Rodney – Otamatea Stage Thrilling Game

Northern Advocate, 18 July 1938, Page 12

Rodney - Otamatea Stage Thrilling Game

Rugby

The Oiamaiea representatives had their first try out of the 1938 season when they met the Rodney fifteen at Pori Albert on Saturday last. Contrary to expectations Otamatea were hard pressed to win. and the final score of !1 to 8 in their favour was a fair UKbcarron oj tne merits of the two hams and of the run of the

A dry ground and hall suited the local boys and from the first whistle both teams were on their toes and threw the. leather about with what at times appeared to be almost reckless abandon. In the past Rodney had never given Otamatea serious opposition but any expectations the visitors may have had of compiling a cricket score were quickly dispelled once the teams settled down. Threw The Ball About.

Rodney fielded a light but fast pack which broke quickly from the set scrums and were out hammering the Otamatea backs before they had swung into action. In the set scrums and the loose rucks the* Otamatea weight soon made itself felt, and in these departments the visitors had a decided advantage but found difficulty in exploiting it to the full. It was in the line-outs, however, that Rodney excelled. Both back lines played deep, giving themselves ample room to move, but deadly tackling broke up attack after attack. The game opened at a rattling pace which was maintained throughout as both teams strove to find a weak link in the opposition line. The handling on both sides was faultless and every opportunity was taken to open up the play. The Scores. Rodney's eight points compi’ised two tries, one of which was converted, while Otamatea crossed three times, Homan converting one try. N. Fergus and Rex Cullen combined in a movement, the latter scoring in a handy position. The next try came when D. Neil picked up from a forward melee, and forced his way over. Otamaxea’s iinai points came when Moses picked up from a scrum in the home twenty-five, and handed on to Ken Fergus, who slipped between two defenders to score in a handy position. One of the lessons learned by Otamatea was that there is a weakness in the five-eighths, and. as a result, the wing men received the ball too late and when their opponents were up on top of them. No doubt this will be remedied when Otamatea meets Noi’thern Wairoa at Paparoa on Saturday next.