OTAGO TROUNCED

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 139, 16 June 1930, Page 15

OTAGO TROUNCED

BRITAIN'S BIG WIN

HOME SIDE MUCH INFERIOR

WHIELWIND TACTICS

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DDNEDIN, Uth June. Otago's ilugby representatives to-day suffered one of the severest drubbings to date at the^ hands of the. British Rugby footballers. Before a crowd of about 17,000 at Carisbrook/ the home; team was beaten by 33 points to 9 in a game that was fast and spectacular for all. its oncsidedness.. . , . The local forwards were rattled in the first few minutes, and from that time were hopelessly outclassed. The result was the backs could do nothing, and since they, too, were more or less stampeded by the. whirlwind tactics of the visitors, there was a debit, of 10 points against the home team before the crowd realised that Otago was not likely to be in the hunt. Later in the game Otago's defence improved, and the crowd respondied appreciatively to. some-strikingly effective tackling.; When Reeve with his powerful and impressive lope.set off for the corner with the ball under his arm and beat Stevenson with such ridiculous ease, he brought the crowd to its toes and indicated the opposition Otago had to face. He . was brilliant all day, .and made many . fine runs. His .acceptances were perfect, and he ran as straight as an arrow, Spong was a heart-break, to both forwards and backs". He jinked, wormed, side-stepped, and dodged everywhere heedless of the high tackles directed at him; and what was more to the point, there was always someone there to carry on when he was -.stopped.' ■• '■ . Murray was -.scarcely less impressive, and Aarvold proved himself a centre of centres. . . . Morley, on the wing, was unlucky in not getting a grea^; many chances, but showed a fine turn of speed and expert handling. Bassett was unshakable .at full-back, and gave a great display/of line-kicking. Bowcott was le3s conspicuous than the other inside backs, but was always there when* wanted. . The forwards were a gre.at pack compared with Otago. Beamish and Ivor Jones were always prominent.Black's' kicking was a feature of the game. .... Of the Otago team only Francis, the University half-back, and Lindsay, the "University full-back, were worthy .of mention on their game to:day, : Stevenson was not comfortable for. long .at a time, and did little good,at the full-back position. He vacated in favour of Lindsay at halftime. Lindsay's. tackling, both at wing and full-back, was a delight, but his goalkicking was far from up to standard. Francis was-.always• a worker,.and did as, much.for his backs as his forwards allowed. On defence he was exceptionally sound, and his line-kicking proved invaluable. Fookes at centre had few chances, and Doth Wilson and Stevenson suffered from similar lack of opportunities. Whenever the Otago backs got away they gained little ground and were soon' brought to a stop. Spong and Murray were deadly, and the forwards were great spoilers. THE TEAMS. The teams were as follows:— Otago: Full-back, Dr. Stevenson; threequarters, Wilson, Fookes, and Lindsay; five-eighths, Giles and Bradanovich; halfback, Francis; forwards, Souter, Hore. Dunne, Finlayson, Collett, and Murtagh; wing-forward, Scott. . Britain: Backs, Bassett; Morley v .Aar-, ■'vb!d,'':Bovvcottiv:lßeeveS sßpoiiig5Bpoiiig ■andW.Mur-. ray; 'forwards'/ " Rew;{;Parket>, r "O?Neill, 'Black'Fajreil, Ivor Jones. Beamish',-'an(S .Hodgson. . ■ Britain won the toss and BradanovicU kicked off against the sun. Beamish secured, and immediately started a parsing movement, which ended with the ball poing out. The-visitors secured again, however, and the game had been only two minutes in progress when Aarvold gave \ the ball to Reeve, who started a run [ from halfway, completely beat Stevensou, ! and scored well out. Black converted with a great kick. Britain •> ' Otago • 0 A few minutes later Aarvold was again prominent, and when taken by Stevenson Ihe passed to Black, who transferred ■to I Reeve in time for the fast winger to run | ftmnd and score between the posts. Black's kick added two points. Britain 10 Otago 0 The Light Blues, with handy line-kick-ing, transferred play to the British twenty-five, but the visitors were breaking up the forward formation. Aarvold, Bowcott, and Spong started another rush which looked dangerous, but a bad pass put Reeve off. A few minutes later Bowcott dazzled the crowd with an exhibition of sidestepping and cutting-in, but crowding on the line cramped Reeve. From a scrum Francis secured and found the line with a kick that gained fifty yards for his side. BRILLIANT RUN BY SPONG. Spong had the crowd on its 'toes with a-brilliant run right aeyoss the field, then forward,, finally sending . Reeve on to meet Stevenson, whose crumpling tackle closed the effort. Wilson picked up from a scramble in'the visitors' half, and made a serviceable run until the ball was knocked out of his hand. A free-kick was awarded Otago. but Stevenson's kick went-wide, Bassett securing and finding the line. j-.ii. A nice back passing rush ended wnen Reeve was taken by Lindsay, but the winger was up again before the ball could be taken, and with a. clever kick centred. The ball- went ,;past-Stevenson, and rebounded from a post; Beamish got up to ground it beneath the posts. Black again converted. ....:■ Britain : •■•■■-• •••• 15 Otago -;... 0 The Otago backs were getting little' of the ball, although Francis at half was playing a- great gaiiie.,' The British forwards for the nios'f part were setting .a spanking pace, and maintaining it remarkably. ' OTAGO'S FIRST SCORE. Lying on the ball cost Britain another penalty ten yards from the line, and this

time Lindsay made no'mistake with the kick. .... -.-... ....■; . :. .;. ■■-" Britain » 15 Otago S Finlayson and Hove led a determined forward rush to British territory, and then the Otago backs were seen in the best concerted move so far, Wilson being brought down on the side-line. Spong was offside, and pave Lindsay another kick aL j?oal from well out, but the ball went wide. Again Britain did not force, kicking out. A minute later Bassett was-caught on his own line by Lindsay, after he and Francis had exchanged passes, and finally' Francis touched down. Lindsay's kick failed. Britain 15 Otago 6 From a scrum Spong sent Bowcott and Aarvold away for the corner, but Wilson tackled well, and relieved an awkward position. ■ GOOD TACKLING BY OTAGO. It was apparent that the visitors had Otago rattled early, but the home backs by now had-begun tackling seriously, tipping up their opponents in a manner that delighted the crowd. Lindsay, in particular, seemed to have Reeve's measure. I<rom a serum a few yards from the line Spong sent his backs away, but Scott took Morley right on the corner. From a line-out the Otago forwards got away, but Bassett came right through them. A great kick by Lindsay from a penalty found the line well down. The visitors came away again, and' the ball wont from Spong to Bowcott to Aarvold, who was well taken by Stevenson. Morley came through, however, and passed to Ivor Joiies, who scrambled over to score the final try of the spell, which Black converted with a great kick. 1 Britain 20 . Otago ..• • 6 : LINDSAY MADE FULL-BACK. In the second spell Lindsay went to fullback, Stevenson taking-his place on. the wing.. Morley aud Aarvold opened up the play, the latter running clean through the opposition, and, short-punting over Lindsay's head, failed to get up to ground the ball, Otago forcing. Wilson gained 30 yards with a line-kick, and Francis sent his backs away, Fookes transferring to Stevenson, who passed infield when taken. The British forwards then smothered the movement. Spong, Bowcott, and Aarvold then moved off. The ball went out to Eeeve, who quickly got into his stride,, but he found his match in Lindsay. Good following up, however, kept the effort alive, and 'after a 'wild scramble Otago forced. By dint of hard battling the Otago forwards fought their way to half way, where some hard play followed. The visitors were getting practically all the ball from the scrums, and both Spong and Murray were particularly deadly in breaking up offensive moves. , •. BRITAIN GETTING BALL. Collett and Hore"showed out with the ball at their toes, but Ivor Jones picked up and started a counter-movement. Francis found the line well down, but the ball came hard off- the boot of Bassett, and the British forwards were again on top. A loose scramble between the opposing forwards gave Giles his chance. He broke through with the ball at his feet, and in spite of speculating too_ hard, was fortunate enough to get up in time to score in a good "■ position. Stevenson's kick from almost straight in front went wide. Britain 20 . Otagg , 9 Francis and Lindsay were getting all the laurels from tlie crowd on the Otago side. The latter at full-back was deadly. Spong cut through in brilliant fashion just in front of the Otago goal, and although pulled down had penetrated far enough to score. Black's sure boot added the extra points. Britain 25 Otago 9 Otago was awarded a free kick a mill ute later, and greatly to the crowd's de-, light Lindsay attempted the impossible from nearly half-way. The kick went wide. From a line-out Murray got the ball at half-way and completely outwitted the defence/ reaching Lindsay, with Ivor Jones hi close attendance. A neat pass to the latter resulted in a try which Black failed to convert. Britain 28 Otago 9 v. THE FINAL SCORE. / Giles.made a nice opening which gave Fookes '& chance to get away, but Stevenson was pushed out 10 yards from the line. Another free-kick to Otago saw Lindsay-missed with a badly directed kick. Lindsnfe-returned a short punt by Murray to fijid^ttie line 30 yards away, and for sometime Otago held its opponents round about .inidfield. From a scrum the ball went from Murray to Spong, to Morley, and then to Reeve, who just about hurdled the waiting Lindsay to score well out. Black's; kick drew an admiring gasp from the drdwd. Britain ....i.. 33 Otago 9 , The .Otago backs could not get moving and the forwards were outclassed. Collett and Dunne broke through, but the defence was too good. The visitors threw the, ball about disconcertingly,, and the home team was unable to compete. Spong's darting, slithering figure was everywhere. He jinked his: way through ti seemingly impenetrable .'mass and 10 yards from the line passed.out to Black, who was finally grassed,'.to allow Otago to force. Stevenson was:'again pushed out after a strong run, and' Bradanovich was penalised for lying on the ball, but Lindsay returned the kick- well up the line. Wilson and Colle'tfc .'got away, but a forward p^ass saw another scrum, from which Francis secured, passing to Bradanovich, who transferred to Fookes, who found'the line near the corner. Shortly afterwards Francis sent .his backs away. Bradanovich, Fookesj v and Wilson handled, the last-, naniedc'in-passing to Fookes, whose pass to Bradanovich was intercepted by the inevitable Spong. Bowcott, Aarvold, and Morley then made a bold bid for the line, but Morley was well grassed by Wilson. With t-WO minutes to go Giles had an unsuccessful attempt to pot, and a minute later-the'crowd was electrified by a brilliant dash down,the line by Morley, whose progress.was stopped when Lindsay threw him out-, of the field. There was no further score. ! ,