LINE ON RUGBY FORM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20019, 7 August 1920, Page 10

LINE ON RUGBY FORM.

* OTAGO V. N, OANTEBRURY,

An Otago University lonm :it. praefcinally lull strength, although minus ' aloutino and two of ibo forwards, played a match against North Otago ;ii. On man: on Thursday. winning by 27 pomls to 10. Tim only point, a bout Ibo niatcli of interest to Canterbury renders Has (he tact that the University team contained five of the Otago representative backs--Begg. Perry. Fea, Alacvcretb, and Alurd, a eomplete ebain liom the scrum i 0 the right wing throeiinlarter. Hie other two places in tlio Otago team are. filled I JV Owles (vcing three-quarter) ~nd Watson (tnllliaea) A gone! many critics consider tbat liacky, the University full-back, should be in the representative team, bill; although he is very clever, tho selectors evidently considered him too light.

Ward, who scored live tries on Thursday is a last, flashy player, who runs "'itb great determination, side-steps, and dooges well. Ho was originally a member of the University U team, and only got info the, A team when Valentino was injured. How be will shape against much stronger opposition than North Utago offered remains to bo seen, but ll ho reproduces much of the form be displayed at Oamaru it will take Cant’erbnry all their tim e to. bold him. ,■ ™ a -V fptiy described as a glorified M’Leod. IVlnekeretb, centre threequarter, is very fast, and a powerful wick. Tea, tbo second five-eighths, appears to be the keystone of the attack. He is a very determined runnel-, dodging and swerving in a most puzzling fashion. 35cgg, "the half, is a stoi-kily-built player, a trifle on tho slow side, Carnegie should bo able to hold him, and if he docs Canterbury’s chances will be brighter. Jbo pononnanco of the University backs, who by th 0 way did all the scoring, is ot course discounted by the fact that the opposing backs were weak; but against this must be put the fact that they had to make all play, rile North Otago forward-, prominent amongst whom was Peter Williams, the old Otago player, held tho University pack, and secured the ball in most of the scrums. The passing was much crisper than against Canterbury College, when the passes were too often tow and high. This timo they were short and sharp, and the transferee was often well on his way before t!ia spectators u-nlised tl.ial tho transfer had boon effected.

The North, Ola#) team included Aimmennan, tip. ox-Old Hoys player Too played wing three-quarter in the "' ls j spell and five-eighths in tho second, and L-raig. wlio captained Waitaki against Hoys' High School last week. IN fill, her did very much, tho North, nta,no backs being outclassed, hut Crain scored .North Otago’s first try in good style.

Alhambra s defeat of University last week is attributed to the fact that Iho Alhambra backs played right tip to the scrum and smothered the University passing. These tactics left- ii hi" gap, ivhtell Fahey, playing five-eighths for University instead of Fen-, either could not or would not kick to.