BRITAIN v. OTAGO

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 221, 14 June 1930, Page 12

BRITAIN v. OTAGO

♦ To-day’s Rugby Match / WEATHER PROSPECTS By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, June 13. The weather prospects for to-mor-row’s match between the Otago and British touring team are favourable at present A fairly steady glass gives reasonable hope that there will be no change. The Teams. The teams are as follow:— Otago.—Full-back, Dr. Stevenson; three-quarters, Wilson, Fookes, and Lindsay; five-eighths, Giles and Bradanovich; half-back, Francis; forwards, Souter, Hore, Dunne, Finlayson, Collett, and Murtagh; wing-forward, Scott. Britain.—Backs, Bassett, Morley, Aarvold, Bowcott, Reeve, Spong, and Murray; forwards, Rew, Parker, O’Neill, Black, Farrell, Ivor Jones, Beamish, and Hodgson. A STRONG SIDE (By “Five-Eighth.”) Britain has fielded a strong side for the match with Otago—as strong as that which played Wellington. With the exception that Reeve replaces Novis, the three-quarter line is the same, and Spong and Murray again play as out-half and scrum-half respectively. Bassett is playing his second game of the tour at fullback. It is a dangerous scoring machine, and unless the Otago forwards can produce something of the form the Wellington pack did, it should display something of .the best in fast, accurate team work. Rew and Farrell are the two alterations in the forwards to those who played against Wellington, and replace Prentice and Kendrew. None of the alterations can be said to affect the strength of the side; it is fully the equal of that seen in action here on June 3, the strongest Britain has fielded to date. Played Seven, Won Five. To date the British jeam has played seven matches, winning five and losing two. It has spored 145 points, and 61 points have been scored against it. The record is as follows: — May 21—v. Wanganui, won 19—3. May 24 —v. Taranaki, won 23— 7. May 28—v. Manawhenua, won 34—8. May 31—v. Wairarapa-Bush, • won 19 June 3—v. Wellington, lost B—l2. June 7 —v. Canterbury, lost B—l 4. j une 11—v. West Coast-Buller. won 34—11.