1941 RUGBY SEASON OPENS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 180, 28 April 1941, Page 3

1941 RUGBY SEASON OPENS

Athletic’s Big Win Over Air Force SENIOR COMPETITION

Other Games Closely Contested

Competitive Rugby in Wellington for the 1941 season began on Saturday in fine but cold weather. With one exception, all senior matches were closely contested, giving indications of some interesting football as the season progresses.

Athletic had the easiest win of the day, and accomplished it in such a competent manner that some really first-clasi Rugby may be expected from this team, which so far has been fortunate in Hieing less affected by the calls of war service than other clubs. This side is almost up to a pre-wav strength. Senior first division results were:

Athletic 32, Air Force 6. Wellington 15, .Petone 14. Poneke 6, College Old Boys 3. Marist Bros. 0.8. 3, Eastbourne 3. Hutt 13, University 6. Oriental 8, St. Pat’s Old Boys 6. Strong Athletic Side Fielding 11 members of the side which last season won the senior championship, Athletic proved much too strong for the newly-formed Air Force team, .at Athletic Park, winning 32-6 after leading IJ-0 at half-time. Athletic packed a competent serum which won the ball with, monotonous regularity, and the back line was given ample opportunities to function to good effect. Standing well away from OHalloran, and taking all his accurate passes in fulstride, Stott was the king pin of the Athletic rearguard. He “was able to create the overlap with ease, and frequently penetrated deeply between the opposing five-eighths. Stott paved the way for most of the Athletic tries. Beaten for the ball, ,Air Force had few opportunities and was never able to settla down, though the team gave indications of better things in a few spirited forward sorties. The main weakness—natural m a new side —was the failure of the players to back each other up, with the result that some mistakes proved costly. Thurston (3), Badland (2), Scott (2), and Cooper scored for Athletic, Thomas converting four tries. Berry and Archer scored for Air Force. Referee, Mr- A. K. Morice. University Disappoints The hopes entertained for the University team received' an initial check from Hutt, playing only six of last season s regular fifteen, by 13 points to six. There was little excuse for University, who were well fed with the -ball from the serum -but just could- not get their backs going. In loose play the forwards had nothing like the dash, except for a few occasions, for which University forwards have a reputation. In the first (spell University hardly saw the inside of Hutt’s half and were seven points down at halftmie without having scored. Hutt were ahead- early, after some ill luck with promising movements close to the line, with a field goal and a good try was added in this spell. In the second spell University showed some \ improvement, Ibut -were unable to bridge the gap. Skelley, University five-eighth, was the outstanding -back for his side and probably the best on the field. He made some good solo dashes and with better support some result would, have come from these. Cooney, behind the scrum, was able to make openings but could not transfer the ball to advantage. Pilling,. who is well regarded in, the ‘back lin®, was hurt early and did not return m.W second spell. Napui made a good job of tullback for Hutt, whose forwards had the 'edge on University. Neither pack appeared properly fit. Referee, Mr. 1. Cole. One-Point Margin In a game which had an exciting finish Wellington beat'Petone-by 15 points to 14 at the Petone Recreation Ground. Wellington, playing with a good northerly, established a 15-8 lead in the first halt and the issue was whether Petone could overtake this after the change round. There was great enthusiasm when the local team got to within one point of a draw, but try as it might it could not improve on this. , Taylor, fullback, did the lion s share of the scoring for ■Wellington, kicking two penalty goals, one field goal and converting a try scored by Mclnnes. Mallett, centre, similarly monopolized the points for petone, scoring a try which he converted himself and kicking two penalties. Carter scored an unconverted try. Wellington deserved their win and might* easily have established a bigger load in the first half. The "Wellington backs had more thrust than their opponents and the forwards had the edge on Pptone in the loose. Both fullbacks made the most of powerful line kicks when the wind was with them. Infringements were common on both sides and these the goal-kickers were not slow to turn to account. Strong Marist Pack Fielding n powerful pack, Marist Brothers Old Boys secured the lions share of the ball against Eastbourne, but. frequent mistakes by the backs prevented the side from making the most of this advantage, the game ending in a draw. Eastbourne* also made the task oi their opponents more difficult by quick hustling 'tactics, the forwards showing plenty ot enterprise. Eastbourne had the advantage ol the wind in the first spell, but when the interval came with Marist Brothers three points up the match looked a foregone conclusion for the latter. Howejyer,.Eastbourne scored a well-deserved try in the second spell to draw level, and the match finished with the points even, Mnnst Brothers missed several great scoring chances in this spell. Stannway kicked a penally goal lor Marist Brothers and Burns scored n try for Eastbourne.- Referee, Mr. J. Ramsay. Keen Oriental Forwards Oriental secured a narrow win agnin/t St. Patrick’s College Ohl Boys, 8-6, in the early game at Athletic Park, mainly .through the enterprise of their forwards and ability to win most of the ball. Mnrshment appeared in a new, but successful, role, that of hooker for Oriental. Though his scrum was lighter than that of St. Patrick's, it. was more efficiently packed. With Mnrshment working well, Oriental got most of the ball. Thomas (half) and Davies (centre) were the pick of the backs. Marslunent, Shirley, Grint and Humpherson were outstanding in the forwards. Dunce and Luoni were the pick of the St. Patrick’s backs, who had few oppor-

tunities to get going. Todd and Flanagan were good pack leaders. Paino, filling a gap, played a very serviceable loose game in the forwards. Davies and Mnrshment scored for Oriental, Fleming converting one try. Dance kicked, two penalty goals for St. Patrick’s. Iteferee, Mr. S. Morris. Calcinai’s Two Tries In a game full of interest, Poneke, through two excellent tries by their captain, V. beat Wellington College Old Boys at Anderson Park by six, points to three. There was little actual difference between the sides, the winners being the more experienced. Both the Poneke tries came at the end of loose rushes, Calcinai picking up the ball near the line lo drop across. Old Boys had the advantage in the set scrums, J. Reynolds and J. Howarth locking a tight scrummage, and <J. Lindsay hooking well. Old Boys’ backs revealed some, excellent passing in the second spell, with S. Fauvel displaying initiative, and both wings— H. Rix-Trott and W. Cullen—ran hard and exhibited fine dash. T. Lawton and R. Johns were the best of the Poneke backs. K. Rankine, V. Caleinai, and E. Hedges were prominent in the Poneke forwards. D. Hoskin, the Poneke full-back, was clean in his work, particularly in the closing stages. Lower Grade Results Features of the lower grade results were the impressive performances by Hutt Army and Training College in the senior second division, and Seatoun in the junior first division. The Hutt Army team bad in its ranks two All 'Blacks, !H. F. McLean and D. -Dalton, Donovan, an All Black trial player, and M. £, Donnelly. Details: — Senior Second Division. Miramar 5, Pirates 5. Hutt Army 10, Athletic 8. Training College 35, Onslow 0. Air Force defaulted to Wellington. Junior 1: Seatoun 24, Petone 6; Johnsonville 23, MaflsTfftroS. OJB. 3; University 9, Air Force 6; Miramar defaulted to Upper Hutt; Oriental, a bye. Junior 2: ‘Wellington 12, Poneke 6; Athletic 14, Talta 9; St, Patrick’s Old Boys 18, Onslow 0; College Old Boys 6, Hutt 3; Eastbourne 8, Petone 8. Fourth I: College Old Boys 24, Hutt A 17- Onslow 3. Athletic 0; Johnsonville 22 Oriental 8; Wellington 21, Petone 3; Hutt B 17, Miramar 3. ■ ~i . Fourth 2: ‘College Old Boys 13, Institute 3; ‘St. Patrick’s -Old Boys 15, Marist Bros. Ojß. 0; Unper Hutt 8, Wellington 3; Petone defaulted to ‘Pirates; Poneke v. Eastbourne not played; ISeatoun, a bye. College Rugby . First Grade: Ron-gotai A 23, Technical 3; Wellington College B 24, Rongotal B 0- Hutt Valley 12, Wellington College C 0; Hutt Valley A 11, Wellington College A Second Grade: Technical B 6, Hutt Valley B 3; Technical A 16, St. Patricks «; Wellington 'College C S 3, .Rongotai B 3; H.V.M.T.C. 14, Hutt Valley A 0. Third Grade: Silverstream A 10, Hutt Valley 0; Wellington College A 6, Rongotal A 6: Technical 22. Wellington College C 0; H.V.M.T.C! 6, Wellington ‘College B 0; .'Silverstream B 0, Hutt Valley B 0. Fourth Grade: Wellington College A 21, Scots 0; St. Patrick’s A 9, Rongotal A 0; Wellington College B 12, St. Patricks B 0; Wellington College C 11, Hutt Valley B 0; .Silverstream A 8, Hutt Valley A C. Fifth Grade: Rongotal A 3, Wellington College A 0: Silverstream A 37, Wellington College B 0; Hutt Valley A 35, Silverstream !B 0. DUNEDIN RESULTS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, April 27. Results of senior Rugby matches on Sa pirates 9; University A 29, Zinsrari «• Dunedin 17, Alhambra 3; Uni; verrity B 23, Un|on 3; Southern 13, Taieri 3.