INTERPROVINCIAL MATCHES.

NZ Truth, Issue 328, 7 October 1911, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL MATCHES.

fcESULT OF SATURDAY'S GAME. Wellington 9, Otago 9.

OTAGO v. WELLINGTON.

The last and best game of the season was a draw between Otago and Wellington, and Otago can think itself darned lucky over the matter, as, on the play, it wasn't the best team by miles. Its good forwards and sound fullback saved it from a lot of disaster, which it deserved on account of the rotten play of its wings and fiveeighths. The Wellington backs have served one good purpose, if no other, m showing Otago what a good team of backs is, and for this Otago ought to be thankful. Wellington forwards were, on the Whole, better than the Otago lot, and Were heavier, but Otago's defence was Very sound. As this scribe said before, Scott, the Otago full-back, was many times Us saving grace, and on the season's play, has proved himself to be out on his own as the best full-back m the province. In the second spell he was as busy as a "bookie" before the big race, and effectually stopped Freddy Roberts when that energetic wily party was right on the corner. Only once he missed, and that was m the first half, when Ryan beat him over a low tackle. He played a magnificent game. ' Otago's wings, Norrie and McDonald, were off, dead off. They seemed to be afraid to pick up the ball, and were about as much good on the defensive as Booth's Army would be against a cavalry charge. Norrie hadn't a hope of getting m any of his sensational runs. Wellington backs saw- 'to that, and hence his light was hidden under a bushel as it were. His redeeming' feature was a nice converter early m the first spell Eckhold, at half, was fairly good, but E. Roberts had him beat m getting the ball from the scrum. Still, he played with good judgment, and was worth his place. \ Sandy Patterson and Williams played a great game. Sandy made Wellington sit up and notice things, and spoilt quite a lot of Freddy Roberts's best schemes. Williams played with his head, as well as with his "dooks " and feet, and is one of the most promising forwards of a good pack. Symonds is another good forward, and scored Otago's first try cleverly by ducking through the ruck. It meant five points to Otago.

Casey grafted hard and ought to be awarded a large pat on the back. Freddy Roberts ought *' to hold a commission of inquiry into Wellington's kicking on Saturday, as it cost his side six points, and was dead off. This scribe has seen the All Black play a better game than -he did on Saturday, but, anyway, the game that he did play was clever, heady, and rather surprised the Scotchbyterians of Dunedin. Freddy generalled his men splendidly, and it was real hard luck that it didn't have a better result. His line-kicking was tip- top, and through a fine bit of play of his m the first spell, McKenz^p was enabled to score. And didn't Otago watch him ! Maybe only fancy, but several of the Wellington team struck this scribe as being a bit stale. W^ell, it's the end of the season anyway, and so what does it matter ? Mitchinson is as good as ever, and his tricky runs set Otago thinking some, and even after they had all the first spell to think m the brilliant three-quarter had them as. worried as ever. J. Ryan, the Petone wing threequarter, is a worthy scion of the famous footballing family, and is as reliable and solid as his brothers Pat and Mick, and helped to win outright the banner for the town of smells and frozen mutton. However, his kicking wasn't up to the old standard. Kinvig, the full-back, is a mighty kicker. His line kicking made Dunedin positively gasp, and he put m one m the end of the second spell which was simply perfect, and undoubtedly saved Wellington from a dangerous Otago rush. On the defence he was very sound. Grace, the other three-quarter, played a nice, dashing, clever game, and, m fact, the. trio, Grace, Mitchinson, and Ryan, was a very tough proposition for Otago. The forwards are a sound lot of heavies, but are not up to the same football standard as the back markers. ' Honors are still even between the two provinces over their 22 rep. matches. Each has won nine, ahd four have been drawn. Cunningham was too previous m getting round the scrum, and his side got penalised over it several timen. E. Roberts was very quick m getting the ball out of the scrum, and played a good, heady game.