BEATEN BY ONE POINT

Southland Times, Issue 24818, 10 August 1942, Page 3

BEATEN BY ONE POINT

Southland Team At Dunedin

The Southland Rugby team went very close to winning the 1942 OtagoSouthland Rugby “double” at Dunedin on Saturday afternoon. It was beaten by one point in a game in which Southland made a great recovery after an inglorious display in the first half. The Southland forwards, although conceding a five-stone weight handicap, played magnificently, and had they received just average support from the backs, Southland must have won comfortably. As it was, the southerners scored a moral victory. In addition to scoring two tries to Otago's one, Southland was unfortunately deprived of a try, scored by A. West, five minutes from “time.” West, who had played an inspiring game, picked up the ball as it'was heeled back a yard from Otago s line and grounded it, for what appeared to be a good try. The referee (Mr J. Frood) was standing behind the Otago line at the t in \ e and apparently did not see the try scored. The loss of those points meant the difference between winning and losing. No more points were scored, and Otago ran out winner by seven points (an unconverted try and a dropped goal) to two unconverted tries.

Southland’s backs were given many opportunities. but as a combination they failed badly. Their showing was so poor in the first half that a reshuffle was made for the second half, and G. Agnew (first nveeighth) took up the half-back’s position, RWilliams (second 'five-eighths) was moved in to the first five-eighths position and JTaylor (half-back) was shifted to second five-eighths. The change worked a big improvement in the play. GOOD HOOKING

The good features of the game were the hooking of D. Renshaw (Southland), the magnificent goal dropped by D. Treyathan (it was one of the best he has ever kicked), the general play of the Southland forwards and their wonderful finishing offensive, and the excellent displays given by A. Mason (Otago fuU-back) and G. Agnew (Southland half-back) in the second half. The forwards had a great duel. Botn packs played hard, but Southland took the honours by their superior scrummaging. H. Raymond and A. Smeaton locked well and A. West. W. G. Sherriff. R. Sutton and L. Connolly showed up consistently. R. Nieper was a good leader. P. B. Fox, A. Scandrett and J. Sands were outstanding in the Otago pack. All of the backs played well. The playing conditions were good. A big contingent of Southland supporters, led by Mr W. Graham and the Invercargill Pipe Band, was in the good-sized crowd at Carisbrook. The Donald Stuart Memorial Shield, held by Otago, was at stake. There was quite an impressive opening to the game. Both teams, side by side, marched out behind the Invercargill Pipe Band and fanned out into a spectacular “V.” The Dunedin Ladies’ Band played the National Anthem and the game started. OTAGO BACKS GO WELL

In the first minute of play Southland /was penalized and Trevathan missed with a shot at goal. Otago’s backs got the better service in the first 10 minutes, but their chain passing was stopped by good tackling. Small (Southland full-back) failed to field a k*ck and Otago was almost through. Then Nieper and Sutton headed a Southland forward rush and Williams made a dash across the face of Otago’s defence but he passed wildly and a fair chance was lost. Trevathan was placing his kicks judiciously and his line-kicking sent the Southland forwards back time after time. The Southland backs now were getting plenty of ball, but almost without exception one or other of the inside backs mulled a pass. It was a deplorable exhibition of back Play* Otago on the other hand passed and handled accurately and its backs looked like internationals” beside the southerners. Otago opened the scoring after 20 minutes’ play. A weak clearance by a Southland forward after Elvidge had cut in and was stopped under Southland’s goal, was fielded by Smeaton (Otago centre) and he whipped the ball out to the unmarked Green (right wing) and the latter scored a good try. Trevathan failed to goal. Otago 3, Southland 0. Six minutes later, after a breakdown in Southland passing, Trevathan picked up the .ball about 40 yards out and in front of the goal and snap-potted a beautiful goal. It was a great piece of work which brought a roar of applause. Otago 7, Southland 0. Only the good scrummaging of the Southland forwards and the deadly tackling of Agnew, Williams and Milne kept the Otago backs from scoring again before half-time. ’ CHANGE OF POSITIONS The change of positions in the Southland backs became effective almost immediately upon the resumption of play. Southland hooked the ball from two out of every three scrums and Agnew put it to good use, mainly in solo work. One rush by Southland, headed by Sutton, Connolly and West, had Otago in difficulties until a forward overkicked and an Otago back won the race to the ball and booted it over the deadball line. Southland was rewarded soon after when Agnew, running from a scrum, beat off tackles and scored irt x a good position. Taylor failed to goal. Otago 7, Southland 3. For the next 10 minutes Southland had much the better of the play, but the backs were unable to finish off in combined play the good work of the pack. Otago rallied and Langham raced across from the left wing to the right to take part in a passing rush which was checked in the nick of time by Maslin. Play became fast and exciting. The Otago backs threw the ball about without much result and the Southland forwards countered with some brilliant close rushes. West, Sutton and Smeaton were prominent in most of the play, and for Otago Mason, the fullback, put in some great saving. EXCITING PLAY

With 10 minutes left to play the pace became even faster and Southland took almost complete charge of the game. Williams fell just short of the line in one solo dash and then Agnew, Sherriff and Sutton combined in a passing rush which brought a try to Sutton in a good position for goaling. Hamilton missed and the scores were Otago 7, Southland 6. Williams next dropped for goal and the ball fell short and in a non-stop series of rushes the Southland forwards got to the Otago line, where after a scrum West scored his disallowed try.

The game was not lost to Southland yet, however. Otago was penalized on the goalline and a few yards from the posts, but to the disappointment of many enthusiastic Southland supporters, Hamilton made a poor attempt to goal by a standing kick. Southland’s last chance was gone, and although the forwards came again Otago held its line. It was an exciting finish to a second half full of action. The teams were: — SOUTHLAND Backs. —W. A. Small; R. Maslin, D. Hamilton, C. Milne; R. Williams, G. Agnew; J. Taylor. Forwards. —L. Connolly, D. Renshaw, R. Sutton; R. Nieper, captain), H. Raymond, A. Smeaton, W. G. Sherriff; A. West. OTAGO Backs. —A. Mason; J. Langham, W. Smeaton, J. W. Green; R. R. Elvidge, D. Trevathan (captain): N. M. Paewal; J. Ward, P. B. Fox, T. Wallace; L. Vosalaigi, I. Prior, J. Sands, M. J. Phelan, A. Scandrett.