FINE FORWARD PLAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27093, 30 May 1949, Page 6

FINE FORWARD PLAY

DUNEDIN BEATS PIRATES Dunedin’s win over Pirates by 16 points to 8 was thoroughly well earned after the liveliest and most interesting game seen at Carisbrook this season. Dunedin’s forwards, splendidly lead by J. Riach, C. Todd and D. Lowe, paved the way to victory by vigorous rucking and sometimes almost irresistible foot rushes. F Macpherson was also prominent in the loose. Tire forwards were splendidly supported by B. Haig and L. D. Lawrence, whose understanding and combination close to the.scrum were features of the game. The Pirates forwards fought back strongly but they could not master the surging tide of dark blue, and the Dunedin pack was going as well at the finish as at the start. The Pirates backs were often dangerous, especially when the ball reached C. J. McDonald, in the centre, but their efforts to retrieve the situation by throwing the ball about,freely were met by most determined tackling by the Dunedin team, Riach and the wing three-quarter, R. Matchett, being noteworthy in this respect. The latter also showed much promise in attack. Playing with fiery vigour, the Dunedin pressure in the first quarter of an hour during which Dunedin established a lead of eight points. A forward rush,' headed by Lowe, carried play to the line, and Haig Lawrence combined effectively, the litter cutting in cleverly to score after seven minutes’ play. Lawrence himself added the extra points, and within 10 minutes he placed Dunedin further ahead by kicking a goal from a penalty near the twenty-five sideline. Although Pirates rallied strongly, passing did not get them far, and further attacks by Dunedin were stopped only by brilliant defensive work by S. A. Sutherland, the Pirates first five-eighth. When things were going Dunedin’s way Sutherland again flashed into the picture by cutting through the defence from his own side of halfway, timing his pass nibely for McDonald to finish off after a good run. D. R. Sapsford converted, and after 25 minutes’ play the score was - Dunedin 8, Pirates 5. Several times before the spell ended McDonald showed up prominently, but there was no further score at half time. The Pirates pack were being well led by Sapsford, who showed up in the V ie out play, and was well supported by E. H. Dowland, W. McLauchlan. and A. D. Fraser. When Sutherland cut off a pass from Haig early in the second half Pirates looked certain to score, but A. D. Scrymgeour, who had replaced W. Callon on the wing, was met with a crashing tael le by Matchett at the corner. Sapsford brought the scores level after 25 minutes’ play, however, when he kicked a goal from a penalty 30 yards out. Haig was exploiting his forwards v.rv effectively, and when play was taken inside the twenty-five he sent the ball out to Matchett on the blind side. With little room in which to work Matchett made a jpold bid for the line, beat three men and went over in a tackle to -core a firstrclass try. J. Ennis did not convert. With Pirates striving desperately for the lead in the closing stages, both Haig and Lawrence did saving work of a high order, and the latter used the line to such good purpose that the Dunedin forwards swept through from the twentyfive, Todd finishing off with a try which Lawrence converted. The Pirates halfback, A. L. Mclndoe, had a heavy day on defence, and came through it with credit Mr J. Garthwaite was the referee