RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 5, 1 October 1917, Page 7

RUGBY

WELLINGTON AND TRENTHAM THE MATCH DRAWN A Wellington representative team and a team of Rugby players from Trentham Cjimp played a match at Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon. There-was a fair attendance. The ground was in very bad condition for Rugby. Pools of water were lying hero and there, and the surface had been somewhat cut up by the hockey match which preceded the-Rugby event. The Trentham team, as is usual with camp fifteens, consisted of men from many parts of- the Dominion, and there wei-o some players of : note in its raniej. Wellington does not allow men'of military ago to play in its competitions, so that the Blacks wore lads in their teens. Notwithstanding the great disadvantages of weight, and height under which Wellington played, they made an excellent showing. Trentham, of course, lacked the combination which comes of playing together. Wellington, however, must be accounted tho best light .team seen for many years. The first score ■ of the match arrived, early, and was a result of a very fine attack by Wellington. Passing was 'initiated by the Wellington backs, and though the leather was very greasy they handled it beautifully. When tho backs were stopped the forwards, agisted oy Porter, chimed in, and the passing was renewed. Baker scored near the posts. Wellington, 3; Trontham, ,0. For some time after this Wellington remained dangerous, and at length Trentham _ were forced. Trentham mating good uso of their weight, removed play to tho Wellington line, but the Blacks saved by forcing. At this stage Wellington wero rathor overdoing tho passing attack, and they were endeavouring to -attack from risky positions. .With the ball so wet the passing was uncertain, and it seemed only a matter of itinie when a da.ngerous_ interception would come. It came right enough, ( and a long kick to a rolling ball dropped by a Wellington back put a, sudden end to a Wellington passing rush and shifted play to tho Wellington goalline. Prom a forward scramble which ensued Cameron scored. Tl'enthain, 3; Wellington, 3. The Blacks were not dealing too well with the wot ball now, and the Beds got well down on their line on several .occasions. A forcn saved them once, and again a mark by the full-baok kept tho. enemy out. A fine forward rush by Wellington with the ball at toe took tho leather to the Trentham line, where one of the attackers spoilt everything by trying to pick up. A force resulted. Getting the ball near the sideline a while later, ■ Scott and Hislop, by clever passing, went right through, aud S'cott scored at'the corner. Wellington, G; Trentham, 3. Further clever passing down the sideline by Porter and others was stopped near tho Trentham line, but Nicholls 6et tlio attack going afresh, and Savidenfc scored near the goal posts. Wellington, 0; Trentham, 3. This was the score at half-time. Wellington opened the second spell with short, 6harp passing, and one of the at-, tackera looted to have a fair chance of scoring when the slippery ground accounted for him. The lied forwards removed play to halfway, where someone set Madden (formerly Athletio Club, Wellington) going. It seemed as ; .though his fine turn of speed would bring a try to Trentham, but nothing more than a refreshing sprint resulted. Again the Red backs got under way, but the wing missed a pass at the critical moment, and Wellington lifted tho attack. Good passing by Wellington was spoilt on several occasions through Porter hanging on to the ball too long before passing. The Trentham forwards moved play to the Wellington territory, and thero it remained for almost the whole of the_ remaining portion of the game. Wellington were twice forced, and had various narrow escapes, and at length Darby (plaving half-back) got over for the sol-, diers. Wellington, 9; Trentham, 6. Trentham's attack was bein» well maintained, and anv sign of attack by Wellington Was generally repelled by Robinson, the bxAthletic (Wellington) player, who played a remarkably fine game ns the Camp fullback. ' Just'on the call of time Rcliolefield (formerly Auckland) scored for Trentham, and the game was drawn with the scores— Trentham " Wellington 5 Mr. R. Fordyce was referee.