COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 260, 30 July 1937, Page 2

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

St. Patrick’s (Silverstream) Beat Wellington LOSERS’ BACKS LACK STING In a Rugby football match played on the Wellington College ground yesterday, St. Patrick’s College (.Silverstream) outplayed 'Wellington College in every department of the game, to win 14-9, four tries, one converted, to two unconverted triiw and a penalty goal. The winners hud a substantial advantage' in weight both back and forward. Superior combination and snappy passing by the backs had the defence continually tested, and in the second spell Wellington were rarely in their opponents' territory. Conditions were excellent, except that the ground was on the heavy side. The teams took the field as follows: — St. Patrick’s College:—Full-back, McCarthy; three-quarters, P. Gallagher, Fox, J. Gallagher; five-eighths, Chaney, Singleton; Half-hack, Hall; front row, Herbert, O’Connor, 'Killalen; Middle row, O'Donnell, Edmonds, McLaughlin, Rewai ; back row, Taripo. Wellington College: — Full-back, Greig; three-quarters, Flaws, Jamieson, Rix-Trottfive-eighths, Green, Bediugfield; half-back, Roberts; front row, Nelligan, Taylor. Dickens; middle row, Gandar. Cornish, McLeod, Shortt; back row, Cole. Wellington Backs Lack Sting. The nrst spun was lamy even, althougu it was eariy apparent tnat the Vi emngion attack nau not tue strng of tneir opponents. Tue game was open trom tae Kicii-otf, Wellington gaming the nrst ground alter passing oy oom sines when an exchange of k.cks saw Greig open up to Jam.esou, wno was caught in possession. l;ox, at centre-tnreequartcr tor at. Patrick’s, showed up as a powerful runner when he took a pass irum Chaney on his boot and loliowed turougii to bustie Greig. Chaney executed tue nrst ol his many penetrating runs anti handed on to J. Gallagher, i’he winger set sail tor tue corner, out Green downed him. Chaney again dummied Green and moved uutlieid uelore handing to Fox, who scored in a handy position. Evans tailed. St. Patrick's 3, \\ elimgton 0. Wellington took a turn on attack, but the backs were uncertain, many passes being over-run, At this stage the teams were having equal success iu scrums and line-outs.

bt. Patrick’s backs received quick service from Hail, and Chaney made numerous’ openings from which Fox and tim wingers gained ground. Well.ngton were not dangerous as an attacking combination. When the St. Patrick’s forwards took the bail at toe, Singleton picked up and dummied his way through from the twenty-five, but advertised a final dummy with Chaney in support, and Greig made sure of the tackle.

From the drop-out Flaws put in a strong run down the line, and .Wellington were awarded a penalty from which RixTrott goaled with a fine kick. St. Patrick’s 3, Wellington 3. Play then hung in midfield, with both packs troubling the defence in the loose work. St. Patrick’s hooked the ball and Chaney again beat Green with a quick cut-in. Fox came up fast and got past Greig with a strong, swerving run. McCarthy’s kick gave St. Patrick's the lead. St. Patrick’s 8, Wellington 3. St. Patrick’s, held the : territorial advantage, and the Wellington back line broke down. The home team had to rely on long kicks and occasional forward rushes, .

St. Patrick’s Backs Take Charge. The stronger wind in the second half favoured St. Patrick's, who were able to keep Wellington almost wholly on the defensive, while the backs, smartly served by Hall from the serum, got away iu dangerous passing movements. Cbirney adopted the method of running outside Green before sending a long pass to his outsides, and one such movement saw J. Gallagher receive and run strongly to cross well out. O’Donnell was unsuccessful. St. Patrick' 1 -- 11 Wellington 3Soon afterward Nelligan chased u hmh centre-kick by Rix-Trott which caught McCarthy out of position. The forward carried the ball to the line, where Ib rbert failed to make sure of the touchdown, and scored. The kick was unsuccessful. St. Patrick’s 11, Wellington 6.

From then to the last five minutes St. Patrick's hooked the ball from nearly every serum, and the backs launched attack after attack. P. and J. Gallagh- r, both powerful wingers, made numerous bids for the line, but Clmney's methods were not giving them much room and determined tackling 'by Wellington kept them out. A big factor also was the defensive work of Bedingfield. After a period of strenuous defence the whole Wellington team was badly beaten by McCarthy, the full-back, who fielded a kick 30 yards out, went away on the blind side and swerved infield to dodee several defenders and score under the posts. It was a magnificent effort. His own kick hit the bar,-and the score was St. Patrick’s 14, Wellington 6. Wellington, however, were not yet finished, Bedingfield put them on attack with a well-judged kick, and Jnmiesmi carried on. A shot from a penalty was just outside. The.v came again soon afterward, and Green chased his own kick to nick up and score in a fair position. RixTrott was unable to improve, and the mime ended St. Patrick’s 14, Wellington 9. A Promising Half-back. Hall was a strong factor in St. Patrick's vict ry, together with the tine honking of O'Connor. The half gave swift and accurate service from the scrums ami frequently initiated the attack in the open. His defence was excellent. Singleton was n good link, and Chaney was too clever for the defe -e. alriimich he ”• < apt to lose his supports. In Fox and P. nml J Galla°’her the team had three ouiside men whose strong running wou’d have taxed an even better defence. McCarthy fielded and kicked well, but should take his time when waiting for a rolling ball. Greig was safer on the wlmle, ami his powerful kicking assisted Wellington consiilorab’y. The Insers’ backs were individualists, iiml Roberts was overshadowed by Hall. Flaws was a big and fast winger. The forwards on both sides packed a- 11 and were even in the loose work and line-outs. On- fault on both sides, however, was the failure to get back and scrummage at a danger spot. This resultr-il in n good deni of fumbling and scrambling by the backs on defence. Nelligan was alwav.s prominent on the Wellington side and O’Connor and Herbert on St. Patrick's.