RUGBY

Evening Star, Issue 18394, 1 October 1923, Page 5

RUGBY

OTAGO BEATS NORTH OTAGO,

It was more like cricket weather than DOtball weather at C'arisbrook, and the )layers engaged —teams representing North Otago and Otago—found the heat trying. A bright sun shone throughout the game, and the playing area was in splendid condition. There was 1 tin attendance of about 2,000. Though Otago won by 22 points to 11, the game was not so one-sided as the scores may seem to indicate, and the points which loft the issue really beyond doubt were not scored till within the last fifteen minutes. Up till about halfway through the second spell the visitors more than held their own, and it was doubtful how the match would finish. Towards the end, however, they tired badly, and Otago thenceforward made the play. For once, Otago’s forwards played badly, and loft the lion’s share of the game to ho fought by the backs, whose persistent thrusts in the second half gave the home team victory. While Otago forwards played a lifeless game, the visitors’ forwards were alert and vigorous, and, considering tho heat, gave a pood display till they tired. Play in the first half was even. Otago scored first. Duncan dribbling from about the twenty-five and, picking up, passed to Milne, who threw himself over. Dickinson’s kick went wide. Otago 3-0. Otago were penalised a number of times for oifside play, but Grainger (visitors' fullback) twice failed to goal. The North Otago forwards were playing better together than the Otago forwards, and after a concerted rush to the line W. Williams threw himself over to score. “Bobby” Mathieson converted. North Otago 5-3. Otago backs initiated passing, and Morgan went close to scoring several times. Then a bright piece of passing was started by Cabot, the ball going from Perry to Dickinson, to Lamb, to Morgan, and back to Cabot, who scored. Dickinson had a second attempt to goal owing to a false charge, but failed. Otago 6-5. Mathieson attempted to set his backs going, and Smart (wing) made some good attempts to score, but was caught in time. North Otago made all the play in the opening of th? seco id spell. Some good play by fiuart was followed by. a brisk onset by She North Otago forwards, and Direen picked up near the line and scored. Mathieson’s kick failed. North Otago 8-6. Townsend, who played full-back in the first spell, had been shifted up to fiveeighth, and in that, position did much belter, Glengarry (half-back first spell) went to full-back, and Perry shifted from fiveeighth to half-hack. From a scrum Perry got the ball away smartly to Townsend, who cut in neatly, side-stepped several opponents, and scored the best try of the day. Dickinson’s kick did not rise. Otago 9-8. The visitors’ forwards still had the bettor of exchanges, and another rush led to Direen scoring his second try. Grainger’s kick went, wide. North Otago 11- With about a quarter-hour to go it seemed that the visitors would win, as bo far they had clone the major share nT the attack Otago forwards, however, began to do a little, better, am! gave the backs some chances, Len Williams, the All Black lock, picked up from a scramble and passed to M'Meeking, who threw himself over. Lamb’s kick missed. Otago 12- The visitors had perceptibly tired, and Otago backs threw t he. ball about more freely. Lamb (centre) was playing well, and made a number of good openings; while ,’»orgnn, a hard man to stop, was nearly over several times. Taking a pass from Perry, Lamb beat about five opponents and went straight over behind the posts. A minute later Morgan gathered a pass from Lamb and ran over at the comer and round behind the posts. Dickinson converted both tries. Otago was attacking when time was called with the scores:

Otago 22 North Otago 11 Mr A. Eckhokl was referee. DUNEDIN v. ORESCENT. As a curtain-raiser to the Otago-North Otago match, a team representing the Dunedin Club played a team from the Crescent Club (Kaitangata). Both teams included a number of junior players. Each side threw the hall about freely among the backs, and, though the passing was ragged, it made the game not uninteresting. In the first spell neither side was able to score, but halfway through the second spell a passing bout, in which both backs and forwards handled, enabled Blackledge to score a good try behind the posts for Dunedin, King converting. After this reverse the Kaitanga.ta team livened up the play considerably with some strenuous forward play, but the whistle sounded with the score; Dunedin 5, Crescent 0.

SOUTH OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIP

By defeating tho Crescent Club by 10 points to 7 Owaka won the Senior Rugby Banner for South Otago: but Crescent have appealed, on the ground that Owaka played an unregistered player from Southland, who is a recent arrival in Owaka.

AUCKLAND v. COMBINED SUBUNIONS. Auckland defeated the Franklin, Manakau, Pukekohe. Waikare, and Waiuku Subunions’ team by 20 points to 11. LEAGUE GAME. In a match between Auckland City and the Auckland Province the former won by 44 points to 15. LOCAL MATCHES. Alhambra held its annual game Past v. Present Members at Opolm. The lady supporters of the club were present in large numbers, and a pleasant atternoon was spent. Tea was provided for the adults, ■while the children were made happy with an abundance of lollies, unit, and toys. The Pipe Band was in attendance, and, in addition to'contributing several selections, took part in a match with the older members of tho club. The arrangements were carried out by a hard-working committee, headed by Messrs G. M’Kenzie (president) and A. Morgan, while a big contingent of ladies dispensed the refreshments, Cotills, Somerville, Wilkie, Ltd., defeated the ‘Otago Daily Times’ at Montecillo by 16 points to 5, For the winners Dickie (2) and J. Smith Q) scored tries, C. Smith and Swarm converting one each. C. Smith also kicked a penally goal. B. Cameron scored for the 1 Otago Daily Times ’ and converted his own try.