RUGBY LEAGUE CODE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 197, 18 May 1936, Page 13

RUGBY LEAGUE CODE

Wins For St. George and Central MORE CONVERTS TO GAME 'l'll,, series of matches in the Wellington Rugby Lea/iie's senior compel it ion was played on Saturday, Lentral defeating Hutt by 30 points to 12 at Newtown Pink and St. George getting the decision against Petouc by 20 pointe to jO at die new Rugby League Park, Petone. Football conditions were of the best, and some fine play was seen in both matches The teams in the Central-Hutt match " ihitt: A. Orr; W. L. Davis. 11. Todd, L. Smith; A. Hey, B. Land; K. Orr; L. Varther, M. Burns, L. East wood; O. Quinn, A. Kilnlea; W. Large. Central: Dixon; Mercer, Bramble, IV. Avenell; L. Merson. I’rebble ; M. Atkins ; Perrett, Middleton, Burley; A. Yule, .1. Guun ; Berry. Referee: Mr. 11. Holmes. Central demonstrated ite superiority early in the game, and at half-time led 11 pointe to nil. The young aud vigorous Hutt side, however, fought hard all the way and was going ae gamely as ever at the end of the match. With more experience of the code and expert coaching there i« material in the Hutt team io make a strong combination. Central, beaten in the acrumw on tilt average, held the advantage in most other departments of the game, and a fleety set of backs were able to make the most ot their opportunities. Ot the backs, L. Morson, five-eighth, and Bramble, centre, were again outstanding, and each scored two tries. Merson has hit his top term early in the season, and there are few men in the code who can overtake him when his stride is set. Bramble, Central’s captain, provided further evidence that he is one of this season’s most valuable Rugby Union converts to Rugby League. W Avenell, Central wing, was again seen to advantage up till the time he was injured. Prebblc repeated his sterling five-eighth gafne of the week before, lhe place behind the Central scrum of b. 1. Atkins, who has transferred to was taken by hi« young brother, .d. Atkins, who played a great game. Much more will be heard of him if he keepfi up the form he showed in Saturday s match. , Although beaten in the scrums, the Central forwards more than made up tor this by the dashing game they pmyed in the loose. They were all on the ball, but if any oue player stood out above his team mates that player was J. Gunn. Converts from Rugby Union. The Hutt team included as last man down in the scrum W. Large, the former Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union player, who gave one of the best performances for Hutt on the day. His tackling was good and he headed his side’s scoreboard with two tries. Other Hutt players to impress were H. Todd, centre, who last year played for Wellington as full-back; A. Hey, five-eighth, another of the several Rugby Union converts in the Hutt side, is one of the team’s most promising players. Of the forwards, M. Burns and L. Enstwood were among the hardest toilers. One of the mosts pectacular movements of the day occurred early in the game when Central hooked the ball, which travelled out to Merson, for the five-eighth to go through and hand on to Bramble. The centre headed for the corner and scored. H. Todd intercepted neatly for Hutt on another occasion nnd went away on his own. He kicked, was beaten by the bounce of the ball, but Iley was handy to score. Yule scored a try for Central in an unusual way when he went through on his own, kicked, but could not recover the ball, and appeared to knock it over the line to force. ST. GEORGE BEAT PETONE After leading S-2 at half-time last season’s champion team, Petone, was defeated by St. George by 20 points to 10, at Petone. The game marked the opening of the new Rugb.v Leogue ground there. Play throughout tlic match was fast and spectacular, and as St. George took the lead in the second half there were thrills a-plenty. Petone’s first points came when S. T. Atkins intercepted and sent on to T. Nixon, to D. Thorpe, who went over nt the corner. St. George retaliated hotly, and the next points went to the city team when A. O’Connor goaled from n penalty. Atkins scored just before tiro interval, Coman adding the extras. A penalty early in the second half was turned to advantage by A. O’Connor. St. George took the lead following a fine try by E. Gladding and a further one by S. Nash, converted by W. Spencer. The battle then became keenest. Coman reduced the gap by raising the flags from a penalty, but St. George was not to be denied and took its total to 20 before time. B GRADE MATCHES The B grade competition of the. Wellington Rugb.v League was advanced a further stage on Saturday. At Newtown Park Hutt led Central 2-0 for the be<t part of tlie game, but Central scored with time up and won 3-2. Frost scored Central's try and Clout kicked a penalty for Hutt . Air. M. O’Grady was the referee.

At Petone St. George was defeated by Petone, 6-0. The scorers were Croft and Filbury. Mr. Harding was the referee. RESULTS ELSEWHERE Auckland.—Devonport 20. beat Marist 9; Ponsonby 24, beat Mnnukau 18; Newton 20. boat City 16; Mount Albert 13, beat Richmond 12. Christchurch.—Addington 44. beat Waimairi 8: Linwood 13, beat Sydenham 8.