RUGBY FOOTBALL

Evening Star, Issue 19328, 14 August 1926, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL

PEI MY SCHOOLS' GAiEL WIN EACH FOR OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND ■. The annual primary schools’ Rugby fixtures between Southland and Otago were played at Tahuna Park this morning in the presence of a good crowd of spectators, Otago winning (he junior gamo and Southland the senior. JUNIOR GAME. The junior game produced a fast and evenly-contested struggle, Otago winning by 9 points to 6 as the result of a try scored almost on the call of time. Otago possessed the heavier pack, the forwards playing with great dash, particularly in the loose. Southland nad a well-balanced scrum, and, if anything, the supply of ball was in favor of the visitors, though the Dark Blues frequently forced their way. through the scrums and caught the Southland half with the ball. The Southland backs handled with more precision than thenopponents, the five-eighths, Page and O’Connell, linking up well. The Otago backs were inclined to kick too much, but Burgess, the diminutive half, opened up the game well. Barrow, the Otago centre three-quarter, was compelled to retire owing to injury in the first spell, Tobin (full-back) going up to centre and Walkinshaw coming oa as full-back. With the wind in their favor, Southland drew first blood after a few minutes’ plav. Montague, the visitors half-back j beat throe men and made a nice opening, from which Calvert (wing three-quarter) obtained and outpaced the opposition to score, the kick fa-d----ing. Southland 3, Otago 0. The Otago forwards made _ several onslaughts ou the Maroon line, but overeagerness and hard kicking nullified several good efforts. Half-time sounded with the score: Southland 3, Otago 0. In the second half Otago fought desperately to equalise, the forwards taking part in some great dribbling rushes. From a free kick Tobin kicked a good goal. Otago 3, Southland 3. The Maroons took the lead again as the result of a try by Poison (wing threequarter) from a loose rush. An infringement by Southland gave Tobin another shot at goal, the Otago boy landing a fine goal. Otago continued to press, and from a ruck near the line Burgess (half-back) dived through to score wide. Southland worked back, but were unable to penetrate the Otago defence, the game ending: Otago 9, Southland 6. The teams were as follow:

Otago.—Tobin, Leader (captain), Barrow, Oliver, llae, Osborne, Burgess, Morris, Steel©, Chapman, Griffiths, Stuart. Hessey, Litolff, Brookes. Southland,—Watson, Calvert, Mitchell, Poison, O’Connell, Page, Montague, Sutherland. Brand, Scandrett, Weeds, Francis, BiSset, Wills, lliomas. Mr A. Hay was the referee. SENIOR GAME.

The senior match produced a good exhibition of football, Southland scoring a narrow win by 6 points to 5. Otago took tlis honors in the first spell, but Southland had all the better of the second half, in which they took part ia some good concerted movements, the backs handling well. Southland had slightly the heavier pack, and the Maroons owed their win to good bunching by their forwards and the better handling of their backs. Otago took part in several passing bouts, which were marred, however, by badly-timed transfers. The Blue forwards made a good showing, particularly on the lineouts, their wing forward (Ritchie) opening up several movements. With the wind in their favor Otago had a good deal the better of the first spell though several passing bouts failed to culminate through faulty handling. Southland attacked from the kick-off, and passing went out to Oyr (wing three-quarter), who was tackled short of the line. Ritchie, the Blues’ wing forward, led several incursions into Southland territory, but it was not until close on half-time 'that Cope (wing three-quarter) picked up at the end of a passing rush, which broke down, to score. Trevathan converted with a good kick, and half-time was sounded with the score: Otago 5, Southland 0.

Just as Otago had found the wind a big advantage in the first spell the Maroons had the home side hemmed in their twenty-five practically all the second half. Orr notched the first try by following up a high kick to score wide, the kick failing. Otago 5, Southland 3. The Southland Backs took part in several nice passing bonis, which were checked only h.V the solid defence of the Otago rearguard. From a passing rush, in which forwards and hacks took part, Maitland scored the try which gave Southland the game, the kick failing. Southland continued to press, and, with the exception of a good forward rally, headed by Ritchie, Otago were ou the defensive for the remainder of the game, which ended:—

Southland fl Otngo 5 Mr W. J. Duff was the referee.

The teams were

Otago.—Backs—Hart, Cope. Richards, Watkins, Trevathan, Bartlett, Cusack; forwards Miller, Stevens, Niven, Campbell, M'Lean, Turnbull, Robertson, Ritchie.

Southland. —Racks—Robertson, Norton, Heaps, Orr, Jarvis, Messent, Frampton; forwards—Hillis, Mallory, Tinnock, Blnkie, Maitland, Humpbreyj Knight, White.