Deserved rugby win to Otago

Press, 25 August 1980, Page 32

Deserved rugby win to Otago

PA Dunedin Controlled, fluent and intelligent rugby enabled Otago to overcome the flamboyant Fijians to score a deserved 18-10 win in the international match at Carisbrook on Saturday. ■ Otago scored only one try, and conceded two, but there was no question it . was the superior team. The Fijians’ spectacular brand of play was not allowed to flourish as.it had at Invercargill four days previously, and this was because of the intelligent deployment by Otago of its defensive resources.

Otago spread its defensive net wider than usual and there were many good “catches” during the afternoon. The tackling of the Otago players, with a few exceptions, was admirably robust and decisive.

The control came from the Otago forwards, who more than matched Fiji in the lineouts and completely overwhelmed it in second-phase play. Gary Goodfellow, who played the game of his life, and Wayne Graham, were excellent in the line-outs, and the tourists were often propelled backwards by the low, hard driving of the Otago pack in rucks and mauls.

Steve Martin, at half-back, settled down to play another fine match and Wayne Peters, at first five-eighth, controlled play well with skilled kicking. Peters, however, was certainly not obsessed with kicking, and the Otago backs combined in some fluent, attractive moves. It was a tribute to the Fijian defence that Otago did not score its only try until four minutes from the end, but it was a try well worth waiting for. Fiji just managed to repel several thrusts by Otago towards the line, and Ray O’Connell was held up right on the goal line. The Otago forwards swarmed .in to win the ruqk, the ball was moved at speed through the backs and the centre, Shane Gibbons, timed his pass nicely to send Tony Sissons sprinting over in the comer. Scorers.— Otago: Tony Sissons, a try, David Halligan a conversion and three penalties, Wayne Peters a dropped goal. Fiji: Senivalatu Laulau two tries, Esala Labalaba a conversion.