OTAGO GIVE SHIELD HOLDERS HARD GAME

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7246, 28 August 1933, Page 8

OTAGO GIVE SHIELD HOLDERS HARD GAME

Last-Minute Rush Saves Day for Canterbury CHALLENGERS FAST AND RESOURCEFUL Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. Five points down at half-time, Canterbury contrived by scoring two tries, one converted, in the second half, to repel by three points Otago’s challenge for thqr Kanfurly Shield. Lancaster Park was in perfect condition for play, tho turf having been softened by rain on Thursday night and on Saturday tho weather was fine, but overcast, w’ith a cool easterly breeze. It was a vastly different gamo from that of last Saturday, when Canterbury easily beat Southland. The Otago sido was much faster and more resourceful, fully testing the Canterbury team. The Otago forwards, playing a well-combined game, and all fast and keen, made the Canterbury pack play their best. Otago’s weakness was between the scrum and the three-quar-ter lino. The result might easily have been different. Tho teams were:—

Otago: Taylow, Allen, Smith, H. McSkimming, R. McSkimming, Gillies, Simon, Abel, Chapman, Gibson, Macfarlane, Vorrath, Lucy, Hore, Service. Canterbury: Nolan, Hart, Olivor, Dunshea, Mortlock, Hazelkurst, Mullan, King, Andrews, Hartwell, Howell, Manchester, B'owes, Cottrell. Play was fast and open from the start. Both sides sought to open play and Canterbury esueciallv ivnrked thoir backs whenever possible. Canterbury made most of the play in tho first half, their forwards showing great form and giving the backs excellent service from the scrums. Otago showed a capacity for quickly developing counter-attacks and profiting by mistakes. Otago’s first try was the most sensational of tho match. Mullan passed to Mortlock, but Mortlock sent a very low pass to Oliver, and Smith, dashing in, picked up the ball perfectly from the ground and dashed upheld. A pass to H. McSkimming-let the fast winger away clear of the field. Ho ran round behind the posts and his brother goaled. Neither side had much advantage for the rest of tho spell. Canterbury scored within three minutes of the resumption of play. From a ruck the ball was heeled to Mullan, who passed on the short side to Mortlock. Hart received the ball when he had little room, but he made a splendid dash down the side-line past the full-back and crossed the lino at the corner and then ran into a better position. Nolan’s kick landed the ball on the crossbar, from which it rebounded. —Otago 5, Canterbury 3. In a few more minutes Canterbury took .the lead. Play was on Otago’s 25, when Mullan passed to Hazelkurst, to Mortlock, who made a swift swerving run, pierced the defence and scored 10 yards from the posts. Nolan goaled.—Canterbury 8, Otago 5. The remainder of the play was fairly even, most often the territorial advantage being with Otago, but there was no further score. The attendance was about 14,000. Bullock-Douglas Plays Outstanding Game WANGANUI BEAT KING COUNTRY BY 15 TO 3 Per Press Association. WANGANUI, Last Night. Bullock-Douglas was the outstanding player in a Rugby representative match played here on Saturday, in which Wanganui defeated King Country by 15 to 3. The All Black winger scored a nice try and potted a goal. The better team won, but were roughly S points better than the opposition, not 12, as indicated by the scores. The winners secured three tries, one of

which was converted, and a field goal, to an unconverted try. Taranaki go Under to Auckland In Remarkable Game LOSERS HAVE 17-0 LEAD AT ONE STAGE Per Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, Last Night. A Rugby match, in which Auckland defeated Taranaki by 22 to 17, was an extraordinary one. In tho first hall there was only one team in it; Taranaki completely outplayed Auckland in every department and led at half-time by 12 to nil. In the second spell there was still only one team in it—that was Auckland. Auckland gained the ball from the scrums and with slashing attacks piled on the points in the last few minutes. With the score at 17-all, it looked like a draw, but Auckland scored and converted another try and snatched victory from what had. seemed an impossible position.

The only difference in the conditions in the second half was that a bright sun troubled Taranaki, whereas the sky was overcast all the first spell. On no occasion in the first half was Auckland dangerous. All tho Taranaki men played an excellent game, with Rutherford, the centre, outstanding. It seemed that Taranaki had solved its forward problem, which has troubled the side all the season. The backs were well supplied with the ball, which was very capably handled. Later Auckland hooked the ball regularly and Corner fed his backs, who were then always dangerous. Taranaki gave a remarkable display ot kicking in the first half, but lost Collins, the full-back, in tho second spell through injury. Auckland improved their game.

Rutherford early scored a magnificent try and Ross converted, and then Ross kicked a penalty goal. With Taranaki continually attacking, Collins kicked a fine field goal. At half-time Taranaki led 12 to nil.

Resuming, Rutherford scored another fine try and Ross converted. Taranaki led by 17 to nil. Auckland then began to hook the ball. A loose attack gave Corner the ball and he was pursued by the Taranaki diminutive half, Dymond. The two tiny men meed for tho line, Corner winning, to score. 'Most of tho Taranaki team handled, and S. Fookes was over, but an Auckland forward also had a hand on the ball. Bad tackling let Pearson through to score. Jamieson converted. Jamieson then potted a fine field goal. Most of Auckland handled and Solomon dodged his way through. Jamieson converted. The score was now 17-all. A good movement by Taranaki saw Rutherford away again. He handed on to Edwards, who dashed over, but the ball flew out of his hands as he attempted to touch down. Thus Taranaki had lost two tries by the barest margin. Auckland continued to open attacks with a constant supply of the ball, and Jamieson dashed over and converted on time. Wellington Senior Competition CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERS DEPEATED Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. In the annual contest for the National Mutual Cup Wellington College Old Boys, winners of the senior championship, were defeated by Hutt by 8 to 6. In the second division of the senior grade, Poneke were defeated by Petone 8-3. Poneke and University are level in this section and a play-off is likely. Horowhenua Stave Off Challenge From Dannevirke BEBBINGTON SHIELD REMAINS WITH HOLDERS On Saturday Dannevirke travelled to Levin to substantiate tlieir challenge issued to Horowhenua as holders of tho Bebbington Shield. Perfect weather conditions prevailed and a large attendance followed the play. The game was of a very fast order throughout, and especially in the second spell. Horowhenua piled up points at first, but in the second spell Dannevirke made a great rally, which caused the holders some anxiety. They carried the scoro from 16 —3 to 16—12, but thereafter Horowhenua held them so that the match finished in the latter’s favour by 19 points to 12. Dannevirke opened their account first when Sewell notched a fine try and Grant failed with the kick. Horowhena’s equalising three points were signalled when Roddick turned a penalty to profit, while before the interval Payne scored in a handy position and Roddick converted, and tho home team left the field leading B—3. Broughton was next, putting in a good run that raised the tally to 11 —3. Then W. Parata camo round quickly 'from a scrum and went over. Roddick was sure, and Horowhenua were 13 points ahead. Then Dannevirke came to light, and after a good run by Hoppe, Pebble finished the rush under the posts. Southee failed. Cochrane got the third try for the visitors, when he got across wide out, while what proved to be Dannevirke’s final score was notched by O. Russell, who scored near the corner. Grant just failed to find the uprights. Before time was sounded, Pene made things safe for the holders with a nice try, the game ending at: Horowhenua , 19 Dannevirke 12 Mr. L. G. Cope refereed.