WON BY TWO POINTS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 287, 31 August 1931, Page 10

WON BY TWO POINTS

Wellington 13, Otago 11 CLOSE RUGBY CONTEST ' ‘ Nicholls’s Boot Gives Victory j FAST GAME ALL WAY *. There was a difference of only the conversion of one try between Wellington and Otago, at the end of a ?? keenly contested Rugby match at Atheltic Park on Saturday, and it , was the accuracy of Mark Nicholls s kicking that gave Wellington the victory by 13 points to 11. Each side , scored two tries, and Nicholls and I Souter each kicked a penalty goal for their respective sides. Souter narrowly missed in attempting to convert one try, the ball bitting one ■j. of the uprights, and although he was -, accurate in all other attempts at goal, ■ this proved to be just the difference between defeat and a draw. > The game was played at a great pace " all the way and was always interesting. S Otago led s—o at half-time, having scored '■ just before the spell ended. In the second half Wellington gained a lead after about V fifteen minutes’ play, and then, after Otago had 'drawn level B—B,8 —8, added another converted try. Otago secured an-, other three points from a penalty goal. There was little difference between the ’sides and each had hard luck in not scoring further points. ; t There was a crowd of some nine thou- • sand spectators at the Park, including a “■ number of old representative players who ■' were the guests of the Wellington Rugby Union. When the teams filed on to the ground they lined up in front _of the stand and gave the “old-timers three cheers, led by Mark Nicholls. The teams were:— .' . Otago: Bush; MacKenzie, W. Allen, Robilliar'd; Fookes, Bathgate; Simon; '' Cavanagh ; Hartnell, R. Allan, Fmlayson, Hore, Gifford, Lucy, Souter. ■ Wellington: Pollock; Ball, Page, Mac- " kay; Lilburne, Nicholls; Coman; Price; ' Deiderich, Reid, Shearer, Barry, Blacker, Jessep, Bydder. ■ From the kick-off the Otago’ forwards kept play in Wellington territory for some time, until Pollock brought off an " excellent line kick and gained ground. Then Barry and Jessep carried play well downfield, and the' Wellington attack was continued by Nicholls, who went. ' round the blind side of a scrum, only to ■ V be pulled down about 10 yards from the '' line. Soon after Lilburne brought off a fine piece of work, recovering a dropped pass of Nicholls’s and' getting close to the line before being tackled. . Otago eventually cleared, and after an exchange of long kicks between Pollock and Bush play centred about halfway. . Shearer, Barry and Jessep got going ' ,! in a good rush soon afterward, and then the Wellington baek line swung into action. Mackay, on the wing, was well ' taken by Bush. Pollock had a pot at goal, but was well astray. A little later Otago was penalised and Nicholls '■ had a shot at goal, missing narrowly. Following this both sides began to throw the ball about! in great style, and JJ ' play flashed from one end of the field '?■ to the other as first Otago and then '■ Wellington handled in excellent move-, ‘'meats. ■ ' • Great Effort by Ball. - ' In 25 minutes’ play- neither side had < ? hold any advantage for long and the play had been both even and interesting. One of the thrills of the day came, how, j ever, when Ball, on the Wellington wing, got away from halfway after receiving the ball from Jessep. He. beat four i men in a wonderful run, dodging in great style when running at top, and he crossed in the corner. Unfortunately he lost the ball just as he fell over the line, and Otago forced. It was a great effort, and the spectators were not slow to show their appreciation of it. Again play was even until at length, just before half-time, the Otago-men put in a persistent attack and forced play down to the Wellington line. There was a line-out formed and Otago secured possession. Several men handled in a good short passing rush which Cavanagh , ended by "scoring a good try well out. Souter converted it, and Otago led at half-time by 5 ppints to nil. Within three minutes from the opening : • of the second spell Nicholls had opened Wellington’s account with a penalty goal, kicked from the Otago twenty-five. Then, a few minutes later, the Wellington hook- > era sent the ball out from a scrum near half-way and Coman started the back line going in a fine attack. Mackay, on the wing, beat Robilliard, and after having penetrated to Otago’s twenty-five, centre kicked. The ball went over Otago’s line, aud there were half a dozen men up and round it as soon as it landed. Bush made a valiant effort to force down unsuccessfully, and eventually Ball touched down only a few yards from the dead ball line. Nicholls converted the try. .Wellington 8, ■ Otago 5. Sides Draw Level, 8 All. Events happened quickly from the kick i off, both sides handling in excellent move- , ’ ments that failed only through sound defence. Otago was pressed for some time ! following two passing attacks of the Wel- // lington rearguard but managed to force >! play back again to half-way. There Simon, 7 Hartnell, and R. Allan took part in a fine passing rush, Hartnell gaining a good i deal of ground in his run; he sent on a well-timed pass to Allan, and the latter completed an excellent movement by scorr'.'_ ing well out. Souter took the kick at goal, and had hard luck to hit the post. Wellington 8, Otago 8. 'r" Wellington Draws Ahead. A great pace was set from the kick-off, and again it was noticeable that neither side was on top for long. The Wellington 1,. backs were more dangerous when they had the ball, and Page, especially, gave the opposition a good deal of trouble. Wellington’s next score came when Price i made an excellent opening to set Nicholls, ? Lilburne, and Page going. The latter was given a clear run in, and his pace was too much for the defence. Nicholls con- , verted the try. Wellington 13, Otago 8. -« Otago replied with a rattling forward rush from the kick off which bustled ■i'.j play down to the Wellington line. Reid " and Mackay were prominent in clearing • temporarily, but Otago soon regained its , position. From a penalty given in the Wellington twenty-five Souter kicked a good goal, making the score Wellington 13, Otago 11. The last stages of the game were played V nt a good pace, with the Otago men making a great last-minute effort. Bush nar- /■-’ rowly missed with' a penalty kick from near half-way, and then the Otago for- ./ wards took part in two successive at- ’ tacks, both of which were cleared by Hnekicks by Ball and Pollock. Time was jv called soon afterward. V The referee was Mr. R. J. Paton. -- NORTH OTAGO BEATEN South Canterbury’s Victory By Telegraph—Press Association. Timaru, August 29. In a return match played to-day, South Canterbury defeated North Otago by 38 points to 10. The winners were In good form in the first half, and despite the greasy ball 'made the game fast and open. The ground in the second half was cut up badly, play being confined to the forwards. Rain fell throughout the match. WOODS' GREAT PEPPERMINT CURE GhiWxen'a Hacking Cwgiu—Advf.