ANOTHER WIN TO SOUTH OTAGO

Southland Times, Issue 25737, 30 July 1945, Page 3

ANOTHER WIN TO SOUTH OTAGO

Southland Beaten At Balclutha

TWO WELL-MATCHED TEAMS

The South Otago Rugby team defeated Southland by 11 points to 9 at Balclutha on Saturday afternoon. It was the third meeting of the teams in two seasons, and on each occasion South Otago has-recorded a win. At Balclutha last year South Otago won by one point (13 to 12); on Saturday the margin of two points was made up of a conversion of one of the tries. Thus goal-kicking has enabled South Otago to win both of the games at Balclutna; this time Southland lost an excellent chance of winning comfortably by the failure of the kickers to capitalize three or four comparatively easy chances, and last year a “sitter” was missed in the closing stages of the game. Although each side on Saturday scored three tries, and an overall analysis of the teams showed that they were fairly evenly matched, _ South Otago were entitled to their two points victory. They played just a little better than did the Southland team, and if their inside back line could have made use of their opportunities in the first half, they might have scored more tries. In the second half, when D. E. Currie (centre) changed places with R Murray (second five-eighth), there was a noticeable improvement in the concerted attack of the backs, but by that time the Southland defence also had improved and likely-looking scoring movements were met with much solid tackling. The hard and almost faultless tackling of both sets of backs was one of the features of a game which was surprisingly fast and full of quick changes of venue on a ground well-dampened by the heavy rains of the week. Fortunately a drying wind had a good effect, and with the added liveliness of new balls the record crowd of spectators were treated to an exhibition of bright and open Rugby fully up to interprovincial standards in recent years. FIRST-CLASS FORWARDS Some of the play, particularly in the forward department, was of a nigh standard, and on that display it was clear that the southern parts of New Zealand can still produce the type of forward which has built up the P res * tige of New Zealand Rugby. On both sides there were six-feet 15-stone forwards with all the dash and pace of backs; good packmen who had been taught their real jobs in tight scrummaging and rucking, and who were able to take their parts in the open play or in covering up mistakes in the back divisions. That and the individual performances of some of the backs invested the game with something more than an annual fixture between two unions. And apparently it was expected to produce something out of the ordinary, because there was present a veritable battery of selectors from both the Otago ana. Southland unions, also one of the South Island selectors (Mr H. S. Strang). The presence of many motor vehicles in and around the ground showed that outlying districts were well represented among the crowd, which was estimated at between 2500 and 3000. It certainly was a big day for South Otago Rugby. The Southland team, playing its first interprovincial game for the season, took some time to settle down. The P a< j e of the game found out some of the plodders among the forwards, but in the second half, when they were faced by wind and sun, they finished strongly. It was a good sign and showed that they may not be troubled so much by the pace of Carisbrook next Saturday when they meet Otago, The most pleasing feature of the Southland forward play was the packing in the scrums. They conceded big weight to their opponents, but they held them in the set scrums, and at times drove a wedge right through the heavier South Otago scrum. Some of their recovery work after play swing quickly from one part of the field to another was slow. In this phase the fitter South Otago forwards held a big advantage and were able to give their backs the ball from the many rucks which marked the game. . South Otago fielded a well-trained pack. It was very creditable on their part to more than hold the Southland forwards in most departments, and for a sub-union with limited resources they could be said to have gained a triumph. C. Willocks, F. Wililams and J. McNab were a trio who caught the eye as being forwards much above the average.

EVEN BACKS In the main the back divisions cancelled each other out by resolute tackling, and rarely was the crowd given the thrill of seeing one of the wings racing for the line after a first-class passing movement. There was much good individual work, however. The play of the Haig brothers was the subject of close scrutiny, and on their displays there seemed to be little doubt that they have “arrived” in big Rugby. The half-back (J. Haig) was the outstanding player in the game, and if there are better half-backs anywhere else in the South Island the South Island should be well served in that department this year. L Haig and M. P. Grace had a good duel with honours fairly easy. Grace prevented Haig from exploiting his renowned cut close to the scrum, and likewise Haig allowed Grace few- opportunities to get through. Both played well up to interprovincial standard. The Southland backs shaped reasonably well without showing the brilliance of first-class attacking combinations. For the Otago game the combination may be improved by playing Sutherland next to Grace and putting Walker into the centre position. Walker played a good game on Saturday, but obviously requires more room in which to work. T, Haig gained a personal achievement when he kicked a goal from one of the tries. Those points gave him 100 points for the season in all matches. THE SCORING South Otago had much the better of the opening exchanges, but it was Southland who opened the scoring. For fully TO minutes play was contested mostly in Southland territory, and with the South Otago forwards gaining the advantage from the line-outs J. Haig (half-back) was able to give his brother plenty of opportunities to try to pierce the Southland defence. Grace and Newell stopped many attempted breaks close to the scrum, and when L Haig did send the ball on Murray (second five-eighth) was quickly bustled. , , Southland’s first try was the result of combined play between backs and forwards. After a line-out Grace was crowded by his markers and he turned into the forwards and handed on to Mcßae, who made a bold bid for the line. He passed in to Fordyce, who went over for a try in a fair position.. The kick at goal failed. Southland 3, South Otago 0. South Otago maintained a slight advantage in the midfield exchanges, but the backs could not break down the defence. Southland had many anxious moments, however, particularly when the ball dropped into a gap and the bounce beat the man waiting for it. On one of those occasions Waldron (full-back) was badly beaten by the bounce of the ball, and although there appeared to be time for recovery Williams bustled him and picked up the ball and went over for a gift try. L. Haig missed a fairly easy chance to goal against the wind.

Just on half-time South Otago were penalized and Watson missed an easy chance to put Southland in the lead, his kick at goal going wide. Williams, who with Willocks and McNab was showing a lot of dash in the forward play, put South Otago in the lead by scoring what appeared from the sideline a doubtful try. The Southland defence was badly beaten and one or two attempts to score by the South Otago forwards just failed. Then Williams got possession and went over in the arms of two tacklers, one of them (Sutherland) holding the ball as Williams fell. The referee awarded a try and L. Haig kicked a good goal. South Otago 8, Southland 3. The Southland pack fought back and after good work by Budd and Thornton, Watson (half-back) snapped up the ball from close to the line and leapt over the line close to the posts. Another easy chance to goal was missed. South Otago 8, Southland 6. It was South Otago’s turn next. L. Haig was rewarded for his consistent attempts to go through close to the scrum. He worked the short side and when blocked turned smartly in towards the breaking scrum and dodged in and out before crossing for a good solo try. The kick at goal failed. South Otago 11, Southland 6.. Ford scored the last try for Southland and the last in the game after Walker had put in one of his characteristic runs. Walker had little room in which to work, but he shook off several tackles and got to within 10 yards of the line, where Ford was handy and scored. The kick at goal failed. In the last stages of the game South Otago had the upper hand and went close to scoring. Mr T. Tsukigawa was referee. The teams were:— SOUTHLAND

Backs.—R. Waldron, N. J. Bennett, A. G. Sutherland, R. Campbell, M. P. Grace, E. G. Walker, G. Watson. Forwards. —D. Ford, J. A. Mcßae, E. W. Ennis, J. P. Newell, S. E. Purdue, T. Fordyce, H. Budd, W. Thornton. SOUTH OTAGO Backs. —A. Forrester, P. E. Shand, D. E. Currie, W. McPherson, R. Murray, L. Haig, J. Haig. Forwards. —N. O’Leary, A. Storer, G. Wheeler, C. Willocks, W. Hay, F. Williams, J. McNab, V. Hughes.