REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 256, 28 July 1927, Page 15

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

FIRST LOCAL GAME OF THE , SEASON SOUTH CANTERBURY SOUNDLY BEATEN WELLINGTON BACKS SHAPE WELL The first representative Rugby game of the season to be played locally was decided yesterday, when South Canterbury met Wellington. The visitors were soundly beaten by a margin of 19 points. The good form displayed by the Wellington backs was a feature of the game. About 3000 spectators assembled at Athletic Park yesterday afternoon to see the first representative match played here this season. 'The weather was dull and cheerless, with a light southerly breeze, and tho ground was somewhat greasy alter recent rains. Nevertheless, the local team gave a creditable showing, the forwards securing the ball in the scrums.’ and the backs handling well to let the wingers do most of the scoring. The visiting backs were weak, though Forrester gave a good display at wing-three-quarter. Wellington’s victory by 22 points to 3 about represented the tespective merits of’the contending sides. The teams were constituted as under-. Wellington: Maluotm, i Elvy, South, Ramson, Al. Nicholls, Johnson, ■ Kilby, Porter, Oliver, O’Regan, j. Shearer, Emerson, Taylor, Thomas, McHardy. South Canterbury; Fairbrother, Forrester, Trotter, Gibb, A. Lawson, G. Lawson, Strang, R. F. Stewart, Mcßride, Southgate, Bergin, Pannell, Ritchie. McKenna, D. Stewart. M. Nicholls won tho toss from G. Lawson, and Wellington played with the southerly breeze behind them. . Ramson returned the kick-off to Forrester, who sent out at halfway. It. Stewart showed up with a dribbling solo, and Forrester made a sharp dash, which nearly got through. A. Lawson nearly landed his side in trouble when be wildly kicked at a rolling ball and missed. J. Shearer showed up with good footwork, which nearly brought a score, but Trotter saved smartly. Porter was penalised for not putting tho ball in tho scrum fairlv. South Canterbury worked to midfield, but South and Ramson came back with a brilliant passing rush, which only broke down through tho winger’s reverse pass being intercepted on tho line. From a scrum on tho visitor’s line, (die forwards gave Kilby tho ball, but Johnson, badly mulled the

pass. R. Stewart picked up in centre field, and set tho backs going, Trotter making a strong run until ho was sotindIv tackled by Nicholls, After Nicholls bad had a connle of fruitless shots from nenalties, South attempted to get going, but was well tackled bv A. Lawson. Wellington were getting tho ball from the serums, but the visitors were tackling well. A clover bit of work by Fairbrother, the full-back, cleared the visitor's lino from a dangerous position. Wellington Get Going. From a serum near the South Canterbury line. Mcßride Camo round too soon, and Ramson landed a nico goal. Wellington 9 South Canterbury 0 From a scrum in midfield, the forwards gave Kilby the ball, and Johnson let Elvy away up the line. The Petono man neatly side-stepped Gibb, and went over for a pretty try. Ramson converted with a good kick. Wellington 8 South Canterbury 0 No sooner had play boon restarted than Porter snapped tho leather up, and handed on to Nicholls, who sent on to South. The centre ran Ramson into position, and sent the winger over for a . beautiful try. Ramson aroused enthusiasm by again goaling. Wellington • 13 South Canterbury 0 South Canterbury worked play up to tho Wellington line, but a mess up through two men going for the ball in the air enabled Wellington to clear, and Nicholls and Elvy made a dash to o-et ‘through which was foiled by good tackling by Gibb. A Wellington for-ward’-rush saw Taylor collide with a goal-post but A. Lawson saved by picking up'behind his own lino to run round and clear to the quarter-mark Passing by the southern forwards saw a penalty for offside, but tins time tho best hamson could do was a poster. .Wellington kept up the pressure, and a nice opening made by South saw Ramson go over ni the corner for his second try. His shot at goal was wide. Wellington 16 South Canterbury 0 Wellington at once camo back on the attack; and passing by Kilby and Johnson saw Ramson go over again, but play wa recalled for a knock-ou South stopped a footrush by the visiting forwards well; they again .came at the line, however, but wild passing and faulty handling allowed Wellington to clear. South Canterbury had done well to keep the score down so well with the wind against them. South Canterbury’s ' Turn. Early in the second spell Porter got offside round a scrum, but Strang failed to find th<- uprights. Welllington essayed passing, but South "ould not find an opening and, running along the lino of opposing forwards, sent out a, long lob pass, which the visiting forwards got away with. Gibb was nearly in from a passing rush, but lost the ball when on the line. A little later Fairbrother opened South Canterbury’s score by sending over a penalty. Wellington 16 South Canterbury 3 Wellington worked to the visitors’ end. and Ramson had a couple of fruitless shots from penalties, the second one striking an upright. A beautiful bit of play followed. From'a serum Kilby gave Johnson the leather, and it passed through the hands of Johnson, Nicholls and South before Elvy flasheil over for the try. Ramson failed at goal. Wellington 1!) South Canterbury 3 Malcolm next went close with a pen city kick from tho side-line, and Strang was no more successful for the visitors. South Canterbury set up a hot attack, but tlio defence held. J. Shearer headed o footrush, which took play to the visitors’ line, but an infringement. enabled South Canterbury to clear. Mulling by the visiting backs let Porter dribble down field, and passing by the local backs saw South have an abortive "pot," which failed to rise. J. Shearer was again conspicuous for bright, footwork. Wellington kept up the pressure, but G. Lawson cut in upon loose passing by the Wellington backs, and cleared to half-way. The Southerners now took a turn on attack, but the handling by the backs continued faulty. They however, kept up a presistAut attack, end Fairbrother missed a ;Jood ehnneo when lie. failed to put tho ball over from right in front, for a penalty awarded against Porter Wellington worked play to the other end. and Elvy was onlv prevented from crossing by a determined tackle bv Trotter. Elvy distinguished himself by collaring two mon in quick succession. Then South mid Ramson collaborated in a run down the lino. Plnv veered to the centre of the field, and O’Roann and Taylor followed up fast, the latter scoring. Malcolm failed nt goal. Wellington 22 South Canterbury 3 It was nil Wellington now. Elvy and Thomas wore nearly over, and a little Inter. ■ passing by the Wellington hacks saw South cross’the line, but the referee ruled Hint Johnson’s pass was forward. South Canterbury made a dispairing effort, and got to the Wellington lino, but

their backs had not enough initiative to drive home the attack. Ihe game, which was very onu-sfdeil. ended with the scores reading: Wellington 22 South Canterbury ” Mr. W. J. Carson was strict m his control of the game, and kept the whistle sounding frequently.

TARANAKI v. HAWKE’S BAY GAME RESULTS IN A DRAW BIG FORWARD BATTLE IN FINAL STAGES BY TELEGBAPh.— PRESS ASSOCIATION. Hastings, July 27. The Taranaki Rugby representatives met Hawke’s Bay at Nelson Park to-day, before an attendance of about lour thousand. Tho weather was iihe, but tho ground was very heavy after the recent rain, consequently the game resulted in a forward struggle. The teams were as follow:— Hawke's Bay: Yates, Grensido, Blake, Huxtable, Corkill, I'e Ngaio, Edwards, Barclay. Campbell, S. Gemmell, M. Brownlie, Tankard, Conrad, Swain, and J. Gemmell. Taranaki: Petty, Hinness, Brown, Bourko, Hohaia, Owen, Lynsky, Wells, Aspin, Walter, O’Keefe, Ward, Robinson, Young, and Guy. The visitors went early to the attack and kept Hawke’s Bay defending l.ird. O’Keefe carried Taranaki to the goalline, and from a scrum tho ball went to Lynsky, who sent on to Burke, but the latter mulled, and allowed Yates to secure. The Hawke's Bay forwards now took a turn at attacking, and Brown cleared a determined rush by kicking but a mark brought the home team back again, and Petty was compelled to force Barely had the ball been kicked again into play when the Taranaki forwards carried play to half-way. Brown received the ball, sent on to Biuness, who though collared, broke away again, and struggled across; Brown converted a difficult kick. Taranaki 5, Hawke’s Buy nil. The home team now got going From a line-out M. Brownlie I roke away, and sent the ball on to J. Gemmell, to Swain, to, Huxtable, and back to Gemmell, who scored; Grensido converted. Taranaki 5, Hawke’s Bny 5. The visiting forwards made the going bard for tho home pack, continually penetrating their territory, and just before the spell ended Yates had to force. On the change-over Hawke’s Bay took the ascendancy and were on Taranaki’s line, but Petty smartly cleared. A few minutes after, from • a line-out, M. Brownlie, hurled himself across well out; Grcnsidc’s kick was a failure. Hawke’s Bay 8, Taranaki , Play travelled up and down the field for a time; Grensido took a long penalty shot and Yates tried a pot, both of which failed. Wills, Will'd and Walter led a Taranaki attack, but Conrad turned the tide. Hawke’s Bay then forced matters, but Petty and Brown were safe, Baek movements by both sides were not productive of much good on account of the heavy ball. A strenuous forward battle took place in tho closing stages, play being up and down the field. Led by Walter, 'Taranaki ■ were getting the best of it. Bourko fielded a kick from Yates and battled his way through the Hawke’s Bay forwards to pass to Ward. who handed back to Brown, who scored in the corner, but his kick failed. The final whistle then sounded with tho scores— Hawke’s Bny 8 Taranaki :. 8 Mr. R. Paton, of Wellington, was the referee.

SCHOOL GAMES Results of school matches played on Saturday hist are as follow; — Senior.—Berhatupore 3, ; Hutt Central 3; South Wellington 17, To Aro 0; Lyall Bay 33, East Hutt 0; Marist 31, Petone West 0; Petono Central 11, Terrace 8. Junior.—. Mount Cook-52, Thorudon 0i Kilbirnio 11, Kclburn 3; Newtown 2: Karori 3. Third Grade.—Johnsonville 11, Roseneath 0; Lyall Bay 6, Berhampore 3; Terrace 17, Khandallah 3. Fourth Grade.—lsland Bay 3, Kilbirnie‘3; South Wellington 19, Newtown 0; Brooklyn 21, Hataitai 0; Ngaio .41, Kelburn 0; Terrace 9, Mount Cook 6.