WIN FOR WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 252, 21 July 1938, Page 18

WIN FOR WELLINGTON

Wairarapa Beaten 27-12 At Rugby

VISITORS OFTEN BUSTLED

Dominion Special Service. Masterton, July 20. By 27 pointe to 12 the Wellington Rugby representatives beat Wairarapa on the Masterton Memorial Park to-day. In spite of the difference in the scores and the fact that at one stage Wellington had a lead of 21 points there was not much between the teams, the performance of Wairarapa being the best for a couple of seasons. On several occasions they had the visitors badly bustled and it was only lack of finish that stopped them going over the Wellington line more than once. Wellington’s tries were the result of the team’s ability to take advantage of all the chances offering. Apart from the superior speed of the Wellington backs and their ability to take advantage of opportunities, there was little between the teams, the play being even territorially. The Wairarapa forwards overshadowed their opponents, who were sluggish and inclined to “shine.” A brilliant display by W. Crisp, the Wellington full-back, was one of the features of the game. His defence was sound and hie kicking accurate and lengthy. He was responsible for 11 of his side’s 27 points. D. Jones, at second live-eighth, started off in uncertain fashion, but later showed flashes of firstclass football.

Outstanding backs for Wairarapa were G. Brown and Morton. Generally speaking the home side’s display was J big improvement on that in previous games, but the opposition was not as strong as that provided by Hawke's Bay. The visitors did not play up to expectations ae a team, but were more experienced than the home side, and it was this factor which contributed' largely to their success.

The first spell was well advanced before any score was registered. When O’Callaghan knocked on near his goalposts, Sargisson received from the scrum and dropped a fine goal. Wellington went further ahead when Jones scored under the posts, aud toward the end of the spell Thompson cut round a scrum to hand on to Pringle, who scored. Crisp converted both tries, making the interval score 14-0. In the second spell Reiri, •from a serum, whipped the ball out to Hatton, and it travelled to Brown and Peterson, who scored. O’Callaghan’s kick just missed. Fulton was the next scorer, tailing a long pass from Jones in one hand and going over. Crisp converted, making the score 19-3. The same player notched Wellington’s next try, and Crisp converted again. Wairarapa then had' a turn, Crawley going over for an unconverted try, and Percy landing a penalty, 24-9. Crisp then kicked a penalty for Wellington, and Percy performed similarly for Wairarapa. The teams were as follows:—

Wellington: W. Crisp; D. Thomson, W. J. Fulton, L. H. Edwards; D. Jones. E. Sargisson; W. Thompson; FraserSmith, J. Gunn, E. Griffen, L. Bishop, Calcinai, E. O’Brien, T. Hegglun, C. J. Pringle. „ , Wairarapa: O’Callaghan; Johnson, F. Morton, W. Peterson 7 O. Hatton, G. Brown; Reiri; D. Smith, Percy, A. Mathieson, H. Mathieson, Stringfellow, C. Welch, T. Hood, W. Crawley. Mr. W. Grantham was referee.

DUNEDIN RUGBY Country Beat Metropolitan By Telegraph—Pres» Association. Dunedin, July 20. In fine weather and on a ground that was heavy in places, the combined Country Rugliy team defeated the Metropolitan team by 22 to 16. Special interest centred in the match, liecause several of the Country players are considered to have claims to inclusion in the Otago team to play Southland for the Ranfurly Shield on Saturday week. The country team was captained by Gillies, former All Black, who is now teaching at a country school near Omakau. Another player included in the country team was Hamilton, former Southland representative. For the winners Shand, Gillies (2) and Davis scored tries. Becker kicked two penalty goals and converted two tries. Scorers for the Metropolitan team were Black, Perriam (2) and Spillane. Trevathan converted two of the tries.