OTAGO PLAYS BRILLIANT RUGBY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26536, 11 August 1947, Page 6

OTAGO PLAYS BRILLIANT RUGBY

RANFURLY SHIELD North Auckland Decisively Beaten SUPERIOR TEAM WORK Magnificent team work —brilliant concerted forward play and superior pace and combination .in the backs—enabled Otago to record a decisive win against North Auckland by 81 points to 12 in the Ranfurly Shield match at Carisbrook on Saturday, the scores consisting of three goals from tries, an unconverted try, a field goal and three penalty goals to an unconverted try and three penalty goals. The game was played in mild weather and-, in spite of overnight rain, the ground, although on the soft side, was in remarkably good order and conducive to the fast, open type of play favoured by both teams. There was a north-easterly breeze which dropped during the afternoon. The crowd was officially estimated at 25,000 and the takings were £IBOO. This was Otago’s seventeenth victory in shield matches since it won the trophy for the first time in 1935, and the side that played such constructive . football on Saturday showed marked improvement on the form displayed in the challenge game against Southland at Invercargill the previous week. In a match which provided plenty of incident, thrills came early and, with 10 points on the board in the first 13 minutes of play, the holders established a grip on the game which the men from the far north were never able to loosen. North Auckland strove hard in the second half, but Otago was going as strongly at the finish as at any stage of the game, a try right on time being the signal for scenes of great enthusiasm as hundreds of spectators swarmed on to the field and carried some of the Otago players off shoulder high.

The Otago pack got down to the essentials of forward play—solid, effecttive scrummaging, close work in the rucks, and lively foot rushes, and fast following. They watched the- ball more closely and showed greater control in the rucks than the North Aucklanders, and it was from this phase of play that many of Otago’s most dangerous movements emanated. v . The Dark Blues had an overwhelming superiority in the scrums in the first half, winning the while North Auckland did*not gain possession from a single scrum. The work of both teams on the -line-out was good, and there was little to choose between the two packs in this depart-, ment, each gaining possession 13 times. Otago had the better of the loose rucks by seven to two. Each side was awarded. seven penalties. In the second spell the North Auckland scrum was re-arranged, and J. Te Haara hooked in place of W.. Mathieson, North Auckland winning six scrums and Otago five. The challengers won 19 line-outs to 18, but in the loose rucks Otago again held a big advantage, securing'the ball eight times to Northland’s one. Otago was penalised eight times and Northland four. There were occasions, of course, when the Otago forwards lapsed. They were still a little slow in moving to the danger point when b.ack movements broke down, but this fault was less pronounced than in the Southland game In a pack in which every man played his part, there were, however, two or three who stood out prominently, and none more so than K. J. O’Connor, the big and powerfully built University player, who played the game of his life. His work in every respect was up to the best traditions of All Black play, and he was the best forward on the ground. He often jojned in attacking movements with his backs, and repeatedly came through from the line-outs in irresistible fashion to start passing in which forwards and backs joined. His covering work was of a high order. The All Black C. W. Willocks again held the Otago pack strongly together. While his work in the tight was solid and his line-out play effective, he not infrequently shdwed considerable pace in breaks into the open. J. McNab, too, played one of his best games in representative football, following up brilliantly and often being noticed in the foot-rushes. D. Hamilton played an impressive game, and from the breakaway position he successfully countered the effect of many of M. NT. Paewai’s quick dashes from the scrum. The hooker, A. Foster, gave a clever display, and he was noticed at the head of many of the loose rushes. • Sparkling Back Play The backs gave another excellent display, and the handling generally was an improvement on that shown at Invercargill, ft was unfortunate for the Dark Blues that they should have lost their first five-eighth, I. A. Colquhoun, after only 10 minutes’ play. Up to that time he had been

heartening effect on the home side, and clever backing up gained him a spectacular try halfway through the second spell. He nursed his forwards admirably with strong and welljudged kicks to the line. Elvidge proved a solid handful for the All Black, P. Smith, to cope with, but in fairness to the latter it should be said that the breaks came the way of the Otago captain, whose strong running and powerful fend were a constant source of danger to the opposition. If anything, Elvidge was inclined to rely a little too much on his fend, but usually it carried him through, and his brilliant covering was a feature of the game. In the centre position, Tanner added edge to the attack, and, although opposed by the brilliant Kiwi and All Black three-quarter, J. B. Smith, the University player came through the test with flying colours. He ran straight, and was always trying to make play for his wings. The fact that the North Auckland captain was given little latitude was a tribute to Tanner’s defensive qualities. Both Moore and I. J. Botting showed considerable dash on the wings, and the former’s determination near the line gave him a well-deserved try. Several times Botting came into the five-eighth position to give his backs an overlap, and by his pace he saved a certain try after P.. Smith had kicked

over the full-back's head and J. B. Smith had dribbled through, winning the race for the ball apd forcing it just in the nick of time. Orr had a great match. He proved strong in a department in which Otago was thought to be weak—goal-kicking, and with three penalty goals and three conversions contributed 15 points to Otago’s total. His play at full-back was without blemish, arid at times brilliant. His fielding, often when he was.moving at top pace, was clean and sure, and. with welljudged line kicking he won valuable stretches of ground for his side.

North Auckland fielded a lively, bustling pack, which averaged only a few pounds a man lighter than the Otago forwards, but the Northlanders did not show the cohesion or finish of their opponents. f In the line-out play, however, they more than held their own, and excelling in this phase of the game was I. L. Fraser, a young lock forward of excellent physique, whose all-round work was impressive. The most outstanding member of the North Auckland pack was C. W. Stirling, who was always in the thick of the tight work and displayed dash and vigour in the loose. C. Mcßae played solidly throughout, and S. L. Young, the big Kiwi forward, was occasionally prominent in the loose, but otherwise his play fell below expectations. North Auckland had the misfortune to lose the services of S. White through injury towards the end of the first spell. White, who played an excellent game up to' the time of his retirement, was one of the most solid workers in the pack. In spite of their limited opportunities, the North Auckland backs impressed as a strong attacking combination With the exception of the fullback, G H. Hook, the Northland rear-

playing resourceful football, and imparting considerable thrust and variety to the attack close to the scrum. An injury which was later found to be a broken bone below the eye caused his retirement, and with his replacement by G. J. Moore a rearrangement was made in the bock line. Moore went to the wing, J. M. Tanner came into the centre, and B. R. Elvxdge and J. ,C. Kearney each moved one place closer to the scrum. ? P The final choice of Otago s halfback was not made , until shortly before the match, and L. W. Woodhouse was given preference over A. D. Mclndoe, who filled the position in the Southland game. Woodhouse played solidly, rfhd his delivery from the scrum varied from good to indifferent. He played effectively to his forwards and did his share of the rush-stopping. The weakness in_his play was the frequency with which he moved from the scrum, and there were dimes when it caused the Otago supporters some anxious moments.. Kearney, playing his first game in Dunedin for nearly seven years, once again proved himself the almost perfect handled He had one or two early lapses, but gathered in passes from almost every angle, and his sound, orthodox football helped to lay the foundations for Otago’s win. Coming so soon after R. Orr’s first penalty goal, Kearney's quick dropped goal seven minutes after the kick-off had a

guard was comprised wholly of Maoris, who displayed the natural flair of members of their race for opening up play from almost any. position in the field, so that to the end they were liable to be a source of trouble to the shield holders. Their backing up and clever reverse passing would have borne better results had it not been for Otago's solid defence and superior speed. , , _ The outstanding players were J. B Smith, at centre, N. Cherrington. a solid and strong-running wing three-quarter.

and the more individualistic but equally dangerous Paewai, whose sharp midfield breaks were often effective. A brilliant solo effort gave him one of the most spectacular tries of the match, but close to the scrum he and I. Proctor were not altogether a happy combination, although the latter’s defence was very sound. Paewai’s passes were too often illdirected, and Proctor's' indecisiveness in attack hampered the play x>f P Smith outside him. On occasions, however, the latter displayed excellent understanding-" with his more famous brother, and, whenever given the slightest room in which to work, the two All Blacks proved a hard pair to stop. J. B. Smith, the Northland captain, showed keen anticipation on defence. Cherrington showed _ up in attack and defence. In addition to. his promising play on the wing, he kicked three penalty goals, all good efforts. Hook, the North Auckland full-back, was often under pressure, and, although a little slow in moving to the ball, proved a serviceable ■ last line of defence. His fielding was a little uncertain at the start, but he settled down and in the second half did some good kicking. The Scoring Play had been in progress only two minutes when from a penalty for a scrum infringement Orr kicked a goal from just inside the twfenty-five near the side line. Otago 3. North Auckland nil. J. B. Smith, Paewai and P. Smith /combined in a midfield break, but Kearney moved across to halt a promising movement. Colquhoun put Otago on the attack with a nicely-judged kick, and from a ruck the ball came to Botting. who passed to Kearney, the All Black steadying himself and dropping a goal with 'his left foot from just inside the twenty-five after 10 minutes play. Otago 7, North Auckland nil. Colquhoun was hurt in a tackle and had to retire, the line being rearranged when Moore took his place. A penalty to Otago 1 was taken by Orr, and he kicked another goal, Otago leading by 10 to nil after 13 minutes’ play. - Up to this stage Otago had had all the territorial advantage, but Sterling led the North Auckland forwards into the holders’ twenty-five, Kearney driving them back. Then Young flashed into the picture with a fine break up the field, with Rika in support, but Orr halted the movement. The ball was heeled to Paewai from a loose scrum, and the North Auckland half-back was through the defence in an instant. He beat three men by clever use of the feint pass and crossed wide out. Hook did not convert, and after 20 minutes’ play the score was ■Otago 10, North Auckland 3. ’ Four minutes later Orr kicked his third goal from 28 yards out when White was penalised for offside playOtago 13, North Auckland 3. The Otago backs began passing, in which O’Connor joined, and the big forward tried hard to battle his way across. From a scrum, Woodhouse secured the ball and shot round on the blind side, diving over two of the opposing forwards to score a try at the corner. Orr converted with a great kick, and the score at half-time was Otago 18, North Auckland 3. Lead Increased

from a scrum the travelled through the backs to Tanner, who passed over J. B. Smith’s head to Moore, the Otago wing scoring at the corner, when play had been in progress four minutes. Orr converted from the sideline. Otago 23, North Auckland 3. The North Auckland backs and forwards played better together at this stage, and the challengers reduced the deficit as the result of two penalty, goals by Cherrington, the first from 35 yards out, and the next, from 40 yards out, after 15 minutes’ play. Otago 23, North Auckland 9. O’Connor, Foster, and Hamilton were at the head of a forward rush inside North Auckland’s twenty-five, and from a loose scrum, passing reached Tanner, who was stopped but managed to get his pass away to Botting. The wing in turn was held up, but Kearney came round quickly on the outside and flashed across at the corner as he was taken by J. B. Smith after 18 minutes’ play. Orr failed to convert. Otago 26, North Auckland 9. With 10 minutes to go Cherrington kicked his third penalty goal from the twenty-five near the sideline to make the score Otago 26, North Auckland 12. In the closing stages, the Otago backs and forwards joined in passing, and Hamilton, who had often been prominent, handed on to Tanner, the latter finishing off behind the posts for Orr to convert as the whistle went for lime with the score:— Otago .. 31 North Auckland .. .. .. 12 Mr J. North was the referee. THE TEAMS The teams were:— North Auckland Full-back: G. Hook 12.3. Three-quarters: K. Rika 13.11, J. B. Smith 13.0, N. Cherrington 14.0. Five-eighths: P. Smith 12.9, I. Proctor 13.3. Half-back: M. N. Paewai 12.0.

After a lively rush by the North Auckland forwards, led by W. Mathieson and Sterling, Otago responded and

Front row: S. Pausina 12.9, W Mathieson 13,0, J. Te Haara 13.11. Middle row: S. White 14.1, I. Fraser 14.9, C. Sterling 14.5, C. Mcßae 14.4. Back row: S. L. Young 14.9'. Otago * Full-back: R. Orr 11.5. Three-quarters: J. M. Tanner 12.7, R. R. Elvidge (captain) 13'.2, I. J. Botting 12.4. Five-eighths: J. C. Kearney 11.10, I. A. Colquhoun 12.3. Half-back: L. W. Woodhouse 12.12. Front row: P. Johnstone 13.9, A. Foster 13.7, K. Skinner 14.6. Middle row: D. Hamilton 14.2, C. Willocks 14.12, L. R. Harvey 14.0, J. McNab 14.0. Back row: K. J. O’Connor 14.10. White was replaced in the North Auckland team by N. Jurisich, and Moore took Colquhoun’s place in the Otago team, both in the first half.