RUGBY FOOTBALL

Evening Star, Issue 25566, 20 August 1945, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

OTAGO'S BIG WIN CANTERBURY BEATEN 34-0 The setting for the Otag° v - Canterbury Rugby fixture at Carisbrook on Saturday afternoon was almost all that could have been desired. There was a fairly stiff north-west wind, which was, perhaps, a trifle too chilly to be wholly comfortable; but the sky was reasonably clear. The turf was in good condition, though a little “ holding.” A crowd, which readied somewhere between 9,000 and 10,000 by 3 o’clock, first watched an interesting curtainraiser between Taieri and Kaikorai third grade teams, in which Taieri was victorious by 14 points to 6. Then there was a' spectacular display of marching and counter-marching by squads of girl employees of Messrs Ross and Glendining. During this bright interlude, and alsh at half-time in the big match, the Caversham Citizens’ Band marched and played. So that it was after 3.15 p.m., when the Otago and Canterbury teams, which were accompanied by Colonel W. J. Strong, one of the two oldest surviving explayers in matches between these two provinces, the other being Mr Fred Smith, took the field. Colonel Strong first played for Otago in this series in 1884, as did (Mr Smtih.

TOO ONE-SIDED. From the point of view of a contest, Saturday's match was disappointing, being too one-sided throughout to leave any doubt as to which was the better side, and Otago’s score of 34 pointsto 0 was the highest yet registered by it against Canterbury. In every department of the game the home team showed a distinct, superiority, though in the second spell possession from the serums was fairly equally divided. Playing with the wind behind' it in the first spell, Otago rattled up 24 points and were on the attack most of the time. In the second spell, against the wind, the Dark Blues still had the upper hand, but found it more difficult to finish off, two converted tries being all the points added. On the other hand, Canterbury’s forwards were lethargic' and their tackling weak; indeed, except on rare occa-\ sions, when a loose rush carried them downfield, they never looked like battling for life. There were two changes in the Otago team as previously announced, C. Willocks and R. Nieper, both with slight injuries, being replaced bv E. Wallace and C. McHerron, R. Elvidge taking over the captaincy from Nieper.

J. HAIG BRILLIANT. Among the Otago forwards, who won 24 of the set scrums to Canterbury’s 17 and 17 of the 31 decisive line-outs, Barnes and Buckley were frequently in evidence, McHerron and E. Wallace beiifg effective as breakaways and T. Wallace in the front row. As for the backs, they were too fast and clever for Canterbury’s rearguard, and were always in position to take advantage of the run of the play. A feature of this department of the game was the splendid form shown by J. Haig at half-back. The South Otago man was übiquitous, and he initiated most of the effective moves. His service from the scrum was smart and clean, and he displayed initiative in finding openings, as in covering-up. Therd. was almost perfect combination between him and L. Haig, a brilliant example being that which culminated in Otago’s final try. L. Haig, at fivoeighth. played with dash, and his kicking was a very valuable asset, accounting for four conversions and a penalty goal. Elvidge was, as usual, busy-and full of determination, though tlie results were, on the whole., not equal to those customarily returned by him. His passes were often rather poor. Chapman again played a sound game at first five-eighth, nis sureness in attack and defence being very fine. Peterson, on the wing, shaped well, his pace and dash often gaining lots of ground for his side. Saul did not have so many opportunities, and his handling was again a little uncertain. T. Kawe at full-back did not have a very arduous time, and his kicking was strong and well directed. Of the Canterbury forwards. Palmer and Fleming were seen most frequently in the loose play, with llussell and McKenzie helpful on occasions. The pack, however, did not hunt together, and were unimpressive. The backs, too, were scarcely iu the hunt. Hewitt, behind the scrum, was not smart enough in getting the ball away; Morton (five-eighth) was conspicuous occasionally in some good backing up, and Thompson in a dash along the wing. Harvey at full-back was uncertain,

THE TEAMS. The teams were as follows: Canterbury.—Full-back, E. Harvey 12.7; three-quarters—R. S. Thompson 12.3. P. King 13.5, A. R. Rankin 12.3; five-eighths, A. 11. Digram 11.7, J. D. Morton 12.6; half-back, L. Hewitt 11.4 (captain); forwards R. Rothwell 13.10, M. Fearnlev 13.0, A. Atkinson 12.7, F. Fleming 13.10, R. H. Dufl 14.10, A. D. McKenzie 15.0, A. Palmer 13.10, P. Fitzgerald 14.9. Otago.—Full-back. T. Kawe 13.0; three-quarters—E. J. Peterson 12.7, It. R. Elvidge 13.8. (captain), A. D. Saul 12.0; five-eighths, A. E. Chapman 12.3, L. Haig 12.5; half-back, J. Haig 11.4; forwards—T. Wallace 13.10, A. Storer 12.13. A. Foster 13.2. C. McHerron 13.1 T. Buckley 14.0, B. Barnes 14.10, E. Wallace 13.10, K. O’Connor 14. Q.

THE PLAY. Within the first five minutes from the kick-off, Otago, with the wind in its favour, was well on the attack, and what looked like a certain try was lost when the ball slipped from Peterson’s grasp as he was about to touch down. Soon afterwards Kawe missed with a penalty kick. A spasmodic rush by Canterbury was turned back by J. Haig, and the wind spoiled an attempt at goal by Peterson from a penalty.

But a score came with 10 minutes ofthe play gone, L. Haig just getting the ball over the bar from another penalty kick. Ofago 3-0. Five minutes later L. Haig backed up nicely, and Elvidge, dashing out of a loose ruck, went through for a very good try. L. Haig’s kick was sure. Otago 8-0. Another penalty kick —Otago’s were coming to them within tempting distance—was taken by Buckley, who did not allow enough for the wind. But soon a nice set of exchanges between J. Haig, L. Haig, Chapman, Peterson, and again Chapman, ended with the latter scoring at the corner. L. ITaig’s kick wont astray this time. Otago 11-0. Play shifted to the grand stand wing, where Saul scored after a run of 20yds. A good try, which L. Haig converted from the side line. Otago 16-0. Canterbury made desperate efforts to recover, Palmer and McKenzie leading a forward rally, and Thompson making a dash, which Saul stopped with a good tackle. The next score came when the Haigs, Chapman, Elvidge, and Peterson joined in a passing rush, Peterson going over and converting his own try. Otago 21-0, after 27 minutes’ play. > L. Haig put the ball over from the field, but the whistle had gone for an infringement. Before halftime, however, Chapman gained his second try. L. Haig missed the kick. Otago led 24-0 at the interval.

CANTERBURY IMPROVES. With the wind behind them, the Canterbury forwards showed up better in the second spell, and Morton twice took long shots from penalties. Kawe cleared well. Hewitt made a break, and got. very near to the line, but rfn infringement stopped the rush. Otago returned to the attack, and a typical movement by the Haig brothers, Chapman, and Elvidge ended in the latter going over in a tackle. L. Haig con-, verted. Otago 29-0. Canterbury made spasmodic attempts to storm Otago’s citadel, but never quite succeeded, and a neat exchange of passes between the Haig brothers saw J. Haig score and L. Haig convert. That was the last of the scoring, and, after Fitzgerald and Rotlnvell had missed possible penalty goals for Canterbury, the game ended:

Otago .1 34 Canterbury ... 0 Mr D. A. Kilgour was the .referee