WELLINGTON AND UNIVERSITY.

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 151, 29 June 1931, Page 14

WELLINGTON AND UNIVERSITY.

: The greater part of play in the Wel-lington-University game' at Athletic Park yiaa ragged, and an exceptional number of penalty kicks, mainly, against Wellington, did not improve matters.. Both, teams are capable of turning- on- sparkling footf ball, but they were not equal to it on Saturday afternoon, although the five thousand spectators were not left without gome taste of the delectable fare. Several University players figured in one delight ful passing bout, in which the reverse pass was employed effectively, and a fine try resulted. A sharp thrust accounted for another try, and in both cases MulvihUl was the leading light. This player give excellent service to a team still minus the help of several- of its principals— Mackay, Mackenzie, Jtamson, and others. University team work has suffered as a result. of the defections from, the team, but the efforts on Saturday were spirited enough to make Wellington's path to success by no means, easy. In keeping 'the ball at their feet the University forwards presented no little danger, and the fast spoiling work removed much of the sharpness from Wellington's, back play. Wellington were the superior force on the day without getting properly into their etride, and the Kilby-Johnson 'combination immediately behind tko scrum worked particularly well for success; Johnson, .who scored two tries, and Page (more effective at second five-eighths than at centre)i-were ever on the alert for the gap, and in-cutting through they were a constant source of trouble to' the opposition. Page reached the objective only once, and hi, getting there he "dummied" an opponent in fine. style. The liveliest moments of the game were towards the close, when Wellington "had a five-point lead. University's' attempts to wipe off the deficiency and Wellington's endeavours to make the position more secure accounted for some exciting .rallies, in which gome of the participants were almost run to a standstill. Throughout the game Wellington were unfortunate in being jmlled up .repeatedly by ; the whistle when making. good headway. • . ' The teams: were:— V V Wellington.—lrvine; Ball, Page, Granger;- Hay, Johnson; Kilby;. Smith; Nicol, Bracken, M'Lean, Howatson, M'lvor, Burrell, Stanley. ■ _■■ : University.—Cormack; Young, Ruru, Webb; Mulvihill, Griffin; Pacey; Simmers; Elliott, Barker, Diederich,, Blacker, Dixon, Hope, Hart. ... Although Wellington, had the advantage, of the wind they received an early setback when Cormack landed a penaltygoal for ■ University. 3-0. Subsequent play by both sides was patchy, there being, a:greatdeaj of mishandling. The follow-ing-iip of a kick by Kuru enabled Young (for whom the ball bounced rightly) to kick the ball on to Wellington's goal area. He was hotly pursued .by Page, Ball, and. Kilby, and Ball took the honours for the sprint Soon afterwards Ball and,Cormack had a nasty collision in jumping for the leather, and' while they were temporarily out of action play went on a Wellington rush being topped off by Joimson. Kilby converted. 5-3, Wellington were quickly in search of more points, and when Ball was served he easily_beat the, opposing wing and. scored. Jtuby failed to convert. .8-3. r At: this ;|tage. Cormack retired, and was* .replaced by ■Black. Further advances by Wellingtons forwards and backs resulted ■ in^ Page finishing off a snappy passing bout with a'try, the position of. which was improved by "selling the dummy," this move giving pL a clean run to the -posts. Kilby inverted. 13-3. University's play had ffpoot.but a change- was brought about when Wvibill cut throughr. splendidly and waTidned by Buru, who., in-passed to JbMSfii before diederich. «£ |mmers •inined in. It was a great.,bit oi to^ fflß&ffi this enabled.BaU to **»£.? however, ton IS. University -I*. Mr!,D: Paris was the referee.