RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25661, 9 October 1944, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WIN FOR SOUTH OTAGO METROPOLITAN TEAM BEATEN Playing fast and vigorous football and displaying an understanding amongst backs and forwards, which its opponents could not equal, the South Otago representative Rugby team defeated a metropolitan team by 19 points to 14 at Balclutha on Saturday. The match attracted wide interest in the district, and was attended by a crowd of about 2000 people. On the day the South Otago players thoroughly deserved their victory. Their forwards dominated the game throughout, and their inside backs had more thrust ‘and were more enterprising. The metropolitan forwards were seldom impressive. They were pushed off the ball in practically every scrum, while in the loose they seemed powerless to -Drevent their opponents from breaking through with the ball. L. Haig, the South Otago first five-eighths, was the best back on the ground. /He made an effective link between l}is brother, J.: Haig (half-back) and his outside backs, and he also made many strong runs to break through the metropolitan defence. A strong southwesterly \wind made control of the ball difficult, although it diminished in the later stages of the game. First Spell Lead

The match opened brightly, with each side scoring within seven minutes of the commencement of play. J. Haig exploited the blind side of a scrum and sent C. Bowmar over for a try, which was converted by L. Haig. Metropolitan made the scores equal when D. Murdoch kicked over the South Otago line and E. J. Peterson won an exciting race to touch down. Murdoch converted. Aided by the wind, South Otago continued to attack, and J. Haig sent his brother over for a try between the posts. L. Haig also converted. South Otago 10, Metropolitan 5. At this stage South Otago was definitely on top. Led by C. Willocks, C. and J. McNab, and W. Hay, their forwards continually stbrmed the Metropolitan line, and from one good rush C. McNab scored near the corner. L. Haig missed a difficult kick. South Otago scored again when D. E. Currie finished off a bright- passing rush. L. Haig failed to convert, the score at half time being South Otago 16, Metropolitan 5. Shortly before the whistle W. Dryden, one of the Metropolitan forwards, received an injury and was replaced by A. Foster. In the first 10 minutes after the resumption of play, Metropolitan showed its only flashes of form, and I. Gray sent the backs away in several good movements. H. Skinner, the Metropolitan full-back, came up quickly to provide the extra man m one rush, and scored near the corner flag. Shortly afterwards R. Williams broke throughi and shook off two opponents before sending Peterson over for a try. Both these tries were not concerted. South Otago 16. Metropolitan 11. South Otago attacked strongly, and with crisp passing rushes carried the ball to the Metropolitan line, where P. E. Shand secured a try. A. Forrester missed with the kick. Metropolitan gained another three points. when A. Scandrett kicked a goal from a penalty near the half-way line, but in the closing stages South Otago were again on the attack. Shortly before time Peterson and Scandrett left the field with minor injuries. , Forwards Dominate Play

A. Storer, C. Willocks, C. McNab, and W. Hay were always prominent in the South Otago forwards, who dominated the play, and V. Hughes showed up well in the loose rushes. In the backs, J. /and L. Haig combined well, and both D. E. Currie and P. E. Shand made some good runs. The Metropolitan backs had few opportunities. I. Gray was always sound, and E. J. Peterson made the most of -every chance. H. Skinner played a solid game at full-back, his handling and judgment in the difficult conditions being outstanding at times. In the forwards L. Connolly and R. Mclntosh were prominent, and C. McHerron and K. Thompson led many of the loose rushes. The players were piped on the field by the Balclutha Pipe Band, which also played selections at the interval. The teams were:— South Otago.—Backs—A. Forrester, P. E. Shand, D. E. Currie, C. Bowmar, R. Murray, L. Haig, J. Haig. Forwards —W. Sforer, A. Storer, L. Anderson, C. McNab. W. Hay, C. Willocks, J. McNab, V. Hughes. Metropolitan.—Backs: H. Skinner, E. J. Peterson, J, Morton, N. Johnston, R. Williams, D. Murdoch, I. Gray. Forwards: L. Connolly, T. Wallace, A Scandrett, C. McHerron, K. Thompson. E. Wallace, W. Dryden, R. Mclntosh.

Mr W. Claldwell was the referee.