THE BRITISH TEAM.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18047, 16 June 1930, Page 8

THE BRITISH TEAM.

TOURING SOUTH ISLAND. (WATCH AGAINST OTAGO. WIN FOR THE VISITORS, 33—9. DUNEDIN, Saturday. Excellent weather ruled at the Carrisbrook ground this afternoon for the match between Britain and Otago, a light breeze blowing across the held gave very little assistance to either side. The attendance was 2.3,000. THE TEAMS. Otago. Fullback. —Stevenson. Three-quarters.—Wilson, Lindsay, Fookes. V Five-eighths.—Giles, Bradanovlch. Half-back. —Francis. Forwards. —Hore, Souler, Dunne, Sonntag, Finlayson, Collett, Muriagh, Scott, Britain. , Fullback. —Bassett, Three-quarters.—Morley, Aarvold, Bowcott, Reeve, Halves. —Spong, Murray. Forwards.—Rew, Parker, O’Neill, Black, Farrell, Ivor-Jones, Beamish, Hodgson. The Play. Britain won the toss and?Bradanovlch kicked off with the sun In Otago’s face. Beamish Immediately set a rush going, but the ball went out. A scrum followed the line-out and all the British backs handled the ball. Aarvold secured and sent who scored at the corner. Black converted. Britain 5 Otago 0 A few minutes later Bowcott picked up and passed to Reeve, who again got over unapposed. Black again converted. Britain 10 ■ Otago 0 All this happened within five minutes of the start, Otago kept the ball tight. Bradanovlch marked and sent the ball out near the British line. Then the Otago backs got moving, but Fookes mishandled and tlie movement broke down. Otago came down again, Bradanovich again finding line well down, but Hodgson broke away and transferred play to Otago’s twenty-live, where Fookes picked up and sent the ball out in British territroy. The British backs got away again but Aarvold was grassed with the ball, Britain broke away but Wilson collared Reeve and from a scrum Bradanovich found the line ten yards from the British goal. Spong and Reeve got away again but Stevenson was safe. At Otago’s twenty-live a nippy move by Francis transferred the ball to halfway, where Wilson got away, but was collared and from the ensuing scramble the ball went out close to the British line. There Otago were awarded a free kick for offside play, Lindsay missing a shot at goal. Bassett found the line at halfway. Britain were handling the ball beautifully, and playing great football. The game was now much more even, but from fast exciting play Britain got away again. Reeve centred. The ball hit the post andsbounded back, Beamish following fast snapped up an scored. Black converted, Britain t i 15 LitagO , *•"*»’ 0 Homo Forwards Beaten. The Otago forwards were quite outclassed, but Francis, behind the scrum, and Bradanovich, the first live-eight, were playing an excellent game. At length, after 20 minutes’ play, Britain was panalised ten yards inside halfway for lying on the bail and Lindsay landed a great goal. Otago 3 Britain 15 Finlayson and Hore showed up In a good passing movement, which was continued by the Otago backs, who received the ball from Collett, but Merely grassed Wilson. From a succeeding scrum Aarvold found the line, with a great kick. Otago came down again and Bassett marked, but Otago returned play to fifteen yards inside the British territory, Lindsay having an unsuccessful shot at goal. Otago forwards now livened up and pressed Britain hard, From a scramble, Fookes and Lindsay took the ball to the British 'line, where Bassett fumbled, and Francis dashed up and scored, Lindsay failed to convert. Otago G Britain 15

Spong, Boweott, and Aarvold set Britain on the attack again, hut the Otago forwards, working doggedly, kept Britain at bay, Otago by now were awake to British tactics, putting their man down hard, Otago was receiving a full share of the ball from the scrums. A long kick by Boweott saw the ball out near the Otago line. From the line out Black, Jones, Parker, Boweott and Morley handled the ball. The latter was hauled down and Britain were penalised. Lindsay found the line near Britain’s twenty-five, but Spong, Bowcott, and Aarvold returned play to Otago territory. Stevenson was not handling as well as usual. Spong, Boweott, Aarvold and Morley again got away. The latter was grassed but Jones secured, and scored. Black converted. Britain 20 Otago 6 This was the last score before halftime. Second Spell. In the second spell Lindsay went to full-back, Stevenson going to wing. Within five minutes of the opening, Spong, Boweott and Aarvold got away. The latter kicked over Lindsay's head and in the race that ensued a bounce ball beat all the players and went out of bounds. Francis, Fookes, and Stevenson, showed up in a pretty move to the British line, where Stevenson grassed. Morley. Spong, Aarvold and Morley again got away, but the move broke down. However, the British backs again got. away, and in a scramble on the Otago line Lindsay foroed. The next piece of play was more spectacular, Giles getting away in a solo dribbling rush. He kicked hard past Bassett, and in a thrilling race beat Bassett by a hand to score. Shevenson failed to convert. Otago 9 Britain 20 Francis, Giles, Fookes, came away with a pretty rush, but Fookes was collared by Morley. The British backs got away again, but offside play saved Otago from a very dangerous position. Francis was playing a magnificent game

behind the Otago scrum, and many times relieved his side when Otago was pressed. Britain continued to attack, and Morley was brilliantly hauled down by Lindsay five yards from the Otago line. The Otago forwards, who were working like trojans, pushed Britain’s pack back. Then a long pass from (Murray to Spong and the latter cut through Otago’s defence and scored under the posts. Black converted. Britain 25 Otago 9 Lindsay was playing a very safe game as Otago’s full back asd his kicking was a feature of th.e game. Offside gave Lindsay another shot at goal, but went wide. Murray picked up from the ruck following a line out and cut out the Otago backs and ran to the line where he passed to Jones, who scored. Black failed with the kick. i Britain 23 Otago 9 Francis sent Giles, Fookes and Stevenson away in a nice run tut the winger put his foot out. Another scrum infringement gave Lindsay a shot at goal, but it was again unsuccessful. Another to the Tourists The next score came from a scrum, Murray securing and Morley, Spong, Black and Reeve handled. The lastnamed hurdled Lindsay to score well out. Black converted. Britain 33 Otago 9 Otago attacked and from a line-out Morley reverse-passed' to Spong, who’ sent to Bassett, who was tackled by Finlayson, but .Britain cleared. A Selfish Player. The British team showed up again and Rew had a certain try in hand if lie had only passed out, but he was selfish and the Otago men held him up. From the ensuing scrum Otago forced. Giles, Fookes and -Stevenson came again, but the move broke down. A neat kick by ‘Bradanovich put Otago in a handy position, but Britain cleared to their twenty-five line. The Otago hacks showed up in a nice piece of handling, hut Bassett kicked hard to Lindsay, who marked Utago swept dowh again, Finlayson being prominent. Fookes, Giles and Bradanovich carried the play further. pot shot Fails. Giles, from inside the British twenty-five line, had a pot at goal, but it went wide. In the closing stages Morley was thrown out by Lindsay and the game ended: Britain 33 Otago 9 BRILLIANT SET OF BACKS. Summed up the game was a victory for a brilliant set of backs, who were at ail times capable of turning defence into attack, and who, even when they made mistakes, were able to retrieve the position by their superior speed. Toward the closing stages of t}ie game the Otago forwards showed the effects of the heavy demands made upon them, but it was only then that the English pack could be Said really to hold its own. Among the Otago backs, Francis, half, who was playing his first representative game was outstanding. Giles and Fookes were the best of the others. In an even pack’ of forwards, Finlayson, Dunne and Hore were perhaps the hardest workers. Spong, as in previous matches, gave an impressive display, and with Bowcott, Aarvold and Reeve, was responsible for the effective thrust of the British backs. Farrell, O’Neill, Beamish and Rew, in the tight, and Ivor Jones in the loose, were conspicuous among the forwards. PLAYED IN FINE SPIRIT. FIRST GAME THEY ENJOYED. DUNEDIN, Sunday. Several references to the fine spirit in which the game was played were made when the teams and members of the Otago Rugby Union jfAthered at dinner after the match. Some consolation for Otago’s crushing defeat was also affored by a remark of Aarvold, the English captain, who said the game that day was the first they had really enjoyed as they did at Home. Mr H. Harris, president of the Otago Union, said the play of the visitors had been an eye-opener, and he was sure they were equal to any team which had come out from Great Britain. Aarvold said they did not consider they were supermen. They went on the field to play as good a game as they could, and they were pleased with themselves because they had enjoyed a thoroughly good game that day. NEW ZEALAND v. BRITAIN. THE TOURISTS’ TEAM. NOMINATION OF REFEREE. PORTER TO CAPTAIN NEW ZEALAND DUNEDIN, Monday. Although no announcement will be made before midweek, the British test team will be virtually that which plaved Otago. It is understood the British were given the privilege of nominating the referee for the first test, and have suggested Mr Hollander, of Christchurch. The tourists trained at Carisbrook this morning. WELLINGTON, Sunday. C. G. Porter, of Wellington, has been appointed captain of the New Zealand Rugby Test team at Dunedin.