SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24951, 25 June 1942, Page 8

SCHOOL FOOTBALL

SOUTHLAND BEATS OTAGO The first fifteens of the Otago and Southland Boys' High Schools spent 80 minute's yesterday afternoon slithering about on the Littlebourne ground. It was the annual inter-school fixture, and although Southland won by three points to nil, a draw would have given full credit to both sides for a display which was open and interesting in spite of the conditions. The standard of the football suggested that the match would have been an attractive one under favourable conditions. ■

The Southland players owed their win primarily to the fact that for the greater part of the match they, adapted their play to the conditions better than the home team did. The visiting forwards were well beaten for the ball in set scrums, but they rucked with determination, and they hunted in groups, not individually as the Otago forwards were too inclined to do. The Otago backs, well served by A. H. Sime, behind the scrum, persevered with attempts at 'passing throughout the first half, but the greasiness of the ball made handling too much of a gamble for these tactics to be justified. The only try of the match was scored early in the second half, when the Southland first five-eighth, E. Walker, cut off a pass and made a strong run. When Sime failed to get in his clearing kick, the ball was kicked on and Walker was there again to score. Otago attacked strongly for the next 15 or 20 minutes, and Southland had to force down three times in as many minutes. A penalty against the visitors right in front of their posts gave the home side a chance to save the game, but G. A, L. Nelson's kick went astray. With a liiitle luck. Otago might have scored more than once towards the end of the game. The visitors, however, were attacking again at the finish.

R. Bloomfleld. F. Millard, and D. Kirkland were usually prominent in an even Southland pack, and E. Walker showed himself to be a very sound schoolboy fiveeighth. D. Doake, at full-back, fielded safely and kicked very well indeed. W. M. Mercer, E. P. Lovett, R. C. Barnes, and M. R. Glengarry were Otago forwards who were seldom far away from the ball, and Sime's work at half-back was impressive. A. R. Rankin, on the right wing, was one of the few Otago backs to use his feet instead of trying to gather the greasy ball off the ground. The teams were as follows:—Otago: Backs—E. Hay; R. B. Ingram, W. R. D. Inder, A. R. Rankin; G. A. L. Nelson, E, J. McCoy; A. H Sime. Forwards—F. W. Oxley. A. W. Foster, W. M. Mercer, M. R. Glengarry, D. A. Cotton, R. C, Barnes, E. P. Lovett, R. M. Robertson. Southland: Backs—D. Doake; R. Hishon, R. Walker. L. Fraser; N. Teniiet, E. Walker; C. Bennett. Forwards—F. Millard, N. Fallow, S. Smart; M. Murray, J. Thompson, D. Kirkland; R. Bloomfleld, H. Edwards. Mr H. C. Williamson was the referee.