SYDNEY UNIVERSITY v. OTAGO UNIVERSITY VICTORY FOR THE FORMER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 60

SYDNEY UNIVERSITY v. OTAGO UNIVERSITY VICTORY FOR THE FORMER.

The Caledonian Ground, with 36 hours* of hard driving rain upon it, was naturally m a very soft condition for the playing, .of the match between the visjting Sydney University team and the local University players. Naturally the Sydney men were, totally unaccustomed to grounds in this state, thus giving th& Otago men a good' initial advantage. For the first quarter of an hour, while the vJsitora were becoming accustomed to the condition of tLe ground, the Otago men pushed matters and registered their total score of eight points. . So soon, however, as the visitors got fairly conversant with the tricks of a slippery ground, they began to push back the Otago attack and assert themselves, managing to score late in the first spell and also early in the second, and again towardatho close. Right through the second spell the visitors held the upper hand, their heavy and useful forwards overriding tha local pack, while thei^ backs played a heady game and proved themselves a resourceful and fast set. 1$ is solely owing to Otago's stubborn defence- in .this latter half that a greater score" was not registered, and" they may consider themselves fortunate in not finishing with a .greater debit than 11 points' to 8 points. - TneP v teams were as follow : — * • Otago Ukivehßitt. — Full back, W. G.~ ' Borrie (11.4) ; three-quarters — R. J. Dansey' (12.2), R. M. .Ongley (12.0), J. Norri© ' (10.12); five-eignths— W. T. Millard WIIV2), ~ G. Uttley (11B); half, A. Nelson (10.0) i forwards— A. Watt (11.7), D. E. Fenwick (12.7)/ W. Rutherford (12.0), W* H*rtgiU (12.3), L. J. Potter (12.6), W. Fraser (12.6), A. Rutherford (12.5), W. S. Seed (10.2). Stdnbt University. — Full back, J. B. Lane (12.12) ; ' three-quarters — B. C. A. Pockley (11.4), H. R. Browning (11.11),, P. J. Kelly (10.11), C. C. Ross (11.10); fiveeighth, E. M. Fisher (10.0); half, F. Hughes (11.0) ; forwards — L. J. Reynolds (captain, 13.6), N. W. Broughton (13.6)' v G. W. Macartney (11.0), A. B. Doyle (13.7), W. W. Martin (12.8), H. J. Clayton (10.12), J. B. Metcalfe (13.6), M. Maxwell (12.7). , As a result of the toss' Otago opened from the northern end, Sydney facing a strong wind laden with heavy mist and - rain. Sydney kicked off, but Borrie's* re- " turn was well down to their twenty-five flag. Here a couple of scrums occurred in which the Colours (Sydney) showed to advantage, but determined tackling prevented their breaking away. Ross (Sydney) effected a smart mark, the kick from, which was fielded by Borrie, whose return crossed the visitors' line. After the drop out, an exchange of kicks m which Uttley centred across the field, pur th» Otago men close to their objective on the * far touchline. Here Uttley snapped up the ball well away from the scrum and handed it to Dansey, whose run ended in touch. From the line out the ball came back' to Uttley, who kicked high across the field and followed up in company with Ongley. The Otago men and the ball ■ reached the Sydney back, Lane, at the same time, with the result that he. fumbled as Uttley collared him, and Ongley snapped up the leather and dropped over. Potter converted from a difficult angle-. Otago University . . 5 points. - Sydney University . .. Nil. - Play centred for a minute, but was then ■ transferred by kicking alternately" from on side to the other. The Sydney men'" fumbled once or twice and speculative kicks alone saved them. Borrie got in a fine kick which reeched touch near the goal line, and in the ensuing 1 Icose play a free kick was awarded Otago. Potter again kicked a splendid goal. Otago 8 points. Sydney . . .. Nil. On- resumption of play Sydney with a meteoric rush took play down the field to Otago's twenty-five, but from 6Crum work here the Otago hacks got in some good kicks which sent the ball back to Lane, the Sydney full back- His return failed to find the line, and Borrie centred. Mixed play in the centre was relieved by a good rush on the part of Ongley and Dansey, which, however, resulted in a force. From the kick out Borrie returned high to Lane, whom the greasy ball beat, and a scrum was awarded for his lying on, the ball. Ongley then secured a mark, but Potter's kick went wide. A little later play was stopped on account of Millard receiving a knock under the chin aa he collided with a Sydney back in attempt- . ing to field a high ball. The Blues continued to attack- strongly, and a kick son.fc the ball ,over the line. Two backs raced for it, but Ross (Sydney) reached there first. Unfortunately, in the final dash h© sustained an injury to his knee and was obliged to retire, Stack taking his place. From this on the Sydney forwards asserted themselves, and as the spell drew to a. close they had the local men in difficulties. With sweeping and vigorous rushes their < forwards took the ball within 10yds of Obago's line, but sound defensive work sent it back. At kst, however, with about five minutes to go, from a line out within striking distance. Maxwell dashed over after the ball and touched down just ere it went into the dead-ball area. From a difficult angle and against the wind, Hughes's kick at goal was a failure. Otago 8 points. Sydney ... 3 points. Borrie's kicking was instrumental in clearing the line despite the keen attacks of the opposing forwards, and Ongley and Dansey broke away in a passing bout which resulted ia Dansey going into touch near the corner flag. From loose work here all advantage was lost by a loose pass from Millard allowing the Sydney pack to break through. Play remained in front of Otago's goal for a time, but a fine kick by Ongley saw it cleared and the spell ended without further incident. The second spell opened by Sydney initiating a stinging forward rush, but Otago escaped with a forcedown. Play travelled across the field, but Sydney, playing with the wind, had all the advantage. Otago conceded another force, and then secured' a free kick, which sent the ball out at the half-way mark. From a scrum in the centre Sydney broke through, and a score lookted imminent, but a Sydney player spoiled his chance by attempting to pick the ball up instead of dribbling, and the ball was kicked into touch hy Otago. A" moment later, however, Sydney returned to the attack, and Pockley dashed over. A fine goal was kicked by Hughes, thus equalising the scores. Otago 8 points. Sydney .... 3 points. Open work ensued on the resumption of

play, and an exchange of kicks ended in another forcedown by_ Otago. Open play f&llowcd on both sides of the ground, Dansey showing up well with a good kick and run, which saw the ball go out near Sidney's 25yds line. ' Otago's forwards pressed the attack home, but the result was nugatory owing to attempted passing allowing the Sydney men to kick right <lown the field, when Borrie found the touch. From the hne-out the ball came to Norrie, who kicked weU and followed up, but the Sydney backs were too fast, and found touch safely. From a tight line- out Otago attempted to kick across field, but the wind caught the ball, and carried it over the 1 heads of the three-quarters, and Borrie, in order to save from a fast followup, .was forced to kick backwards to touch, the combined result being the loss of over 50 yards. Tight line work and scrums followed in Otagro's territory, Sydney attempting to pas 3 once or twice, but with little net gain. Sydney, maintaining the attack, penned Otayo on their ane. From a scrum here Uttley got the ball away well, beat his man, and passed to Nome, ■who kicked well to half-way. A scrum was given in mid-field, from which the line was reached to Otago's advantage by a good kick. A -good save by Borrie from a kick saw no material difference in the position tili a kick by Otago gained about 30 yards. Sydney's forwards, however, aided as they wefe by the stiff wind, came back to the attack and approached dangerously near the line, where tight work occurred tiU Otigo broice away in a loose rush. A mark, however, spoiled the gain. The Otago men were being borne- down by Sydney's hea-ry forwards,. but the backs were using the line as 'much as possible. Sydney' again pushed into Otago s territory, and Pockley (Sydney) got the ball, and streaked across the field looking dangerous. He passed back, however, to where Bis companion wasn't, and the ball was kicked into touch within Otago's twentyfive. A score, however, could not long be delayed, and within a minute Doyle dashed over from tight work. The kick at goal was a failure, leaving the scores: Sydney - 11 points. Otago 8 points. With only a few minutes to go play remained very tight in Otago's territory, but the sound defence of the local men proved, sufficient to prevent further scoring, and the game ended with matters in this position. After the day's game it is to be freely admitted that the visiting team is a decidedlj 3trong one Their forwards proved to be a fine lot, with plenty of weight, dash, and cleverness. They average 12st 81b, as against Otaga 12st Ojlb, and were tbus able, once they had become accustomed to tb« condition of the ground, to obtain an ascendancy over the local men which was maintained through the latter half of the first spell and the whole of the second half. Their bocks are much on a par, a3 regards weight, with the local men, hut they appear to be slightly faster if anything, and pleyed a game which displayed the" possession of resource. They are not slavishly- addicted to the pickingup habit, and frequently used the Association ground kick with advantage. Where O.tago made one or two mistakes was in attempting to initiate passing rushes with a ground and ball 'vhich rendered it totally impossible. As a team, however, the local men* played a grreat game, showing better form probably than in any previous match tiii« season. *The backs deserve particular credit for the stubborn defence they put up in the second spell, thus saving many imminent scores. The referee was Mr 11. M'Farlane, and.' bis decisions grave every satisfaction. Offside play brought penalties on the visitors rather frequently in the earlier stages of the srnme.* Millard, of the Otago team, stood down in tha second half owing to his injury, and Reid took his place.