RUGBY NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26274, 4 October 1946, Page 3

RUGBY NOTES

RANFURLY SHIELD MATCH The North Otago side's performance against the shield holders at InvercargLl last Saturday should have a, stimulating influence on Rugby in North. Otago, for the local players gave a more creditable display than was expected of them. From the kick-off the forwards worked together as a pack, and received the compliment of southern critics that North Otago had the best pack of forwards seen in Invercargill this year. It is considered that the score was by means a true indication of the run of the play, and that the team did surprisingly well despits the fact that 26 penalties were awarded against it, with only four in its favour. Southland converted only one of these, but a large number .of the penalties put the shield holders into good scoring positions, from which two tries resulted, and robbEd the challengers, especially in the second spell, of several possible scoring opportunities. Unquestionably many of the penalties were fully justified, but the ruling of off-side in the line-outs, for which 1 there were no fewer than nine penalties, clearly puzzled the North Otago forwards. Generally the North Otago forwards were superior to their opponents in other departments of the game. They packed well in the set scrums, and Miller had a field day in hooking, securing the ball on 20 occasions to his opponent’s 12. Miiier was also prominent in making play from Southland’s mistakes and was one of the best forwards on the field. E. Strachan and E. Cleverly both worked tirelessly, Strachan excelling in the tight, and Cleverly gaining ground in excellent dribbling rushes. R. Wilson and E. Harris on the side of the scrum, did their job well, and prevented Calder. Southland's dangerous half-back, from making play when he elected to run from the scrums. M. Griffin, who replaced Harris when he retired injured, also gave a sound display. L. Cameron and R. Mclntosh locked the scrum well, the former being always well up with the ball, and Mclntosh, though marking R. Hazlett, excelled in the lineouts, breaking through frequently to start forward rushes. R. Brown, in the back row, was one of the best forwards on the day. his defence in the face of Southland rushes being especially good. With two exceptions, the North Otago backs did not give a finished display, but the tackling generally was magnificent, and the brilliant Southland backs were able to score only one try from concerted back movements. V. Wright, at half-back, was the best of the backs, the following description of his play being given by the Southland Times: “ Wright’s play was a feature of the game. He was active both on attack and defence, and he measured up to the standard of the best half-backs who have played against Southland.’' D. Gillies at first five-eighths, was also in good form, varying his play and keeping his opponents guessing. He showed sound judgment in kicking, and set a high standard in defence, and did not drop a single pass from Wright. The rest of the backs did not handle well. R. Harris, the Kurow winger, did quite well against Sutherland, and A. Hopley, on the other wing, with limited opportunities, kept control of Chandler, who never looked dangerous. Pittaway, at second fiveeighths, followed through smartly and used the short punt to advantage, and Kilgour, at centre, tried hard to pierce the defence, but solid tackling kept him in check. The full-back, D. Russell, fielded well and found touch in the first spell, but experienced difficulties against the wind after the change-over. The match should certainly give North Otago opportunities for bigger games in the future. Already Southland has signified its willingness to play at Oamaru next season, and every endeavour should be made to get the best available players welded into a good side early in the season. Credit is due to Mr D S. Loder, the coach, who has consistently devoted a great deal of his time through the season to the team, his work being shown in the steady improvement of the side in spite of the lack of training and practice facilities. The interest aroused by this match should augur well for the future advance of Rugby in this district, but the time is opportune for the local union to give consideration to the question of tours. The programme in the past centred mainly on a lour of the North Island, but it is suggested that very much better results would be obtained if the Rugby programme included, in addition to the Hanan Shield matches against South Canterbury and Ashburton, matches against Otago and Southland at Dunedin and Invercargill respectively every second year, with a tour of the Seddon Shield districts every fifth or sixth year.