BRILLIANT RUGBY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21053, 16 June 1930, Page 7

BRILLIANT RUGBY.

Hean through the defence to Lindsay, and passed to . Ivor who went over, Spong-was the pivot of the British rearguard, and he cornea within the category fit great players. Here, thepe, and everywhere, he wot only initiates passing, *ut has sufficient speed to come into the movement again and carry it on. •Bowcott and Keeve were very prominent - *** tho first spell, and, on the other hand, Aarvold and Moriey showed out prominently in the second. The full-back, Bassett, played a fair game, but did not appear over certain in the face of trouble. Every one of the British forwards kept hard to his game, and they outplayed the opposing pack. Towards the close of the game they simply burst up the Otago pack on more than one occasion and went through with the ball. They were too heavy for Otago, and secured the ball 24 times from scrums compared with 13 times by their opponents. In the line outs there was only one side in it. Hodgson and Kew were always in the thick of the Play, and Black and Farrell wefc noticeable for good work on the line outs, Francis, scrum-half, played a very fine game for Otago, considering his limited since, when he did get the ball from the ■ scrums, the British breakaway forwards were quickly round on to him. He varied his play well under difficult circumstances, and his line kicking •wus good. Realising, towards the end of the game how hopeless it was to expect his forwards to hook the ball, Francis left the base of the scrum and constituted himself a kind of wing-forward, and endeavoured to come round and prevent Murray from passing out. Lindsay was too ®*°TT. at wing-three-quarter, and twice a British back ran round him. Shifted to full-back in the second spell, however, be was an altogether different player, his collaring and kicking being very fine. He failed once to’ anticipate a movement by the British backs when Reeve raced along the left-wing, and just missed getting across in time to put his hands effectively on him. y , Wilson, wing-threequarter, opened, promisingly, but the run of the play then went- to the visitors, and he seldom saw tjie ball, _ The play of the other backs was not impressive, but no harm could h&vq been done, and it might have helped matters/ if Giles had been placed at centre-three-quarter, and the two University five-eighths, Bradanovich and Foofces. been played together, as they are in their club football, Oue of the Otago backs was noticed on one occasion committing the inexcusable.offence of wait-; ing for the play to come up to him again after he had over-run the ball. It did not come up, but -went back. Imagine Spong, if one could, doing this sort of thing!. . Here- and .Ronntag lasted but the game the best of the Otago forwards,. and they were coming through in the closing stages. Several of the Otago forwards were at this stage beginning to lag. Scott was not a success at wing-forward. * He was not . fast enough, and he could not size up the position, . The result, was. that be was often seen .standing at the side, of the scrum .when the play was moving 'away , fast into midfield. Finlayson was placed at wing-forward in the second spell, but it was too late then to improve the situation much. One very important point emerges as a result of Saturday's game. It is this: That there is absolutely no need for any alteration in -the old rule regarding the kick into touch if the, true spirit of the game is observed-. The old rule was, of course, played on Saturday, and it certainly did not slow down the game. As stated, it was one of the very fastest and most spectacular • ever seen in . Dunedin. ’ The game was played •in a very fine spirit, and was remarkable for the small number of .free kicks awarded; Only ! , one free kick was given against Otago, and that was well on in the second half. The penalties given against the visitors were mostly for. infringements at the scrum. ■- ■ ■ DINNER TO THE TEAMS. GAME PLAYED IN FINE SPIRIT. References were made to the fine spirit in Which the game was played when the teams and members of the Otago Rugby i Union gathered at a dinner at the Grand Hotel on Saturday night. The president it union (Mr H. Harris) occupied the chair. In proposing the visitors’, health, the chairman said that New Zealand owed 5, -debt -of gratitude to visiting British teams. The rise of the game in i oi C, jj Zealand dated _ from the visit of : Stoddarta team, which had shown the Dominion what the passing game was. He felt sure that on the game that day the present visitors were equal to any team which had come from Great Britain. The play_of the team had been an eyeopener. If the British side showed such football nest Saturday he' would not like to say what would happen. Mr James Baxter (manager of the team), in reply, said that the team had come to New Zaland to try to play the game of football according to its traditions. If by making the trip the side could be at all helpful and if New Zealand could see anything in its play worth copying it would be very proud.' He hoped, also, that something would be learned from New Zealand. One thing which had been a , surprise was the keenness with which the game was played and followed. ** Apart. from that the team had come here so that we can get to known each other better,” he continued, “ and as long .as we-can play the game at is was played this afternoon friendships will be made. It is a good thing when we can meet and play and be better friends than wo were at the start.. If we continue as we did to-day throughout this great Dominion we wifi have done a great work for; the British Empire and for you by the time we leave." Mr C. D. Aarvold, who captained the team, said that they did not consider themselves supermen. They went on the field to play a good game, and they were pleased with themselves because they had enjoyed a thoroughly good game. That day was the first time in New Zealand that they had really enjoyed a game as they did at Home. There had been a certain amount of careful abandon about *he play. He proposed the toast of The Otago Team,” which the visitors honoured standing on their chairs. . Dr Dunne, captain of .the Otago team, m reply, said that the visiting team had contained some of the finest players Otago had met for some years. The game had been played in a fine spirit, and Otago had learned a great deal. Mr G. R. Beamish, in proposing the toast, of “ The Referee,” said that it was a pleasure to have a referee who would join in “ sending the game along " in the. spirit in which it' should be played, Mr Hollander’s rulings had been excellent. The toast of “The Management Commit fee of the New Zealand Rugby Football Proposed by the Mayor (MrE. S. Black) and acknowledged by Mr T. Fletcher, who described the British toAin bs the finest hand of sports who have ever been brought together,” expressed the opinion that it would leave a big impression on New Zealand football. THE FIRST TEST. PORTER APPOINTED CAPTAIN. (Special to Daily Times.) • WELLINGTON, June 14. C. G. Porter, of Wellington, has been r ,appointed captain of the New Zealand Rugby team for the first test match with the British team at Dunedin on Saturday. RESULTS TO DATE. The following are the results of the matches played by the team to date:— Against Wanganui, won .. .. 19 3 Against Taranaki, won 23 7 Against Manawhenua, won .. 34 8 Against Wairarapa-Bush, won 19 0 Against Wellington, lost .... 8 12 Against Canterbury, lost .... 0 14 Against West Coast, won .... 34 II Against Otago, won 33 9 Totals 146 70 'REFEREE FOR TEST MATCH. It is understood that Mr Hollander, of Christchurch, who controlled Saturday’s match, has been appointed to control the test match next Saturday.