SOUTHLAND FIFTEEN

NZ Truth, Issue 1238, 22 August 1929, Page 16

SOUTHLAND FIFTEEN

Play Drawn Game With Otago (From "N.Z. Truth's" Dunedin Rep.) Against Otago, m the first match of their tour, Southland put up a game which labelled them as a first-class provincial team. The score — nine all," settled one of the finest rep. matches witnessed at Carisbrookfor many seasons. TN the opinion of many capable critics, the Otago Union's selectors this season have more' material for rep. selection than they know how to. deal with. Saturday's game, however, quite justified the inclusion of the almost complete set of Varsity A , backs — plus Bathgate. Played at a tremendous pace from whis.tle to whistle, the' game was held ln iv " the balance until

the teams filed off, and a draw was most popular. Between the forwards, there , was little to choose, but Otago back's showed a more finished combination. A feature of the game was the number of off-side penalties against the visitors, Hazlett being a constant offender. Tackling, on both sides, was deadly, a.nd due to the swift work of the

Southland breakaway forwards, the Otago backs found it hard to get into their stride. For the visitors, "Tubby" Holden, Bell and Diack gave and took most of Southland's importance m the backs. In the pack, Gait, particularly, was 3 outstanding m lipe-outs and loose work, ' with Hazlett, Agnew and Mahoney there 3 all the time. i Placed -as an emergency, Bathgate ,' (Otago) played a wonderful game as a "stranger" m the students' division which > was asked to uphold Otago's honor. Taken \ all through, they did it well. * If, of the home forwards, anyone de--7 served special mention, it was Charlie i Sonntag who seem-

Ed to be everyt where m the for--2 ward work, and . handy always to top off back movements from the loose. Stevenson played a' great game, but his kicking was not up to , standard; had it been, probably the Otago colors would have risen to victory. McClymont was well marked by Diack, but the

clever Varsity centre asserted himself m several clear

break-throughs which ' must have borne fruit, but for great defensive work by Belli Holden, Diack and Norris. j The game was never m the same locality for more than a. couple of .minutes ; and 15,000 spectators were delighted with a hard-fought game.