RUGBY LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 102, 1 May 1937, Page 23

RUGBY LEAGUE

The result of the Rugby League practice match in Wellington last Saturday, won by Central from St. George, indicates that Central will be a strong contender for the season's honours. The form and combination of the.winners was surprisingly good, and even allowing for St..George not being at full strength, they will have to produce something out of the box.to overcome Central's return to good football. The Central forwards shared the set scrums with St. George but in all other departments they, were superior with J. Cootes and C. Bury the stars.^ St. George, perhaps because of: the "flirting" tendency displayed towards,the ruck by two .forwards, could . not counter the' vigour and buoyancy of the' Central sextette. The winning backs collectively employed more thrustful methods and handled better than their opponents, "* ' : ■■'■. A. Janileson played well behind the scrum and;.gave the backs plenty of the ball. R./Cbombes was:content to be a sound link until late in the'game when he successfully sold St.. George his well-executed "dummy" and raced over under the posts.. Les Merson surprised by taking up the full-back position for Central and he'played1 fine football. W } -'-Spencer, however, played a more correct type of full-back game for St. George. I. Wilson and B, Bayley could not strike a patch and dropped many passes froftl A. Swanberg, who came out of the scrum to take A. O'Connor's place at scrum-half. St. George1? bad luck with injuries continues, and it is stated that as the result of a knock' at Lyall Bay Reserve recently T. Timmins will be unable k> play for some weeks ; . ■'■