RUGBY IN THE MUD

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 255, 25 July 1935, Page 2

RUGBY IN THE MUD

Wellington Defeat Wairarapa FORWARDS IN FORM Good Wet Weather Display SIX TRIES SCORED Playing their second match of the season the Wellington representative Rugby team beat Wairarapa at Athletic Park yesterday by 23 points (a goal from a try, six tries and a penalty goal) to three (a goal from a penalty). Rain set in overnight and the ground was greasy when tlie teams took 'the field, while it became progressively worse in the steady southerly rain as play went on. Wellington dominated the game from start to finish and the forwards revealed form which was really unexpected of them after their sound trouncing at the hands of the Taranaki vanguard last, month. The dribbling of the Wellington pack was the bright feature of the game and had the defence of the Wairarapa backs not been rugged a big score would easily have been piled up. Though the weather was cold and bleak there was a good crowd it the stand and the patrons who braved the elements saw a game which was worth while from every point of view. Provided the present form is maintained Wellington should have a very successful season on the Rugby field from now on. The teams were as follow :—■

Wellington: Crisp; A. Wright, Fleming, Ball; Pollock, Lilburne; O’Halloran; Lamason. Wells, Barry, Fraser-Smith, Lynch; Hull, Ongley, Leahy. Wairarapa: Fuller; Buick, Stringfellow. .Mason ; Fitzgerald, Himona; Nunn; AV a rd; Devine, Trass, Ross, Grantham; Gaudin, Flutey. Walker. From the kick-off play ranged about mid-field 'till Nunn got the ball from a serum and passed to Fitzgerald, who stabkicked. Himona flustered Pollock, but knocked on. Lynch led the Welling’ton pack back, and AA’airarapa were penalised. AVellington drove up, and from a scrum the bail went out to Pollock, who drew his man, cut-in, and gave to Fleming, the centre going over near the posts. Lamason’s kick failed. The game was only ten minutes old. AA’airarapa had a short turn of attacking, and Fuller went very close with a penalty kick from far out. The AVellington forwards burst through, and led by Lynch, Leahy and Hull, drove right down the line. Stringfellow had to kick over toueh-in-goal. From the serum AA’airarapa booked, but Nunn’s kick was charged down. Fuller saved in the nick of time. AVairarapa were driven back again, first Fuller and then Himona fail- ■ ing to stop a dribbling rush by Leahy, Lynch and Hull. Stringfellow dashed across and kicked out. Buick Was Tricky.

Wairarapa went up. From a scrum on AVcllington's twenty-dive line Nunn cut out Lilburne and sent on to Fitzgerald, who passed to Himona, but Pollock stopped him. The young AVairarapa right wing, Buick, made a jinky run down the line, but was forced out. AA’ellington’s front row were penalised for lifting their feet too soon. From immediately in front of the posts, at the twenty-live line, Fuller kicked a good goal. AVellliigton 3, AVairarapa 3. After scrambling play, Fraser-Smith, who was going very well, ran through the Green forwards and passed to O’Halloran, whose short kick was followed up well by Hull. The latter beat. Fuller and kicked along the ground. Fitzgerald had to kick back to save. AA’ellington came bad:. .Stringfellow was offside in front of the posts, and Lamason put AVcllington ahead. Forwards Sweep Field. From a scrum the ball went to Fitzgerald. who was tackled by Lilburne. The ball bounced back; Lynch was there, and with AVells and Leahy he went through. Hull followed on, dribbled and picked up on the line, to cross wide out. Lamason failed with the kick. AA’ellington 9, AA’airarapa 3. All the players were liberally covered with mud by now. Crisp fielded a kick, ran up, kicked, followed his own kick, and tackled Fuller in possession. The ball rolled free, and Lynch got to it. He kicked on over the line and scored 20 yards from the posts. Lamason failed. AA'ellington I'2, AVairarapa 3. A fumble by Crisp soon after nearly let AVairarapa in. but Bali got back and forced. A penalty let AVellington away, and Lamason, Hull, Ongley aud AVells caused excitement by driving down to the line, until a penalty relieved. Wairarapa were bustling back at halftime. when the scores were: AVellington 12, AA’airarapa 3.

Forwards Lead Again. Fraser-Smith was prominent in a forward rush soon after the resumption. Then he was with Leahy. Hull, and Lilbtirne in front of a rush on the other side of the ground. From a scrum, OTlalloran punted and Barry followed up and scored, after slipping and then diving in a long slide over tlie line. Lamason’s kick was short. AA’ellington 15. AVairarapa 3. A AVairarapa attack broke down at Himona, who missed the ball when lie tried to kick. AVellington went up again. Lilburne kicked to a gap under the posts and things were anxious for AVairarapa. But Buick ran in from his wing aud saved brilliantly. AVard led the AVairarapa forwards down to half-way, where Crisp picked the greasy ball off the ground and nearly went through by himself. The green forwards went down, but Fraser-Smith led AVellington back. A penalty helped and so did Leahy. Fleming kicked through and a miss-kick bv Nunn gave him a good chance. The ball rolled out behind the line before he got there, however.

O'Hallbrau's Bad Luck. Crisp kept AA’ellington on the attack with a ground kick and the play swung to the other side, where Fuller failed to go down to a rush. OTlallorttn got, the ball from a scrum, went through a gap and lost it. But he got the ball again and snap-potted an excellent, field goal which, unfortunately, was not allowed as the referee had his back to the goal at the moment the ball crossed the bar. Hull led a AA’ellington forward rush. He dumped Fuller, who flung the ball out wildly, and Lamason kicked over the line. Buick raced back but overran tlie ball and Lamason picked it up and brought it nearer the posts before foreing. ITis kick missed. Wellington IS, AVairarapa 3.

Finley led AA’airarapa down and Lilburne was penalised in front of the posts. Fuller missed an easy kick. Spectacular Finish. AA’riglit started AVellington’s next successful movement. He passed to O’Hallortm and the ball wont on to Pollock, who went over the line by the post's in Stringfellow's tackle. Lamason converted. Flutey was injured and retired in the last five minutes, and the game ended: AA’ellington 23, AVairarapa 3. Mr. A. De Clifton was referee.