SOUTH OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20190, 30 August 1927, Page 13

SOUTH OTAGO.

RUGBY FOOTBALL. (From Our Own Correspondent.) BALCLUTHA, August 29. JUNIOR GAME. There was a large attendance at the Show Ground, Balclutha, on Saturday to Witness the match between a team of South Otago Second Grade players and the Pirates (Dunedin) Third Grade A team. The weather was somewnat , showery, but otherwise line, and the ground was in very fair condition considering the heavy rain that had fallen during the week. At 3 p.m. the teams lined out as lollows: —South Otago: G. Allan, Lockhart, K. Thomson, H. Pitt, R; Greaves. C. Hausen, S. Lloyd, W. Clark, Kitto, Crawford, Small, M'Kerrow, Campbell, Mennell, M'Laren. Pirates; Mussen, Hastie, Strachan, Fraser, Joyce, Young, Boutery, Lyders, Flockton, Dyas, Swan, Boxall, Ritchie, Quested, Spence. Pirates lost the toss, and played with the sun in their eyes, which was a considerable disadvantage. Notwithstanding, the Blacks attacked very persistently in the first five minutes, and Swan had a shot at goal for an infringement, but the kick failed. South Otago (Blues) rallied, and appeared in the Blacks’ twenty-five. Good kicking and fast following up soon reversed the situation, and Allah (Blue full-back) repelled the attack with a good kick. M'Laren headed a Blue dribbling rush that looked dangerous, but Mussen saved smartly. Lockhart showed up with a good run, and passed to Thomson, but the Crescent player missed. Lively play followed, and Swan had a shot at goal for an infringement, and very nearly scored. South Otago now pressed: hard, their big forwards having an advantage in the tight work. The Blacks cleared their lines in good style, and a Pirate rush, led by Quested, fi/lished in front of the South Otago goal. At this stage Strachan (Pirate three-quarter) had to go off, having received a kick on the ankle, and Stewart took his place. The Blacks continued to attack, and Ritchie dribbled to near the South Otago goal - line, and then picked up and went over to score a nice try, from which Swan kicked a good goal. Pirates, 5; South Otago, nil. South Otago now attacked, and Hansen showed up with a smart run, but the Blacks were awarded a free kick for an infringement, and a little later Boutery marked, but the kick was ineffectual. Allan cleared the South Otago line in good style, and the spell ended with no further score. The second spell was very fast, and both sides showed good football, with incidental spectacular play that took the spectators’ fancy. Pirates led off in attack, and Joyce and Stewart put in a pretty passing run that gained a lot of ground. Lloyd, the clever little South Otago half-back initiated a passing rush, the ball travelling to Hansen, to Pitt, and then to Lockhart, but the latter, unforunately slipped and spoiled an otherwise likely score. Spence cleared the threatened Black line, and Pitt (the Valley three-quarter) made a fine run before he was brought to earth. South Otago attacked strongly, and the Blacks were compelled to force. The relief from tho kick-out was only momentary, and it was not long before K. Thomson, heading a Blue rush, scored a good try, and converted. Pirates, 5; South Otago, 5. South Otago continued to attack strongly, and it looked almost that their lighter opponents were beaten. Lockhart and Thomson put in some good work for the attackers, and then Greaves scored a try, which G. Allan failed to Convert. South Otago, 8; Pirates, 5.‘ Pitt made a good run that took him to within a few yards of the Black line, and Crawford went on and scored. Thomson’s kick at goal failed. South Otago, 11; Pirates, 5. South Otago kept up the pressure, and M'Kerrow made a smart run, and hot work near the line ended in the Blacks being awarded a free kick for offside play. Good play by Hansen and Pitt took the ball back to Black territory, and Pitt made a strong run, only to be pushed out at the corner. The Blacks then rallied, and nice passing between Joyce and Fraser took play to South Otago’s twenty-five. Mussen showed up with a good run, and then the Blues took the ball right to the Black line, 'where Fraser forced. At this stage Joyce went off owing to a knock on the knee, and A. Ritchie went on as full-hack, Mussen being moved up. The Blacks seemed to take a fresh lease of life, and attacked strongly, Thomson, Pitt, and Lloyd being conspicuous in relieving. In another Black rush Hansen saved the situation for South Otago. A passing movement by tho Blacks ended in Stewart passing to Young, who was nearly in. Quested made a good run, and an almost certain score was spoiled by a pass forward. South Otago rallied, and Mennell and M'Laren were conspicuous in a that took the ball to the Black line, where A. Ritchie saved. The Blacks came away with a dribbling rush, headed by Flockton, and Hastie picked up and made a dash for the line, but was pushed out at the corner. Shortly after time was called, with the score: South Otago, 11 points; Pirates, 5 points. The visitors wore distinctly outweightod, but they played a very “ nippy ” game that challenged the admiration of beholders. South Otago had a good team, and, although composed strictly of Second Grade players, they were tho pick of six district clubs, and would undoubtedly give a good account of themselves against any of the South Otago First Grade teams this season. Had tho ground been dry on Saturday, tho South Otago score vould probably have been bigger, notwithstanding that the Pirates put up a game fight, never throning a chance away, and it is easy to understand how they' have conic to be looked upon as probably the best Third Grade team in Dunedin. |Mr S. V. White refereed the game, which was followed by a dinner, at which both teams were the guests of the South Otago Rugby Football Union. Mr D. Hepburn, president of tho South Otago Sub-union, presided, and warmly welcomed the visitors, and congratulated them on the good clean game they played. They had had Third Grade teams from Dunedin before, but this, he thought, was the best they had ever had. Tho game that day showed that there was more in it than s.ze. Science could defeat strength in football as in other things. Ho would like to see the South Otago team that had played that day go to Dunedin and play a game against a Second or Third Gracje team there. It could bo arranged, he was certain, so far as the South Otago placers were concerned, because tho Second Grade players were in the game for its own sake and not >r anything they could got out of it Mr Barnett (the manager of the visitors), in the course of his remarks, said he was merely the coach of the Third Grade A Pirates, and was not a member of tho Otago Rugby Football Union, and so could not speak on behalf of that body as re gards a match with the South Otago Second Grade team in tho city. As to the game that day. ho was satisfied that tho best team won. In football, he was satisfied that a good big man was always better than a good little one, and that had boon about the size of it that day. Mr S. V. White (vice-president of the South Otago Rugby Football Union) spoke of tho good that visits from city teams did to footballers in tho country. As for South Otago football this season, the public had derived more pleasure from Second and Third (I fade matches I ban from tho senior contests. BANNKR PRFSENTATION. At a well-attended social gathering at Clydevale on Friday night, Mr D. Hopburn (president of the South Otago Rugby Football Union) presented tho Second Grade banner, won by tho Clutha Valley team, anfl congratulated the winners en

their ■well-deserved success. Messrs F. M‘Guinness (delegate) and Culbert (secretary) also spoke. Mr J. M'Kenzie, president of the Valley Club, thanked the local public for their support of the club. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr M'Guinness for his work as the club’s representative on the union. Songs were contributed by Mrs Blaikie, Mrs A. Miller, Mr Pitt, and little Florence M'Kenzie. Supper was enjoyed by all. Mr Allan Smith furnished the music for a dance, which was continued until an early hour.