Show What They Can Do (From "N.Z. Truth's" Dunedin Rep.) For the first time this season the Varsity, A. team's forward division worked — not spasmodically as they have been wont to dobut every minute of the ninety. AND thereby hangs a tale which makes sorry reading for Kaikofai supporters. The two teams were the only undefeated combinations in the Otago senior competition, and their first meeting was the sole topic of conversation in Rugby strongholds for, three or four weeks beforehand. , KaikoraK gained the upper hand half-way through the second spell, and won the ball four times to one, but it was too late and the students played for safety with very sound defence. Morete played his best game so far this season, but he was allowed a little too much latitude at the expense of Bolting. With the assistance of Smith, Morete opened up a grand movement which would have drawn first blood had- he been supported, but -the two nearest Varsity forwards were so intoxicated with. the. brilliance of the effort that they stood and watched it from a distance. Christie and Martin played solidly throughout, but they did not pack too well on the back of the stadents' scrum at times. > Douglas was always with them, and did not look for so much loose stuff as usual. Btolden got the ball ; away cleverly, but was more bustled than he has oeen for a long time. / He and Bradanpvitch, however, make a better combination than Nicolson did, for the ex-Aucklarider anticipates Holden's play and is invariably there to take a pass tor follow him. : ' . •• Haughton was in and out, but at times was asked to gather in. some frightful passes. Classics In Leather Matheson was again sound, and th© potted goal with whichhe openecLyar-r sity's score was a classic. ' The Kaikorai fprwards were" breaking through from their own line, and Holden scooped out the ball from their toes with one hand. Bradanovltch snapped it up, sent it on to Haughton, who handed on to Matheson. Don. Stevenson again produced his best form, varying his style of play, to good effect. ' ' • The reason for Kaikorai's defeat in the forwards could be found In the time-worn theory that eight -young forwards will always prevail over a pack of boosted 'up old- timers, v Time and again when the weight was required Kaikorai were simply pushed off the ball as they were not getting the benefit of all the weight which should have; been available to ■them. ' >.; ' : ' ' - : - '■ ''■' .. •■ ■ Cleland and Stevens were ever prominent in loose rushes, while Charlie Sonntag grafted himself to a standstill x in the tight stuff. Betting's efforts were 1 restricted by the attention, he was receiving from the Varsity . forwards, but he 'made creditable efforts to get} the ball away. Ijaing went ■' in' patches, but he sold himself cheaply to Holden on one' occasion. Just before the interval, Varsity hooked the ball from a scrum near the Kaikorai line and Holden dashed. round the* open side. ' , ' Laing opened out looking to Intercept Holden's pass/to Bradanovitch, but "Tubby'' is brie of the. few half-backs who knows his game and understands the weaknesses of his opponents, and ILaing' got the shadow while Holden 'flopped over the^line practically unopposed.; . : ' ' ' Delivered The Goods Don. Stevenson cocked the ball across the bar and the students, led 9-0 at the spell. Ross has proved himself in past seasons one 1 of the best five-eighths in Otago, but that was with, Varsity. This year, -playing behind . Laing, h^ does riot seem- at all' happily plaoed and in his * last three games/, he has resorted to very .orthodox football. Monk wasi a failure ' at . centre,' 'spati Brown and • Slaughter : got limited-op-portunities on' the wings!'.- <: : .; v.. . /■ Wilson was ; slower -than : usual *..a% full-back; and rwaS not catching the ball- so 'surely -as he ha!s done. '•;•': .•"'*' N The best movement of" the,, day. <; resulted f in Smith scoring Varsity ? s' •• last try after McClymont darted In from '* his iwirig to' first 'five- ;' eighths' 'position ■ and gave the? '. students an extra man in. ' ! . ''"•■ :i vKaikorai's .. only score, was a try. by \ Cleland, who smothered a clearing kick by McClymont and touched ;down in the corner. . ; . Alha'mbra scored a rather easy win over Union by 24 points to 6 at Bishopscdurt, a slippery ground and greasy ball upsetting the calculations of the Union backs. ' ■■». .■ . Taieri unexpectedly ran Varsity B Very J close; a 'try by Somerville late in the second spell representing the etudents' winning margin. The superiority of the Southern forwards gave their backs- plenty of opportunities, and they. . prevailed" over Punedin by 16 to 9. . - , At Tahuna; Park, Pirates ran all ever Zingari. in. the first spell, scoring ■21 .points, but in the second^ session, Zingari recovered their . form and scored eight points to their opponents three.. . „;. , The .first round will be concluded~on Saturday. The only undefeated team bo far is Varsity A, but they still have to meet the B's in -addition to playing Zingari next Saturday.