BIG CROWD THRILLED AT CARISBROOK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26545, 21 August 1947, Page 8

BIG CROWD THRILLED AT CARISBROOK

Otago’s Great Recovery to Hold Shield STRONG AUCKLAND BID Staging a magnificent recovery in the second half of a desperately fought and thrilling game, Otago successfully staved off its second challenge for the Ranfurly Shield at Carisbrook yesterday afternoon when it defeated Auckland by 18 points to 12, the scores consisting of a goal from a try, an unconverted try, two penalty goals, and a field goal, to a goal from a try, an unconverted try, and a field goal. The game . was played in brilliant sunshine, and the attendance was not far short of 25,000, prbbably one of the biggest mid-week crowds on record for Dunedin. The ground was in excellent order, and the game, played at a fast tempo, produced many exciting changes of play. The vigorous Auckland pack bustled Otago off its game during tlje first quarter of an hour, and at half time the challengers led by 12 points to 3. ( The Otago forwards fought back brilliantly and with the Dark Blue.backs coming into action from midfield play, just as the Aucklanders had done earlier, the deficit was gradually wiped out and with 23 minutes gone in the second half a spectacular try by R. R. Elvidge put Otago in front. A field goal by J. C. Kearney consolidated the position, and although the challengers rallied strongly in the last 10 minutes they could not score again, and Auckland’s bold bid to take the shield back to the north had failed. This was Otago’s eighteenth victory in Ranfurly Shield games, and in withstanding the challenge the holders also maintained their unbeaten record against Auckland since the latter’s last win in 1928.

As in the two earlier shield games this year, the outcome hinged on a grim, struggle between two strong *and well-matched packs. Auckland had a slight advantage in weight, and playing with more life and dash definitely had the Otago forwards on the run during. the first 20 minutes of play. During, this hectic period, Elvidge, whose covering in defence was impressive throughout, saved Otago time and again, where a slower man on one without his keen anticipation would have failed. PACK TRANSFORMED The Otago forwards were a transformed pack in the second spell, and from the resumption settled down to the solid scrummaging and close rucking' that had marked their play in the former games. Whereas in the first half they had been slow at moving to the ball and had given the Auckland inside backs far too much latitude, they now backed up and covered admirably. As a result the Otago backs staged some attractive passing movements, and for the greater part of the spell . were far more dangerous than their opponents. Possession was fairly well divided in the first half, each side winning eight scrums while each gained the ball 17 times from line outs, Faring better

Orr as Otago’s full-back, acquitted himself well. In the absence of Orr, the goal kicking was entrusted to him, and he rose to the occasion with two penalty goals and one conversion. MOBILE AUCKLAND FORWARDS Contrary to expectations, the Auckland forwards proved quite the equal of the Otago pack in mobility, and in the first spell especially staged devastating foot rushes which had Otago constantly on the defensive. Frequently, too, they joined in passing with their backs, in which phase of play no player was more effective than' A. West, the former Southland forward. The best all-round forward in the Auckland pack was the 1946 All Black,

towards the end of the half, Otago secured from nine loose rucks and Auckland from seven. Auckland won 10 scrums in .the second spell and Otago nine, but Otago held the superiority in the line out, winning 16 to Auckland’s 11. The loose rucks favoured Otago by 6 to 5. Auckland was awarded seven penalties and Otago six. There was no better forward in the Otago pack than I>. Hamilton, more particularly in the second •spell, when his play reached All Black heights. He was much quicker in moving to the opposing five-eighths and repeatedly broke through into the open, either to Start short passing among the forwards or to make ground by good dribbling. C. W. Willocks and K. J. O’Connor excelled in the line out. and were frequently at the head of loose rushes. O’Connor was particularly dangerous near the line, but lost an almost certain try in the second spell by handling in the ruck when Otago was almost over. Willocks played a grand game throughout, and his work in the tight was of a high order. The lightest member of the Otago pack, A. Foster, not only. contributed to the sucess of his side by his skilful raking, but tvhen most of the Otago forwards were slow to settle down Foster was playing with dash, following up brilliantly and tackling surely. OTAGO BAtKS IMPRESS The Otago half-back. L. W. Wood house, had a heavy day's work, and he emerged with great credit. There were times when njs passing was illdirected. but generally he got the ball away well in the face of Auckland forwards who came quickly round the scrum, and when the Otago pack began to dominate the play in the second spell Woodhouse played back to them skilfully. He was still inclined to run a little too much from the scrum, but in this respect was no worse than the Auckland half. P. L Tetzlaff. Kearney and Elvidge had an excellent understanding with each other in the five-eighths line, and even when things were going badly for Otago they worked perfectly in unison, back ing up and covering well. The Otago captain, Elvidge, gave a superlative dis-play, his strong running, quickness through a gap, and, above all, his remarkable anticipation on defence, show- . ing class. Elvidge was opposed by the All Black captain, F. R. Allen, and dn the day he suffered nothing in comparison with the brilliant Aucklander, ’ After beginning a little nervously J. M. Tanner, , the Otago centre, whose handling had been a little uncertain settled down to give a fine display, as for instance, when he followed Elvidge when the Otago captain made the opening which pavec) the way for Tanner s try. G. J. Moore played with determination on the wing, and frequently came inside to give Otago an extra man in passing. His tackling, too, was very solid. I. J. Botting was closely marked by J. M. Dunn, but made one or two good dashes, and his centring kicks in tie second half were turned to good tccount by his forwards. For 'a player who has been out of big football for nearly two seasons and whose appearances in club games have been irregular owing to injury, L. Haig, who was substituting for ft.

M. J. McHugh, who hunted the ball vigorously all day. . , G. Macdonald, the Auckland backrow forward, jumped high for the ball in the line outs, and in this branch of the play he had no superior. while he was always in the thick of the tight play. The All Black front-ranker, J. G. Simpson, played with plenty of sting and saved a certain try when he got back to stop Willocks in Ills tracks when the big Otago forward had broken clear with Kearney in support. . Another Aucklander who played solidly was R. Storey. The Auckland baoks played clever, resourceful football, but their handling was neVer as sure as that of the shield holders. Their efforts to exploit the unorthodox, often most successfully, always made them ,a danger to the opposition. P. L. Tetzlafl, the Auckland half-back, did not always throw out accurate passes, but he varied the attack skilfully in the first half when his breaks from the scrums and rucks proved hard to stop. At first five-eighths, D. J. was one of Auckland’s soundest backs, He has a sure pair of hands, kicks well with either foot, and backs up well. He did not often try to go on his own. but when he did he was a most .difficult man to stop. ALLEN’S CLASS There were touches of genius about the play of Allen, the Auckland captain, and off the mark like a flash, he often side-stepped his way past seve-

ral of the opposition. His most spectacular effort was made after Otago had taken the lead when, breaking through from his own twenty-five, he weaved his way past several Otago defenders and sent on to McHugh, who put jn a kick which would possibly have led to a try had Elvidge not got back to save, Dunedin Rugby crowds have had previous experience of the brilliance of Deas, and the Auckland centre displayed all his old pace and verve. Dunn saw more of the play than E. G. Boggs, and showed himself to be a strong-running wing, with a powerful fend and some resource. R. W. H. Scott got great length into his kicking, but the All Black’s fielding of the ball, especially when he was under fire in the second spell, was not too sure, and he gave the Auckland supporters one or two anxious moments. THE SCORING The game had not been long under way when Otago was penalised for a scrum infringement from 35 yards out, and Scott took a shot at goal which, however, failed. Otago forced. Auckland had been constantly on the attack, but when Tetzlaff broke through from a scrum he was stopped

by O’Connor. The Auckland backs then moved into action, and Ewert made a fine opening for Deas, who was through like a flash, and sent on to Dunn. The ball came back to Deas, and he finished off brilliantly after play had been in progress 10 minutes. Scott failed to convert. Auckland 3, Otago nil. Auckland was throwing the ball about freely, but Kearney lifted the pressure with a kick to touch inside Auckland’s twenty-five. The challengers were penalised for a scrum infringement on the twenty-five, and Haig kicked a goal after 13 minutes’ glay. Auckland 3, Otago 3. After •tago passing had been halted, Allen made a brilliant opening for Deas, who sent on to Dunn. The wing fended Botting off, and sent in to Deas who scored behind the posts after 18 minutes’ play. Scott added the extra points. Auckland 8, Otago 3. The hopes of Otago supporters sank still further when Allen again broke through but knocked on, after Haig had failed to gather the ball. Tetzlaff whipped a pass to Ewert from the scrum, and Ewert dropped a goal from in front of the posts after 25 minutes’ play. Auckland 12, Otago 3. Otago tried hard but unsuccessfully to score before half time. /

The second spell opened with a transformed team' and within five minutes of the kick-off Otago secured from a scrum, and Kearney ran Elvidge into position, the Otago captain going through a gap and giving to Tanner on the twenty-five. The centre made straight for the line and finished off a spectacular movement with a try behind the posts. Haig converted. Auckland 12. Otago 8. Moore made a good run but was obstructed. Haig failing to goal from

a penalty 30 yards out. After 15 minutes’ play, however, McHugh was penalised for off-side play, and Hai was successful with the kick this time. Auckland 12, Otago 11. Otago kept up the attack, and Kearney and Elvidge played to their forwards. Then from a scrum inside the twenty-five, Otago heeled, and Elvidge moved round quickly on the blind side to take the pass from Woodhouse and finish off wide out. Haig missed with the kick, and after 23 minutes’ play the score was Otago 14 Auckland 12. There were 10 minutes to go when Woodhouse again secured from a scrum and sent out a long pass to Kearney who steadied himself and repeated his performance of the North Auckland match by kicking a field goal. Otago 18, Auckland 12. When O’Connor took a mark fairly well out he essayed an unsuccessful drop at goal, and the Auckland backs swung into action. West following fast, but the ball went out of touch in goal and Otago supporters heaved a sign of relief.- Auckland staged a great rally in the dying stages, but the defence held and the game ended: — Otago 1® Auckland 12 Mr L. Walsh (Christchurch) wa% the referee. THE TEAMS Otago Full-back: L. Haig 12.0. Three-quarters: G. L. Moore 13.2. J. M. Tanner 12.7, I. J. Botting 12.4. Five-eighths: R. R. Elvidge 13.2 (captain). J. C. Kearney 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. W. Willocks 14.12. L. R. Harvey 14.0, J. McNab 14.0. Back row: K. J. O’Connor 14.10. Auckland Full-back: R. W. H. Scott 13.2. Three-quarters: J. M. Dunn 13.11, L W. Deas 12.4. E. G. Boggs 13.2. Five-eighths: F. R. Allen 12.6 (captain), D. J. Ewert 12.6. Halfback: P. L. Tetzlaff 11.0. Front row: D. Christian 14.1, A. Hughes 13.0. J. G. Simpson 15.1. Middle row: A. West 14.0, M. J. McHugh 15.2, P. Crowley 15.7, R. Storey 14.11. Back row: G. Macdonald 14.0.