WELLINGTON SUCCEED

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 65, 14 September 1925, Page 9

WELLINGTON SUCCEED

DEFEAT OTAGO BY 31 TO 10

BACKS IN SPLENDID FOEM.

, After their gruelling'struggle against Hawke3 Bay the previous Saturday, when they succumbed to the, shock tnrctics'of the Kanfurly Shield holders, Wellington Had something, of a field day with Otago at Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon and won. comfortably by .31 points to 10. The game produced a vfine exhibition'-of Eugby by; both sides, from- the purely spectacular point of. view, a better, game, than that with Hawkes Bay, when' the very nature of the contest made -it a real battle for supremacy. Wellington, freed from: thehv responsibility .'as 'challengers: and faced no longer by the formidable phalanx of Brownlie Bros, and,' Co.^played sparkline, football, arid showed the true, quality of ' their backs. Mark ;Nicholls was at the very zenith of his game, and iurnished full confirmation of ,his reputation as one of the ■ greatest<of the All Blacks. His, management of the back game was clever to a degree, and , his goal-kicking was superb. His potted goal from out near the .touchline, which equalised ,the scores, 10 all, was one-of the best things seen on the Park this season. AH the backs, with the exception of Mansfield, who at no time was at home with the play, did well, and the forwards in the second spell gained a complete mastery of their province, in the game. Otago did well m Aha first spell, scoring two perfect tries arid ' converting them, but injuries to players-dislocated their team, .and after, leading-at half-time by 10 points to 6, they faded away towards the latter part of the game. The six .thousand, odd spectators were treated to', a splendid afternoon's football. Incidentally the progress reports of the ; AucklandHawkes Bay match at > Eden Park contributed materially to the enjoyment of the afternoon. ' ' '. • ■ ,'.' Weather conditions,-if.a httleon the warnrside, were: ideal for football, but' the ground was sloppy with; the recent rains. Notwithstanding - this, the handling of the ballby both sides was clean and accurate. On account of the similarity of colour between'the regula-, lion black of.the Wellington representative jerseys arid. Otago s dark Blue Wellington took the field in the colours of the Wellington .Club—amber and black. Porter-led the: Wellington side and Townsend .the visitors.. The teams Wellington.—Walters; Hickey, Svenson, Bedell; Mansfield,'Nicholls; Warwick ;,Porter (captain); Young, Smith, J. Shearer, Martin-Smith, Sly, Wilson, Osborne. , ,'< ':. ,-.■ • -■'■■■■„ \ _ „ Otago.—F. Donnelly; Webbj Callander,v Hanan; Ross, Townsend .(captain); Johnstone; Pierce; Brough, Porritt, Gv Donnelly, Polworth, Dunne, Knox, Glen-" garry.' '' • ■-. v '■,' : T-*\:<: •,■ :•' * •■; 1"-.' .. ; ,-■ THE PLAY !; : ;'-.;. ■",.-.:,;;.

. Wellington"wife '* the:-.tos3 -an&iplayed; from the north end,: with a slight advantage of jbhe sun., - At the''outset they took the'offensive; .and-for a timewere dangerous;, in <acrunis - along the ■ Otago twenty-five line. The tables were .turned when Walters sent back a kick-out with a weak return, :.an^ ,F. Donnelly made ground," giving, the ball to Rosa, who in an exchange with Callender, went into touch hear the corner. ■-, From a favourable line-out the ball was 'knocked' back, to Johnstonej who !gave it ,to Townsend, who fell.across ;the line for, a good-tryV'The Otago full-back converted. Otago 5, -Wellington 0. : _ '.'■. Doth sides were. now throwing the ball about -freely in' attractive, football;-'. i'owiiseiia 1 was; conspicuous'-. opening ■up the. Otago movement, -and Potter.?iand. Nichblls on the '•- Wellington side. ■ ;Exr changes between Porter: and.. . Svetison and back: to Porter, and on, to Bedell saw the winger squeezed out\near'\the : covneiv Twice Bedell!:was gin the verger of the line', but had. to get; rid of-the; ball infield. 'Finally, *,- Otago were penal-; ised on their own twenty^five, and Nicholls kicked a brilliant goal from near, the touch-line. Otago 5, Wellington. 3.: ■;; Immediately followed a mixed massed 'rush of Wellington backs and forwards, and Warwick, following "up, slipped over at the corner. -Nicholls failed with a dif-' ficult kick.' Wellington 6, Otago 5.Otago were having quite their share of the game, and Townsend showed up splendidly time arid again ' with heady play in getting his backs on/the move.', The ball went right across to Webb, but the winger dropped his pass and the chance was lost. Another rush, and Ross passed too far back for Callander and Webb, both of them overrunning the ball. Then Johnstdne opened up a move^ merit between twentyrSve and half-way, passing to Ross, who beat the defence neatly, coming through with only Walters to pass, and Callander arid Hanan on one side, and Townsend. on the other in close attendance. Walters had no chance. Boss passed to Townsend, who dived'over between'the posts, scoring, a model try of straight running. F. Donnelly converted, putting Otago in the lead again. Otago' 10, Wellington 6. Wellington had the best of the rest of the-spell, and Bedell was associated in some promising/ movements,* with Nicholls, and then with Warwick, but could not get home. The spell ended with the score unchanged. ' , ' ' '-

A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS

Wellington began to press ■ at the beginning, of the second half, and .Jack Shearer and Porter were seen in some good forward work, which nearly reached the Otago line;' Here Wellington were penalised, and a weak: .line kick by Donnelly fell straight, into Mark Nich-' olls's arms. Hewas';away out near the touch line, but running in took a deliberate pot and landed a lovely goal, equalising the scores: 10 nil. \ .• . ' .

Shortly after this began Otago's chapter of accidents. Webb, whqjiad been playing a useful game on the wing, was injured and had to be carried off on a stretcher •. by. the/ St.. John Ambulance men. Stevenson took his place, going full-back, while Donnelly camo up on the wing.. 'Wellington were-getting the ball in the scrum and on the line-but, and it was from a thro,w-in knocked back that Warwick got the ball and passed to Nicholls., who gave it to Svenson.. That player cut' in, and finally passed to Bedell, ivbo scored ,1 protty try. Nicholls failed with the' kick. Wellington 13, Otngo'lO. Wellington were now thoroughly in their stride, and scores came fast. Young start-* ed a passing: rush, and the.ball travelled from him to Nicholls, to Warwick, •who gave it to Nicholls again, and Hickey completed the evolution with a fine try. Nicholl3 kicked an absolute poster. 16-10. . _ ' For quite a »pell Otago tried, hard to even matters up, and Townaend iind Dpnnellyxwere together in efforts which-came •hear success. TJien off went Wellington again with .a mighty! rush, and J. Shearer scorecl,'with Wilson iri"aUendarice. A'ichoils goaled. -31-10.:'.-,. '..'.' . Injuries to players on bo.th, sides stud-. : ■. "• , ■'■■.■ ' » ■ "•■■-.'"* :. i ■■■

ded the next:,phase. Stevenson had to be carried off,. Peterson coming on in his place, and Donnelly falling back to his original position; Young, was hurt on the head, and replaced by Duncan. Play slackened for- a while, and then a whirlwind rush of the home'side led to another score;' fivenson gave Hickey the opening. , Hickey galloped down the line passed.in to.Jack Shearer, and regained the ball, arid scored 'at the nei-. Nicholls kicked a "splendid goal. 26-10. • '. :- ' ' '.' ■-. '

Soon after this Wilson went off with an injury, Fitzgerald coming on at the eleventh hour. Svenson -followed: up a judicious kick by Mark Nicholls, scored easily, and Nicholls goaled, making the total •' " ■ ■■;;,. V ■ :"< . ■ v WELLINGTON ......'..... 31 . ■\ otago .; io■■•■■■:■ Mr, .Freeman (Wairarapa) controlled the game satisfactorily. '.