ALMOST 1ST-MINUTE TRY

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31090, 20 June 1966, Page 3

ALMOST 1ST-MINUTE TRY

It was amazing. In the first minute Otagc swung the ball along the back-line and Collins, side-stepping through an unbelieving defence, almost scored after a 40-yard run.

Shaken by this Rugby heresy, the Lions took a few minutes to settle down but soon were on attack as Lamont, Telfer and Mcßride burst through in powerful rushes. Both teams were striving for forward control and the line-outs became messy affairs as players were jostled and obstructed, and it was soon

evident that the Lions forwards were in a peppery mood. Edward Scores Otago, getting quickly to the loose ball and rucking efficiently, began to put pressure on the Lions and a swift blind-side thrust by Kirton saw the big wing, Edward, score in the corner. Henley, playing his first game for Otago, missed the conversion, but soon kicked a penalty to make the score 6-0. Otago’s next try, by Collins, was the best of the game and perfect in its basic simplicity. Kirton put in a high up-and-under. McFadyean, peering into the sun, fumbled the ball; in a moment he was smothered by eight Otago forwards. Back came the ball so swiftly to Laidlaw that there were two Lions forwards standing next to him, and another at second five-eighths. A long pass to Kirton, a quick pass to Peddie; a deceptive swerve by Prain which took him past Weston, and then Collins dived over at the corner. Otago forwards now began to assert themselves. They found gaps in the line-outs which, even if they could not widen, gave them an initial impetus which bustled and bothered the Lions backs. Private War The forwards were still having their little private war and it was a cause for surprise after one ruck when noone came out throwing a punch. Campbell-Lamberton realising that the game was slipping away, pleaded with his forwards, wrung his hands, clapped his hands —but to no avail. Telfer made one barging run but he had no support; Murphy, playing well, swooped on to the ball

but he did not have enongh men with him to capitalise on his efforts.

Otago was playing precise Rugby as Laidlaw and Kirton calmly directed attacks which had the Lions scurrying back on defence. One fierce ruck saw the Lions being booed heartily as punches were thrown and players wrestled on the ground. Four minutes from halftime Henley, playing well, kicked a penalty and the shadows lengthened as it became 12-0 to Otago. No Team-Work But for all the Individual flashes by the Lions, their speed in the loose and the quickness of their backs, there was no evidence of team-work, while the sandpapery attitude of the forwards was not helping them in gaining quick possession. While the Lions were looking for trouble the Otago forwards were looking for the ball—and succeeding in finding it. The Lions’ backs had been so little used in the first half that it seemed the only way for the Lions to drag the game out of the fire was to try and outflank Otago rather than keep on with the frontal assault of the first half. It was an interesting tactical exercise for CampbellLamerton but he chose the use of the up-and-under into the sun. It gained ground but precious time in which to use the backs was wasted and Otago was well prepared for this tactic. _ ~ . Young Henley coolly fielded the kicks; Kirton, Collins and Clark, the flanker, were sound cover defenders. Realising this was happening, the Lions began to run the ball and suddenly looked a good team. A darting blindside dab by Gibson when the ball flicked in and out saw Jones score near the posts. Btit the easy conversion was missed by Rutherford.

There were 25 minutes left but mis-kicking by Gibson allowed the Otago team to settle down. Play seethed around the half-way with neither side gaining an advantage, but Otago, although making minor mistakes, still looked the more competent side and bursts by the forwards with Clark always In the van sorely tested the rather sketchy Lions’ defence. There was one interesting moment when the 6ft 7in Pohlen moved out to first fiveeighths from a ruck; in two strides he covered about 10 yards and there was a horrified look on Weston’s face as this gigantic figure loomed over him. But Weston never faltered and tackled him.

Otago kept up the pressure and Clark nearly scored, but the Lions replied to this challenge with a superb try. From a tap penalty the ball was flicked out to McFadyean; he sprinted down the side-line and when tackled flipped the ball back to Gibson who delicately threaded his way through tackles to score. There were 10 minutes left and there was tension around the ground as the Lions tried everything. But the Otago defence held and a try to Collins after Edward had fielded a kick by Gibson gave Otago a 17-6 lead. A try to McFadyean in the last minute brought some respectability to the Lions defeat.