AUSTRALIANS IMPROVED

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28679, 1 September 1958, Page 6

AUSTRALIANS IMPROVED

Otago Beaten -

11 To 3

; (New Zealand Press Association) ■ DUNEDIN, August 31. Looking more like a true international side than at any other time on tour, the Australian Rugby team had its fourth win in seven matches with an 11-3 win Over Otago at Dunedin on Saturday. The Australians’ points came from two tries, one of them converted and a dropped goal, to Otago’s sole try. At half-time the score was 8-3.

The visitors fully deserved their eight-point margin. Territorially they had to take second place to Otago in the first half, but thereafter the tourists were always in the picture. The match was generally scrappy, but there were enough bright patches to keep the crowd of about 12,000 entertained. The weather forecast which predicted hail and snow showers kept many away. The match was played in bright sunshine on a firm ground. The Wallaby forwards went in fits and starts—some of theta went well all the time—and the backline frequently launched promising moves. Three who were All full of life at the end were the front row props K. Ellis and P. Dunn and the lock J. Carroll. , „ The captain, C. Wilson, and K. Ryan were often flashy in the

open, but were inclined to hang off the scrums. Both were lucky they were not penalised more for glaring off-side play in the line-outs and round the side or rucks. Competent Backline The Australian backline always looked competent. Perhaps the best of the backs was the young Victorian, R. Kay. having his third match of the tour. On his form against Otago ne cannot be left out of the team for the second test. Playing at outside centre, Kay was a determined runner on attack, and was also a resolute defender. He came into the side when R. Phelps was moved out to the wing. Phelps looked much happier on the wing. Next to Kay, the backs who claimed most attention were the halfback, D Connor, and first fiveeighths, A. Summons, who ran rings round their opposite numbers, A. Stevens and H. Edwards, respectively. The Otago backline did not look particularly happy. The centre, V. Lloyd, and the ’wo wings, E. S. Diack and G. Bassett, were always looking for work, but had few chances. . ' The two full-backs, T. Curley and D. Leary, had fair matches, with Curley making the overlap several times. His line-kicking was not always as accurate as it nas been, and his goal-kicking was again sadly astray. He missed four shots at penalties and also one conversion attempt. , Of the Otago forwards, ,M. W. Irwin (the captain), J. F. Anderson, D. Johnston, and W. D. Gillespie, were the best, with Gillespie scoring his team’s only try.

The Scoring The Wallabies had a chance of opening their scoring in the first minute when, one of the Otago forwards was penalised, but Curley’s shot at goal missed. With 16 minutes of the match Sone, the Australian back-line went ito action for the first time, and it was only mishandling that stopped them from scoring. > Midway through the half, the Wallabies were down at Otago’s line, and after a ruck near the line Thomett gathered in the ball and charged down the blind side for a try. Four minutes later Morton scored a try. Connor broke from the scrum and passed through a wide gap. Ryan was up in support and the forward was able to take Connor’s high overhead pass comfortably. He made 15 yards before passing to Morton. The winger propped to catch Diack on the wrong foot and turned infield to score beside the posts. Curley

A minute after this score, Gillespie scored for Otago, the try coming after a concerted forward rush by the Otago pack. Diack missed the kick, and three minutes before halftime he missed a shot from a penalty. With . 10 minytes to go, Phelps put the Australians on attack with a 50yard burst after he had drawn the Otago defence infield. That took play to within 10 yards of the Otago line, and it was from there that Summons drop-kicked his goal. The Wallabies had two more chances of scoring ih the- last five minutes when Otago were penalised twice in quick succession. Curley missed both kicks.