AUSTRALIANS PLAY DRAW

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1931, Page 11

AUSTRALIANS PLAY DRAW

TOUR OPENED AT DUNEDIN

WET BALL HAMPERS FAST BACKS.

ROSS BRILLIANT AT FULL-BACK.

OTAGO PACK MAINTAINS ATTACK. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Aug. 22. In its first match of the tour the Australian Rugby, team was lucky to draw with- Otago at Carisbrook to-day, the score be-.ig three points all. The Otago forwards overwhelmed the opposition, while the greahy ball and sodden ground prevented the Australian backs, who showed great speed, from opening out 'in passing. Immediately following the kick oif ' Australia rushed play to the Otago line, Otago being compelled to force hastily. From the drop out the Australian backs opened out in passing, but Giles cut off a pass and broke through. A try seemed certain when he threw the ball away and the chance was lost. Otago worked' play back and the forwards set up a series of attacks on the-Austra-lian line, but .Rohs, who was playing brilliantly, saved time and again with judicious kicks to touch. At length Towers broke away in a fine run which carried play into Otago territory, this being the second time after 15 minutes’ play that Australia had been outside its own half. The Otag forwards were soon back in the Australian twentyfive, where Bush missed twice with penalty kicks at goal. Hartnell'headed an Otago forward rush:which weift past Ross, but Towers came back and kicked the ball over the line and out of play. From the resulting scrum Bathgate dashed round on the blind side and was nearly across. He was tackled in the corner. A minute later Simon was almost over and play swung across the field, where McKenzie received the ball from Finlayson at the side of the scrum and was pulled down just before he reached the line. Australia was forced again but once more Bush placed Otago on the attack with a kick which went into touch ‘at the corner. Australia was unable to lift the pressure, Cavanagh picked up in the loose at the side of the serum and threw a long pass to Fookes, who kicked through. Giles and McKenzie were on the ball like a flash and dribbled over the line, McKenzie beating several Australians to score. Bush’s kick was interfered with. For the remainder of the spell Otago was almost continually :on the attack, several rushes by backs and forwards just failing to cross the Australian line. Ross was doing a tremendous amount. of saving.

The opening of the second spell saw Otago once more on tne attack, Hore and Allan leading a forward rush to the Australian twenty-five. Malcolm came round the blind side of a scrum and passed to Blair, who ran to Bush but threw his pass forward and spoiled a promising movement. Otago returned to the attack and Lucy was almostacross following a passing movement among the forwards. The Australian forwards livened somewhat and forced Otago back. From a scrum Malcolm sent to Cowper, who kicked through and, following up fast, reached Bush as he was fielding the ball from the ground. Cowper kicked the ball from Bush’s hands, picked up and sent on to Towers, who raee.d across the line to score. The kick at goal failed. Following a desperate attack by the Otago forwards Towers cut. cleanly through Otago’s back line and ran to Bush before kicking, the ball going into touch at the corner. From the lineout the ball came to Towers, who struck hard for the line but was brought down by Bush with a heavy tackle. In the closing stages of the game Otago was attacking desperately, but the Australian defence was very sound and the game ended without further score. The Australian team was: A. W. Rosis; W. Hemingway, C. H. Towers, D. L. Cowper; B. Palme", H. Primrose;. S. Malcolm (captain); T ’ z . H. Ccrutti, E. Bonis, M. R. Blair, B. Judd, F. Whyatt, J. Clark, F. Reville, L. J. Palfreyman.