REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19739, 12 September 1927, Page 12

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY.

mckland beats otago. eleven points to nine. CtiEAT GAME IN THE MUD. Home team's unbeaten record In the presence i>f about 8000 spectators thd, Auckland Rugby representative; team maintained its undefeated record for,-the season by beating the Otago touring team at Eden Park on Saturday by 11 points to 9,. The game was played in showers of rain and the ground was very heavy and muddy. Tho conditions were all against a good display of football, j . but the teams gave a most exhilarating j exhibition of forward play. The visitors adapted themselves to the circumstances much better than the home team, with the result that Auckland was fully extended to win by the narrow margin of two points. A draw would have been a fairer result on tho day, as ®ach side scored three tries. As a matter cf fact, the game would have resulted in « draw had Mitchell taken a little more caro over his kick at goal from a try Ecored behind the posts. The footwork of the Otago forwards Wgh{y_ impressive, and tho manner in which the backs went down to stop forward rushes evoked the admiration cf every spectator on the ground. The Auckland forwards wsre thoroughly tested, and for onde were beaten in the loose. Ihey did not receive the same support from their backs as was the case ■with the visiting team, however. Taken all round it was a game well worth .watching. The teams were as follows: Auckland.—Paewai, Hook, Lucas, Woods, Berridge, Meyer, McManus, Keenc, Hadley, Palmer, Knight, Wanoa, Kighton, Batty, Oath cart. Otago.—-Ha2lewood, Stewart, Lindsay, Webb, Peterson, Mitchell, Holdon, Finlayson, Hindenach, Souter, Stevens, Ssnntag, Hore, Marslin, Dougherty, Auckland Scores Pirst, Otago won the toss and Lucas Jacked ofi from the eastern end. Auckland was penalised in the first- scrum, . ana Lindsay found touch well down.. A passing rush ended in Lucas getting possession and he centred. The forwards followed up smartly, but Mitchell saved nicely. Berridge made a good opening and passed to Lucas, who raced up to the fullback. Here he gave Hook a good pass, and the Auckland winger raced round unopposed behind' the posts. Berridge converted. Auckland . . .... 5 Otago .. . . .. . „. 0 Lindsay gained a lot of ground with the penalty kick, and from the ensuing line-oyt the Otago forwards swarmed down on Paewai, who was compelled to carry the ball back. A penalty brought relief to Auckland. Lindsay fieldea. a - weak kick by Berridge and away toward Paewai. Webb was in attendance on the outside and Paewaai's supports, were watching , the speedy Otago wing. Peterson, however, dashed up oiS the irside, and, taking a beautiful inj>ass from. Lindsay, he ran round behind . tho -posts unopposed. Mitchell's kick was charged slowm - * • Auckland < ' .. . .. 5 •'Otago ... 3 Good footwork. Penalties agimst both teams were fairly frequent, as the result of over- • i keenness. Lindsay, Hazlewood and Pae- ! wai did some .fine kicking with the; heavy j ball. The Auckland forwards broke •away in. a loose ruah. Peterson endeavoured to check them, tut hs was dragged towafd hisl awa line, where Keene took • thei ball out of his arm and fell over for i a try. Berridge failed with the .kick. Auckland .. .. .. 3 ' Otago, .' .. .. 3 - Ac Auckland parsing, tush broke down athalfway, and, -dashing through, j Stewart- kicked hard oyer the Auckland line. He followed up quickly, bnt was beaten, for a try when tho ball went over ; ■ the dead-ball line. A great piece of footwork by the Otago forwards raised the enthusiasm of tne crowd aa the ball travelled to the other twenty-five. - Here Mitchell picked up in the" loose and passed to Stewart. The Otago wing, shook oft Hook's tackle, then evaded Paewai and raced across for a fine try with an opponent holding on to him. Lindsay made an excellent attempt to convert■, from wide out. Half- -. time sounded just afterwards with the scores, • •; Auckland ... .. .. ...8 Otago " .. .. u. 6 The Second Spell. Peterson SUiitaihed a broken rib and Was replaced by Callender in the second half. • Soon after resuming, the Auckland backs started a passing rush in their own twentyj-five. The ball Went out to Woods,; who was pushed into touch at the opposite twenty-flva Lindsay went down well to a forward<s rush, and then Holden broke through from a scrum A penalty against Auckland enabled Lindsay to find touch Weil down; An s>pen rush, in which Lucas Was prominent sent Otag)o back again. -Mcfeahnaiwas then penalised for running ■ into a strern and Onds&y made good use - of the touch-line. Lncas heat the opposh • tion with a tricky run and he then passed . infield to Batty, who set the forwards going. ' The bali wae kicked over the but : an Otago back forced iust in tim<v v Berirtdge had a couple of shots from: penalties teat outside the twenty-: five, the ball goirtg Close the second time. • Visitor ia the Lead. With play near Otago's itwenty-five, Webb kicked the ball clear of Woods. Following up rapidly he. kicked it past Paewai. Nftyer joined iii the chase, but he could not bustle Webb, who put in a short kick over the line and then ran on and fell on the ball, placing Otago in the lead. The distance was too far for Lindsay * Otago' .. .. ~ ..9 Auckland .. . .. 8 The crowd was now wildly excited, bnt the barracking was very impartial. Auckland, attacked strongly, but Hindenach dribbled beautifully to beyond half way. Paewai failed to field a ball cleanly, .and it went out near the Auckland line. Otago was penalised, and following the kick, Lucas made ground with a swerve infield. The forwards joined in with the ball at their 'feet. Webb and Hazlowood speculated in tnrn and this proved disastrous to Otago, as Cathcart got possession and scored near the corner Berridge made' a creditable effort at goal from the difficult angle, Auckland .' 11 '*Otagd .. .. ... .. 9 The. Otago forwards swept down to the Auckland iine with Hindenach in tho lead, the ball going into touch about five yards Ot*sto, came however, and was attacking strongly when the bell . sounded for time, a very fine game ending:— _■ ■ Auckland • '*Vi '&V I*'*' ... 11 Otago /. .. ? .. 9 / TEAM'S UNBEATEN RECORD. 'The-, Auckland team haß played nine f;ames this season and has won them all. t has scored 220 points, while only 30 - points have .been registered againßt it a EdUowing i# the record of matches : played . " yl Thames, won 47—3. - -v. Maoris, won 31—-6. v. Korth Auckland, won 21—3, - 'v. South Canterbury, won 32—6. , v. Taranak!, won 23-0. v. Manawhenua, won 17—0. v. Hawke's Bay, won 26 -0.