WET-WEATHER RUGBY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27443, 17 July 1950, Page 6

WET-WEATHER RUGBY

Varsity A’s Attractive Display Playing excellent wet-weather Rugby, University A defeated Taieri by 14 points to 8 after an attractive display in the mam match at Tahuna Park. Had it not been for tile rugged play of the Taieri forwards and the plainsmen’s sturdy defence the margin would have been greater. • Taieri did not have the services of the All Black. P. A. Johnstone, and D. Wallace, two of the most experienced members of the pack, and the forwards were outweighed by the students, who commanded a large share of the ball from the scrums and rucks. The Taieri forwards, however, swept through in vigorous loose rushes which often had University defending busily, and the losers back line was held well together by J. McLeod, who played most competently at first five-eighth, his positional kicking being first class. McLeod scored Taieri’s first try when he supported K. Frew in a good foot rush after University passing had broken down and he also paved the way for the other try in the second half when he received the ball from a line, out, cut in beautifully, swung out past G. J. T. Moore, the University second five-eighth, and threw a long Sass which the winger, L. Couper, gathered,. i his stride to cross wide. Couper also converted McLeod’s try. Unfortunately for Taieri, it lost the services of its second five-eighth, Frew, in the second spell, for up to this time he had adapted himself well to the greasy ground conditions and controlled the ball skilfully in some good foot rushes. B McKay, the centre, also had to retire, and neither of the substitutes quite filled tile bill. JJohnstone, the youthful, Taieri full-back, gave a neat display, and brought off quite one of the best saves of the match when he stemmed an equally fine piece of dribbling bv Moore. , It was Moore who was the pivot of me University attack, and he played another excellent game at second five-eighth. Moore showed splendid anticipation, and time after time ran D. R. Wightman into position to breach the defence so that the centre had every opportunity to show his worth. Wightman indeed played with great dash, several times going almost completely through the opposition and once he gave a perfect feint pass twice in one movement. The cover defence of Moore and Wightman was of a high standaOutslde of this pair, J. Jardine, at halfback, was the most impressive of the University rearguard. His passmg with a greasy ball was almost flawless, and to him was due in no small measure the excellent combination developed by the University back line. Added edge was given to the University attack by the adroit way in which .the full-back, C. Bayley, came up to join in passing, and this paved the way for two of the tries scored by the winger, T. Svensen, who obtained a third when Jardine sent B. Valentine away on the blmd side, the winger finishing off at the corner. Svensen was always dangerous near the line. University’s remaining try was scored by E. Hart, after the University forwards had pushed their opponents over the line. D. Reisterer converted one of University forwards again played well together, and R. D. Fraser was the most outstanding member of the pack, adding to his usual tireless work in the tight, considerable dash in the loose. H, Morgan and B. Doherty played solidly in the line outs, and W. Petch, besides hooking well, showed out in the loose with RclstfircL The Taieri forwards displayed dash and vigour in the loose, and a strong and hard-working trio were D. Young, B. Young and L. Kovaleski. The last-named made some determined bids near the line, one of which was the nearest of * near misses." G. Johnstone also showed up for good all-round forward play. The referee was Mr L. Giles.