LAMBOURN’S BRILLIANT HOOKING

Evening Star, Issue 23350, 21 August 1939, Page 4

LAMBOURN’S BRILLIANT HOOKING

(By “ Hooker,” on tour with the Otago Team.)

WELLINGTON, August 19,

Possession of the ball from the ecrums made all the difference between victory and defeat to Otago In the first match of the northern tour at Athletic Park this afternoon, for, with Wellington commanding possession with regularity throughout the game, the fast and resourceful Otago backs did not have nearly the opportunities that lame the way of the opposition, and, winning a fast and attractive game by 7 points to 3, Wellington maintained their uninterrupted run of success in games at home since 1908. After rain (luring the week, the ground was heavy, and there were several slippery patches on which the players found it very hard to maintain a foothold. Glorious sunshine prevailed for the game, with a light breeze, and, considering the conditions, the game was played at a very fast and lively clip, Wellington’s victory being due in a very largo measure to the fine work of the forwards, although all_ of the winning ipoints came from their full-back, the ex-Otago player, J. M. Taylor, who potted a goal in the first 20 minutes to wrest the lead from Otago after Mitchell had scored a try for the tourists, and it was this lead that Wellington , held to grimly until 13 minutes from time, when Thompson received from Tindilt on the blind side, and when the übiquitous Wellington forward, Wales, . joined in, the way was clear for Taylor, who came up fast, to cross wide. Even then Otago was not done with, for it was in the last 10 minutes that backs and forwards made their strongest rally, and with the forwards commanding more possession from the rucks than at any stage of the .game, Simpson tried all he knew to get his hacks moving in an effort to pull the game out of the fire, and twice the brilliant Mitchell was all but through, It was not to be, however, and the Wellington forwards again assumed charge, and a hard-fought - and at all times exciting game added another win to Wellington’s list. ' ' :- ) CONSTRUCTIVE FORWARD PLAY. There *Ms been a tendency in recent years to criticise Wellington forwards for developing a loose, type of game, but their play to-day was of a constructive type. They packed tightly in the scrums, and with one of the most brilliant hookers in the game (Lambourn) in the centre of the front row, the forwards gave him tijpir full weight, and more than once, even after Graham had hooked the ball, Otago were pushed off it.

A, Lambourn, the All Black forward, further demonstrated his ability as a hooker of the highest class —his raking was undoubtedly one of the features of the game, and it was this failure to gain possession, more particularly after position had been hard won, that cost Otago the game. There was not the same disparity between the sides in line-outs and rucks, but there was a quicker heel when Wellington secured, and the homesters also had a slight advantage in the lineout work, more particularly in the second spell. In the rucks the figures favoured Otago, but when beaten for the ball the Wellington forwards were quickly around,, and in this respect their loose man, Wales, did very valuable work. This player, gave an excellent display, his strong bursts in the open, his quickness in getting up to give his backs an extra man in passing movements, and his covering up being features of Wellington’s forward game. CLEVER LEADER. The cleverest all-round exhibition of forward work in the game, however, was given by the former Oxr ford University captain and Scottish international, M. M‘G. Cooper, who though only makes full use.of every ounce of his weight in the tight work. He made frequent bursts from rucks and line-outs, and all the time was inspiring his men to one of the best forward displays given by; a Wellington team against Otago for a number of years. It was constructive football, and as such was to be admired. E. Todd showed to considerable advantage in the line-outs,, and put a lot of vigour into his work in the loose, often coming through at the head of the forward rushes. A consistently good forward was A. Kenny, who played a solid game. WELLINGTON BACKS DISAPPOINT. With the feast of the half they had, the Wellington backs might have been expected to give a better account of themselves. They were not afraid to throw the ball about, but they too often mishandled after the forwards had won position for them, and while All Black K. W. Tindill gave them excellent sendee, from the base of the scrum they lacked thrust, Otago having a definite edge on them when chances came the way of the Dark Blue back lino. If Tindill’s play may be faulted it was that with his fiveeights finding it so hard to pierce the defence lie should have varied his play a little more than he did. Nevertheless, his passes were always clean and well directed. Of the inside men A. Thompson, at first five-eighth, got through a lot of work, and linked up well on occasions, while his kicking was" always well judged and of considerable service to his side. Good reports have been heard concerning the play of L. Thomas, the second five-eighth, but he found u. J . Perriaim a very difficult handful to cope with and on the day was definitely shaded. „ . . W. J. Fulton, of course, had a very tough. proposition in marking N. A, Mitchell 'in his best form, and the \\ eilingtou centre’s efforts were not en-

How Wellington Beat Otago

Otago Backs Again Impress

bauced by his very uncertain handling, several likely moves, especially in the first spell, being stopped when ho mulled his pass at a critical moment. Neither J. S. Sherratt nor the All Black A. Wright had many opportunities in concerted passing, strange though it may seem, but Sherratt saw more of the play than Wright. Sherratt is a strong, hard-running winger, still lacking a little in finish, and generally he was'held well in check by 13. A. Taylor. A clever side-step on one occasion took him past, however, and Sherratt’s play indicates that he has possibilities. In the early stages of the game J. M. Taylor, Wellington’s All Black fullback, was fairly well tested, and Mitchell’s try resulted from mistakes by Sherratt and Taylor, both of whom were bustled when Mitchell, showing rare anticipation, bore down _ upon them. Taylor is still very effective in coming up to give his backs the overlap, but the writer has seen him play better games, even allowing for the fact that he registered all Wellington’s points. His fielding of overhead balls was good, but he was not always so certain in his ground fielding. With Fulton’s handling so uncertain it might have been policy for Wellington to have brought Taylor up to centre. TRIERS ALL THE WAY. Although beaten for' possession so largely in the scrums, Otago’s pack were triers all the way, and there is every indication of the van developing ihto a very useful lot before the tour is far advanced. More pleasing than anything else has been the promising showing of some of the comparative newcomers, and in the loose the work of the Otago forwards left little to be desired.

Their most dangerous rushes actually were made in the first and last 10 minutes of the game, but a tireless worker from whistle to whistle was W. M'Clelland, the Tuapeka packman, who was the best forward on the Otago side. McClelland did it right both in tight and loose, and he came through the rucks with plenty of dash and devil, and often when Otago were being pressed near the line he and P. Trendy broke through to clear. _ M'Clelland showed a lot of promise in the Otago team last year, but this was one of his best displays, and present indications are that he will develop into the leader of the pack Otago needs. His dribbling; was first class. P. Treacy has not given an indifferent display since he won his way into the Otago team this .year, and to-day’s game represented one of his best efforts. He played with plenty of vigour and more than once started passing for his hacks, while in the loose he showed both pace and dash. On one occasion, when Wellington looked sure to score, he was there to whip the ball to Mitchell, and the danger was averted. T. Graham did not have the assistance of the compact scrum that Lambourn did which' contributed to the difference in the scriim figures. In the loose he made several spirited bursts. Invaluable for his backing up and quickness in getting across Wellington’s dropped passes was 11. Neiper. One of the bright incidents of the game was a strong run into the open by C. Qnaid, who tooled the opposition with a change of direction, but was caught from behind. L. Naylor showed out in the loose, but was scarcely so effective in the line-outs as usual, due to a little interference on the part of the opposition. MITCHELL’S FINE FORM, In spite of limited opportunities, the Otago back line greatly impressed, with iV A. Mitchell standing out as the best back on the field, and in his sterling efforts to retrieve the position for Otago in the dying stages he played a real captain’s part. Mitchell’s keen anticipation and his sure handling were great assets to the side, and ho and Perriam again combined, in some nice movements. If Perriam has a fault it is in regard to his passing, but Mitchell has such a grand pair of hands that he did not even put the indifferent transfers on the Hour.

Mitchell is the complete footballer, and even when Wellington were meeting thrust with counter-thrust in the final hectic minutes of the game the Otago skipper was always there looking for opportunities. On at least two occasions lie was almost clear in hi* bids for the line. On defence he was very sound, and throughout the game he very much overshadowed Fulton, Trevor Berghan played a very steady game, though caught once or twice in possession by the fast-breaking Wellington forwards. He was perhaps a little too prone to kick for the open gap, though this might have appeared more pronounced by the failure of some of the Otago forwards to follow up aS they might have done.

JL'orriam, apart from the fault mentioned, impressed, and several times was through the slightest opening in the defence like a Hash. His association with Mitchell on tour is likely to effect considerable improvement in the young Pirates back’s play. W. J. A. Black got few chances on attack, but he made one or two strong runs, and his defensive work was always very sound. B. A. Taylor impressed more as the game progressed, and he was another who supported Mitchell ably in the last few lively minutes when Otago was striving with might and main to pull the game out of the fire.

Bon Silver had a gruelling clay, and ho played one of his best games. Once or twice, more particularly after lie got a bad knock in the second spell, he had a little trouble with the ground balls, but, as a rule, his fielding was very good, and his powerful lino kicking gained him unstinted applause from the Wellington crowd. His rushstopping is deserving of special mention. On the day Silver did not suffer in comparison with Ail Black Taylor. L. H. Simpson, the Otago half-back, opened up whenever the chance offered, and in the last few minutes he made desperate atteniipts to ladle the ball out to his backs to give them the opportunities that he was not in a position to afford them earlier. His rush-stop-ping and his tackling were_ features of Otago’s game, and considering the Jack of ball he gave promise of good things in future matches on the tour, his display greatly impressing some of the leading critics. THE TEAMS OTAGO. Full-back.—Silver. Three-quarters.—Black, Mitchell, Taylor. Five-eighths.—Bcrghan, Perriam. Half-back.—Simpson. Forwards.—Quaid, Graham, Treaey, Barron, Hill, Neiper, Naylor, M’CJelland. WELLINGTON. Full-back.—Taylor. Three-quarters. Sherratt. Fulton, Wright. Five-eighths.—Thomas, Thompsoii. Half-back.—Xindill. Forwards.—Cooper, Todd, Gunn, Cassidy, Wales, Ougley, Lambourn, Kenny. THE PLAY FIRST SPELL. Wellington, wearing yellow-and-black jerseys, kicked off against the wind, and with a splendid kick Berghan drove them back to halfway. When Sherratt missed a pass on the blind side B. Taylor broke through with the ball at his feet, and from a penalty outside the twenty-five Silver just went wide, and Wellington forced. The Otago forwards, with Neiper and M'Clellancl in the van, bustled their way through, but with Wellington hemmed in the twenty-five Lambourn hooked the ball and Thompson cleared beyond the twenty-five, a penalty further improving Wellington’s position. Wellington wore obtaining from the scrums, but when Fulton missed his pass Mitchell went through quickly, and with a good kick to touch Black placed Otago deep inside Wellington territory.

FIRST BLOOD. Otago were heeling fairly quickly from the rucks, and Simpson was getting the ball away quickly. Passing by the Otago backs was threatening danger. When Taylor first and then Sherrntt was caught in possession Mitchell came up quickly, picked up, and dived across to score wide out eight minutes from the kickoff. Silver missed. Otago 3 Wellington ... 0 Wellington were not long in Otago territory when Graham with a great piece of dribbling took play well past halfway. Tindill was endeavouring to get his” backs moving, and from a ruck they swung into action,, but Fulton, whose handling so far was uncertain, dropped his pass, and Wright came round to hold the position for Wellington. With Wellington breaking clear Silver drove them back well past halfway,

and Otago (now securing more from the Scrums) went deep inside Wellington’s twenty-live. As the result of a sharp burst from the scrum by Simpson, who was opening up play nicely and giving the Otago backs every chance to show their paces, Silver had a shot from a penalty. hut the ball failed to rise, and Wellington cleared. GOING WELL. So far, Otago had been making most of the play, forwards and backs going well together. A rush led by Cooper was checked, and Treaty and Neiper led an Otago rush to the twenty-live. Tindill tried to send Sherratt. away on the blind side, but B. Taylor stopped him, and Wellington went inside Otago’s twenty-live for the first time, when Cooper made a break from a vnek. Wellington looked dangerous for a moment, but Treaty cleared in good style. Tindill was doing his best to get the backs moving, but there was a lack of thrust further out, and Otago cleared beyond tho twenty-five, Wellington’s advantage in the serums was being offset by uncertainty by Fulton in the centre, and Mitchell broke through to halfway. WELLINGTON TAKES THE LEAD. Kenny and Cooper led a Wellington loose rush inside the twentyfive, and, fielding a clearing kick, from Silver about 35yds out, Taylor potted a beautiful goal from an angle. Wellington ... 4 Otago 3 Play had been in progress 20 minutes, and both sides wore throwing the ball about well. Wellington's possession from tho scrums gave their backs mure chances, though Otago’s tackling generally was sound. J^low-

ever, Sherratt went past Taylor, but Silver fielded his kick well, and drove Wellington back towards their twentyfive. Silver came through with the ball at his feet, but Taylor managed to,clear to the twenty-five. When Fulton again dropped his pass, Perriam quickly snapped the ball up and made a sharp break to the twentyfive. brilliant. The next movement was a scintillating effort on the part of Wellington. Wales, who was playing with plenty of dash, sent the ball to Fulton, who made a lot of ground before sending back to Wales for Gunn and Thompson to handle, danger for Otago being narrowly averted. Perriara, Berghnn, and Mitchell next combined prettily in passing, and following further passing by Otago Treaty, who was playing a hard, battling game, nearly forced his way over. Silver went wide with a pot a moment later and Wellington forced. The pace was still on, and with Lambourn still fairly consistently hooking the ball, it was only solid tackling by Otago that, kept the Wellington backs out. Tindill broke from a scrum, and Thompson and Thomas carried on in passing, Berghnn checking the movement; and then Taylor missed with a penalty. FEAST OF THE BALL. The Wellington backs were still having a feast of the ball from the set scrums, and after Todd had_ led the Wellington forwards in a raid inside Otago’s twenty-five a scrum infringement gave Taylor a shot at goal which did not rise, Otago clearing. Silver was playing a fine game as Otago’s last line, and so far had suffered nothing in comparison with his All Black vis-a-yis, Jus overhead and ground fielding being first class, Kenny and Wales led another Wellington rush from halfway, and Taylor missed with another shot. Otago were kept busy defending for a while, and Cooper led a Wellington rush, a penalty bringing Otago relief. From loose play the Otago backs got a chance, and Perriam and Mitchell combined nicely now, hut when the Wellington forwards made a rally Neipcr was there to stop them. M'Clelland, who was playing a fine game in the Otago pack, led several loose rushes, and Naylor sent the backs away from a line-out, Otago taking play right to the line, where from a scrum the ball was thrown back to J. Taylor, who cleared. Forty-five minutes’ spells were being played, and just on nalf-timc Perriam went wide with a penalty, Wellington forcing, and a moment later half-time sounded with the score;

Wellington 4 Otago 3 SECOND SPELL The second! spell opened with Otago passing, begun by Simpson, who took the ball in the face of a Wellington forward rush and sent Pcrriam and Mitchell away, J. Taylor finally driving Otago back to their twenty-five. A penalty brought Otago relief, but Wellington wore still holding the advantage in the scrums and rucks. However, from a scrum Otago heeled and Simpson sent the backs away, Mitchell making a fine, run, but just as he looked like getting clear he slipped on the greasy surface. Black was in the picture a moment later, and'with the Otago forwards npw doing better in the rucks tho backs had more chance, and 1 passing made ground inside Wellington's twenty-five. PACE EASIER. The pace had eased a little, but Berghan snapped up the ball in loose play and made a break inside Wellington’s twenty-five, with Otago pressing. Wellington passing swung across field without gaining ground. When the chances came their way the Otago backs were showing no lack of pace or resource, but opportunities for concerted passing were still not plentiful. Lambouru was getting plenty of weight in the scrums, but uncertainty in handling still halted several Wellington attacks. The homesters wore pressing hard when Cooper got off-side, and Otago gained 1 relief when Simpson made a break from a scrum. Tindill sent a long pass out to Thompson, hut Mitchell was up quickly and beat the Wellington man for the ball, Qimid carrying on.

Thompson lifted the pressure for Wellington, and then Wright placed Wellington in good position .with a kick to touch. MUCH MISHANDLING. Play was of a more scrambling nature than in the first spell, mishandling being fairly frequent, especially by Wellington. Berghau, who was playing a very steady game, made a burst on the blind side, and play went to halfway. Then Cooper headed a Wellington rush inside the twenty-five, and Gunn handled in turn, Perriam coming to the rescue and finding touch. M'Clelland and Naylor cleared Otago’s line under pressure, but further passing took Wellington back, M'Clelland and Treacy again clearing by good dribbling. A minute later Quaid made a good mu. but Thompson drove Otago inside the twenty-five again. Beaten for possession so regularly in the scrums, the Otago forwards -were bunting well together in the loose, but a good break by Todd was well stopped by Silver, who went down to the rush in good style. FAST AND COLOURFUL. It had been a fast and colourful spell, with Wellington’s scrum advantage giving their backs more chances. Neiper’s backing up was admirable, and be was h u 'ck to get over to Wellington’s dropped passes. Silver, who had had a knock, carried on, and Otago began passing from their own line, Perriam finding touch near halfway. .One of Otago’s best passing bouts came when Simpson sent the backs away from a scrum, Perriam going through nicely and sending to Mitchell, who was blacked. Tindill was sending his backs away in both directions, but they could ‘not penetrate the defence. When Otago passing was checked at Berghan Simpson was there to start it again, and Naylor went through. Wellington launched another attack when Thompson cleverly cross-kicked, but Wright overran the ball, and Quaid. Treacy, and M'Clelland broke through outside the twenty-five. The last-named two were nl\vays conspicuous. Wellington were almost on Otago’s line when Mitchell gathered a long pass in his stride, and the Blues shifted play towards halfway. HOT MOMENTS. The Otago forwards came through in passing, and the battle waged hotly as Otago endeavoured to gain position. Todd led a Wellington sortie inside Otago’s twenty-five, and from a penalty 27yds out Taylor went wide. Mitchell endeavoured to send Berghan away, but he was bagged, and Thompson gathered quickly

and shot the ball to Wales, and Taylor, coming up fast, went across wide, but faifed with the kick. With 12 minutes to go the score was:— ' Wellington 7 Otago H Wellington were still packing tightly, and Tindill; Kenny, and Wales carried play to the line by passing. ALWAYS SOMETHING AMISS. In a final effort to get through the Otago backs swung into passing, but always at the crucial moment something went wrong, and Wellington again went deep inside the twenty-five, a penalty against Tindill giving Otago onlv temporary relief. Hill and Neiper endeavoured to clear, but the Wellington forwards were soon hammering away at the line again, until the Otago backs came away in, passing, Mitchell making ground before sending B. Taylor on to halfway. , LAST THRILL. The crowd had a thrill in the dying stages when Berghan, Perriam, and Taylor made a fast break up the field, but Taylor was stopped just as lie was getting clear. Then the passing went to Mitchell, who made a great bid, but was checked, and Todd led the Wellington forwards to Otago’s twentyfive, a smashing rush being very determinedly stopped by Silver. Otago were not done with yet. and the backs went from one twenty-five to the other before the movement was halted. It was some of the most exciting football of the match, but the Wellington forwards again carried play back, and Silver made a good run upfield and sent on to Black, who was forced into touch at halfway, the game ending;— Wellington ... ... 7 Otago ... ... ••• 3 Mr 11. B. Simmond was the referee.