Representative Matches

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31767, 26 August 1968, Page 15

Representative Matches

(N Z Press Association) Just holding out in the face of a fierce finish by Wellington, Otago won its seventh successive Rugby match on Saturday by 17-14 after being in front 17-8 with five minutes to go. The game produced only two tries, one to each team, but on the general run of play Otago showed up as slightly the better side on the day.

The major reason for this edge was the fine driving play of the Otago forwards. Beaten in the set scrums, where Wei lington's weight advantage was apparent at times, and shaded in the line outs, the Otago forwards offset these disadvant ages with some stirring loose scrummaging arid" flicking. For Otago, S. H. O. Reaney. the outstanding. Otago forward scored a try, J. C. Adams kicked a goal from a. mark, and L. W. Mains kicked a conversion and three penalties. . Weilington’i points calne from a try by W. J, Nicholls, a drop-

ped goal by M. Sayers, and a conversion and two penalties by J C. Seymour.

The details of other matches were:—

Hld-Cantarbury 22 (J. Prendergast, J. A. Sampson, B. V Sampson 2, A. C. Goodwin, O. D Bruce tries, J. A. Sampson 2 conversions), North Otago 12 (K. Ford 3 penalties and a try) Mid-Canterbury retained the Hannan Shield.

King Country 6 (T. Levy 2 penalties), Waikato 3 (D. Pin fold penalty).

Manawatu 15 (B. Cuff, D. Bydder, W. Robinson tries, I. Burgess 3 conversions), Wairarapa 3 (H. Sims try).

Taranaki 8 (W. D. Currey, L. Clarke tries, K. P. Hurley conversion). North Auckland 6 (R. Jones try, K. T. Going penalty) South Canterbury 18 (G. M. Connolly 3, R. P. Ryan tries, N. Twaddell 2 penalty goals). Southland 9 (I. S. T. Smith 2 tries, D. A. Nichol penalty).