Otago Held To Draw By Wellington In The First Game Of Tour

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27165, 22 August 1949, Page 6

Otago Held To Draw By Wellington In The First Game Of Tour

By the Sports Editor WELLINGTON, Aug. 20,

Otago was held to a 9-all draw by Wellington in the first match of the Northern tour on Athletic Park this afternoon before a crowd of over 12,000. A penalty goal to Wellington half a minute from time deprived the Ranfurly Shield holders of what would have been their first win in Wellington since 1908, but even the most ardent Otago supporter would agree that Wellington would have been unlucky to lose on the run of play. Otago’s score consisted of three penalty goals and Wellington's points came from two penalty goals and an unconverted try.

The game was ruined as a spectacle by a strong northerly, which made kicking into the wind very difficult, but there was plenty of incident and movement. Excitement ran high in the closing stages as Wellington threw in attack after attack in an effort to wipe out Otago’s first spell lead of 9 points to 3, but, although N. C. Mullin scored the only try of the match for Wellington, Otago’s cover defence stood up under the strain. The Dark Blues looked like breaking their run of outs at Athletic Park when D. R. Wightman, who had played well, was penalised for playing the ball on the ground, and T. R. O’Callaghan kicked a penalty goal from outside the twenty-five, to level the scores. Before the match members of both teams were presented to the Gover-nor-General, Sir Bernard Freyberg, and the players were piped on to the ground. For Otago, the game will go down as one of lost opportunities, for after establishing a lead of six points in the first 10 minutes, the forwards failed to infuse that dash and vigour into their play and the backs did not use the strong wind m a way that might have been expected. The Wellington pack giving a display not unmindful of the game they played for the Ranfurly Shield at Carisbrook last year, almost completely dominated the scrums, and also asserted themselves in the line outs, winning the ball in the first spell from the scrums 14 times to 2, and 18 to 14 in the line outs. Strangely enough, when the wind was against them in the second spell, the Otago forwards played with more life, and Wellington’s margin in the scrums was only 11 to 7. but the home side still had the better of the line outs by 23 to 14. There were fewer loose rucks than usual but Otago had the better of these, and in concerted drives through from line outs and rucks the Otago forwards were superior to their opponents, their strong foot,rushes failing to culminate only through lack of finish. The most satisfying feature of Otago's play, however, was the sturdy cover defence, which Wellington found almost pregnable. A. Lunn was prominent in most phases of play, and time after Vine he broke through either with the ball at his toes or to make a strong run, and he also showed up in line out play. On this occasion he was matched by the brilliant Wellington specialist, W F. Crist. W. McNab’s play on the line out has been noticeable for the support he gives Lunn, and this game was no exception. For all-round play there was no better forward than McNab. C. Todd was unable to cope with the remarkable understanding that exists between the Wellington hooker, M. S. lngpen, and half-bacK V. D. Bevan. He improved considerably in the second spell, when with the advent of K. J. O’Connor in place of A. E. Hellyer, who received a kick on the back, the Otago hooker had stronger support from the scrum, i paa, however, was one of Otago s liveliest forwards in the loose, usually being on hand when L. S. Woodhouse brought play back to his forwards, and gaining nigh marks for a particularly fine piece of dribbling, which swept nearly half the length of the field. Todd showed admirable control of the ball, ’ and hunted it intelligently throughout, playing one of his best ga The S 22-year-old Vincent player, L. Hamilton, who has been a replacement during the progress of two Ranfurly shielcT games, locked the scrum with McNab, and fairly persistently was seen battling his way through from line outs and rucks. With the experience of this tour, Hamilton is likely to return to Dunedin a much-improved packman.

Until he retired at the interval, Hellyer did some excellent covering, and his absence was felt when Wellington’s inside backs were endeavouring to probe the Otago defences in the vital stages of the second spell. Generally speaking, the Otago forward play more nearly resembled the spasmodic efforts of the Buller game than their display in any other game this season. The opposing backs were being given too much time to make up their minds what to do. L. S. Woodhouse, Otago half-Dade, lad one of his busiest days, but at no ime did he put the shutters up. Woodnouse had a more 'united supply of ball than usual, but launched passing rushes at every chance. When his efforts did not succeed in this direction he varied his tactics with sharp bursts up the middle of the held to switch the play bacK to his forwards, among whom Todd, L<unn and McNao were often prominent in support No Otago back played more soundly than W. I. Perriam, who displayed cover defence of the highest order. Perriam handled the boisterous conditions confidently and used grubber kicks to advantage when dropping out. H. Bell kicked two penalty goals, one from the twentyfive near the side line and the other from nearly 40 yards out. Neither G. J. Moore nor D. R. Wightman the Otago wings had many chances in combined movements, but both always endeavoured to make play and Wightman’s marking of the youthful Wellington speedster. R. A. Jarden. gave the latter little latitude though he was always dangerous when in possession. Moore made several strong bursts and his defence was unshakable. Both full-backs gave impressive displays under difficult conditions. Orr’s lielding and kicking generally were good and any uncertainty in his handling could be excused by the tricky wind Wellington made better use of the wind than Otago. Wellington forwards rose to the occasion in a manner which confounded some of their critics and Crist’s outstanding display on line out and work in the tight make it harder than ever to understand how he has eluded All Black honours. He was strongly supported by J. E. Wills, former King Country forward, who was usually to be found near the ball, and D. J. Leahy, was also often noticeable. The young Wellington back-row forward. L. E. Simmonds. played a lively game in the loose and backed up well. No Wellington player was more consistently in the picture than V. D. Bevan, half-back, and he launched attack after attack in the second spell. The former Dunedin player, Mullin. scored Wellington's only try with a smart dash through a gap on the blind side. The most thrustful of the home backs was C. Jones, centre, who made several gdod runs. F. A. Muller found Moore a handful on the other flank. Jarden was dangerous.