CANTERBURY B LOSES, 15-22

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28619, 23 June 1958, Page 8

CANTERBURY B LOSES, 15-22

Otago Team Superior Scoring the first representative win since the province re-entered the code several years ago, Otago surprised local League followers by beating Canterbury B by 22 points to 15 in a match at the Show Grounds on Saturday. Otago’s performance was a big improvement on its last appearance in Christchurch. There were many aspects of its play that were a lesson to the Canterbury thirteen. The handling was good. The pass ing was very snappy and the backs and forwards moved the hall along quickly. The side also had a much better appreciation of the value of possession. More often than not Canterbury players were beaten for the loose bail. In contrast, Canterbury’s display was far from satisfactory. Expected to be too strong for the Otago team the Canterbury side appeared to lack life, • and far too many mistakes were made. There was talent in the Canterbury team, but the players lacked the ability to combine effectively. As with club football in Christchurch this season there was far to much barging among the forwards. Canterbury's . best back was the Linwood winger, W. Miller. He scored a good try in the first half, but his chances were very limited. The five-eighths, G. Nieman and G. Thornley, went as well as the opposition allowed them, but generally they made few breaks against some very good tackling by Otago. At half-back, R. Pounsford played well. His backing up was good and his handling was sure. Those - who showed out in the Canterbury pack were B. Simmonds R. Booth and R. Moore. Simmonds made many good breaks, but at times was inclined to run a little too far before passing. Booth played in the first half only as he was a reserve for the game against West Coast, played later. Canterbury was probably unlucky not to have had him for the second half, too. Good Full-back For Otago, the full-back, J. McGregor. played very soundly. He handled well and his positional play could not be faulted. Taken all round he suffered nothing in comparison with Canterbury’s club full-backs this season. He also proved that he is a most reliable goal kicker. On the right wing, M. Clydesdale made a number of good breaks. A former schoolboy representative, he thoroughly deserved the two tries he scored. Another, player who impressed wa.P Taita. at centre three-quarters The Canterbury defence was hard put to stop his strong running, and his straight running to link with his wings was a lesson to the Canter bury centre, W. Anderton, who was inclined to swerve infield too often Otago had a competent first fiveeighths, R. Billington. A strong runner. he combined very well with his other backs. At the base of the scrum Otago received splendid service from the elusive Maori half-back, D. Tamiti. He threw out good passes and his tricky running made him a handful for the Canterbury defence. In the forwards Otago enjoyed an advantage over the more experienced Canterbury pack, and the variation in its play was much greater than that of Canterbury. There was a greater understanding, too, something that Canterbury lacked right through the match. The teams were:— Otago.—J. McGregor; J. McDonald P Taita. M. Clydesdale; J. Tregerthan, J. R. Billington; D. Tamiti: M Skipper, J. Constable. B. Watson (captain). J. O’Brien, M. Johnson. A Carson. Canterbury B.—B. S. Head; W. Miller, W. Anderton, M. Courtney; G. Nieman (captain), G. Thornley; R.‘ Pounsford; B. Simmonds, I. Rickerby, R. Booth, G. Cooper, J. Flanagan, R. Moore. The referee was Mr K. Cox. Scorers for Otago were: M. Clydesdale (2», W. Watson and M. Johnson Three were converted by J. McGregor, who also kicked two penalties. Tries were scored for Canterbury by W. Miller, G. Cooper and G. Thornley. R. Moore converted one and kicked two penalties.

Games In Other Districts

Auckland.—Point Chevalier 30, Eastern Districts 18; Ellerslie 12, Mount Albert 6; Marist 16, Glenora 14; Otahuhu 23, Northern Districts 17; Ponsonby 31, Richmond 12. Wellington.—Miramar 18, Marist 15; St. George 24, Waterside 21. Dunedin.—Athletic 19, Kia Toa 8; City 20, Celtic 3; University 30, Caledonian 6.

West Coast.—Blackball 10, Marist 9; Runanga 25, Kohinoor 3; Ngahere 24, Cobden 11.

Machine Builds a House.— A new house-building machine capable of erecting a five-storey brick house in 50 to 60 days and a similar-sized house of large panels or blocks in half the time has been successfully tested in Moscow, reports the Soviet news agency, Tass. The machine which resembles a crane, performs the most diverse building operations, including the unloading of materials and the assembly of buildings out of big blocks and panels weighing up to five tons. —Moscow.