RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 262, 1 August 1929, Page 11

RUGBY

WELLINGTON COLLEGE BEATS ST. PATRICK’S GAME BELOW STANDARD With twenty-one victories to the credit of both colleges, the annual Rugby contest between St. Patrick s nnd M ellington Colleges, played on Athletic I ark.' day afternoon, aroused even more interest than usual. Beside the ..crowds of school supporters, gaudily dechecl with yellow and black, and blue and white ribbons, there was t e customary large attendance of the too ball-going publie, which always turns out in force to witness what is generally one of the best expositions of the code to be seen during the season. This year, however, the game, although interesting enough, was not up to ’ne standard of play which has prevaued for the last few years, largely owing to lack of finish on the part of the St. Patrick s rear division. Wellington College, on the other hand, frequently threw the ball about, and were remarkably safe on defence. Between the two packs there was little to choose from, St. Patrick s being perhaps a shade the better when it came to tight work. Wright. Rafter, and L. and J. Cooney were probably the best players on the St. Patrick’s side, the firstnamed being the outstanding Pbiycr the match. For Wellington College, Wiggs, Carlson, Gill, and Masters, were most in evidence, the latter being particularly safe at full-back. Play was considerably slowed up in the second halt uy the prevalence of line-outs. Teams were as follow: — ■Wellington College-.—Masters; Gill, Cromie, Stephenson; Carlson, Carol Wiggs; Hood; Bird, Middlebrook, Williams (capt.), Penett, McKenzie, Turner, James. _ . St. Patrick’s College: McGuinness; Mexted, Rafter, J. Cooney; Dennehey, McCarthy; L. Cooney; Wright; Hogan, Johns, Swindell, Finnigan, Burke, Hughes, J. McCarthy. The Game Described. Wellington won the toss and St. Patrick’s played with the light southerly in their faces. Wright led a dribbling rush to the Black twenty-five, but Wellington soon cleared to midfield. Mexted had a shot at goal from an infringement just inside halfway, but missed. Scrummaging followed for a time until Wiggs set his backs going and the ball travelled out to Gill, who swerved infield for Guinness to score under the posts. Carlson converted. W ellingtbn 5 St. Patrick’s 0 Interchanges of kicks between the opposing backs saw Wellington work up to the Blue twenty-five, but bard scrummaging by St. Patrick’s drove them back to halfway, where Wiggs found the line well up. Loose play followed just inside Blue territory, with neither side gaining much advantage. With the ball at toe, St. Patrick’s forwards surged downfield to the Black twenty-five, where several line-outs took place. Cooney sent out to McCarthy, but the insides were caught in possession. Again hard scrummaging had the Blacks on defence. Caro booted through, however, and the ball travelled across field to go out on the bank side of the twenty-five. Carlson and Caro kicked through and followed up, but J. Cooney cleared. From an interchange of kicks Caro secured at halfivay and the ball went to Carlson, who dummied and sent on to Gill, who was dumped at the twenty-five. Here Wiggs worked the blind side to Gill, who sidestepped his way over. Carlson found the uprights with a fine kick. Wellington 10 St. Patrick’s 0 Desultory play followed between halfway ami the Black twenty-five, until Wright started off in a lone-dribbling rush which took him to within a few yards of the Black line. Rafter gathered, hut knocked on when in a good position, and Wellington cleared to the twenty-five. Here Mexted essayed a penalty shot, which went close, but outside, a force resulting. Again St, Patrick’s reached the twentv-five. but mishandling by McCarthy spoilt the chance of a passing rush. Cooney sent the ball out to his backs again, but no ground was gained, and a dangerous melee on the twentyfive saw- the Blues just, relieve in time. Scrummaging on the Black twentydive let Wright break away a second time, and ho handed on to J. Cooney, who passed in-field a couple of yards from the line, but the Blues kicked over, and a force gave Wellington relief. After the dropout the Blacks kept up a determined attack on the Blue twenty-five, but eventually McGuinness relieved with a splendid kick which went out at half-way on the stand side. Wiggs set the Wellington backs going on the open ride, but. an infringement held up play in mid-field. Hard scrummaging on the bank side followed. St. Patrick’s reaching the twentyfive, but the Blacks broke away. McGuinness failed to take a high kick cleanly. and loose play developed on the Blue twenty-five. Half-time sounded with the scores— Wellington 10 .... St. Patrick’s 0 On resuming the ball went out through the Wellington backs to Gill, who centred high, but from the resulting rtiek Wright led a hot Blue forward offensive, carrying play past half-way. A free kick reached the Black twenty-five, and from the line-out Wright made a great effort to get over, but a line kick saved the situation for Wellington. Play went hack to half-way. McCarthy got away, but. was collared, and his pass to Denneby went astray. Rafter gathered magnificently, however, and gave a very long pass out to J. Cooney, who had a clear field in front of him. The latter almost succeeded in taking the ball, but failed, and play went back. Shortly after Stephenson beat three St. Patrick’s men in a race down the line for the ball, and kicked on, but fell on the ball a yard from the line. From the scrummage the Blues lined. A scrum on the line saw Caro almost over, but a five-yards’ scrum resulted. The ball went out to the at-

tnckers, but Gill was collared, and the Blues cleared to mid-field. Wellington worked down the line to the Blue twentyfive, where an infringement allowed the defenders to clear. A succession of lineouts on the Wellington side of half-way slowed play up considerably at this juncture, until the Black rearguard got moving. Carlson kicked high, but McGuinness marked well, and exchanges of kicks gained St. Patrick's a lot of ground. Play swung across field and, on the second attempt, St. Patrick’s got over from a scrummage on the Black line, Hogan scoring. Mexted missed. Wellington 10 St. Patrick's 3

From a line-out at half-way Wellington got possession, and play went through lhe backs right across the field, and out on the bank-side, where scrummaging kept the ball tight for some time, until a wellplaced kick put the Blues on attack, and the ball went out at the twenty-five mark. Wright made a good attempt to .get over but was taken in time, and the ball was kicked out between the twentyfive and half-way. McGuinness had a penalty shot from just outside the twentyfive, but missed. Immediately after St. Pat’s, made another fine effort, initiated by L. Cooney, but the defence held. Another penalty to St. Patrick’s just outside the twenty-five was taken by Johns, whose kick did not rise sufficiently. St. Patrick’s continued to press until the Black forwards broke through; Cromie securing. He let the ball out to Stephenson, but throughout the game the sprinter was too well marked. Play over the last few minutes lacked incident, St. Patrick’s endeavouring in vain to pierce the Black defence at the twenty-five. Full time sounded with the scores:— Wellington College 10 St. Patrick’s College 3 Mr. J. Moffitt ably controlled the game. SOUTHLAND DEFEATS OTAGO KEENLY-FOUGHT GAME By Telegraph.—Press Association. Invercargill, July 31. The first of this season’s home and home matches between Otago and Southland was played here to-day in the presence of a large attendance, Southland winning a keenly fought game by 11 points to 5. Rain during the week and this morning had made the ground very greasy, but it was not as bad as might have been expected. The game was principally confined to the forwards, with honours going to the Southland pack, which held a decided advantage in the scrums. Concerted back movements were almost out of the question, ‘and very few attempts were made to throw the ball about.

In spite of the adverse conditions, a surprisingly fust pace was set at the outset, and maintained till the end, the scene of operations changing with unexpected suddenness at times. Southland were practically at full strength, but several changes had been made in the originally selected Otago side. Southland kicked off against a light wind, the home side holding the advantage in the opening exchanges. A kick by Bathgate was charged down, the Southland forwards carrying play perilously close to the Otago line. However, the position was eased for t|e Dark Blues when the ball was kicked over the line, and they forced down. Play remained fqr some time on the Otago side of half-way. A free kick to the visitors, followed by good work by Laing, sending Southland back to their own 25. An Otago passing rush was intercepted by Stubbs, who tore up the right wing till just over the half-waj line He transferred infield to a support, who, however, was effectively blocked before he could make any headway. A kick by Prebble was mulled bj a Southland back, and there was an exciting few- moments when Otago swept into their opponents terntorj. , , ejr were soon forced back, however, and Play was taken to near the Otago line. 1 urdue broke away, and after a. good.run, nassed to Hazlett, the later gained a useful stretch of ground before Passing to Agnew, who had a clear run in, but lacked pace, and was safely Brassed by Laing. Otago cleared to midfield, and their position was further by a loose rush, which penetrated deep into Otago wing secured the'ball when try. Diack failed to goal from a fairly easy angle. The game up to now had been fast swinging from one end of the ground to the other in fairly quick order. Otago were attacking at half-time, when the scores were: Otago 5, Southland 3. Southland attacked early in the second spell, a wild pass by Faulks going astray and letting the Southland forwards through. A kick from Stubbs was not taken cleanly by Faulks, and South land were down on the ball m a 9®-h. There was a scramble close to the Otago goal, and Southern forced his way across. Diack goaled. Southland 8, Otago a. A long kick from Faulks was smartly followed by Webb, who tackled an opponent in possession. The ball was kicked into touch near the corner flag, but the line-out resulted in Southland s favour, and Otago were pushed back to the Southland twenty-five. Holden being prominent in sending the attackers back to their own side of halfway. Passing among the Otago backs had Southland again on the defensive, the attack being repulsed bv a great solo dribbling rush on the part of Metcalf. The sun had now broken through, and was troubling the Otago men. Bustling forward play on the part of Southland had Otago strenuously defending a few yards from their hue, several determined efforts to cross being held up bv sound defensive play. Southland kept at it, and were rewarded when Stubbs scored near the corner from a line-out. Diack failed to goal. Southland 11. Otago 5. The Otago backs essayed a passing movement in midfield, but. no ground was gained. Galt headed Southland into Otago’s twenty-five, a long kick enabling the visitors to force. Collett showed out in a rush towards the Southland area, but nothing came of the effort, and play

swung back towards Otago’s line, and Faulks failed to field the ball, and the defence was caught disorganised. The opposition swept through, and the ball was kicked across the line, but Webb won the race and forced down. Southland were now continually on the attack. Holden set his backs on the move from a scrum, and the ball travelled out to Stubbs on the wing, who was pulled down when attempting to change direction infield. The game ended with play at half-way. Watson, nn Otago forward, had to retire during the first spell with an injured ankle and was replaced by Glendining. HUTT VALLEY PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ TRIALS The final trial match in connection with the selection of the Hutt Valley Schools’ representatives, will take place on the Hutt Recreation Ground to-mor-row, at 3.15 p.m., when a team representing the senior schools will play the select of the intermediate schools. Seniors;—Winnie, Bell. Stratton, Evans, Bayly (Hutt Central), Terris, Lowe, Gwilliam, Henderson, Wilson (Waiwhetu), dmonds, Taylor. Howard, Moore (Petone West), Gough (Petone Central). Reserves: Kemp and Horlon (Waiwhetu). Intermediates: —Anderson and Scholes (Upper Hutt), Benton, Hobbs. Barry (Hutt Convent), O’Leary and Boyle (Petone Convent), Berry and Pirritt (Silverstream), McGhee (Boulcott), Reid (Trentham), Teal, captain (Epuni). J. Taplin (Wilford), K. Smith (Hutt Central), Brown (E. Hutt). Reserves: Ramsay, Knight and Francis. At the conclusion of this game, the A and B teams to play against 'Wellington City representatives on the Hutt Recreation Ground on Tuesday next at 3 p.m., will be chosen.