THRILLING FINISH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26842, 5 August 1948, Page 6

THRILLING FINISH

UNIVERSITIES’ RUGBY MATCH OTAGO DEFEATS LINCOLN .The superior pace and resource of its back line was the main factor in Otago '‘University’s win by 20 points to 17 in the i Rugby football match against Lincoln ColSiege at the University Oval yesterday 3 afternoon. The Lincoln College forwards. however, gave an excellent display, and Son the rim of the play a draw would Shave been a fitting conclusion to a fast Sand exciting game. k Otago established a lead of 14 points to ye in the first spell, but the Lincoln-Col-lege team made a great recovery, and at : one period of the second spell led by 17 points to 14. Otago drew level, however, and when J. D. North put in a long kick C. Moore followed fast, gathered the ball in his stride when the Lincoln College full-back, J. R. Dickson, failed to field it, ! and went over for the winning try—incidentally, his third of the match—almost Jon time. v The Otago University forwards were youthooked by the solid Lincoln pack, but sthey obtained their share of the ball from ‘the line outs and rucks, with K. J. O’Con•pior, R. D. Fraser, L. Mclver, and J. D. 'North prominent. O’Connor made several bursts into the open, but his dash Iwas matched by the strong tackling and ■•rush stopping of the Lincoln pack. h The Otago backs were well served by ■'O. M. Ellis at half-back, and T. F. C. !Geary and T. Svenson, the five-eighths, effectively. Svenson made f-ne •.brilliant opening which paved the way for •C Moore’s first try, and until ne retired ■HiWth an Injury J. Fitzgerald Impressed V his attacking work at centre. The best back on the ground, however was C Moore, the Otago wing three-quarter, who ran with determination and employed a deceptive change of pace. > C. Eayley. the Otago full-back, plgyed : a first-class game apart from one lapse which cost his side a try. His line kicking was strong and well directed. The Lincoln College forwards took charge for a long period during the second spell, during which they swept the field with vigorous foot rushes and short passing movements. At the head of nios* of these was E. A. Martin, who was the Outstanding forward on the field. Martin, powerful front-row forward, made full liseof his 14.11 in the tight, and his strong tackling was a feature of Lincoln Collage's display. He was well supported in the tight work by A. E. Gibson, who besides being a skilful hooker, showed Up for solid work in the rucks. T. F Molesworth was a tireless worker In the loose, and L. D. Davies was prominent ir. the line-out play. ' For Otago, tries were scored by c Moore (3), Mclver (2) and Fitzgerald Geary converting one try. Lincoln’s points consisted.of tries by Don (2), Levelr and Martin, one of which was converted by Molesworth from the side line, and a dropped goal by E. D. White. ' The teams were:—

<*Otago University.—Full-back, C. Bay ley, three-quarters—C. Moore, J. Fitzgerald, R Church; five-eighths, T. Svenson, T. F C. Geary; half-back, O. M. Ellis; forwards—E. Hart, J. Sullivan,. J. D. North H. F. Drake, R, D. Fraser, B. Doherty L. Mclver, K. J. O’Connor. Lincoln College.—Full-back, J. R. Dickson; three-quarters. J. F. Levett, H. J O'Reilly, A. J. Don; five-eighths, R. N Smith, E. D. White; half-back, A. J. Mitchell; forwards —A. W. Marshall, A. E Gibson, E. A. Martin, T. F. Molesworth J. M. Lockhart, A. C. Norton, L. D. Davies, E. H. White. Mr I. Gallaway was the referee.