Clever N.W. Backs Outplay Otamatea

Northern Advocate, 16 June 1947, Page 6

Clever N.W. Backs Outplay Otamatea

(Special) PAPAROA, This Day. IN a senior representative match played at Paparoa on Saturday, Northern Wairoa defeated Otamatea 14—6. . Heavy rain which had fallen during the previous night and also on the day of the match almost until the time for commencement made the field very heavy. Northern Wairoa, if anything, was unlucky not to have enlarged its score, although Otamatea held a territorial advantage.

One of the highlights ot the match was the clever exhibition of the Northern Wairoa backs, who showed ability in handling a very greasy ball.

much heavier, as well as older and more experienced, opposition. They were not well served by their forwards from either scrums or lineouts. and in no case did the ball come out further than the second liveeighths. J. B. Nelson, the brilliant Otamama wing-threequarter, who is considered a likely future North Auckland rep., was given no opportunity of revealing his ability. Although outclassed in the set scrums, the Otamatea forwards were superior in other departments and. •taken on the whole, were the better pack on the day.

Several thrilling movements, in which practically every membei handled, were executed by the visiting backs, who also showed good combination and a fail' sense of anticipation.

Owing to the inability of the Otamatea backs to get moving the defensive play of the Northern Wairoa rearguard was not put to a severe test. The Otamatea backs gave a gallant exhibition of defensive play against a