BATTLE ROYAL

NZ Truth, Issue 1178, 28 June 1928, Page 14

BATTLE ROYAL

Southern Routed In Hard Game (From "N.Z. Truth's" Dunedin Rep.) Southern gave Varsity A their hardest game m the first round of the Otago R.U. competition and for a while they looked, like repeat- • ing the dose m the opening match of the second round'last Saturday. THE boys from "The Flat" played an--1 other typical spoiling game, but the Varsity forwards displayed better football than m the first match, while •their altered tactics routed Southern. Nevertheless, the Southern pack fiercely disputed every inch of ground, but they were beaten by a superior team. Bradanovitch has greatly Improved his combination with Holden. He scored a beautiful try In the second spell, weaving his way through half a dozen defenders. Holden varied his play to some purpose, but was paid too many illegal attentions by some of the Southern' pack. :'Ces. Lewis, the Southern rover, was a particularly bad offender m this respect. INTO THE MELEE . Don Stevenson was as safe as a rock and retained his position at the top of the scoring list. by goaling a try and kicking a penalty. McClymont made, a few determined dashes for the line, but Hastie, who stiifted from centre to winfe, when Simpson went off, likewise kept him very silent. v ' Peterson was a tower of strength to the Southern backs, his speed,' accurate catching arid courageous < tackling saving- many ugly situations. Southern are unlucky m losing Peterson, who has removed to Petone. Inglis was the most enterprising of the Southern backs, none of whom was able to penetrate the stubborn defence offered by the students. Douglas, the Varsity hooker, played by far his best game to date and was one of the outstanding forwards^on the ground. . Brian Dunne was always m the

; thick of It, while Jackson and Martin Were prominent for good heeling m the scrummages, and for lirie-:out work. Devlin, who scored Southern's only' points^ a penalty goal, was honest m his graft with Hollander, Carnegie and J. Lewis supporting. The Southern backs played up close to assist their forwards with their spoiling tactics, but Varsity countered this by playing deeper. • .< Bradanovitch, however, was the - only student to .exploit,. the" shqrt punt over their heads, and had - this -method .of attack -been used more freely, Southern would have found themselves m many .difficult situations. '•> ■ . The tackling on bo,th sides could not have been improved upon. The score of. 11-3 hardly represented the v margin of Varsity's; superiority. Mlany. bright, - flashes of concerted play were given by both Union and Alhambra m their encounter at Tahuna Park. ;./■■," .. : , Voi-rath, one of the best line-out forwards.. in" Duriediri, was mostly at the head ;of Union - onslaughts which rattled the 'Barrias m the first spell. He scored a try from a loose passing rush m typical forward style. ' He is fit and always with the play, and scored a clever try by snapping up the ball frorii the loose and planting it behind Alhambra's goal. ' He finished it off with another two points. Ron. Callander has recovered liis form arid was all out m Alhambra's rearguard movements. He supported his good play by kicking three penalty goals and converting two tries. ■ Buchanan; the Alhambra. centre, has not lived up. to" his early season promise.- i . ■■'/''■••■.;■■ •■■,'■ '■■ ; ' j Pirates -were too 1 solid for Duns- . din at Logan Park, ' their backs prevailing/ - '■'■*.'-■" Faulks, •■vyhose promise as a good centre (has* been marred by his lack of judgment after effecting his varied methods of attack, was hitting- it on all -Six. His kicking was sound, a penalty and two conversions .falling to his credit, •while he gave Graham every, assistance on the wing. , TOO "WILLING . Graham brought his total of tries up to thirteen by notching ' three m this game. No wingers are showing better form than this player. The Dunedin breakaways troubled the Pirates' backs at times, while things also became a trifle willing m the, forwards, Clark (Pirates) being ordered off for striking at (a Dunedin player, . ■ . . Zingari and Taieri played a drawn game at. Monteallo where- the ground was very slippery. Scott scored for the couritry side, and Crawford evened up for Zingari. It was a poor game, with faulty handling and many lost chances, especially by the country side, who let three or four opportunities slip ■ b y-. '■' ■■■■"^r.. ■- ■- ' ■■■ ■'. .'■ Varsity B, ;^ho almost effected a surprise m the first .round against Kaikorai, were unable to cope with the hillside team last week, and went under by 14 to 3.' . '. Perry went great: guns-' in the Kaikorai forwards, niaking: seiyeral openings from One of Which he scored him--/selfV^YV ■„""'■■ y/T/w :■',...-.: ..'■'■' '( ''' Charlie Sonntag was another hill forward who y.wJis ;al-waysl m the thick ■of it, arid VKaikprai's' .last scores 'was recorded ;by Siaughter from an opening made;#y.vhirn..\. /• V: '■■'-'. '<■: .■■;'■; ; ; ; The Bs passirig moveriiehts were frequent, but inaccurate. ' ■ Horsley ; played a Vfine defensive game. ' . -. ■ ,' ■ ..'■ •;'. v^ : ' ; v •'"'■..••••'■ „ ■ "