METROPOLITAN TEAM v. SYDNEY UNIVERSITY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 58

METROPOLITAN TEAM v. SYDNEY UNIVERSITY.

On account of the deplorable state in which the- Caledonian Ground was in from the very heavy rains experienced during the past few dajs tho above match was transferred to Tahuna Park, which, as is usual, was found to be largely unaffected by the wet. The overhead conditions J were fairly satisfactory for the players, a | breeze of fair strength blowing from the south. In the first spell this brought up a nasty shower, but this having passed little else could be complained of from a player's point of view. The teams linad out as follows: — Sydney University. — J. B. Lane, B. C. A. Pockley, I. S. Curtin. P. J. Kelly, W. J. Stack. E. M. Fisher, F. Hughes, L. . J. Reynolds. N. W. Broughton, G. B. Lindeman, A. B. Doyle, W. W. Martin. H J. Clayton, J. B. Metcalfe, M. Maxwall. Metropolitan Team. — W. Johnstone, R. J. Dansey, R. Bennet, J. Davidson, J. M-Donald, A. Eckhold, T. Kellan, D. E. Fenwick, P. Fit/patrick. G. M'Kenzie, F. Wall A. Patterson, R. Johnston, A. M'Donald, J. A. Skinner. Otago won the toss and elected to play with the wind at their backs. From the kick-off Sydney rushed the - attack and invaded Otago's territory. Saving kicks effected a clearance, but the attack was resumed and after a few minutes' play the bounce of a high ball beat Johnstone (Metropolitan full back), and Curtin, who was following up fast, dashed over and registered the first score. No goal resulted. Sydney .. 3 points. Metropolitan Nil. Otago retaliated by hot forward rushes, which sufficed to shift play to the other end of the field, where Bennet was promi nent in a good run, the gain of which, however, was neutralised by a speculative kick by a Sydney man from the loose. From the line-out the balj travelled across the field to Davidson, who, securing it outside Sydney's twenty-five, put in a great run to the corner, just getting ovci with inches to spare. Patterson took the kick, which failed. Sydney 3 points. Metropolitan ... 3 points. From the kick-out Otago leturned to th-a attack, and a little later almost soorpd again, but Pockley's pace enabled him to beat the slowei forwards of Otago and save by a fcice. Open play of a give-and-take order followed," the advantage resting with neither side. Davidson was very effective in reaching the touch from a narrow base, and saved the forwards a lot. Play remained in the centre for * a space, after which Dansey found touch with a good kick. A little later the Otago forwards broke away and nearly scored, but a rush by the Sydney men equalised matters, until a free kick was awarded Otago well within the halfway line. Patterson's kick was rcsultle«s From the kick-out the ball went into touch on the visitors' s'do of half-way, and in the ensuing loose play MDonald (five-eighth* got the ball, beat two mpn, and then punted gently across and forward. The ball was then pa.-^d through the backi to Dansev, who made a fine run and clashed o\er, beating tw j of the Sydney men badly by his pace° The kick proved a fiasco. Metropolitan 6 points Sydney . 3 points. On 1 opining. Davidson was again prominont for his safe line kicking. Kellan fiof the ball well away from the scrum, but piomisinjr play ended in Sydney bein°- , av.ard-'l a free kick Play travelled across tho field, Otago setting up a hot attack winch was repulsed by Sydney. Curtin, the Sjdney three-quarter, saved by carrying into touch, but he placed his foot in the tyo>i-h and found his knee, which had pi<MioJsly been strained, go under him. Lie uas ohl'^ed to retire, Macartney taking hi, place. S>dney forced down on the r'-umntiori of play, and then a fine piece ■ of work by M'Donald in conjunction with - his forwards enabled M'Kenzie to get over. Again tho kick pioved a fia«co. Metropolitan .. 9 points. Sj<iney ... 3 points. S>diiey, playing with jrreat vim, then tcok the ball to th? other "endi of the field. - OUgo's <'ofence, however, was sound enough to prevent a score, ar.d the 6pell : enrkd a little lat&r with Sydney in Otag-o's territory Play had be«;i very even, the i viiitors generally piving as good as they got, but wheie Ot^go trained was in using every pioferred ad\antij? to the full. I Otago h;xl to face the win'l in the eccovd j-pr.-11. bin nevertheless opened ! strong-K, gm.l m a few minutes had regie- ] tered another ecoro. M'Donald (fi\o-eighth) 1 was again in^t: umental in initiating the i movement, which allowed Dan^ey to put in 1 a sensational run down the line, where he was blocked. Tight work ensued for a ] moment, but Otaso's forwards were vexy

— — — — — — — \ keen, amd Fitzparrick managed to dasti over in a good position. Onoe more the place-kick failed Metropolitan - t? 12 pointsSydney ... . .. 3 points. Nothing daunted, Sydney came back to the firay as eager as ever All through, they played a great game. Play then became very fast a.nd most interesting. Sydney set up a determined attack, and thoroughly deserved to £core Time and again they got rigKt to the line, but could not cross ft. Once a man got over, but was recalled for an infringement. Then Otago attacked. Saving by a force, Sydney temporarily got dear, but fast work by Ecldhoid Bonnet and M'Donald brought the ball back. Davidson had a fair chance, but was beaten by the ball. A good run by Dansey ended in Lane's arms In. Sydney's twenty-five, and from a clearing kick Stack arid PocSSey shone out in a fine combined effort, which, however, ended in tight work, in which Otago secured a' free kick. Mark and counter-mark saw play fairly centred, but after mixed plf.y Otago broke away in a grand passing bout, in which half-a-dozen backs and forwards figured. This, however, ended in a force. A moment later, however, A. M'Donald dashed over from a loose rush. The first goal of tihe day was kicked by Dansey. Metropolitan 17 points. Sydney , 3 points! Open play took place on resuming. Eckhofd and M'Donald out fn good runs. The latter, who had been playing a, great' game throujg-hout, broke away and beat the opposing- backs. With 'the full back to beat ne> passed to Wall, who was really a fraction past the back, with 15 yards to go. Wall was taken by surprise, However, and allowed himself to be collai>ed. Sydney temporarily saved, but th© Otago forwards, coming with a final rush, enabled M'Kenzie to score near tne posts. The kick vr?.s euccessfuJ, and tihe game ended: Metropolitan 22 points. Sydney 3poinv*. The garso was a really fine one to watch, and contained plenty of exciting incidents. The visitors deserve every credit for the extremely plucky fight they put up. Their team was a most promising one, and made the play very even. Otago certainly had no great advantage in general play : where the local men shone was in superior scoring ability. They took advantage o"f every chance, and scored six times. The visitors had quit© as many opportunities for possible scores, but lacked l the final ability to " get there." Summing up, it was simply experience that earned! . tho win. The Jooal forwards were a particularly heavy lot, and each averaged* half a stone heavier then the visitors. The majority played good football, particularly M'Kenzie. R. Johnston, A. M'Donald, and Patterson. One of the 14st men, Wall, did not show to particular advantage. D. E. Fenwick, Fitzpatrick, and Skinner each played a good sterling game. Of tho backs, M'Donald. of tho five-eighth line, was the particular star cf the day, and) played a really pood heady game, initiating movement after movement that either resulted in a score or went near io it.» Davidson was in good fettle also, and wa3 prominent for somo gocd runs and h's safe line-kicking. Eckhold and Kellar* were each on the game, but Bennet should) not ordinarily find it difficult to improve on his showing. Dansey was in fin© triir. and did a lot of dashing work. On several occasions he proved useful by crossing right over to tho attacking wing, though on one such occasion he was in error in bumping Davidson when hn should have been yards further out on the wing. All the visitors played a splendid game. They played right to the finish, and there never was a time when they were not right on the ball. Lane, at full back, was cafe, and had plenty to do. Pockley used his paco to decided advantage, and Curtin, . till ho left the field through hi? injury, played) a good game. Kelfy, Stack, Fisher, an<l Hughes, th» othpr backs, were all willing end worked like Trojans. Against au experienced team, however, several weak points in combination showed themselves. The local men could pretty well pass blindfolded to where the support ought to bo and fool fairly safe that ho would b3 there, but it was not so with the visitors. With the advantage of the Otago men's experience the whole back division would be a dangerous one, for there is certainly pace a-nd much individual skill there. The forwards had a hard task in playing against their heavier opponents, but they stuck to their work grimly and finished full of life. Mctcalfe received c wrench to his knee onco or twice, but managed to see the game through. The lightest forward was Clayton (lCst 12ib), but he, with the others — Reynolds, Broughton, I.indeman, Dovlo., Martin, and Maxwell, — played a solid game. The referee was Mr H. H. S. White, whose control of the game was satisfactory to players aiwl si>octa.tors.