SOUTHERN TOO SOLID

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26791, 7 June 1948, Page 6

SOUTHERN TOO SOLID

UNIVERSITY A BEATEN Southern proved a little too good allround for University A in the main matcn at Carisbrook, and won an evenly contested game by 6 points to 3. Southern always looked like the winning team, although University finished strongly. The University forwards gave an improved display and were able to secure a good share of the ball from the set scrums. The Southern pack, however, had the better of the rucks, their tight packing being a feature of their play. The ' Southern forwards were strongly led by T. Wallace, and the side’s success was due to its ability to penetrate with its forwards. D. Smith and T. Cranshaw were a hardworking pair, and D. Young showed up in the loose, although he gave away several penalties. ... , L Woodhouse gave a sound display at half-back for Southern, playing well to his forwards and opening up the play when necessary. T. Lynch and A. Howley were sound In the centre, and the former several times swept through the University defence. Both closely marked their opponents, breaking up many of the University attacking movements. In the University forwards R. D. Fraser was tireless in the tight, and P. B. Dignan and K. J. O’Connor excelled in the line-out play. O’Connor reproduced something like his best form in the closing stages of the game when University was trying desperately to score-. L. Mclver showed out in the loose rushes. The weakness in the University team lay, however, in the lack of understanding in the five-eighths’ line, and T. Svenson and J. Fitzgerald were not a happy combination. The backs worked much 'more effectively when T. F. C. Geary came on late in the game to play at first five-eighth, Svenson moving out to the wing to replace I. J'. Botting, who retired hurt. J. M. Tanner, playing his first game for some weeks, was hampered by the uncertainty of the men closer to the scrum, but made several bright bursts. The most impressive of the University backs, however, were G. J. Moore, who played another excellent game at full-back, and C. Moore, who made the most of limited opportunities at wing three-quarter. Southern scored its points in the first half, Smith battling his way across in a * forward rush, and Woodhouse racing round the blind side of the scrum to score near the corner. University scored within a minute of time when R. A. Fraser threw l a long pass to Fitzgerald, whose crosskick was gathered by C. Moore, the winger turning infield to score between the posts. Geary, however, missed a Mr T. Tsukigawa was the referee.