Lincoln XV Gains Credit In Defeat

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31384, 1 June 1967, Page 15

Lincoln XV Gains Credit In Defeat

Scorning the fact that it has not had a win in the Christchurch senior Rugby competition this season, Lincoln College came close to beating the celebrated Otago University XV in the annual match at Tai Tapu Domain yesterday.

Otago, the leading team in the Dunedin senior competition, won 12-8, after trailing twice during the game. It was a hard, clean game; the cold damp conditions probably enticed the players to perform with greater zest For Otago, the left wing, M. P Collins, scored three tries and the full-back, E. S. Taylor, who was out of touch with his goal-kicking, gained the fourth. Lincoln’s points came from a try by G. Kirkland and a penalty goal and a conversion by A. C. Warren.

The weather could well have led to a kick-and-follow came, but both sides adopted a sensible aproach and some splen* did moves resulted. Lincoln's try came after a 75 yard sweep and Collins's first try capped three consecutive rucks won by Otago. The Otago forwards played a tighter game than normal—and handled their assignment well. The backs were unable to develop their normal Sowing game under the conditions but on the few occasions when an

extra man moved into the backline the Lincoln defence was at full stretch.

Otago was at full strength, apart from the absence of the former All Black first fiveeighths, E. W. Kir ton. With D C. Watts and D. N. Cross playing the leading roles, Lincoln fared well in the lineouts, particularly in the second half, and the manner in which the Lincoln forwards hurled themselves into the rucks to win quick ball for their backs was a heartening sight for their supporters. Otago’s best forwards were the props, D. Engel and D. Paddy. C R Laidlaw, the All Black half-back, was prominent and his clever actions kept Otago’s head above water when Lincoln applied pressure in the middle stages of the second half.

In the Lincoln pack, G. Rennie was an energetic flanker and. the prop, A McLellan, initiated some promising breaks from mauls and line-outs. Kirkland handled a difficult job well at half-back, and the full-back, S. M. C. Murray, gave a most enterprising display. In the curtain-raiser, Otago University C beat the Lincoln College second XV, 19-9.