RUGBY GLEANINGS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 198, 19 May 1941, Page 3

RUGBY GLEANINGS

Wellington And Marist Bros Next Saturday

GREAT HUTT ARMY SIDE

The improving Marist Bros. Old Boys team will have its first match of the season at Athletic Park next Saturday, having been drawn against Wellington. Wellington gave a brilliant display against Oriental on Saturday, and their clash with Marist Bros, should provide a Sterlington contest. Other games are : Hutt v. ■ Petone, Petone ; Johnsonville v. Air Force, Johnsonville; Poneke v University, Athletic v. College Old Boys, Eastbourne v. St. Pat.’s College Old Boys, grounds to be fixed. Thomas In The Lead. M. Thomas (Athletic) adedd a further eight points on Saturday to his previous total of 30 and now leads the scoring in senior first division matches. F. Mallett (Petoue) failed to add to his tally of 30, but is well clear in second place. . The next highest, scorers are: J. M. Taylor (AVellington), 20; J. Gillespie (Marist Bros. O.B.) 18, T. Dance (St. Pat.’s Coll. O.B.) 17, J. Thurston (Athletic) 15, N. Burns (Eastbourne) 14. J. Stanaway (Marist Bros. O.B.) 13, J. Cassidy (Hutt) 13. Armour (College Old Boys) 12. Brilliant Hutt Army Team. Three All Blacks and four ■ provincial representatives appeared in the Hutt Army team which beat the. AVellington senior second division team 56-0 at Trentham on Saturday. Considering the state of the ground, the handling and fielding of the Army team was superb. It would be no exaggeration to say that the team was far, from all out, and could have piled up more points. The seven players mentioned are D. Dalton, 11. F. McLean and C. Williams (All Blacks) and Donovan (Poverty Bay), McGregor (Poverty Bay), J. Finlay (Mfinawatu), the find of last season, and M. P. Donnelly (Canterbury). The team is, with two exceptions, Sgt. Donovan and Pte. McGregor, who are on the permanent staff, drawn from the officer cadet training school at Trentham, and is unquestionably capable of carrying off the senior first division competition. The team on Saturday was-: Backs, Te Punca: Hobbs Donovan, Elder; McGregor, M prison; Donnelly; forwards, Marsden, Dalton, Corkill; McLean, AVilliams, AVauchop, Sanft; I'inlav Corkill was a member of the victoria College first XV for the past two seasons. C. AVilliams is the Canterbury Ml Black. McGregor is a very promising five-eighth with safe hands and a deceptive change of pace. Donnelly played fi'“baek for Canterbury, but now fills the half-back position, where his play ] s ,10t unlike that of All Black E. W. Tindill. Should the AVellington Rugby Union be able Io arrange a match for this team at Athletic Park, it wouJd undoubtcdlj prove a great draw. Great Field Goal. | t is doubtful if in his long ihkl*' eessful career as a lootbailer, Con O’Halloran. the Athletic and Cermet Petone half. has potted a more spectacular field goal than he did on against 'Petone. For his old club O Halloran was frequently winning games pith snap pots or a dash round the serum. On Saturday his potted goal was a remarkable effort in that it occurred from a line out. where his kick might easily have been charged down. However, it occurred so quickly (hat his opponents were "left standing.’' Bishop paved the way for the goal by taking the ball cleanly in the line out, and throwing it quickly to O’Hallorair who, with his trusty left foot, sent the ball flying dean between the posts from about 35 yards out. Off to Camp. The popular Petone and AVellington representative front row forward, A. McCarthy. will leave today to enter camp. He hopes to be able to get leave later to plav more games for his team, of which he has been a conspicuous member since coming from Upper Hutt juniors about four seasons ago. AVrong Tactics. Petoue's young inside backs did not show to advantage at. Athletic Park on Saturday, though there is no denying that they have ability and should improve. The I lin fault of the inside five-eighth. McGrath, was one still common with many senior backs —trying to cut in instead of running as hard as possible lor the overlap, lie received good passes from McGurk, but frequently adopted the fatal tactics of running inward instead of out. As a result he crashed into opposing forwards. The Springboks demonstrated the need for carrying the play well away from the serum, and club teams throughout New Zealand have followed suit. Dive-Pass Expert. In Sherlock, formerly of Wanganui Technical Old Boys. Air Force have an enterprising half back. He opened up the play from all angles on Saturday, making a feature of the (live pass. The Air Force team is on (he improve and is likely to cause an upset yet. Fast Three-quarters. AVellington possesses one ol the fastest three-quarter lines in the senior first division, anil against a weak Oriental side on Saturday was able tn exploit this advantage to the utmost. One of the wingers, Brown, was captain ol the Nelson College first fifteen. Hicks, another winger, was probably the fastest player on the field, hut Melnncs, at centre.. was not far behind. Given the opportunities. Wellington should turn on some spectacular football at Athletic Park. Taylor was back in his old position on Saturday and gave great confidence to his side.

Gtiiniven Impresses. In past years injuries have prevented Gtiiniven. the rangy Athletic forward, from showing his best. So tar this season be has missed any trouble and is playing grand lootball. lie was the milstanding forward at Athletic I’ark on Saturday, tin one occasion lie lidded a high kick ami threw out a beautifully tinted long pass to his backs which led to a spectacular movement.