SATURDAY’S MATCHES.

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 48

SATURDAY’S MATCHES.

DUNEDIN. The senior Rugby competition was advanced a further stage on Saturday in fine but windy weather. The surprise of the day was the defeat of Pirates by Zingari-Richmond by the decisive margin of 14 points to 6. At Carisbrook, after a hard forward struggle, Southern and Alhambra drew, there being no score at the call of time. University A, who secured an easy victory over Union, are now one point in the lead from Southern, Alhambra and Kaikorai being next with seven points each.

POSITION OF TEAMS. The following table shows the relative positions of the teams engaged in the senior competition: —

SOUTHERN v. ALHAMBRA. After a very hard-fought forward game, the match between Southern and Alhambra ended in a draw —no score. There was very little back play, and the attempts to open up passing generally broke down, the heavy north-west wind no doubt having something to do with this weakness. The -.teams were as follows: — Southern. —Backs —Bolton, Davis, Smith, Purvis, R. Wilson! Sutherland, Simon; forwards—Hore, Hill, R. F. Wilson, A. Hill, Inglis, Niven, Carnegie, and Cavanagh. Alhambra. —Backs —W. Griffen, Wilson, Flint, L. Griffen, Johnstone; forwards — Williamson. Booth, Stitchbury, Souter, Earle. Davis, Ramage, Campbell, Berry, and Frood. Alhambra kicked off against the gale, and Southern quickly broke through to their opponents’ twenty-five, Simon forcing Alhambra with a high punt. Bolton forced Alhambra again immediately after with a penalty shot frt>m well out. A hard kick by a forward forced Alhambra for the third time. The Southern forwards were playing with plenty of dash, but the north end forwards were holding them well. A. hard kick by Cavanagh forced Alhambra once more, and then Wilson cut in nicely and ran along the right wing to pass to Smith, who was hurled out at the corner flag. The Alhambra pack was getting most of the ball from the scrums, and Booth was kicking to the line. From a throw in at the Alhambra twenty-five Earle broke through, but the Red and Blacks could not get play past the centre flag. Simon punted with judgment across field to Wilson, the Alhambra wing three-quarter, and from the line out the - Southern pack broke away, Alhambra forcing. Southern were being penalised for infringements at the

scrums, and this was pulling up their attacks. The play was really confined to scrums and line outs, and was being held in the Alhambra territory. W. Griffen was forced, behind his line, and pushed into touch-in-goal, and after Simon, R. Wilson, and Purvig had joined in a promising bit of passing, Bolton forced Alhambra once more. . Johnstone, Booth, and Berry were noticeable in good defensive work for Alhambra. A rush led by Hore and Cavanagh and a good line kick by Purvig had Alhambra in trouble. Niven went over from the throw in, but the referee called the play back, and then Simon went over, but the effort was also declared fruitless, and Alhambra forced immediately after. The Southern again tried passing, Purvis making a good dash to E. Wilson, who came right across from his wing and kicked out» Alhambra were forced twice before the half time whistle. The north end side had not once got the play past halfway after the commencement of the game. Southern opened against the wind with great dash. Simon punted high, and the gale blew the ball right back. From a scrum at midfield Booth passed to Johnstone, who made a short dash, and Southern were on the defence. A free kick was given to Alhambra at the centre flag, and Johnstone quite caught the other side napping. He did not wait for them to get in position, but

gave the ball a tap with his foot, secured it again, and passed to Frood. The passing swung from the left wing to the right wing, L. Griffen and Flint handling, the ball then being kicked over the Southern line and out of bounds. An Alhambra player, it may be mentioned, was leading in the race for the ball. The Southern men were using bad tactics, punting to the open against the heavy wind instead of getting the line and giving W. Griffen plenty of time to return. Some wild, vigorous forward play ensued. Alhambra got the ball from a scrum, but Booth threw out a wild pass, and a Southern man punted high in the air, and the ball was blown right back to the Southern line, and Southern then forced. The Alhambra forwards set up a strong attack, but they could not get across, and a dribbling rush by Southern shifted nlay to half-way. where R. Wilson was badly obstructed after he had punted and was following through. Flint pulled up another Southern attack and twice W. Griffen returned hard kicks. Southern were getting their share of the. ball in the scrums, but the passing lacked finish, Purvis showed out and dribbled to W. Griffen, who punted back well, and Johnstone then kicked through to Bolton, who fumbled, and the ball went out of bounds. Give-and-take play followed. Smith made a good run to his left wing, but Purvis was jammed on the line. Simon also made a run along the left wing, and the Southern forwards simply swept through the opposition. A high kick went to Bolton, who jumped at the ball and knocked it forward into the Uands of an opponent. The ball went through two or three Alhambra hands. Flint knocking on in front of the Southern goal with a try in sight. Both sets of forwards were still sticking to it with- the greatest determination,

UniversityP W. L. D. Points. Flag Pte. F. A. A 5 0 0 116 17 10 Southern 5 4 0 1 48 6 9 Alhambra . - 5 a t 1 1 56 30 7 Kaikorai 5 3 1 1 73 32 7 Zingari 5 o 2 1 38 39 5 Pirates .. 5 9 9 1 65 52 5 Taieri .. 5 1 4 0 26 65 2 Union .. 5 1 4 0 20 94 2 Dunedin 5 1 4 0 19 97 2 University B 5 0 4 1 36 65 1