TACTICS TRIUMPH

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 265, 4 August 1932, Page 11

TACTICS TRIUMPH

Inter-Collegiate Rugby WELLINGTON WINS Match With St. Patrick’s The fates were unkind for the annual trial of Rugby strength between Wellington College and St. Patrick’s College, Silverstream, which was played at Athletic Park yesterday afternoon. The game resulted in a victory for Wellington College by 11 points to 6. The conditions could scarcely have been worse. The weather was bitterly cold, with heavy showers driving from the south at frequent intervals, and ground and ball were so slippery that back play was out of the question. Wellington won through superior tactics on the day, as they followed the well-known Rugby axiom for wetweather conditions, “Keep the ball on the ground, and kick hard.” Despite the dreary conditions, the grandstand was crowded with supporters of the rival colleges, and the pupils of both seats of learning were present in force, with huge megaphones, motorhorns, and anything which would make a noise. A strong contingent of junior puplle early took possession of the western bank, but a drenching rainstorm about 2.30 o’clock sent them scurrying to the shelter of the stand. Here proceedings were enlivened throughout the afternoon by college cries, the Wellington College haka being very much in evidence. The teams were as follow s— Wellington College (Black). — Tricklebank, T. Ongley, Helllwell, Dickey; Paitai, P. Gray;. Sadler; Truscott, Milne, J. Ongley, Verry, A. Gray, O’Loughlin, Sounness, Wall. St. Patrick's College.—Vile; Goodson, Wlwl, Skinner, Wilson, Hughes; Palno; Ward, Gleeson, Marlu, Best, O'Donnell." O’Dea, O’Connor, Brennan. Wellington College had the advantage the strong southerly wind In the first spell, but St. Patrick’s attacked, and compelled Tricklebank, the Wellington full-back, to force early. The drop-out went the whole length of the ground, and a St. Patrick’s back forced after misfielding. From the resultant 5 yards scrum the Wellington forwards gave Sadler the ball, and a neat piece of passing ended in T. Ongley opening the scoring with a try in the corner. The Wellington College pupils gave their haka with great gusto when O’Loughlin converted with a great kick from the side-line. St. Patrick’s Colli ge set up a hot attack on resuming, and hammered hard at the Wellington line, only over-eager-ness by the backs preventing a score. For such a greasy ground the play was of a high standard. Some great scrummaging was seen, in which honours were fairly even. The defence on both sides 1 was first-class, the lads going down to the hammering footrushes with the greatest of pluck. The immaculate uniforms ' of both teams were soon, smothered in black mud, and it was difficult to distinguish friend from foe. It was thought that when St. Patrick's College had the wind behind them they . would soon gain the upper hand, but it was Wellington who called the tune when the second spell opened. Round a scrum on St. Patrick’s line a defender got offside, and O'Loughlin coolly potted a penalty goal, giving Wellington a lead of 8 to nil. The Wellington lads were wisely keep- 1 ing the ball on the ground and kicking I it whenever they could get a boot to ■ it, whereas the St. Patrick's College , boys were endeavouring to handle the leather and were losing ground each : time they started passing. 1 Wellington lasted well, and aeveral < assaults on St. Patrick's line at last saw < Sadler, the half-back, who was wearing 1 a nose-protector, flash over to score a > try while two St. Patrick’s backs were thinking about forcing. O’Loughlin made ] a great attempt to convert from well out.

St. Patrick’s College now started to harness the wind, as they should have done as soon as the spell opened. By up and under tactics they gave Wellington backs a trying time on defence. From a penalty on the quarter-mark Wilson opened St. Patrick’s scoring account with a goal. Wiwi, who was playing a great game at centre three-quarter for St. Patrick’s, made a splendid run from halfway. Coming to the full•back he kicked ahead and, following up at top pace, dived on the ball to score a great solo try, which Wilson failed to improve from the sideline. The closing stages were brightened by two fine passing movements by the St. Patrick's Colhge backs, but it was not a day for handling and both broke down. A really good display of Rugby under the most adverse conditions ended in the teams leaving the field with the scores reading:— Wellington College ...... 11 St. Patrick’s College .... 8 Mr. A. de Clifton was the referee, Wellington’s victory was celebrated by a haka, and an immense caterpillar of students, beaded by a giant kewpie, wended its homeward way, breaking out into hakas of victory every few hundred yards. The Second Fifteens. The second fifteens of the two colleges provided a good eurtain-ralser, victory going to St. Patrick’s College by 9 points to 3. The standard of play was surprisingly good under the Arctic conditions. Tries were scored for St. Patrick’s College by H. Burke, O’Connor and Collins, none of which O'Connor. succeeded in improving. Wellington’s solitary score was a penalty goal kicked by Saunders. Mr. J. Troy carried the whistle.

A DRAWN MATCH College Contest at Palmerston Dominion'Special Service Palmerston North, August 3. On the Showgrounds this afternoon the Wanganui Collegiate School’s first fifteen played a drawn game with the Palmerston North Boys’ High School first fifteen, the score being 9 pojpts all. The first spell ended in favour of Palmerston North High School by 6 points to 3, Cowlett and Ongley having secured unconverted tries. Knight crossed for Wanganui. In the second spell Farley crossed for Wanganui to make the score 6 all, but a few minutes later Crawford scored a try for High School. Just before the final whistle Wanganui was awarded a penalty near the twenty-five in front of the goal, and Williams landed a fine kick to make the final score Palmerston North 9, Wanganui 9.