RUGBY LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 229, 24 June 1936, Page 3

RUGBY LEAGUE

Wellington Do Well NARROWLY DEFEATED BY AUCKLAND By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, June 23. Alter a very ineresting Rugby League game, in which the fortunes fluctuated quickly, Auckland defeated M ell.ington to-day by 25 points to 22. The visitors were eight points down at half-time, buf staged a good recovery in the second spell, two brilliant passing movements leading to tries, Wellington proved a team of great possibilities and when the players have had more experience of higher football they will develop into a dangerous scoring combination. ’ Auckland won possession from most of the scrums, but in spite of this handicap the visitors did well. One of the features of their play was the snap and accuracy of their passing on receiving the ball. The backs generally ran bard and straight, and only the good defence of Auckland stopped many promising move ments. One of the highlights of the match was the splendid passing from the scrum of ■Cowan, the Wellington half-back. He got the ball away cleanly and swiftly with beautifully timed passes to the fiveeighths. Coman was Wellington’s best back but Atkins impressed uith clever play and would be very dangerous with an experienced back line. Coutts was the best forward on the field, having pace and weight besides being a brainy player. Gnnn, Berry and Large all gave good support, while Moisley is still playing well. Haslam, the centre, was easily the best back for Auckland; his strong running and good defence showed him to be at the top of his form. Trevathan (second) and Stockley (first five-eighths) were also prominent for gcod work. Keane, Gault, Petensen, Telford and Satherley were the best forwards. Tries for Auckland were scored bv Jones (2). Stockley (2). Peretsen and Haslam: Stockley and Paton converted two. For Wellington Gladding '2), Mowley, Large and Coutts (2) scored tries, and Coman converted two. A good olace kick would have won the game for Wellington, as four easy penalties and other handv kicks went begging. The Maoris beat Auckland by 30 points to 22.

HUTT VALLEY’S WIN

City Team Defeated In

Close Game

In a close finish to a high-scoring' game a team representing the Hutt Valley clubs defeated the representatives of the city clubs by 35 points to 31, in the Wellington Rugby League’s King’s Birthday programme at Newtown Park yesterday.

The teams were: — , Hutt Valley : Coffey: Beasley, J. O Connor, McKee: B. Spencer, A. Hey; K. Orr; VV. Quinn, G. Quinn, Chalmers, 8. Conner. H. Todd, and another. City: W. Spencer; K. Mailman, E. Bramble, MextSd; Shaw. Prebble; M. Atkins; Swanberg; Gardiner, Rennie; Wright. Harris, Middleton. Referee: Mr. A. J. Rettersen. For Hutt tries were scored by Beasley (3), Todd, Chalmers, McKee, and J. O’Connor. Goals were kicked by Todd (2) O’Connor (3), and Spencer. There was one other penalty goal. For City, tries were scored by Bramble (3) Mailman (2), Mextcil, and Swanberg. Goals were kicked by Bramble, Swanberg, Spencer, Rennie, and Mailman. Play was fast all the way. In the early -stages the game was dominated by the city team, which threw the ball about, for Bramble and Mailman in particular to pile on the points. The Hutt team, however, kept at it, and went great guns in the second half. They also threw the ball about freely, and where City was leading by 28 to 9 at one stage ,Hu*r came, aud with minutes only to £0 took a one-point lead at 32-31. Then r:ght on time Beasley scored his third try, aud Hutt put the issue beyond doubt. The game was of a much higher stan-

dard than that usually displayed by combined teams, although the defence was happy-go-lucky on both sides. The Hutt team was short of several Petone players who were selected, but even without them rose well to the occasion under the fine leadership of H. Todd. Spencer, a Rugbyrecruit. played a good game, and others to figure prominently were McKee, Beasley, and O’Connor among the backs, and Conner and Chalmers of the forwards. For City, Spencer played a consistently fine full-back game. Mexted, a newcomer, who played in the first half, showed distinct promise. Mailman and Bramble had plenty of pace. Prebble was crippled by a bad knee, but the other fiveeighth, Shaw, made some sparkling movements. Atkins shaped well behind the scrum, and of the forwards Swanberg played a hard game.

WEST COAST DEFEATS INANGAHUA By Telegraph—Press Association. Greymontli, June 23. A Rugby League representative match at Reef ton resulted in the West Coast fifteen defeating Inangahua by 21 points to 17. Scorers for West Coast were O’Connor. Fisher, McNeight, J. Beban and Roberts (trie*), A. Beban converted two and kicked a penalty. The Inangahun scorers were Rapley, Angiist (2t. Morris and Tuck (tries), Kiely kicking a penalty goal.