RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22058, 14 September 1933, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

, OTAGO v. TARANAKI WIN FOR THE VISITORS A CLOSE-SCORING GAME Taranaki met and defeated Otago at Carisbrook yesterday afternoon by 15 points to 14 points. The ground was in good order, despite the rain which had fallen, and the backs were not handicapped to any serious extent in_ their handling of the ball. At one time_ it looked as if the home team were going to have a comfortable win, but the visitors took the lead well into the second half and maintained it. It was not a very attractive game to watch, and the rearguards on both sides showed little combination in the passing movements. The passing was too much across the field, and the attempts to cut in by the backs on either side were generally stopped by sound collaring. The visiting forwards played with plenty of hustle, and they beat the opposing vanguard in breaking away from scrums and in the line outs. The Blue forwards appeared to imagine that once they had hooked the ball from the scrums that was all that should be expected from them. Taylor played an excellent game at fullback. His kicking was lengthy, and generally well directed, and his collaring was very sound. Altogether he gave a fine exhibition of full-back play. Gillies, first five-eighth, was the only inside Blue bach to show judgment. He varied his play, and when he found that his outside backs were covered he tried the short punt. The idea was all right, but the direction was not always good, and Ross especially sent back with interest on more than one occasion. H. M'Skimming is a much better wing three-quarter than a fiveeighth. His display was vigorous enough, but he failed to link up with his outside men, and his play lacked judgment and finesse. Dunne was well watched by Rom, , and was never allowed to get far, and W. Allen, on the other wing, got few chances. He shaped well with the opportunities which came his way. R. M'Skimming was not a great success at centre three-quarter, and Simon, while he usually passed the ■ ball out smartly, did not always handle the ball cleanly from the scrums. Chapman and M'Farlane were about the best of the forwards, some of whom were inclined to shirk their work in the scrums. The hooking of the Blue pack in the second spell was excellent, put the forwards did not break away quickly enough to assist their backs. Collins, full-back, did not give a very impressive display, his handling of the ball on the ground being very more by good luck than good judgment that he sometimes got his side out or trouble. Collins had hard luck in the second spell when he potted at goal,, the ball striking the crossbar and bouncing back into play. Ross, wing-three-quarter, and Rutherford, centre, put plenty o£ . dash into their running, and the former e tackling especially was very sound. Rutherford was inclined to go too tar before passing. Gargan and Fookes were about the best of a bustling set of for- . wards who were not afraid to indulge in hard ground kicking. The Colours forwards, like the Blue vanguard, were inclined to leave the following up to one or two players. , , Taranaki have lost to Wellington and ; Southland, and have beaten North Otago and Otago. THE TEAMS. The teams were as follows:- — OTAGO. Full-back, J. Taylor 10.12. Three-quarters —W. Allen 18-4, It. ■ M'Skimming 11.11, W. Dunne 11.0. Five-eighths, H. M'Skimming 12.3, C. Gillies 11.4. Half-back, H. Simon 10.7. Forwards —H. Service 13.0. J. Hore 13.2 (captain), W. Lucy 13.10, W. M'Farlane 13.0, R. Allan 12.8, W. Gibson 13.10, O. - Chapman 13.5, D. Slyfield 12.12. TARANAKI. ¥ Full-back, A. Collins 11.10. Three-quarters —J. ;Eoss 12.8, : W • Rutherford 11.10, R. Hill 12.0. Five-eighths, L. Edwards 11.1, B. Mace 12.7. Half-back, G. Sangster 11.7. Forwards —F. Gargan 13.2, G. Fowler 13.5, D. Murphy 14.0, K. Wetere 15.4 Young 13.8, g. Fookes 13.8, C. Wills 14.6, R. Clark 14.6. FIRST SPELL. The Colours'kicked off from the railway end, and from ,the first serum Edwards miskicked across field at the centre. A hard kick from a scrum was fielded by -Taylor, who kicked out at his twenty-five. A good bit of passing by the Colours saw Hill caught at the Blues twenty-five, and from a scrum the Blues were given a free kick The Colours' backs tried passing from a line out, but no ground was gamed. The Colours had so far done most of the attack. Rutherford was penalised for lying on the ball, and Taylor had a shot from five yards outside the centre line, sending the ball fairly between the posts with a great kick. The game had been m progress eight minutes. Otago 3 points. Taranaki Nil. Taylor gained ground with a penalty kick. ■ Rutherford soundly tackled H. M'Skimming in a passing movement at midfield, and the Colours forwards broke -through to the Blues’ line. H. M Skimming punted in front of the Blues goal, but the ball was diverted, and Rutherford was well collared by R. M'Skimmipg as he raced for the line. The Colours continued to press, and from a short bit of passing Rutherford scored. Ross missed the goal kick. Otago .. 3 Points. Taranaki .. ~. .. 3 points. From passing at a scrum H. M'Skimmring broke clear through to Collins, but R. M'Skimming knocked on with the defence wide open, ■ H. M'Skimming made another good break, but the movement stopped at R. M'Skimming, and Collins took Dunne well in another Blue attack. The Blues hammered away at the defence, and a hard kick by a Colours player rebounded. Dunne followed the ball through fast and bustled Collins, and R. M'Skimming picked up and scored. Taylor kicked a goal. Otago 3 points. Taranaki .. .... 3 points. A heavy shower swept the ground. From passing H. M'Skimming punted, and Collins failed to field the ball, a lucky speculator saving the Colours. Good work by Dunne put the Blues in position, and the Colours were penalised when Fookes put the ball in the scrum. Taylor missed goal kick from well out. A welljudged kick by Gillies sent play to the Colours’ twenty-five, and the Colours then forced from a high kick. The Blues were more than holding their own, but Watere made a good break through. Passing swung out to Hill, the referee ruling a pass forward when the Colours wing had a good scoring chance. Passing from a line out went to Mace, who cut clean through, but the movement broke down ' near the Blues’ line, after Taylor had taken the Taranaki wine. The Blues were penalised, and Ross kicked a good goal. Otago .. .. •• •• 8 points. Taranaki 6 points. A hard ground kick from a scrum found a gap, and Gillies dribbled on, a Colours man just winning the race to the ball as it was kicked over the line. Collins drove back another attack, and he saved again as H. M'Skimming ran through after Gillies had punted from a scrum. Time was then called. Otago 3 points. Taranaki 6 points. SECOND SPELL. The Blues opened with a fine passing movement, R. M'Skimming handing to Dunne, who made a good run along the left wing. Trouble came to the Blues when in some ragged play Gillies’s kick was charged down, but the danger passed, and the Blues were then forced from a hard kick, A scrum was formed at midfield. Simon passed to Gillies on the blind side, and he cut in to pass to Allen. Allen ran to Collins, and punted, and got first to the ball to score. Taylor missed the goal kick. Otago 11 points. Taranaki .. *. ■ • 6 points. From the kick out the Taranaki forwards came away with great dash, and Fowler dribbled on and over the line. Gillies appeared to get to the ball first,

but the referee awarded a try. Ross missed the goal kick. Otago 11 points. Taranaki 9 points. The Bluea came with great dash. Collins fumbled, but managed to recover, and play settled in Taranaki territory. Taranaki were then penalised at a scrum, and Taylor kicked a fine goal. Otago 14 points. Taranaki v 9 points. Rutherford caught Dunne as he was running along the left wing, and Allen returned a kick by the Taranaki centre immediately after. Weak ground fielding by Collins let the Blues to their opponent’s twenty-five. Matere was caught offside at a scrum, Taylor missing the goal kick. The Colours’ forwards dribbled through, but Dunne got back to make a good save. The Colours again attacked, and were given a free kick in a handy position for an infringement at a scrum. Ross kicked a goal. The spell had been in progress 15 minutes. Otago 14 points. Taranaki ' 12 points. The ball was kicked to Roes, who punted high, K. ATSkimming kicknig straight out after a scramble near ms line. Exciting play took place in front of the Blues 7 goal, and the ball was kicked to Collins, who potted, the ball striking the crossbar and bouncing back. Taranaki came again, and Ross raced away from a short bit of passing, Taylor collaring him near his goal line. A scrum infringement gave Ross a chance, and ne added the necessary points. Taranaki 15 points. Otago -. • • 14 points.. R. M'Skimming made a strong run along the stand side. Gillies was trying to short punt,, but he was sending the ball into Ross’s arms. Simon passed to Gillies, but his kick was charged down, Fookes and Hill dribbling well into the Blue territory- Play came back to midfield, but Fookes broke away troni a scrum. Watere came out from a scrum and threw across to Mace. The ball went out to Hill, who was collared right at the corner flag by Taylor. The Blue forwards worked play back, and Gillies cut in from a scrum to pass to Allen, who was solidly tackled by Collins. H M Skimmincr forced the Colours with a hard kick. Taylor missed with a penalty and the Colour# again forced. Give and take play followed. Simon made a break at a scrum, and Slyfield dribbled on and went over, but he had knocked on. With a minute to go Taylor had a shot at goal from a penalty and the Colours forced. Taranaki 15 points Otago 14 points Mr Blagdon was the referee. OTAGO v. NORTH OTAGO The Otago team to play against North Otago at Carisbrook on Saturday is as follows: — Full-back. —Taylor (Pirates). Three-quurters.-i-Allen. (Pirates), Smith (Southern). Dunne (University). Five-eighths.—Gillies (University), R. M'Skimming (Taieri). Half-back. —Simon (Southern). Forwards. —Front row: Service (University), Hore (Southern), Lucy (Kaikorai); middle row: M'Farlane (University). Allen (Kaikorai); back row: Gibson (Kaikorai). Finlayson (Taieri), Slyfield (Taieri). Emergencies.—Rae, Bolton,- Caradus; Hamilton, Findlay. Chapman and H. M'Skimming were not available.

RANFURLY SHIELD MATCHES ( GROSS PROFITS EXCEED £4OOO. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 13. A statement presented to the Canterbury Rugby Union showed that the gross receipts of the five Ranfurly Shield games this season totalled £4173, and the net amount received by the union after the ground fees and amusement tax had beeiq paid was £2931. The amounts received from the various matches were:—Canterbury v. Ashburton —Gross £287, net £204; v. Southland, £1468 and £1030; v. Otago, £785 and £554; v. West Coast, £1132 and £793; v. Buffer, £SOO and £350.