SCRAMBLE IN THE MUD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20504, 24 August 1936, Page 8

SCRAMBLE IN THE MUD

SOUTHLAND BEATS OTAGO By I'eleeraph —Press Association INVERCARGILL. August 22 Playing on a ground almost covered with water as a result of five hours’ continuous heavy rain. Southland defeated Otago by 9 points to 6 at Rugby Park to-day. More than 5000 j persons saw the match, including 1800 . Otago supporters. Good Rugby was | out of the question, and the match was merely a matter of kick and rush, the only variation being occasional short dashes by the inside backs. On the | day’s play the result could easily have been a draw. It was one of the muddiest games ever seen at Rugby Park, and after 10 minutes play halts to remove mud from players’ eyes were frequently necessary. Taylor, the Otago full-back, was the outstanding player on the ground. He was never found wanting. He handled , the leaden ball faultlessly and found | time to start attacking movements. Trevathan and Saxton also played very well. Wesney, full-back for Southland, was not far behind Taylor, and Calder and Purdue were also prominent. All the forwards came through the ordeal well with Ward and Irwin, two big Southlanders, always on the ball. Southland attacked strongly from the kick-off, Otago infringing in a desperate defence and giving Wesney two penalty kicks from the second of which, after five minutes’ play, he goaled. The Otago forwards kicked through to the Southland 25, and Saxton passed to Black, the wing crashing over the Southland line in the arms of three defenders. The kick failed. By I this time all the players were soaking wet and muddy and the game was a succession of loose rushes by both packs. Saxton was trying hard to give the backs a run and one movement almost succeeded when McSkimming and Mahoney handled cleanly, but the latter was flung into three inches of water. Five minutes from half-time Wesney kicked a penalty from the Otago 25. The rain ceased as the second half began. Otago was quickly into its stride. Gold was nearly over in a short side run and a moment later Saxton passed from a scrum to Trevathan who ran on the short side sold the dummy and scored a great try. The kick failed. Otago now appeared to be a much better team, the forwards making devastating rushes and the backs playing very safely. Taylor rose to brilliant heights in taking and kicking, and once ran almost through the Southland team on his own. Ten minutes from time Calder took a pass from Purdue and drew three Otago backs before passing to C. Milne, who scored a splendid try. Southland was now in a winning position, but Otago played desperately till the final whistle, which went with the scores Southland 9, Otago 6.