RUGBY FOOTBALL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 2 October 1944, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

CANTERBURY BEAT OTAGO Christchurch Oct. 1. Canterbury beat Otago at Rugby yes terday by 18 points to 9. Conditions were perfect and a large crowd watched an exciting game. Earlier this season at Dunedin, Otago won. 15-8. In Saturday’s match Canterbury scored a converted try five minutes after the start. Otago secured an unconverted try just before the spell closed and almost got another early in the second spell Otago, keeping up their vigorous all-in play, gained another unconcerted try and went into the lead. 6-5. Their inside back play, specially on the part of R. Williams, was every bit as clever as Canterbury’s. At this stage it looked as if Otago would forge further ahead, but the complexion of the game changed when all the Canterbury backs raced away in a beautiful co-ordinated movement •right from their own twenty-five, the full-back joining in among the others. Cochrane scored spectacularly at the other end and Callanan converted. From now on the pace increased. Canterbury’s back play gained tnrust and their handling lost its previous errors. Otago kept fighting back, but could not quite cope with the pacy combination of Canterbury. Scorers for Canterbury were Mitchell (2). Cochrane, and Mullins, Callanan converting three. For Otago Currie and F. Williams (.2) scored.—P.A.