Fast but niggly shield match

Press, 9 August 1982, Page 13

Fast but niggly shield match

PA Wellington Wellington scored four tries to none to tum back Wanganui's Rahfurly Shield rugby challenge, 30-9, in a fast-moving but often spiteful match at Athletic Park on Saturday. The game was scarred by an all-in brawl among the forwards midway through the first half and unnecessarily niggly play by Wanganui which offered little in the way of constructive movement, relying on Wellington's errors to provide its few brief thrusts at Wellington's line.

The fighting came a few seconds after . the Wanganui forwards, Michael Wild and Brent Dallison, emerged from a scrum throwing

punches. From the next play Wellington’s No. 8. Murray Mexted. late-tackled a Wanganui back and the Wanganui forwards descended on him. throwing punches. Wellington won plenty of good possession from Mexted and Gerard Wilkinson in the lineouts, through excellent mauling and from their solid scrum.

The final act of the game was a brilliant try which came from a Wellington counter-attacked launched by Salmon and finished off by Wilson.

Scores: Wellington 30 (Wilson (2), Fraser and Salmon tries, Allan Hewson, 4 penalties, conversion), Wanganui 9 (Tom Feam 3 penalties). Wellington led 16-6 at halftime.