THE GOLDFIELDS TEAM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 61

THE GOLDFIELDS TEAM.

EASY WIN AGAINST MANIOTOTO. (F&ou Oub. Spxcul«Jlepo»teb.) ' NASEBY, August 26. Tho-Otago representative team played tho first match of the tour today at Naseby against the Maniototo- County, the visitois winning by 33 pomfe^to nil. The weather" was favourable, buJTthe ground was bumpy, .and its condition militated somewhat against accurate play. The teams were aa follow :—: — Otago. — Full back, Scott; three-quarters — Mareton, Hurley, and O'Sullivan ; fiveeighths — M'Dougafl and Williams; half back, Sutherland; forwards — Leith, Pollock, Mitchell, Thomson, Watt, R. Paton, Clarke, Ivimoy. Maniototo. — Full back, Pyle (St. Bathans) ; threequarters — Stephens (Naeeby), Marshall (Naseb\), and Emv right (St. Bathans) ; five-eighths— Elliott (Middlemarch) and John Hore (Naseby) ; half back, J. Ilaig (St. Bathans) ; forwards — Joseph llore (Naseby), R. Mcc (St. Bathans), M. Webb (St. Bathans), Beattie (Gimmerburn), Helm (Gimmerburn), Williams (Middlemarch), R. Hore (St. Bathans.), and D. Glenn (Middlemarch). Maniototo (playing in maroon and gold jer-ejr,) kicked off with a slight wind in their fa\our. The Blue forwards asserted themseive-> from the start, but Marshall got in a quick return. Another smothering lush by the visiting forwards followed, and the local men v. ere penalised in front of their goal posts, but Mareton'e kick went wide. M"Dougall centred into the local territory from the kick-off. O'Sullivan put in a swerving run, but offside play by the Blues enabled their opponents to gain some yards. From a line-out Paton, threw the ball out to Sutherland, and a fast bit of passing among the backe ended in Harley scoring in a good position. Ivimey converted. Otago 5 points. Maniototo Nil. On resumption of play Marshall retired owing to an injury to his knee, and Delaney (Naseby) took his place. Play continued to favour the visitors, and O'Sullivan, and then Scott, came near scoring-. Webb was re&Donsibie for transferrins play

to Otago's twenty-five, but the ball was ~ quickly returned. Marston marked and centred, and the local men were hard put to it There was a line-out, and Otago had easily the best of it. The ball went out to the backs, and some brilliant passing, in which Harley figured most prominently. terminated when O'Sullivan scored. Ivimey's shot at goal was charged down. Otago ... 8 points. Maniototo . - - • Nil A free kick staved off a dangerous rush i>v the Blues. The Colours cleared their line and Hore and Helm earned piay into Otago territory, but th© kicking was too vigorous, and Scott forced easily. The Blues then attacked again, and the county ■found relief in forcing. The Maniototo forwards then took charge of the ball, tout Scott's kicking drove them back again, ami MaTston attempted' to pot without re--'eult. The Cokmrs were again forced from a long kick by Scott. The Blues continued to hold play dangerously close to the Colours' line, and a swerving run by O Sullivan, and then serviceable work by Thompson and Ivimey, almost produced a, score. A scrum took piaee on the local ■line, but Enwright oame round smartly, And cleared. There was a sudden Teverse when Sutherland whipped the ball out to Williams. M'Dougall got it in turn, and then Harley, and faultless play resulted iv the last-nam€d scoring. Marston just failed to convert. ■ ■ Ofaago - 11 points. ( " Maniototo 2vil- " The Blues continued to attack, and three successive attempts hy the backs to pot failed to come off, and the ball was forced. With Otago iv an attacking position, Ivimey sent the ball out to Harley, who almost succeeded ip breaking through the opposition. Two successive local rushes, in which Joe Hore and Webb, and then Helm, figured, found Scott's defence impenetrable. From an excedlently judged centre kick by Marston Ivimey wemt in bob pursuit of the ball, and was rewarded -with a try, which Scott failed to convert. \ Otago 1* F<» nts - Maniototo Nil. From the kick off Joe Hore and Glenn broke away on a promising rush, and the Colours secured a mark just outside Otago's twenty-five, but failed to score off it. Half time then »3unded. Early in the sec%.4 spell MTtougall feinted cleverly, and then passed to Harley. who transferred to O'Sullivan, the last-named ecoring without being pressed. O'Sullivan converted. Otago 19 points. Maniototo Nil. 1 A rush by th.2 county forwards lacked cohesion, and Otogo recovered without effort. However, a little more life was being infused into their play by Maniototo repriasantaitives, and they put up a very feu- attack. Sutherland aiad Harley brought off a quick counter move, and the Otago forwards swept play down to the Maniototo line, where M'Dougall cut in, and scared. Paton did not convert. OSago 22 points. j Maniototo Nil. The county representatives were ' forced; A minute later tropi a kick by ' Ivimey. Seattie and Wobb carried play dangerously close to Otago's line, but Scott found touch. Otago* benefited considerably from a free kick, but Maniototo returned to. tho attack again, &nd their -backs egsayed to play the passing game, but they lost ihe ball when, at close quarters, Otago forcing. Jack Hore manceuvr.sd another attack which penetrated to within a few yards of the Blues' line. The ball came out of the scrum, and the player just mentioned fruitlessly attempted to pot, and thus threw Away a pretty fair opportunity. A long kick up the field by Marston was returned with interest, but the' Blues' forwards vigorously asserted themselves. The county team retaliated hotly, and Otago escaped! by means of a free kick. Glenn ■broke awuy from half way, but was unsupported, and did not get far. Williams punted hard to midfield, and Otago became aggressive. The backs treated the «pectatons to some good passing-, and then, Clarke headed an Otago rush, and llaniototo found refuge in a forcedown. A powerful kick by Scott, and a fine forward rush, were too much foi the local men, and Watt scored near th© posts, IM'Dougu.ll converting. ] Otago 27 points. j Mamototo Nil. | The Blues' forwards pressed again, and M'Dougall made a clever opening. Ivimey was near at hand when the five-ejghths was ■tackled, and picked up the ball, which ho passed to Ha.rley. who scored in the corner. Sutherland failed to convert. Otago 30 points. Ma.niotcio Nil. ' Time was close at iand, but the Biues ■were not yet finished. The Colours had set up a somewhat indifferent attack when Ivimey secured the ball in his own twentyfive and passed to M'Dougall, who kicked hard up the field. The whole of the local men wei€ caught completely off their jruard. and Harley picked up the ball and scored as he liked amidst applause. The try was not converted, and the game ended With the scores : Otago... ... 33 points. Maniototo Nil. NOTES ON THE PLAY. The exhibition given by the Otago team was particularly gratifying, and the local people must have been very much impressed with their play. The game vas clean, fast, and open, and was practically faultless throughout. The Maniototo representatives did not present a very .serious proposition, as the score indicates, .but the visitors took advantage of their opportunities to more purpose than many another team might nave done. Every attempt was made to make the game as fast and as open as possible.. Time and again the Blues executed brilliant passing rushes that started from their very goalline, and rare and happy combination was presented in both the back and forward divisions from start to finish, and this is wh*t proved so very disconcerting to tho country team. Sla.nioioto lacked cohesion. and, of course, did many things which are not found in the accepted code of Rugby ■football. The local backs gave but one display of concerted passing. Their idea of defence was crude, and the Blue&' brought about turning movements that left them standing. . It was pretty heavy scoring, but the passing of the" Otago backs was a treat to witness. Harley plaj'ed a brilliant game, and wa» in every move. Sutherland, Williams, and M'Dougall (the Alhambra trio) worked splendidly together, and put in 6ome fine "work. O'Sullivaa was full of daeb, and

Marston worthily upheld his reputation, j Scott's def-enoa would permit of no pene- [ tration. Among the forwards, Ivimey fairly revelled in the loose, while Paton, Mitchell, and Clarke, and, in fact, the whole pack, worked solidly. j Among the Maniototo backs, Jack Hore Elayed a, fast and hard game, while j tephens and Pyle were very elteotive in i their kicking. Mr J Beattie controlled ' the game with every satisfaction to all j concerned. j The Otago team will leave Naseby tomorrow morning for Clyde, and will play ,' Vincent County there on Saturday. |