OTAGO HOLDS SHIELD

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25610, 27 September 1948, Page 5

OTAGO HOLDS SHIELD

WELLINGTON BEATEN BY 11 POINTS HOME TEAM’S FORWARDS play Well (P.A.) DUNEDIN, September 26. Otago fought back strongly in the second half to beat Wellington by 11 points to 0 in the final Ranfurly Shield match of the season, before a crowd of 32,000 at Carisbrook on Saturday. The match was marred by a considerable amount of and illegal play, and was partly spoiled as a spectacle by a surprising amount of mishandling by the Otago backs. Wellington held the shield holders to a scoreless first half, but in the later stages of the game history repeated itself, and the Otago forwards dominated the play. As was expected, Wellington made a strong bid, but could not match the fitness and sustained vigour of the holder’s pack. For once, some of the recognised brilliant backs in both teams were overshadowed by more obscure players. Kearney and Elvidge both played well, but suffered from inexplicable handling lapses, and Meates had few opportunities. The best’ back on the ground was L. Haig, first five-eighths for Otago, who kept Delamore bottled up, beat him several times, and gained valuable ground by brilliant kicking. The most impressive Wellington back was V. Bevan, who opened up play at every opportunity, sending out perfect passes, and defending valiantly. Most of the Wellington back rushes went straight across the field, the only man to reveal penetrative ability being Mullin at second five-eighths. In the Otago pack McNab, O’Connor, and Johnstone were outstanding in the loose, with Wilson, Dalton, and Skinner excelling in the tight work. Crist was the pick of the Wellington nack, and played an excellent game thrdnghout. He excelled in the line-out play, and followed up relentlessly. Ingpen, who appeared to have an excellent understanding with Bevan, secured a lion’s share of the ball for his team. Wills and Hohaia both played well in the tight, with White covering well on defence. Otago’s points came from a field goal by Kearney and tries by Betting and Johnstone, one of which was converted by Haig. The referee was Mr G. Sullivan, of Taranaki.