The Southland Backs.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 27, 17 September 1920, Page 9

The Southland Backs.

Tho, home backs surpassed themselves. We thought they might possibly liold-up the Wellington attacks by solid tackling ; but a score against Wellington from a passing rush seemed far too much to hope for. But they did pass, and Holmes got his chance. Dalgliesh was not up to his usual standard in kicking, but his passes came clean from the scrum, and as usual he did much defending. He was wise m his first spell punting. Lopdell did well especially in attack ; some of his tackle3, too, were very timely. Severai times, however, he was too slow to get to Roberts.. Stead played his best rep. game of the season, tackling vigorously, and biting into the Wellington defence persistently. But the honours go to O'rxane, whose work was brilliant throughout. He was always there on attack^ and on defence he proved liimself one of the soundest centres avc have seen for some time. Had it not been for his solid tackling, Southland would have had many points against them. As it was most passing rusKes ended in an advantage to Southland. When Wellington seored, he had not got clear of the forwards. Fortune proved as cool and resourceful as .ever, and Holmes gave a rare taste of his stride. He might be calied "The Speculator King," and be advised to take a ticket in Tatt's. He pawa for the ball like a grizzly, gets into pace like an elephant, and scores like an Arab steed. He is one of those playrers — born doubtless under a lucky star — with whom you never feel safe, but who, nevertheless, seldom let you down. Holmes does many curious things, hut somehow he gets there ; and the crowd will forgive anything to the man that can score as he did against Wellington. Brown played his usual fine game at full-back, 'save that his kicking was not quite so sure as usual. His great tackle of the Wellington wing added to the number of his many admirers. Surely he will get his chance for South Island honours this year. We certa.inly liaven't j seen his equal this season. — Southland Forwards. — I The front row men met hookers who | had got all the ball from Otago — hookers on whom the Wellington si.de relied and i who have spoiled a forward pack hy their j success in securing the ball. A careful j record kept hy an intra-representative front I row man of this season made the ball-de-liveries from set-scrums, line-heels and rucks as a total of 56. Of these six were marked neutral, 23 went to Southland, and 27 to Wellington. It was very noticeable that in the first .spell; when the visiting winger put in the ball, that it was nearly always kicked back to him, To particularise the other forwards would b,e invidious. They all played right up to the best standard of Southland forwards although at times there was high-tackling. The emorgency for Roche, Agnew, will be hard to leave out. Baird, who is neither a forward nor a back, gave a great exhibi, tion, jmtting his marker completely in the ! shade. He was up on to everything. — Hoav the Tries Came. — - A Wellington pass broke down in their own 25. Fortune secured and was insufficiently ta-ckled. He ran north, aci'oss the goal front hehind the visiting pack. On being tackled Fortune grounded and Millar dribbied over and secured. Tlie second try came after a forward rush into Wellington 's 25. Holmes and Fortune were in a kick and pass movement which failed. The sequent scrum saw a quick heel, Dalgliesh sending to Lopdell who bounced the ball, throwing his marker out of gear. Then Stead was fed to score. The try coming third was from mid way, the play being well to the north side oi the field.' A set scrum feed allowed Dalgliesh, Lopdell, Stead, O'Kane handle, the last named feeding Holmes who ran towards the south line — opposite the grand stand — where, he rounded the -wing three aird seored with a straipht run of 25 yards. The fourth crossing occurred when the Southland forwards swarmed all over the Black-Yellow monograms in front of 'tho west goal. A series' of short passing rushes by Southland were checked, hut the Wellington team continued to he penned up. A heel gave l/alg liesh an oppor trinity to set Lopdell going straight. On the first being collared, O'Kane dashed into the scramble, and securing was thrown down. K.e passed from the ground and Stead received .uid dived over between the posts. The Wellington try was a beautiful pi.ece of transferring work. A line feed gave half Nicholls the baal to send Roberts on his errand from half-way. 'Ihe first five cut across to Stead, M. Nicholls, Ryan, and McCabe handling in turn, the last named touching down. O'Kane was in the ruck, so home was between two men. The scores were made up of • Southland 4 tries (one converted), and a penalty goal ; Wellington, one try, one penalty goal. The Wellington team played the clean est game seen here this season, no illegal rnterferences being noticeable. The men are good eportsmen and clean players of Rugby.