RUGBY GLEANINGS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 236, 1 July 1940, Page 3

RUGBY GLEANINGS

Nearing End Of First Round NEXT SATURDAY’S DRAW Two more Saturdays will bring the tiist. round of the Wellington Rugby Union s senior championship to a close, when, if last year’s practice is followed, two se_i>aratc competitions of Nix teams each will be created. With little separating most of the teams, the tussle for the first six promises to be keen. Next Saturdays draw is: Wellington v. Johnsonville. Athletic Park. 2.45 p.m.; Athletic re Marist Old Boys, Athletic Park, 1.30 p.m.; Poneke v. College Old Boys; Hutt v. Oriental; Pe.tone v. University: Lastbourne v, St. Patrick’s College Old Boytt. Club Championship. results caused little variation in 'the positions of the teams in the club championship, for'which Petone and Wellington are having n neck-and-neek struggle, both being well clear of the next club, Hutt. Then come Poneke, Johnsonville, St. Patrick’s College Old Boys', Athletic, Seatoun, Marist Bros. Old Boys, Onslow, Oriental and University. Leading Scorers. J. M. Taylor (Wellington) still heads the list of leading scorers in. the senior first, division with 44 points. Next are J. Burns (Johnsonville) 38, E. L. Todd (St. Patrick's College Old Boys) 36, Mallett (Petone) 33 (including 12 in the second division), Ashton IPetone) 32, Alexander (College Old Boys) 29, Cassidy (Hutt) 23, Sauson (Eastbourne), Cochrane (Wellington), Martin (Oriental), 21. O’Halloran (Athletic) 19, Posselt (Eastbourne), A. Kenny (Johnsonville) 18. Kissel (University), Evans (Hutt) 17.

Wellington Unlucky. Wellington were unlucky iu losing the services’ of two good players in the match with College Old Boys. Fulton, who was injured in the shoulder at Athletic Park on a recent Saturday, played in the first spell as centre threequarter, but was tackled rather heavily. His old injury troubled him again and he had to retire at half-time. About half-way through the second spell, Illingworth, who was going well in the forwards, left the field through an injury and was replaced by McDonald. Alexander’s Kicking.

Alexander, Wellington College Old Boys’ full-back, was in good form for the mutch with Wellington. His clearances were almost invariably timely and wellplaced. Tn addition to good defensive play, Alexander secured 14 of his side's 20 points—four penally goals and one couverted try. Representative Tennis.

Some changes have been made in the Wellington team to meet Taranaki in the Rugby match ut Unworn ou Wednesday. J. Gillespie and L. Thomas are not available, and R. Sanson (Eastbourne) and G. .Reynolds (Wellington College Old Boys) have been chosen to fill the vacancies. The Taranaki team is:—H. Johns; G. Sullivan, J. E. Sullivan, Smith; J. Hayman, C. Brown; R. Glading; G. IToimcs, A. Rieli.-irds. 11. Itenton. .C. Growler, G. Mui'Uft -L Murphy. 11. Walker, ami A. Gilley. Emergencies: F. Adlam, P. Toro; A. Patterson and G. Cleverley. Unlucky Day. Johnsonville had an unlucky day with

injuries on Saturday, no fewer than four players having to retire. Parsloe Steps Out. C. K. Parsloe, who was a member of Poneke’s senior team which won the Wellington championship during that clubs jubilee year, emerged from a long reiire.ineut. to help Johnsonville on Saturday. lie came on the field when J. Lyons retired injured. Pnrsloc was popular with the crowd, who found the nickname "Baldy” appropriate.