Wairarapa Imagined Southland Would Trove Easyft^

NZ Truth, Issue 1240, 5 September 1929, Page 16

Wairarapa Imagined Southland Would Trove Easyft^

PORTER PUT ON THE PACE Wellington Had Considerable Luck 7 In^ Downing OtagojAy HOME PACK LOST MANY CHANCES (From "N.Z. Truth -s" Special Wellirigton ; Representative). If Porter had been an absentee from the representative Wellington-Otago 'match, played j at; Athletic Park last Saturday, Otago would have come out the winners. ■"[ TJie final score, which , gave victory to the local pack by 18 points to 12, is no indication of the game. ' y ■ :.>:>■ On the day, Otago played better Rugby^ahdfthey were extremely unfortunate m not coming put on topiA ;-'y;

THE ground was ; m perfect 'coriditiori j and there were about 1.3,000 people I present. A light northerly yvyind ! bothered no brie; • but, for Ipractically, three-quarters of the game, it was any,-; thing but a representative match,: -y 1 Sorriehow, tlie; Wellirigton pack -was altogether 'off form, and to win any future fixtures they will have to polish up considerably. A A Tirpe and again ;the forwards found themselves m possession with nothing to stop a score, but equally as often they dropped the ball, 'either m fright . or through sheer carelessness. Orily jforythe rock-like defence of the backs and the wonder-player, Porter,. Otago must- haye won the day. y, A- y A--/ A; FA'.-: As it was, Porter made practically;- all' the openings • that ended m scores/arid) on ' occasioris it was

remarkable th && the pack were able to take advantage of them.. -A .. .A solid back &U\ Vision saw Otago; superior m attack, while their pass-{ ing bouts were a' treat to watch; the forwards shining at times, " but leaving the/ bulk of the work to the men m the rear. . y Ot a gAo A showed out to greater advantage...in passing tind ;; collaring, y arid ■bnly/lacked another Porter, ? for ' it/ was

he, who, great general that he is, made most of tbe players : lookf like vamateurs. m every sehse.Ay Ay A .-.;•; ■.,;•>.;:""■ AvA y-y& For some time after Wellington set the game m motion , from the southern end, , the teams were sparring for an opening,but .play was . fairly even and the ball: was kept around/ about centre. '/ Things looked better whe.n;Sonntag and Souter, Jwlth the ball- at thalrA toes, led the visiting forwards at. a, rush for the line, but Porter came . from nowhere ! aifd se'ttledithat fu's^ '-• - ■-■'- .•&>- "y ■•'"'/■--■ --..' •- -'■-'■ yy^y-y ■ - . - " Hockey : ' ' yx- "y

_' In the return" salty, Julian, snapped up and made a /.great run, but he was brought down right on the line. ACave was there-, for. the next scramble arid, .this time i he opened the score, "for Wellington WithA a pretty 'try. Rarnson did. the trick arid the localteam had five ppints to go ori' with. ' :.- -;>The Otago back division began. now. to take 'a more lively interest iriA matters, and the. pace be^an to -increase.' , Welling- - '■;.;. ' V ';.'. tori were A missing

'.' badly with passing .'• rushes instituted by ' Porter, Ramson ; and - Julian,'-;-.-., arid iost many ..a. : good opening because of v :: > -AA'r,,vA A : > S.b 'ricfi.'tia gy ■■:■, was again A responsible s for- his jpacltAgettih'g into" action, ■-. a-n d ■•.< ißradanovich , receiving, rushed 'round i the scrum arid' sent to. Souter who. drew blood for VOtago. -The kick failed. Julian,, who was m great : form, added three * more

- y.Sohntag

points •( for Wellington with a good try, aha.frbm then until the spell, Wellington was finding Otago's, defence something to reckon' with. - f -;. Alt was: not long after 'the interval that Otago showed there were men. of speed m the pack. McClymorit secured from a long-pass a3pd raced for the line to score a beauty. The kick failed. ■• ,y •A Otago began to do .things"; how, and . were unfortunate In hot; scoring, yfory. ..'...it ..was her;eythatythe local then began f ";to' find the^bail heavy.-, and to eontinu- A y a Ily cirop rift ahd Aspo II certal n scores. Elvy scored an unconverted try for Wellington, and, m rapid succession; Wilson Atook a long pass' from. Bathgate -arid Nicholson and scored for Otago,,-and a few minutes later, ; Wilson repeated the: deed, placing Otago in' frbnt.A. From a kick from the- Otago forwards, Heazlewood received V possession, .-'and,; from mid-field potted a wonderful goal. Just on time July A -.;..- VJan shot over from '- ■"- ' '-'- ' --'"-' : • _--

the ruck and Wellington had carried ' the day. There were many ; f a s t movements both among the backs and forwards m the two teams over the latter stages, but the visiting backs were the stronger. The pace throughout was fairly solid but both teams stood up to it well, and gave the spectators plenty of chances! to exercise ■their lungs.

jKorter must .stand out, on the. day, as the finest player. on the ground.' In every rriovement, popping up from all sorts; of positions, saving his men on countless occasions, and -doing the bulk of the Opening moyerrients, Porter was' the team. Ramson, played a sound igame, too, as did Julian, the latter, if anything, impressing more* Julian not only possesses speed, but he uses his head, and he, like Porter, gave a great deal of trouble to the opposition. Heazlewood was very sound, and his play evoked iriuch admiration. His potted goal from midfield, when Otago held the lead, was a good one and deserved the enthusiastic reception it received. Johnson arid McKehzie were prdiriin'ent but, like -most .-; of the others^ "mulled" too' many balls

when there was nc excuse for it. • It was unfortunate that Bradanovich, who. was hurt, had to retire, otherwise .there rhight have beeri a different' -ending Spe c d y AA. a rie "heady," BradanQvich played a wonderful game.'for th( visitors. ..V/A" The winge rs Webb and McClymont -gave theh usual exhibition o speed and were iri-

to everything that courited,' being .two of the stalwarts of

the pack. Two good' backs were; Loder and -Bathgate, and it was not their fault that several' excellent -movements failed to eventuate.; ■■-— ■■...-• -A ■ ■