OLD BOYS v. WELLINGTON.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 90, 16 April 1923, Page 10

OLD BOYS v. WELLINGTON.

Another uninspiring match took place between Old Boys and Wellington at 3.30 p.m. The teams were: — Old Boys.—Malcolm (full-back), Faber,. Bedell and Mains (three-quarters), Hicks and Mansfield (five-eighths), Underbill (half), Lowe, Barclay, Laurie, Jones, Preston, Menzies, Chegwidden, and Carr (forwards). Wellington.—M'DuS (full - back), Brook, Rickard, and Hill (three-quar-ters), M'Gregor and Johnson (fiveeighths), Hughes (half), Tull, Hepburn, Butcher, Joyce, Thomson, Cooper, Lindsay, and Hurd (forwards). 1 s\ \ > Wellington kicked off against the sun. The opening play saw the black and golds on the alert, and after ten minutes'i play, which were marked by little incident, Malcolm had a penalty shot, which narrowly avoided the sticks. Play wavered up and down the line for a while until after a scrum Bedell secured and spurted along the line to score in the- corner. Malcolm's kick, taken from the angle, was only inches out. The outstanding incident of the ensuing play was a brilliant run by Marris, who sprang out from the Old Boys' backs and punted for the line when challenged, the ball bouncing just inside the line and touching out. The movement proved useful, for the, resultant line-out enabled the forwards to combine well for a rush from which Chegwidden sprang over with the ball, enabling Jones to score. Malcolm converted with an excellent kick. Old Boys 8, Wellington 0. A penalty kick to Old Boys a mmute or two before half-time bore no result. ■

Wellington should have scored early in the second half. Following up well, the forwards ran the ball across-field in a pretty forward movement till they were within five yards of the posts. A good opening presented itßelf in the Old Boys' defence, but the ball was dropped and pounced upon by the defenders. Old Boys seemed content to play a steady game, and to maintain their margin .of points. Wellington were offensive for the best part of the. spell, but made the game very open by too frequent kicking instead of keeping the ball down. A/straggling run placed them in the corner in favourable position for a break-thTough, but the ball was effectively smothered by Old Boys. The match. finished fast without any change in the score.

Mr. C. Perkinson was referee.