Q’land holds off Otago

Press, 8 May 1978, Page 40

Q’land holds off Otago

NZPA Brisbane The al 1-conquering Queensland rugby team notched its eighteenth successive win at Ballymore with a hard-fought 12-6 victory over the New Zealar-’ provincial side, Otago, yesterday. Like the recent encounter with another New Zealand side. North Auckland, Queensland had to overcome an early first-half deficit. Otago opened the match at a furious pace, pressuring the Queensland line for most of the first half, but succeeding only in scoring a penalty goal by the All Black full-back, Bevan Wilson, and an excellent field goal to the five-eighths. Be v an Guthrie. But the score could have been far more flattering for

fl the tourists m the first half. r The wing. John Colling, ’ grounded the ball over the Queensland line, but the ref- ’ | eree ruled a doubie moveiment. ' Otago, dominating the sec-ond-half line-outs through ’|the All Black second-rower, Gary Seear, and Wayne Grar ham, mounted attack after 1 attack throughout the re- ; maining 35 minutes of the ' second half, but the Queensland defence held firm. , The recalled test captain, t| Geoff Shaw, voluntarily . withdrew from the Queensland side to meet Otago. I Canterbury is the next ■ New Zealand side Queensi I land will face at Ballymore , .and it should be a close enj counter, with Canterbury •[seeking to revenge two pre■lvious defeats by Queensland.