CLOSE CALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26773, 17 May 1948, Page 6

CLOSE CALL

SOUTHERN WELL HELD Southern had a close call when it met the young Union team in the early match at Carisbrook, but the final score of 8 points to 5 in Southern’s favour was a fair indication of the difference in the teams on the day. The Union forwards more than held their own for the greater part of the game, and J. Harwood, K. Knox, R. Smltheram and J. Donn showed out. Southern gained a good share of the ball from the set scrums, however, enabling their backs to come away in passing, often when Union was pressing hard. The Union backs showed a noticeable improvement. W. Glengarry (centre) was the mainstay, but L. McKay (first five-eighth) by his close marking of W. Mercer had a good deal to do with breakup many of the Southern attacks. The Southern forwards displayed a lack of cohesion which was surprising in the leading team, but they livened up considerably in the second half, in which they were strongly rallied by T. Wallace, who was easily the pick of the pack. L. Woodhouse played solidly at halfback, and further out T. Lynch, J. Graham and A. Howley combined effectively. Howley scored all of Southern's points by a try, a conversion, and a goal from a penalty. McKay scored a try for Union which Trevathan converted. Mr S. Gibson was the referee.