Otago Beats Wairarapa In Rugby Match

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 September 1947, Page 6

Otago Beats Wairarapa In Rugby Match

(PA.) Masterton, Sept. 3. Otago beat Wairarapa 8 to 3 in a representative Rugby match before a crowd of 3000 at Masterton Park this afternoon. Otago’s success lay in a grand set of backs, who were fast and enterprising, and handled beautifully. The home forwards were a match for the visitors in the loose, but in the rucks Otago heeled the ball consistently. Otago opened its account with a try by a forward, K. O’Connor, who finished off an attractive movement initiated by the half-back, L. Woodhouse, who whipped the ball infield to the forwards after a bright run. R. Orr. full-back, missed the kick. Wairarapa retaliated with a penalty by E. Welch, the full-back, who put over a fine kick arising from a scrum infringement. The score was 3-all at half-time. D. H. Murdoch, who was brilliant for Otago at first five-eighths, made a spectacular break around the blind from a ruck, and after ‘slashing the Wairarapa defence to ribbons, passed on to the second five-eighths, T. W. Lynch, a third generation member of a family with a remarkable Rugby record, who scored nicely. Murdoch converted. After fierce rushes by the Wairarapa forwards and smart play by the Otago backs the game ended Otago i, Wairarapa 3. Both Welch (Wairarapa) and Orr (Otago) were two very sound fullbacks. The latter clearly showed the polish of experience, but Welch was master for strong line kicking. The Otago forwards were superb ar

hooking and the backs were fed handsomely by Woodhouse. From Murdoch to Lynch, and out to McKercher, Waldron and the pacy winger, Moore, was an effortless chain. For Wairarapa, W. Waaka was iquite the outstanding forward. There I seemed to be a weakness in the inside I backs. Couch, who was moved in I from second five-eighths to first five- ' eighths, went well in the second spell 1 and played attractively, though handicapped by an injury received in the jmatch against Manawatu.