Sport and Pastimes

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26545, 21 August 1947, Page 2

Spo rt and Pastimes

By Observer

Fully Representative Team For Otago's Rugby Tour Although the three All Blacks—R. R. Elvidge, J. C. Kearney, and C. W. Willocks—as well as I. A. Colqwhoun and D. Hamilton, are unable to make the trip, the team that will represent Otago on the northern tour is a thoroughly representative one which should be fully capable of upholding Otago's Rugby prestige in the north. Twelve members of the party—R. Orr, G. J. Moore, J. M. Tanner, I, J. Bolting, L. W. Woodhouse, A. L. Mclndoe, J. McNab. K. J. O'Connor, P. Johnstone, A. Foster, K. Skinner, and L. Harvey—have played in the shield team this year. R. F. Waldron, T. Wallace, and A. E. Hellyer were reserves, and Wallace, Hellyer, L. Aitken, and D. Murdoch played in the shield game against Southland last year, the last-named coming on when the captain, W. I. Perriam, was injured in the first 20 minutes of play. Waldron was a member of the Southland side which staved off Otago's challenge at Rugby Park in 1946.

Murdoch, who had hitherto been overlooked by the selectors this year, came into the touring side owing to the inability of R. R. Elvidge and the young Pirates five-eighths, S Sutherland, to travel. Murdoch has played sound football this season without doing anything particularly spectacular, but his experience and fooball knowledge will be valuable to the touring side. He played for Otago in 13 games in the 1941-43-44-45-46 seasons, and it may be recalled that he went straight into the representative side from the King’s High School. He played for the, South Island [n 1943-44 and has represented the New Zealand Universities. He was a member of the University Club for several years and for the past two seasons has been with the Kaikorai Club. His ability as a goal kicker will be an asset. E. Macdonald, who was also a latecomer in the touring team, will be making his first appearance. Macdonald was a utility back in the Training College team last season, and this year has been the mainstay of the Zingari-Richmond back line. He is at home either at wing or centre threequarter, but is still open to improvement in handling. His defence is not beyond repreach, but he is a resourceful player with plenty of dash. The youngest member of the touring side is T. Lynch, the Southern second five-eighths, who is only 19. Lynch is in his first season of senior football, but played in the Otago junior representative side in 1946. In the match against Kaikorai last Saturday he was the outstanding player on the field, and if he is given the opportunity may well be one of the real successes of the tour.

Orr, Tanner and Mclndoe made their first appearance in representative football this season. Before coming to Dunedin, Tanner played at second fiveeighths for Auckland University, and most of his games in Dunedin club football have been played on the wing. He has great possibilities as a centre, however, and like several other members of the back line, can fit in almost anywhere. Moore and Botting played their first games for Otago last season, but in 1845 the former was centre threequarters in the Hawke’s Bay side on his return from service with the fleet air arm, while Botting, playing for the New Zealand Services’ team, was regarded as one of the outstanding wings in England, being selected in the R.A.F. team against the Kiwis. In Southland’s fnatches last season, Waldron filled the first five-eighths position, but his first appearance in representative Rugby was as a fullback. Woodhouse represented Otago m 1941, soon after leaving Waitaki Boys’ High School, and played in the return game against Southland last year.

The only forwards who have noi played for Otago before are D. Armitage (Vincent) and R. F. McPherson (Dunedin), but the former represented Otago Sub-unions this year and McPherson played in the Metropolitan team.

Armitage should benefit from the tour, and it may be recalled that when the Otago team left for the northern tour in 1939, W. H. Jolly (Vincent) was untried, but came back one of the most fancied candidates for the New Zealand team that was to have gone to South Africa in 1940. McPherson, who has been one of the most consistent members of the Dunedin pack in the club matches, is a constructive forward, and is also a useful place kick. The only member of the side who played in representative football before the war was L. Aitken, the big lock forward, who played for Otago against the Bush Districts and North Otago in 1939. He made four appearances last season, including the match against Southland at Invercargill, and hTs omission from the first shield team this season caused some surprise. The other recognised lock with the party is Harvey, who at 31 is the oldest member of the team. Harvey has been an excellent partner for ‘ Willocks in holding the Otago scrum together, and he and Aitken should also be a good combination. K. J. O’Connor is the outstanding member of the pack, judged on recent form. O’Connor, who weighs just on 15 stone, is big and fast to match, and is the ideal back-row forward. He represented Otago four times in 1945

and five times last year, and has played in all the games this year, as well as taking part in the All Black trials. He played for the South Island Universities against the North, and for the New Zealand Universities against Canterbury. Next to O’Connor and Willocks, J. McNab has -been the most impressive member of the Otago pack in the shield games. He played in all the representative matches last season and also appeared in 1944-45. The shield team’s front rpw has been preserved in the touring side. Foster, the hooker, played for Otago in 1944-45 and last season for Auckland Training College, while Johnstone and Skinner.

new to big football this year, are up and coming players. Johnstone was an emergency last season. Skinner, who is only 20 is a player of fine physique and weighs 14.6. With his dash, all he requires is experience to bring him into the top flight. Wallace, also a front-row forward, played for Otago in all six matches last season and represented the province on 19 occasions in the 1941-42-43-45-46 seasons. He captained the team in 1943 and although he may have slowed up a little is still a solid and useful forward. Hellyer played in all the games ,last season. His pace should be an asset in the north. Although the team has had plenty of experience, it is a comparatively young side which should develop further during the tour so long as the lessons that have been instilled by the coach, Mr V G Cavanagh. during

the preparation for the shield games are not forgotten. It is somewhat surprising, therefore, that a coach has not been sent with the side, as is often done by the northern unions. Botting will captain the side and Aitken is the deputy captain. The Otago team will leave for the north to-day, and its programme ’is as follows:—V. Manawatu, at Palmerston North, August 23; v. Poverty Bay-East Coast, at Gisborne. August 27; v. Hawke’s Bay, at Napier, August 30; v Wairarapa, at Carterton, September 3; v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. September 6.