CLOSE CONTEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27389, 15 May 1950, Page 6

CLOSE CONTEST

Southern And Alhambra A draw seemed inevitable between Southern and Alhambra at Bathgate Park, until Southern rallied strongly a few minutes before time and scored a try to gain a win by 6 points to 3. Play for the most part was confined to the forwards and with the backs fairly evenly matched, there was little difference between the two teams. Neither team could claim a territorial advantage in the first half and at halftime Southern was ahead by only three points to nil, the result of a goal from a penalty. In the second half, Alhambra attacked strongly for a period,‘and was able to even tfhe score with a try. Towards the end of the game, however, Southern rallied well, and besides gaining the winning points with a try, had Alhambra defending desperately when the whistle went for full time. Southern had the more resourceful backline, which capitalised on the most of its opportunities. J. Graham, at first five-eighth, always appeared dangerous when he had the ball, and was unlucky in not scoring on at least one occasion. D. Young, who has returned to the position of half-back, after some years among the forwards, gave a capable display both on defence and attack, and his passes from the scrum were well directed. Of the Alhambra backs, D. Leckie, at halfback, was. the most conspicuous, especially when play was loose, as It was apt to be for the greater part of the game. There was little to choose between the forwards, but W. Neame, S. Winter, E. Michie and D. Roberts appeared the pick of the Alhambra pack, while D. Smith, T. Cranshaw, S. Morton and T. Umbers were always up with the play In the Southern pack. W. Mercer scored a try for Southern and J. Peck kicked a goal from a penalty. For Alhambra, D. Brown scored a try. The referee was Mr G. Nelson.