OTAGO v. MARLBOROUGH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22025, 7 August 1933, Page 4

OTAGO v. MARLBOROUGH

HOME SIDE WINS EASILY A RAGGED GAME Although there was a large amount of scoring, the match between an Otago team and Marlborough, won by the home side by 21 points to__.fi, was marked by lost opportunities. Neither side showed any semblance of combination, and the play generally was far below the standard that was expected. As a result of the lack of understanding among the backs of both sides and faulty handling the game throughout was ragged, although there were flashes of good individual play. The display of the visiting side was disappointing. The forwards, though of a big and rugged type, played without dash, and were usually beaten for the ball, and the backs were individualists, whose attempts to link up were almost invariably spoiled by bad passing. The Otago side had the better of the game at every stage, but wasted innumerable opportunities. In the first spell the Blues led by 18 points to 3, but in the second half, when the only additional obstacle which they had to face was the slightly improved form of the Marlborough forwards, they could cross the visitors’ line only once. The home forwards worked well throughout the game, and. besides packing well, played with dash in the loose. They gave the backs plenty of the ball, but in most cases saw their efforts wasted. Ruff, the Otago full-back, played poorly. His tackling was weak, he. frequently failed to find (be line, and bis judgment of the flight of the ball in the air was not good. Both of the wing threequarters, Procter and Jones, bad to leave the held, Caradus and Bolton, who were

playing out of their regular positions filling their places. Jones scored one trj with characteristic dash, and Boltoi showed up occasionally towards the enc of the game. Easily the outstanding mem her of the Otago rearguard was K M'Skimming, the centre three-quarter who played a dashing game in attack, and was deadly in defence. He scored twe tries, and was the pivot of almost every successful attacking movement. In addition his place kicking was excellent. Lack ing adequate support from the inside mei ho nevertheless gave a fine all-round display. Martin was seldom in the picture and Sutherland, the first five-eighth, did not show up until the second spell, when lie made two or three runs deep into the Marlborough defence. Francis, behind the scrum, handled well, and sent onl good passes, starting a number of move ments from loose play. The men outside him, however, seemed to find him difficult to follow. The forwards all applied themselves to the light work, and all were occasionally prominent in loose play'. I l in I arson was the most prominent in the open. Thomson played a serviceable game al full-back for the visitors. Of the three quarters, whose chances were limited M'Honald, the Maori All Black, was the most prominent. He at first played or the wing, but was later changed to centre, In both positions ho showed dash on attack, but he lost opportunities througli had 'handling. Robinson, the second five eighths, stood as far ahead of the others in” the visiting side as did M’Skininiint among flic Otago backs. , He played will groat° determination in attack, scoring both of the visitors’ tries. In addition he made many efforts to open up attackin I,- movements without receiving support Melhuish, the half-back, played solidly or plfchett. Tapley, and Hobson were the pick of the forwards. The game was watched by a crowd ol about -1000.

THE TEAMS. The teams were as follows: — Otago (dark blue). —Full-back. Huff; three-quarters—A. C. Procter, R. M’Skimming. R. Jones: live-eighths, H. Martin and R. Sutherland; half-back, A. Francis; forwards—K. M'Lcod, W. Lucy, J. Hamilton, 0. Chapman, L. Niven, C. Finlayson, Anderson, and E. Murphy. Marlborough (Maroon). Full-back, Thomson; three-quarters —Wilson, Oldham, M’Donald; five-eighths, Robinson.and Haswcll; half-back, Melhuish; forwards— Hobson, Rest, Tapley. Woolley, Patchett, Drake, Glennie, and Hammond. THE PLAY. When the Maroons kicked off Otago had a slight advantage from the wind. After Francis • had tried to work, the blind side M’Honald showed up Hi a strong dash along the wing, an attack by the visitors being stopped by an infringement. When Ruff failed to gather in the ball from a high kick, Francis had to dash back hurriedly and kick over the deal-ball Hue to save. A scrum was formed, and from a timely penalty kick Ruff scut tlio ball well up the field. An Otago passing movement broke down, and after scrummaging, the visitors were awarded a penalty, Robinson failing with the shot at goal. Wilson was well tackled at the end of a Maroon passing rush, and an ■ exchange of kicks ended in the ball going out at halfway. M’Skimming and i Jones joined in a useful movement on (he right wing, and then, from a scrum, Melhuish broke away on his own. When blocked, however, be threw a wild pass, which Martin intercepted. A period ,of ragged play, duo to the faulty handling of the Otago hacks, followed. Otago was hooking consistently from the scrums, and at the visitors’ twenty-five the backs were again sent away. Jones lost possession of (lie ball, and it was carried over the Hue by the forwards, Melhuish securing it first and forcing. A solid rush by the

Maroon forwards ended in Ruff being caught in possession. From the ensuing scrum Tapley broke away, but he was soon grassed. Again the Maroon forwards became dangerous, but Finlayson dribbled to safety. In _ scrambling play M'Skimming secured with the visiting backs out of position. He set off on a fine run of 30 yards before passing to Procter, who, however, showed little dash. He tried a short punt, Thomson securing and finding the line. From a scrum Francis broke away_ and kicked. _ The ball w,ent over the line, and the visitors forced. A fine run by M'Donald was followed by some spectacular passing between the winger, Robinson and Dobson, but play returned to the visitors’ twentyfive where, after passing among the Otago backs, Niven picked up, fended off an opponent, and dashed up the wing with an almost clear field to score wide out. Ruff failed to convert. Otago .. 3 points. Marlborough Nil. Procter had left the field, and had been replaced by Bolton. After ragged play a line kick took play well inside 'the Otago twenty-five. From a scrum Robinson secured, and evading poor attempts by Bolton and Ruff to tackle him, went across to score wide out. His shot at goal, though a good one, failed. Otago 3 noints. Marlborough 3 points. Near halfway Bolton secured and kicked, and Lucy followed up fast and caught M'Donald in possession. The forwards carried on the movement in good style, and from a loose serum Finlayson broke away and passed to Francis, who sent out smartly, the ball travelling through the backs to M'Skimming, who dashed across in a good position. He converted his own try. Otago 8 points. Marlborough 3 points. Play went to Otago territory, where M'Skimming secured, making a fine run down the wing. He punted, and the forwards rushed play to the line, the visitors forcing. Play returned to halfway, where Bolton made several attempts to break through the defence. Eventually he caught the Maroons out of position and sent to Finlayson, who transferred to Hamilton, the University forward dashing across wide out. M'Skimming converted. Otago 13 points. Marlborough .... 3 points. The Otago forwards soon launched another strong attack in the Maroons’ twenty-five. Francis picked up and sent out a good pass, and the ball travelled through the backs to Jones, who ran strongly, throwing off a tackier, and crossing at the corner. M'Skimitnng converted with a fine kick. Otago 18 points. Marlborough .. .. 3 points. At halfway the visitors were given a penalty, and Haswell found touch well inside the Otago twenty-five. The forwards attacked strongly, and Oldham, who had exchanged positions with M'Donald, was almost across. Robinson endeavoured to start another movement, but the Otago defence was sound. THE SECOND SPELL. Jones did not return to the field after half time, and was replaced by Caradus. Immediately after the start Sutherland “dummied” and made a fine run before handing to M'Skimming, the attack being brought up at the corner. Two penalties to the visitors enabled them to return play well past halfway. From a scrum the Otago backs came away, the movement breaking down when Sutherland knocked on a difficult pass. A clever “dummy” by Francis amused the crowd, but Niven, to whom he passed, was well tackled. Robinson picked up and made a clever run, but he was unsupported, and a good chance was lost. Again he obtained possesion, and was tackled near the lino. Then the Maroon forwards

launched an attack, and Robinson picked up in loose play and battled his way through the defence to score. His shot at goal failed, Otago 18 points. Marlborough .. .. 6 points. From a scrum Sutherland secured and sent to Caradus, whose in pass went astray. Once they had the ball at their toes the Maroon forwards came away in fine style and carried play past halfway. The visitors joined in a passing rush, and M'Donald was sent away with almost a. clear field. Bolton caught him, however, and pulled him down, the movement ending in the ball going out. Robinson had to leave the field, and Melhuish went to first five-eighth, F. Phillips coming on as half-back. After Francis had failed with an attempt to pot a goal Otago again attacked in the Maroons’ twenty-five, bpt M'Donald secured and punted to ■well past halfway. There Bolton picked up, and, after breaking cleverly through the defence, dashed down the wing and kicked. He followed up fast, but failed to gather in the ball, a Marlborough man throwing it into touch. Otago was awarded a penaty, M'Skimming’s shot failing. After a scramble the Maroons forced. From another scrum the ball went to M'Skimming, who cut in and sent to Bolton, the last-named scoring at the corner. M'Skimming failed to convert. Otago 21 points. Marlborough 6 points. A series of Otago passing movements gained 50 yards, but a strong punt sent the ball back to the Otago twenty-five. Ruff took it on the full and ran up to send his backs away. Caradus was brought down in possession, and Patchett found the line well up the field. Immediately afterwards he injured his arm and had to leave the field. Casey filled the vacancy. The visiting forwards kept: up the pressure until a penalty saved the '■ Blues, the game ending with the scores: Otago 21 points. Marlborough 6 points. Mr N. Reardon was the referee. Throughout the afternoon progress scores from the match at Invercargill were posted on the scoring board through the agency of Station 4YA. In this connection it is worthy of mention that the time that elapsed between the receipt of the messages at the station and the posting on the board was only three minutes. REFEREES’ MATCH OTAGO v. SOUTHLAND. The following players have been chosen to represent the Otago referees in the annual match against the Southland referees at Bathgate Park at 1 p.m. on Saturday:—J. Bond; F.* Henderson, J. Peat, J. Aitcheson; N. Reardon, H. Warwick; 5. Andrew, F. Swete, J. Hollander, H. Palenski, C. Stallard, N. Tilley, W. Hendrick, W. Flawn, W. Jones; emergencies—J.- B. Burton, A. Shanks, C. Slaughter, A. Binnie, E. Sheridan, S. Butler. ' SECOND GRADE. Southern 16, Alhambra A 3, THIRD GRADE Alhambra 9, Dunedin 3. Pirates 6, University F 3. High School ”22, University E 3. Zingari 15, Port Chalmers 6. Southern 16, Union 3. FOURTH GRADE. Christian Brothers 8, Southern 6. Zingari B 9, Pirates 3. FIFTH! GRADE. Alhambra 19, High School B nil. IN OTHER CENTRES (Pee United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 5, , Rugby Jubilee Gold Cup Knockout competition:— Training College 35, Eastern Suburbs 6. Grafton 8. Marist 7. College Rifles 14, Eden 12. North Shore 11, Technical Old Boys 6. Grammar 21, Otahuhu 9. WANGANUI, August 5 Kaierau 20, Marists nil. Old Boys 20, Ratana 3. Technical Old Bovs 10, Pirates nil. PALMERSTON N., August. 5. Manawatu 23, Horowhenua nil. NAPIER, August 5. Napier High School Old Boys won the Senior Championship for the second year in succession. High School Old Boys 8, Hastings High School Old Boys 6. Hastings 13, M. 8.0.8. 9. Celtic 3, Technical 3. Pirates 6, Tamatea C. CHRISTCHURCH. August 5. Merivale 23, Old Boys 3. Christchurch 17. Linwood 3. University 22, Sydenham 10. Athletic S, Albion nil. TIMARU, August 5. Star 15, Zingari nil. . Geraldine 8, Celtic 3. Pleasant Point 8, Temuka 3. Star is now certain of winning the championship. The annual match between Timaru High School and St. Bede’s College was won by Timaru by 29 points to 3. Play in the first half was ragged, but in the second session Timaru gave a bright, display. There was no score at half time.

THE SEDDON SHIELD BIG SCORE BY WEST COAST. (Ter United Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, August 5. West Coast defeated Golden Bay by 45 points to 3 lor the Seddon Shield. TKc visitors were outplayed throughout. (Continued on next page.)