ATHLETIC v . WELLINGTON.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 107, 7 May 1923, Page 10

ATHLETIC v . WELLINGTON.

Athletic and Wellington .were well matched at the IJuppa Street Ground. The former carried the day with 6 points to nil, but on play # the result should have been a draw with one try eacli. The teams were :—

Athletic: Brook, Sutton, Svenson, B. Gibson, G. Gibson, Porter, Warwick, Austed, Swain, Adam, Duncan, Bruce, M'Naught, Guy, M'Caughley. Wellington: Brook, Rickard, Hill, Frater, M'Gregor, Johnson, Hughes, Ambler, Hepburn, Butcher, Wyborn, Joyce, Cooper, Lindsay, Hurd. Wellington made an early invasion upon their opponents after the latter had kicked off, but were checked, and Warwick broke away. He, Svenson, and B. Gibson covered good ground, but the latter passed back wildly, and the ball was kicked dead.' Athletic, still attacking, were awarded a penalty kick, but B. Gibson did not allow for the wind, and Ambler shortly afterwards failed similarly with a kick for Wellington. Still another penalty to Athletic entrusted to Porter was unsuccessful. Snapping the ball up well from behind the scrum, the Blue backsfound a breach in the defence, and Swain ran over. Porter did not allow sufficiently for the wind with the kick. Athletic 3, Wellington 0. Wellington took the offensive, and Duncan brpke a shot at the posts by_ Ambler. Svenson and B. Gibson initiated a break away around a scrum, and the opposing backs smothered in the comer. Wellington now kept Athletic on the defensive, and one of the few movements initiated during the match fay the backs was folowed by a brilliant spurt by,'Rickard. M'Gregor made an opening and , Ambler appeared to score under the posts, but a scrum was ordered. ,

Eain intervened shortly after the change over, and the game became very open,l Athletic continually threatening closs.on the line. Eventually Sutton almost got over on the corner. The referee was in doubt, and, on the opinion of a spectator whom he took for the touchjudge, declared a try. The true touchjudge then came up and expressed an opposite opinion, but the referee was unable to alter his decision. Porter failed to convert. Wellington broke away, and M'Gregor had hard luck, the ball dropping from his grasp, as he crossed the line. The game closed after each side had failed to turn a penalty kick into points. ' Mr.- Fletcher was referee.