WELLINGTON FANS WERE ONE-EYED

NZ Truth, Issue 1293, 18 September 1930, Page 14

WELLINGTON FANS WERE ONE-EYED

HAWKES BAY CARRIED GUNS -» x Place A Dent In Unblemished Armor of Capital City Representatives CAPT. PORTER HASHECTIC DAY OF I J (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Wellington Representative.) % - If there is one provincial team more than another that Wellington is keen to defeat that team is Hawkes Bay. At one time the main rival used to be Auckland, but Wellington has never fully recovered from the 58 to 8 drubbing inflicted by the Bay Rugby reps, handed out a couple of years back. There was evidence of just a little too much feeling amongst a section of the spectators on Saturday when the two provinces met at Athletic Park, Wellington. One had only to mingle with the crowd to obtain an idea of what mob psychology means.

tators on Saturday when the \ only to mingle with the crov BOILED down, it was the mad desire to gain victory at any price. Wellington

spectators have the reputation for being generous m their recognition of the playing qualities of visiting teams, but it was very noticeable that there was an absence of that sporting spirit amongst Certain sections on Saturday.

Just a few too many loud-voiced biased barrackers surrounded the paddock, but fortunately for the sport these individuals do not influence the players.

Wellington was minus the services of Cooke, Nicholls, Kilby and Heazlewood, all of whom had contributed towards the success of the recent toiir through the South Island.

Nevertheless, it was "Wellington's best, available team that took the field, and it was confidently anticipated they would not receive serious opposition from the Bay, more particularly as the latter had done nothing startling m their othei provincial games.

However, at final whistle the score read 6 all, made by each landing two unconverted tries. < That Wellington was lucky to make a draw of it no one will question. Apart from some grand work by the forwards, the locals demonstrated clearly that they were either stale or suffering a recovery from the jollifications enjoyed following the lifting of the Ranfurly Shield. The backs with the exception of Page and Ball, were time and again found wanting. Julian at the base of the scrum

started well by sending out his passes as soon as he received the ball. Unfortunately for Wellington, he fell back riuickly into his old style of scooting from the scrum with, and sometimes without, the ball. Page was the star back, but much of his good work came undone owing to the weakness of Foley, m the second five-eighths position. The Kastbourne crack was right off his game, and only a couple of times did he take a pass from Page cleanly. Ball, who usually is on the wing, did not disgrace himself playing centre. The try he scored towards the close of the game, which, incidentally, lifted Wellington out of the mud, was brilliantly executed. Ball has pace and he is full of determination. Both Oliver and Mackay on the wings were mediocre, the latter particularly so. The Varsity man can p.lay much better football but on Saturday he was inclined to back away from the serious business of stopping an oncoming opponent. , „ Barrett was not a real success as fullback, and like Mackay he was averse to going down to the ball when the Bay forwards were near at hand. During the first quarter of an hour, Jessup and Coulston regularly hooked m the scrums, and Wellington backs were provided with chance after chance to penetrate the defence by passing rushes. Invariably, though, the ball either travelled right across the field or broke down when handy to the second fiveeighths, Foley. Three outstanding forwards for \\ ellington were Porter, McLean and Barry. Th«> All Black captain was m every movement and had a torrid old time battling with McKay, the Bay wingforward. ... Barry has only to retain his present

form and he will join McLean as an All Black.. Reid, Deidriclyand McPherson also went well.

The Bay can still field some fine forwards, and on the day they were a better pack than Wellington. At no stage did the magpies show signs o{ tiring. Steere, Campbell, Roach and Wilson are a formidable quartet-, and their football is of the hard order.. Bert Grenside, who captains the Bay, was seen at centre three-quarter, and it was an impressive display he gave. On two occasions Bert ran almost through the opposition only to commit an error of judgment m passing out instead of trying to complete the journey on his own when he looked a moral to go over.

The Bay backs as. a .whole did not show finish. On at least three occasions, certain tries went begging owing to silly passes being given at the critical moment.

"Evans outshone Barrett as full-

back

The

keeper displays rare judgment m his line-kicking.

Campbell

The more serious of these should be Wairarapa next Saturday, and if the shield holders are to continue their unbeaten record they will have to show something better than they did against Hawkes Bay.

Setford ' was sound as first fiveeighths, but it was a stupid hurried kick of. his that paved the way f6r Wellington to score the try which de* prived the Bay of a clear-cut victory.

There are

Wellington to play against AVairarapa and Taranaki.