RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23527, 16 June 1938, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

OTAGO v. BAY OF PLENTY HOME TEAM DEFEATED NINE POINTS TO SIX The Bay of Plenty forwards played the major part in the victory by the visiting team over Otago at Carisbrook yesterday. The ground was heavy after the recent rains, but the play of the northern team—composed mostly of Maoris and accustomed to hard grounds—did not suffer through the handicap. The ' heavy, bustling Bay of Plenty forwards may lack something in finish and kick too hard at the ball on the ground, but they more than made up for this weakness by their solid packing and pushing in the tight play and by their covering up when their backs were in trouble. The visiting forwards were never dominated in the close work, and though the Blue forwards for a period in the second half began to force their way through in the loose rushes, the Colours’ forwards were fully holding their own in the dying stages of the game. R. Howell, Douglas, and Kersberg were fast round the scrums—it appeared that at times they were too fast—and into the open, to break up the passing of the Blue backs. Seldom has there been such deadly tackling at Carisbrook as the visitors, both backs and forwards, displayed. The visiting backs tried to play the open game, but their efforts in this direction were not impressive, and most of their play was off the mistakes of their opponents. Their youthful half-back (Kaipara) often failed to give well-directed passes, . and the movements of the visiting rearguard seldom threatened danger. Kaipara’s most effective play was his clearing kicks to the line when his side was under pressure, especially in the second half. The defence of the visitors was so sure and vigorous that it was really only once pierced by the Blue backs, and that was in the first half, when Thorburn made a slashing run to the line, and. after a scramble. Trevathan scored. Kaipara scored the first try for the Colours by dodging round a scrum on the line and finding the way clear for him, and Best’s try resulted from faulty passing by the Blues’ backs when they were 20 yards from the visitors’ goal line. Kersberg, Moore, and Haywood held the front of the Colours’ scrum well. Kersberg was a great-opportunist, and on several • occasions he dribbled the ball away from the scrums or, with R. Howell, was on top of Simon or Trevathan before they could move. Moore was particularly fortunate to escape the eye of the referee, as on more than one occasion he simply stood on the Otago side of loose scrums after the ball had gone oast him. The northerners became over-anxious in the loose rushes, hard ground kicking giving away possession of the ball. Raymont, the Bay of Plenty fullback, generally had time in which to get in his returns, and his line kicking was excellent. None of the other visiting backs showed up on attack, their handling being weak, and they failed to run their supports into position, but when it came to tackling they put their men down hard and with the greatest certainty. Hohapata, bn the wing, did not take his passes well, but he made one or two strong runs to the line, and took some stopping. The back play of the Otago team was well checked by. the hard tackling of the Colours, The Blue forwards gave Simon plenty of opportunities, but he was harassed by the Colours’ breakaways, and he fumbled the ball at times. Altogether, Simon had a pretty hectic time, and when he did get the ball away the Otago backs were taken man for man. The Otago backs did the hand-to-hand pass practically all the afternoon. Their opponents knew what to expect, and simply played on top of them, as the saying goes. The passing of the Otago backs never got them anywhere, and it was surprising that Trevathan showed such poor tactics under the circumstances. Seeing that the Blue passing was being so well checked it would have been far better had Trevathan tried the short punt iman endeavour to break through. The passing of the Blue backs towards the end of the game was erratic, and it was faulty handling which saw the ball, after Black had dropped a difficult pass, taken to the’other end of the field for Best to score. The fierce tackling of the Maoris 10 minutes before time had the Otago backs badly rattled, and they threw the ball anyhow and anywhere. Simon, apart from the fact that he failed at times to connect with the ball at the back of the scrums, played his usual courageous game. After the ball left his hands, however, the attack, as stated, failed to make progress. When the ball did get as far as Black or Grant they were brought down before they could get under way. Murray, at centre, was hesitant, and often ran into trouble. Ruff, full-back, was hurt in the first,half, and left the ground shortly after the start of the second spell. Twice Ruff took a dangerous risk when he threw himself on the ball, when he should have tried to keep on his feet, in the face of forward rushes, and on the, second occasion he was hurt. The Otago forwards had a heavy afternoon. In the straight-out pushing in the scrums they were well held, but they made some fine loose rushes in the second, half. Some fierce rallies took place in the tight, and the Blue pack stuck valiantly to their task. Nevertheless, the Blue pack has played better games, one weakness in particular being that when Simon—as he did on several occasions—made a short dash and threw infield for his forwards to carry on, they were not always up with the play. Taking the game all round, it was not a very inspiring contest. The scrums at the start were more of the sacks-on-the-mill description, though they improved as the game went on. The handling of the visiting backs was weak, and the tactics of the Otago backs poor. , The play of the Otago team, indeed, was disappointing, and the pack will need to be strengthened and the players acquire a better understanding of each other’s play and more cohesion. This despite the fact that they were meeting a hefty crowd of forwards who stuck to their game from start to finish. The teams were as follows: BAY OF PLENTY (Blue and Gold) Full-back. —T. Raymont (12.4), Three-ouarter Backs. —W. Amery (12.7), R. Lees (13.4), A. Hohapata (13.2) Five-eighths.—l. Riini (10.9), E. Howell (11.7). Half-back.—W. Kaipara (9.8). Forwards.—E. Kersberg (12.13), V. Moore (12.4), E. Haywood (13.10). S. Douglas (14.0), T. Whitley (15.0), Poihipi (14.9), J. Best (15.0), captain, R. Howell (11.4). OTAGO (Dark Blue) Full-back.—W. Ruff (13.8). Three-quarter Backs.—W. A. Black (13.9) G. Murray (13.0). J. Grant (13.2) Five-eighths.—B. Thorburn (11.2). D. Trevathan (12.3). Half-back.—H. Simon (11.0). Forwards.—G. McDonald (14.2), PGraham (11.9), J. Mahoney (14.0), L. Hill (14.2), B. Barnes (14.2), W. Borrie (11.11), T. Trott (13.8), L. Niven (13.10) First Spell The visitors began with the sun at their backs. Trevathan put Otago in a good position early with a long touchfinder, but the Bay of Plenty forwards worked upfield, and E. Howell jinked through close to the scrum and started a thrust which gave Otago an anxious moment or two. Big kicks by Ruff, who jumped high in the face of a bunch of Bay forwards to make a fine

save, and then by Murray changed the scene, and a try to Otago looked likely when E. Howell was badly caught from a scrum feed. Simon got the ball away, and there was an extra man in the passing. The ball travelled out to Grant, but the visitors’ tackling was sound. Again there was another swift change. 1 Ruff fielded a high clearing kick well, but was caught and lost the’ ball, -Moore was away down the touch line, and the ball was kicked hard. Trevathan was caught near the line, and the Bay forwards were right on the job. Whitley’s dive for the line was smothered, and a scrum was formed. The visitors hooked the ball, although R. Howell had come out of the pack to be an extra back. Trevathan moved up fast to block E. Howell, and a very wide gap was left for Kaipara to stroll through. He went right on and scored an easy try near the posts. Riini just missed. The game had been in progress 12 minutes. Bay of Plenty .. .. 3 points Otago .. .. .. Nil

Raymont was called upon to clear two or three times, and he did it well, but the Otago forwards held their position, and Thorburn was responsible for some well-placed kicking. A weak clearing kick by the Colours came high back to the twenty-five line, and Trevathan claimed a good mark, The position was easy, and his dropkick was a beautiful goal, bringing the scores level after 20 minutes’ play. Bay of Plenty .. .. 3 points Otago 3 points

Oniy two minutes later, after the Otago forwards had made a lot of ground in a loose rush, a penalty gave Trevathan another opportunity from a fair position. His good kick swung just outside. Barnes led two strong rushes, and then started passing when Simon was smothered in a ruck. Thorburn side-stepped his man. and went right through beautifully. Murray was up with him, but there were several players close together, and Thorburn appeared to lose his bearings. He was well collared by Raymont, and the full-back attempted to clear from the line. Murray was alongside him, however, and took the ball off his toe. He fell over, but it was Trevathan who watched the ball closely and scored the try. His kick just missed, after 25 minutes’ play. Otago u points. Bay of Plenty .. ~ 3 points. The Otago forwards were going well in the loose, and were well established in Bay of Plenty territory. Trevathan missed a penalty from a v/ide angle, but Graham brought Otago back with a fine piece of dribbling. The Bayside wgs tacklin’' splendidly. Borrie and Grant were prominent after a short punt by Trevathan, but the visitors were saved by a force down. Then their forwards smashed their way upfield m a series of open rushes. Ruff dived at their feet twice, and the second time he was hurt. The visitors carried on, and Lees went over at the corner unopposed, but was called back by the line umpire. Otago had cleared the line and play was in midfield at half time. Second Half A forward rush led by Douglas placed the visitors strongly on attack soon after they started again. Ruff came on after the interval, but had to go after a minute or two, and Chapman came on to full-back. Kersberg showed up in a solo dash, but the visiting backs were not handling safely enough to make much headway. Kaipara’s dive passing was getting the ball away from scrums smartly, and the forwards were playing hard, bustling football. Kersberg was out in front of another thrust which went to the line, but Otago hooked the ball and Trevathan cleared well. A short throw in was returned to Hohapata, and the nuggety winger scurried along the touchline. He bumped Chapman off,_ but put a foot into touch. The visitors were attacking strongly, and they equalised when Barnes was caught offside at a scrum, and E. Howell kicked a penalty goal from an easy position 12 minutes into the second half. Otago 6 points. Bay of Plenty .. .. 6 points. Some passing by Otago and a burst by Black kept the game moving very fast on a heavy ground. Raymont and Riini made good saves, but the Otago forwards were packing well, and their solid work kept the visitors defending for some time. Kaipara saved cleverly, and when Grant ran round and tried to open passing, the ball went past Black, and Lees snapped it up and headed for the open field. Amery was with him. The latter’s high pass infield was smothered, but the movement was patched up and driven right into the corner, where Best dribbled a yard or two and dived just inside the flag. Raymont missed, after 25 minutes’ play. Bay of Plenty .. .. 9 points. Otago 6 points. The Bay forwards were playing with renewed vigour and they drove back into Otago’s twenty-five. Niven who had had two or three knocks, went off at this stage and Mack came on into the pack. Trevathan cleared with a big kick, but the Otago backs could not break through the visitors’ deadly tackling. In fact, both sides were tackling very consistently. E. Howell’s good line kicking held Bay of Plenty’s position. Hohapata was nearly over in the corner when he gathered a wellplaced stab kick, but he was bundled out over the flag. A long kick by Trevathan cleared to halfway. Trevathan kicked high from a penalty and the Otago forwards swarmed into the Bay’s twenty-five. The Bay forwards stood the strain, though, and it was not long before they were heading back past halfway. Otago man after man was smothered, and when Kaipara threw the ball back between his legs, E. Howell attempted a field goal He missed, but the final whistle sounded a few seconds later, with the score;— Bay of Plenty .. 9 points. Otago 6 points. Mr L. E. Macassey refereed. NEW SOUTH WALES TEAM PREPARING FOR ALL BLACKS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SYDNEY, June 15. The New South Wales Rugby Union will spare no effort to put ‘horoughly coached and conditioned teams into the field to meet the All Blacks. The selectors have agreed to the request of the coach (Mr A. C. Wallace) that the New South Wales team should be picked a fortnight before the match, so that he will have plenty of time to prepare the players. Mr Wallace will have charge of the Australian team for the three tests. PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ DRAW The following is the draw for Saturday’s Rugby football matches for primary schools, all games to commence at 10.45 a.m.:— A Grade.—North-East Valley v. High Street, at Logan Park No. 1 (Mr Roydhouse); Musselburgh v. Caversham. at Tonga Park: Forbury v. Macandrew Road, at Bathgate Park No. 1 (Mr J. A. Graham); Mornington v. St. Clair, at Oval No. 1. B Grade.—St. Clair v. Brighton, at Bathgate Park No. 2; North-East Valley v. Musselburgh, at Logan Park Nc 3 (Mr M. Jolly); Normal v. Mornington, at Oval No. 2; Port Chalmers v. Kaikorai, at Port Chalmers at 10.30 a.m. (Mr J. G. Johnston); North-Easi. Harbour v. Mosgicl, at Oval No. 3; Arthur Street v. Ravensbourne, at Logan Park No. 2; Green Island, a bye. Bantam Grade—Port Chalmers v. Macandrew Road 111. at Port Chalmers, at 9.30.