Sport In Other Centres.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 189, 11 August 1931, Page 14

Sport In Other Centres.

OTAGO’S FORWARDS.

Supreme over Wairarapa in Hard Game. SOUTER’S BRILLIANT FORM. (Special to the “Star.”) # DUNEDIN. August 10. Otago’s win over Wairarapa by 12 points to 3 was a well-deserved one, for on the day the home side played far the better football, and gave promise of developing into a really sound side. The game, most of the scoring of which was done in the first half, was well contested, and there was plenty of incident to keep the big’crowd excited. Both sides endeavoured to make the game open, the ball being thrown about freely, and there were

some exciting tussles between the forward packs. At half-time Otago led by 9 to 3, the home side adding another three points in the second half to make the final score 12 to 3 in favour of Otago. Otago’s twelve points j?omprised four tries, while the visitors scored one try.

Right from the start the Otago forwards settled down well to their game, and almost right through had the advantage except on the line-outs, a department of the game in which Wairarapa excelled. The Otago scrum was a good one, well held together by \yilson, and, though the visitors got the ball at the start, Otago secured it mostly for the rest of the game. The forwards backed up fairly well, too, in the loo: e, though an improvement in this respect is needed. With all the forwards playing well, it would be invidious to sort out some for special mention, but Souter’s name should be mentioned, for he played an outstanding game. With more practice together and some more combination the same pack should make a good showing against other sides. Behind the Otago pack Simon played a splendid game, varying his play and sending out the ball well, while his defensive work was of great value to his side. Bathgate, as usual, was solid as a rock in defence, and at times showed up well in attack, but he did not seem to have an understanding with the half as to where he should stand. He was often too close up. In line-kicking Bathgate was one of the best on the field. Fookes show- > ed some of his best I football as second five-eighth, and on his display should win a place in the South Island team. Giles handled well, and put in some g.o o d defensive work, while both wings, M’Kenzie i Allan, »were always 1 ready to make the most of chances that came their way. M’Kenzie, in particular, played a dashing game. The general handling of all the backs against a side that was defending well and often standing closer up than they wejre entitled to, \yas good.

The most impressive of the Wairarapa backs was Clark, the first fiveeighth, who showed himself to be very fast off the mark and a player that required a great deal of watching. His partner, Trapp, made one or two nice openings, but failed to run his outside men into position. Stringfellow did one or two good things, but all round was very disappointing. Neither Oliver nor Fitzgerald was impressive as wing-three-quarter, and W. Clarke, who came on when Oliver went off 'injured, was an improvement.

Roach proved himself an excellent full-back. All round, however, he was just as good as Bush, the Otago fullback, who, though he fielded the ball well in the air, fumbled a great deal in trying to pick up the leather from the ground. On some occasions Bush failed to find touch, but his kicks were generally of such length that they were generally just as effective.

AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS (Special to the “ Star.”) AUCKLAND. August 10. The Auckland Rugby Union’s senior championship was brought to a conclusion on Saturday afternoon, Grammar Old Boys winning the honours by defeating Ponsonby by 8 points to 3. It was a fast, open game in which Grammar held a slight superiority both back and forward. University gained second place by beating Marist in a close contest by 16 points to 3. Championship points are:—Grammar 18, Varsity 17, Ponsonby 15, Manukau 15. Marist 12. Training College 12, Technical 12, Grafton 10, College Rifles 7, City 2. Up to the time of the playing off bv the four leading teams, Marist had a much better record than Manukau and the other teams now shown level. Marist have had to meet Grammar, Ponsonby and University, whereas the other teams have met sides considerably below the strength of these three.

HUTT THE LEADERS. Final Game against Marist was Scrappy. LILBURNE’S LEADERSHIP. (Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON, August 10. By defeating Marist in a scrappy game, and by Poneke’s defeat of Wellington, Hutt won their way to the top of the championship ladder in Wellington on Saturday and took the title. Though Hutt probably deserved the final honour there was little difference among the four leading teams, and with an ounce of luck during the season the more solid Poneke combination would have had its name engraved on the trophy. Hutt have always owed a lot to Herb Lilburne for their position and they owed him everything on Saturday as the final issue really amounted to a game between Lilburne and Barry and the more reliable of the Marist players. A six-all draw might have given a better indication of the merits of the two teams on the day, as Hutt scored one lucky try while Marist lost a certain one by fooling with the ball in-goal instead of grounding it. Poneke adopted sound tactics against Wellington. Their forwards bustled Kilby all day and never allowed the Wellington back line to work. In addition they scored their opening five points within the first forty seconds of the game, a surprise from which Wellington failed to recover. Poneke made their position doubly sure by keeping the game tight and adding a potted goal. The final position of the teams in the competition stands as follows:

There was a large crowd at Athletic Park to witness the game between Hutt and Marist. Marist were the popular favourites by reason of the brilliant football they had played in their last five games. A large crowd of Hutt supporters could not their side beaten. In the long run, all the spectators were disappointed in the game as 't proved nothing more or less than a scramble. Hutt certainly showed the better judgment in thfirst spell, and when they left the field at half time with a nine-three lead everyone expected a walk-over, as Hutt were to have the advantage of the wind in the second stanza.

But play grew more ragged as game progressed and Marist played pluckilv in keeping the champions out ; j of their twenty-five for the best part : of the game against the wind. Both J sets of forwards played possum on j one another while the spoiling work j upset any decent back play. In this ; respect the referee probably could have | made the game a lot better than it was. Still he did his best. Lilburne carried the Hutt backs on his back and seldom has a player got through a days work as successfully, in view of the fact that he had to cover up mistakes, support his outside men on defence, make his own openings and also face the relentless j tackling of the speedy opposition Barry was the star of the Hutt for- | wards but he spent a little of his time in holts with opposing forwards who happened to be his team mates of last season. In all forward play was not satisfactory. Poneke and Wellington met half a mile awav at Newton Park and quite a few people spent their time between the two grounds. From the initial whistle Poneke assumed control. The crowd drifted to the main game after a potted goal in the second spell had made Poneke’s game an assured fac*. Little interest was taken in any of the other games. Petone beat Athletic 1 y 16 points to six, Varsity beat I Miramar by 19 points to six, Old Boys beat Eastbourne by IS points to 1.0 and Berhampore and Oriental drew with six points each. WILD KICKING. (Special to the “ Star.”) DUNEDIN, August 10. The “ Otago Daily Times,” in a report of the Wairarapa-Otago match, j says: —“Play became a little ‘ temper- ! ish ’ towards the end. One Wairarapa . I player came away from the loose play ! with a wild kick which went shoulder ; high. Fortunately no injury to an i opponent resulted. The player im- j plicated certainly did not act in accord- j ance with his name. Junior players get ordered off the field for indiscrimin- , ate kicking. When they reach inter- j provincial rank they appear, however, j to be given greater license. The j greater the player the less the offence, j

W D L Points For Agst Ch Ilutt .. 12 3 1 232 115 25 Poneke .... .. 11 4 1 269 132 23 Wellington .. 11 5 0 247 176 22 Marist .. 9 5 2 205 194 20 Petone .. 9 6 1 287 204 19 Eastbourne .. 9 7 0 228 179 IS Oriental .... .. 7 7 2 152 142 16 Athletic .... .. 7 9 0 120 194 14 Old Boys .. 7 9 0 185 204 14 Varsity .. 6 9 1 248 244 13 Berhavnpore . . 1 13 2 105 307 4 Miramar .... .. 1 13 2 131 338 4