RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25625, 28 August 1944, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

OTAGO DEFEATS CANTERBURY BRIGHT MATCH AT CARISBROOK

Otago scored its third consecutive win of the season when it defeated Canterbury by 15 points to 8 in the representative Rugby football played at Carisbrook on Saturday before a crowd of between 5000 and 6000 spectators. The weather was fine and the ground in excellent order, and, although neither side was at full strength, the match was bright and well contested throughout. Otago scored a converted try, two penalty goals and a field goal, and Canterbury a converted try and a penalty goal. ’ The Canterbury, backs showed pace and ability to penetrate, but much of their passing was badly directed. The Otago defence was always sound, and the bacK line was solid and dependable. There may not have been the spectacular touch about their play that characterised that of the Canterbury backs, but when they swung into action they combined more smoothly and effectively, than their oppoChapman, at second five-eighths, was Otago’s soundest back. His defensive work was first class, and his and anticipation often enabled- the Dark Blues to turn defence into attack, rne half-back. I. Gray, played a serviceable game. D. Murdoch (first five-eighths) was always looking for work, although his play was spoilt by an inclination to overdo the short punt. J. Morton (centre) was quick to make full use of any openings in the defence, and T. Svenson (wing), who was making his fi r a PP ea J“ ance in an interprovincial match, made full use of his limited opportunities showing pace and not a little ability. On the opposite wing, A. McAuliffe, who saw e ven less of the play, was sound both on attack and defence. Lost Opportunities The Canterbury backs had many opportunities. They stood too far apart however and as a result most of their pass lng rushes lacked crispness or broke down through handling errors. L. Hewitt (first five-eighths), who had previously played here at half-back, was usually the pivot nf the attack but his passing was sometimes erratic G. Cullen (half-back) gave smart service, and the strong thrusts of Hewitt and R. °rscuxx (second five-eighths) provided some brightest incidents of the match. Tne visitors did not back up _w all ’ C g£ ter j’ ur y opportunities were lost. The Canterbury tviT’pp—nuarter line functioned. . smoothly in the second spell after L. Williams was moved in to centre and M Wffson shifted to the wing. The full backs, Mrs ;sk;S hroueht good results. Callanan scored au the points for his side-a try, which he converted himself, and a P^nalty S • The forwards had a hard ba tUc th , r °n g . out and while there was a good deal ot Srs held a Man■ “V’mSkS. ou t work, the taU f orwar ds, be?ng o?a hteh standard. McKenziejas the he had good s U P an The W Otago la forwa b r / ds J - more dash iigilti of o °hfmseff: A Icandrett wfs injured in A 6 D SeC Ma d calister. 3 f^^^^ntel aW o a t^o d ted°b^°6 3 points V half “™ti!l urd T O SS tixs intercepted a P as 5 fl a "t H DU h V Kawe who kick which was fielded by ••potted ” a fine o n m iO 3 C anterbury to make the score: Otago 10, Canteroury nil. . A Spectacular Movement Wilson and Williams broke through the Otaed defence in a dashing movement, which was stopped near the corner flag. The Otago forwards cleared, am L tosh snapped up the ball near the twentyfive sending pn to Chapman, who pierced tun defence and, after a 40-yara run, passed on to Morton. The. last-named nassed to Svenson, who sent the ball in again to Morton for the centre to round off a spectacular movement with a fine try, Murdoch converting. Otagc>ls, Oanter burv nil. Soon afterwards Callanan kicked a goal from a penalty m front of the poSts Otago 15. Canterbury 3. Canterbury now attacked st t a°kf a' nils Callanan, who came up to take a pass from Williams, finished off a bright moyement with a try which he converted himself, to make the final score. Otago 15. Canterbury 8.

The teams were:— ' Otago—Backs: T. Kawe, A. McAuliffe, J. Morton (captain), T. Svenson, A. E. Chapman, D. Murdoch, I. Gray. Forwards: L. Connolly, A. Foster, A. Scandrett, E. Wallace, R. Mclntosh, K. Thomson, F. Williams, W. Stewart. Canterbury.—Backs: P. Callanan, L. Williams. M. Wilson, J, Mclntyre. R. Forscutt, L, Hewitt . (captain), G. Cullen. Forwards: N. Morgan, C. Walkhn. E. Grimes, R Roth well, A. D. McKenzie, T. Knowles. M. Fearnley. G. Lindstrom. Mr L. Miliar was the referee. In the Fourth Grade curtain-raiser Southern B defeated Southern A by 6 points to 3. Mr S. Gibson was the referee. The Kaikorai Band played selections during the afternon.