WIN FOR METROPOLITAN TEAM

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

WIN FOR METROPOLITAN TEAM

NORTH OTAGO DEFEATED 18-6 Scoring all its points iu the second spell, the Otago Metropolitan team defeated North Otago at Oamaru on Saturday by 18 points to 6. With a strong wind in its favour the home side led at the interval by 6 to 0, the points coining from a try and a penalty goal. But in the second spell, when the Metropolitan team had the wind behind it, the local side was pressed hard throughout, and the visitors gave a fine exhibition of bright, open play, backs and forwards combining well to score 18 points. The teams were:—

North Otago.—Backs: Full-back, A. Johnston; three-quarters—S. Lindsay, M. Saunders; J. Russell; live-eighths —ll. Parker, D. Gillies (captain), first; half-back, J. Magon. Forwards: Front row—R. McLeod, D. Wright, R. Twaddle; middle row—l. McGregor, 11. Gard, W. Muldrew, J. Thompson; back row, M. Griffin. Otago.—Backs: Full-back, T. Freeman; three-quarters—A. Chandler, J. Graham, J. Judge; five-eighths —C. McDonald, E. Collins (captain), first; half-back, R. Stewart. Forwards: Front row—H. Williams, A. Harwood, L. Beattie; middle row—H. Thompson, R. Johnson, J. Henderson, W. Ireland; back row, K. Skinner. North Otago opened its account fivo minutes after the start. The full-back put in a long kick, and following up fast he was successful in falling on the ball after a melee on the line. The kick failed. North Otago 3-0. Though the home ' forwards asserted themselves for the greater part of the spell and secured a major share of the ball from the set scrums, chances of success were nullified by the indifferent haudling of the backs. Nor was full advantage taken of the wind. A penalty goal by Johnston gave North Otago the lead a - t half-time by 6-0.

The Metropolitan team’s first score came early in the .second half, when Skinner broke away and crashed through the opposition to secure a try. Freeman converted to make the score North Otago G, Metropolitan 5. Though the home forwards were still getting the ball from most of the scrums, the visiting backs swung into action at every opportunity, and some bright handling was seen. An attractive movement in which the ball passed through all hands ended in Chandler handing on to Freeman, who scored. Metropolitan 8-6. Judge showed a brilliant burst of speed in scoring the next try after another bright passing bout, and Freeman converted. Metropolitan 13-6. The Metropolitan forwards were playing with great dash in the loose and were being well backed up by the back line. The final score came from a try by McDonald, who. with Thompson, followed up a long and well-judged kick by Collins, and scored. Freeman again converted, and the final score was:—

Metropolitan 18 • North Otago 6 Mr C. Campbell wsa the referee.