HUTT DRAWS WITH WELLINGTON

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 150, 29 June 1925, Page 9

HUTT DRAWS WITH WELLINGTON

Conditions on Saturday were such that ' good Rugby, was out of the question, at j least in .regard to back play ; and with the forwards making the play, Hutt and Wellington drew on the local ground. Both packs were evenly matched, with Wellington;: Holding, a big advantage in regard; to;..territory., in. tho first spell; but they > were overshadowed by the opposing pack in the second half. The backs of. both teams realised the futility of attempting to indulge in passing rushes, and they joined in the, loose' dribbling, rushes .that characterised the Rame.. A fair crowd gathered at tho Hutt .Recreation Ground, which had water lying all over it. '■ The rain had ceased when the game started, but it came down ; again later. . When weather conditions'are such as these it very j often happens that a weaker team can beat a stronger, and a draw is often the fairest decision. •

The teams were :—

Hutt.—ft. Cudby; Woods, M'Kay, J. Hickling; Bernstein, Munrp; J. MS Dougall; M'Jntosh; G. Carter, Fawcett, Whiterod, Crotty, Sullivan (captain), Dawson, Daly. : '■.-'.-' Wellington.—Hill; Morgan, Day, Corliss ; J. R. Johnson, Cunningham; (J-. H.'Frater (captain) ; Lindsay ;' Cleland, T. S. Carter, Theyers, Honeyfield, Mathieson, Voice,. Maxwell.

Hiifct were the first on attack, but Wellington soon earned play down in a good loose rush, and Woods just beat Maxwell and forced. * .'■ The Wellington forwards were showing up very well, and kept play on the Hutt line, till Cudby found touch well downfield. Then Hutt were placed on attack, mainly, through a. good rush by Hickling and M'Kay, the forwards earring on for.M'Dougall to fall on the ball over the line. Cudby made a very good attempt to convert, but failed. 3-0. Wellington nearly equalised at once through the efforts of Cunningham, who made afine breakaway. The Yellows kept Hutt on the defensive for the rest of the spell, but were unable to score. Mathieson led the forwards in fine style, and on one occasion was himself nearly over, after running through the Hutt defence, .but his pass was forward.' After he had failed with one free-kick 4 in a handy position, he equalised with' another just before half-time. 3-3. ..Wellington opened the second spell in a promising manner, Prater dribbling right downfield. mid then bootinc hard past Cu<lby for Mathieson'to "fall on tho ball over the line. JMathicson's kick was charged clown. 6-3.' This was practically tho last of the town learn, however, and Hutt pressed hard during most of the remaining play. . They spoilt several rushes by frying to pick the ball up when to boot it was tho cor-

rect thing.- It was to Cudby that they looked for tho points to equalise, and lie had plenty ■'of chances. He failed with, three free-kicks from difficult positions, but Voice got off-side right in front of the posts, and Cudby had no difficulty in scoring. 6-6. He had another unsuccessful kick . immediately following, but then Wellington attack-ed,-'and very nearly scored. It was too late, however, and the end came with the scores : Plutt 6, Wellington' 6. Mr. H. -Pilchei* was referee.