RUGBY FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 127, 31 May 1928, Page 16

RUGBY FOOTBALL

OLD BOYS' MATCH MASTERTON BEAT " WELLINGTON Repaying the visit made by Wellington College Old Boys to Jlasterton during the Easter holidays, a Wairarapa team, headed by A. E. C'ooke and consisting mostly of Masterton Technical College Old Boys, took the field at Athletic Park yesterday afternoon against the local Old Boys. Bright, open football is the usual order with both teams, and the prospect of an attractive display and seeing Cooke and other well-known representatives in actiou led to an attendance of some 1500 enthusiasts at the Park. The weather was jdcal, but heavy rain overnight had softened the ground < considerably, and the match was played east and west on No. 2 . area. A number of the- regular Mastertou Old Boys—Yates, Le Quesne, Lawson, Cormick, M'Alister,' and Cooper—were unable to make the trip, Komc juniors and three Gladstone players filling the vaean.cies. Reside, a Wairarapa representative, was among the Gladstone players taking •part. Considering the sticky nature of the turf the play was fast, and much of it was open. The advantage was with the local team for practically three parts of the game, but in a late rally the visitors snatched victory by a" margin of two points. | The teams were: — '' . Masterton: Bunny; Ball, ITolmwood, Faulknor; Cooke, Smith; Nunn; Chesterman; Walker, Anderson, Reside, Allen. Buckley, Riddel!. Fraser-Smith. Wellington; Malcolm; R. Lamason, Grenfell, Wylie; Fitzinaurice, M'Donald; Dv Chateau; J. Lamason; Reynolds, Bray, Hand, M'Pherson, Menzics, Preston, Meadows. Masterton won' the toss and played towards the stand. .In the early stages of the game play was patchy, both sides try- j ing kick-and-follow-through as a means to success. Attempts at passing did not get very far. The local team took the aggressive from the outset but each advance was turned, and the visitors occasionally set up an attack, which, however, lacked finish. The Wellington backs at length appeared to better advantage in combined work, and one passing bout had almost reached the point of success, when Cooke saved and set his own side on attack. In mid-field the local Old Boys were awarded a free kick, J. Lamason finding the distance a little, too far for a goal. Soon afterwards the local players were presented with an opening on the right wing, only to find Cooke quickly appearing on the scene to close the gap. After this the play, of more or less ragged order, was confined to neutral territory. The visiting backs opened out in a. movement which promised well until a pass was sent forward. A reply by the local rearguard alsd looked promising until Cooke-ground-ed Wylie. The forwards, however, pressed on, and in a break-away from a scrum Hand scored. Malcolm'skick missed. 3-0. Soon afterwards Wellington were again heading well, and after passing broke down the ball was kicked through to Masterton's line, where Wellington were awarded a free kick. The attempt to goal was unsuccessful. Wellington were now playing over the opposition, and went close to scoring on two or three occasions. "Dummying" . lost two good

chances. The spell ended without further score: Wellington 3, Masterton 0. In the second spell the visitors set off with more dash, but Wellington came back in a series of passing bouts and loose forward rushes. Good clearances were effected, and at length Masterton narrowly missed a try, the ball just heating Faulkuor into toiich-in-goal. The local players were soon at the other end of the field, and from a scramble near the line,' jDu Chateau cleverly "dummied" his way across for a try, which Malcolm failed to convert. G-0. Following a bout of loose midfield play, Masterton entered the opposing twenty-five. From there the ball was kicked too far, enabling Malcolm to force. The position was quickly changed, Masterton having to beat a hasty retreat to their line. Getting clear again, the visitors went well in a bout of open play, with Cooke and Faulkuor as tho principals. Neat passing between these two gave Faulknor a clear run-in for a' try, which was not converted. G-3. Wellington made reply in businesslike manner, M'Pherson topping off a series of rushes by scoring from the loose. Lainason's kick missed. .9-3. In subsequent play the visitors were awarded a free-kick and Cooke attempted to goal without success. After Wellington had narrowly missed another try, tho visitors, worked up to .a good position, and Nunn gave the backs an opening. The ball weut through to Ball, on the right wing, and lie raced across for a try. The position was good for a conversion, but Cooke failed with the kick. 9-6. Lively play followed; both sides making attacks. ■ Success came Wellington's way when, after a bout of quick passing, near the visitors' line, M'Donald was awarded,a try. Malcolm's kick missed, 12-C. A little later the visiting backs set oil in good style, Cooke and Holmwood paving the way for a try by Buckley. Smith converted. 12-11. The visitors made strenuous efforts to pull the game out of the fire, and had Wellington defending hard. From a scrummage the Masterton backs were well served, and Holmwood made the most of an opening. The try was not converted. Masterton now had the local team on the run, and wore heading well when the final whistle souuded—Old Boya (Masterton) 14, Old Boys (Wellington) 12. Mr. A. E. Neilson was the referee.