COUNTRY WEEK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20174, 11 August 1927, Page 5

COUNTRY WEEK.

MANIOTOTO -VINCENT v. TUAPEKAWEST OTAGO. The first of the annual country football matches arranged by the Otago Rugby Union was played at Car isbrook yesterday, when Mauiototo-Vincent met Tuapeka-West Otago. On Saturdoy a combined team frim the country players will meet a metropolitan fifteen. The teams were as follow: — Maniototo-Vincent (Colours: Green). — Full-back, F. Donnelly 12.0; three-quar-ter backs—J. Leask 13.0, A. Law 12.7, J. Hanuay 11.0; five-eighths, D. Provan 12.0, L. Churchill 11.7; half-back, R. Waldren 9.7; forwards —W. Pringle 12.7, R. Kenning 12.0, P. Moran 13.0, J. Donnelly 13.0, A. Marslin 13.5, B. Dougherty 12.7, G. Berry 12.0, E. Naylor 14.0. Tuapeka-West Otago (Colours: Navy and White Hoops).—Full-back, J. Edgar; three-quarters—J. M‘Pherson, T. Hayes, D. Oliver; five-eighths, L. P. M'Phee, A. Ottrey; half-back, R. drivers; forwards — R. Oliver, G. M'Donald, R. Souter, R. Simmers, S. Grogan, C. M'Callum, W. M'Laughlan, R. Aitcheson. After give-and-take play Law fumbled, and Ottrey ran well into the Greens’ territory, and got the line. Edgar missed with a penalty, and the Colours kept up the attack. Bad passing by the Colours let the Green forwards through, Berry in front, and scrambling play followed. Chivers fumbled from a scrum at his twenty-five, and Marslin led to the Colours’ line, a penalty relieving the pressure. The Greens kept up the pressure, bu their passing from the scrums was weak, and several opportunities were lost. Chivers got the ball out well, but Hayes missed his pass, and the movement broke down. Leask came back with a good run along his right wing, but was pushed out by Oliver near the corner flag. Ragged play followed, both sides speculating too much. The Colours had a turn at attack, F. Donnelly fielding the ball well, and getting in some good returns. The Colours came away with a solid forward rush, but Grogan kicked too hard, and lost a chance. Edgar missed with another penalty, and the Colours continued to press. Weak play by Chivers let the Green forwards right through, Oliver getting back to save just in time. From loose play in front of the Colours’ goal the ball was kicked right into Hannay’s arms, and he bolted over to score. Hannay missed the goal kick. 3 —nil. Give-and-take play followed, and M'Phee stopped a Green passing movement in good style. The Colours carried the play to the Greens’ twenty-five, but their passing was very erratic. The backs on both sides were getting plenty of the ball, but they could not make scoring openings. M'Phee passed to Aitchison on the right wing, and some ground was gained, and half time went with the Colours on attack. Manjototo-Vincent .. 3 points. Tuapeka-West Otago Nil. The game so far had been equally contested, with plenty of incident, but with little concerted play. There was too much hard ground kicking and reckless passing. . . The Colours had the sun in their faces in the second spell, and were soon on the defensive. The Green forwards carried the play clean through the defence, but nothing resulted from the movement. The Greens came away with a good bit of passing, but it broke down at Law. Waldren then got the ball from a scrum, and the passing went right out to Hannay, who cut in to beat two men, and to score between the posts. Hannay kicked a goal. B—nil.8 —nil. Naylor broke away from the centre, but with the defence wide open the Greens fumbled in front of the Colours’ goal posts, and lost a fine chance. Naylor came away immediately after from a line out at the centre, and Dougherty dribbled on, picked up, and dived over to score. Hannay kicked a good goal. 13 —nil. After scrambling play Churchill was instrumental in shifting play to the Colours’ line, and he showed up in another good bit of passing immediately after. M'Phee went off, and Gilchrist came on. The Greens now penned the Colours in their twenty-five. Hannay was almost over at tho left corner, and then Waldren went on the blind side on the opposite wing, and passed to Leask. The ball was kicked over the line, _ and Marslin got to it first. Hannay missed the goal kick. 16—nil. A lot of hard ground kicking, with indiscriminate passing, followed. Tho Colours had a turn at attack, but Law broke away on the right wing, and passed to Dougherty, who finished off a fine breakaway. Hannay missed the goal kick, and the whistle then went. Maniototo-Vincent .. 19 points. Tuapeka-West Otago Nil. Mr J. Fleury was referee.