Otago Reps. Beaten In All Departments

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 431, 13 August 1928, Page 7

Otago Reps. Beaten In All Departments

AUCKLAND PACK SHINES

BACKS GIVE GOOD DISPLAY (Special to THE SUN) DUNEDIN, Saturday. Bright Rugby has invariably been seen in the games between Auckland and Otago since 1875, and the contest of 1928 was no exception. In past games, however, there has been very little difference between the scores of the respective sides, whereas on this occasion the Auckland team won easily by 26 to 9. An Auckland team has not played at Dunedin since 1922, and on taking the field the visitors were given a grea.t ovation. The game itself was fast and exciting, and from the outset it was plain that Otago was up against formidable opposition. The visitors’ forwards were very much heavier than those of Otago, this decided advantage in weight taking heavy toll of the Otago pack in the tight work. The Auckland backs, too, were superior both in attack and defence, and had more finish about their play. It was the winners’ better understanding of each other’s play, greater speed, and ability to turn their opponents’ mistakes to advantage that counted so largely in their favour. FAST AUCKLAND PACK With a lock man weighing over 17 stone, the Auckland pack dominated the tight play throughout the game. Some of these heavy forwards also

showed a great turn of speed, handling the ball well and opening up the game to give their backs numerous chances. The Auckland forwards played well* Batty was an outstanding figure and the best forward on the ground. He seemed to be everywhere, gaining possession on the line-outs, handling like a back and using the last ounce of his weight in the tight among the others. Knight and Linton were also a pair of hard workers. As the last line of defence for the Auckland side Butler played a sound game, making no mistakes and getting his side out of numerous tight corners. The threequarter line, Falwasser, L. Hook and Minns, was much superior to that of Otago, each man being fast and a powerful runner. Minns, particularly, showed determination and dash that marked him as a wing of the first flight. The five-eighths, N. Jenkin and R. Hook, combined fairly well, though their handling was not always of the best. Behind the scrum Carter fed his backs well. The genera! opinion in Dunedin is that Auckland has a team which will hold its own against the strongest provincial side in New Zealand to-day. AUCKLAND B REPS. MATCH WITH BAY OF PLENTY The following- players have been selected by Messrs. V. K. Meredith and S. Cleal to represent Auckland against the Bav of Plenty on Saturday:— Pullback, Paewai (Grafton); threequarters, R. Couper (Technical Old Boys) Stuart, Stoupe (Marist); five-eighths, Cammick, Berridge (Ponsonby); halfback, McManus (Ponsonby)); rover. Solomon (North Shor#); forwards, Hindenach (University), Brimble (Manukau), Cathcart (Grammar), Righton (Ponsonby), Anderson (University), Xj. Knight (Grammar), Snrith (North Shore). Emergencies: Jamieson (Ponsonby), Skelton (Grammar). Satherley (Manukau) McCarthney (Ponsonby). The team will -practice at the North Shore shed at 7.30 on "Wednesday evening.

HAMILTON LOSES PEACE CUP TO MORRINSVILLE

(From Our Own Correspondent) HAMILTON, Sunday. Hamilton lost the Peace Cup, the premier Rugby trophy of the Waikato on Saturday, being beaten IS—l6 in a lively game at Hamilton. For the winners, Mulcahy, Howard, Anderson and F. Thomas scored, s! Thomas converting three tries. Fitzgerald and Mitchell scored for Hamilton, Mitchell converting a try. Allen and Mitchell also kicked penalty goals.