Rugby Football

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 19, 22 July 1933, Page 20

Rugby Football

WELLINGTON V. WAIRARAPA

■ In making his preliminary choice of players for Wellington's first representative match at home this season — that.with "Wairarapa next Wednesday —the selector (-Mr. J. N. Millard)'has called upon all the players who gave ' the ■ programme of representative , matches such a fine opening by overwhelming Taranaki at Hawera recently. It was not to be expected, of course, that any of those players would be passed aside as candidates for further representative matches. There were, however, several worthy players who, through no fault of their own, were unable to assist Wellington against Taranaki, and these have not been over'lopked. Still, there are some whose strong claims to inclusion make them .again unfortunate in not being among ihe elect. No doubt the selector feels the position just as keenly as the 1 players, but the plain fact is that there .is not room for all, and Mr. Millard is oa tho right lines in sticking as far as possible to what he considers his 'best side. For those players who are really unlucky there will be an opportunity later on, when a second team Vill be required for matches other than -those in which the first team will be playiug. The team against Wairarapa will not bo chosen finally until after a gymnasium practice on Monday night. It should be much the same ~as that which defeated Taranaki, though bound to differ in one or two ' j-t'spects. The match with Wairarapa should serve to put the representative team into good trim for the match with Canterbury on August 5. FROM 1880 ONWARDS Matches between Wairarapa and Wellington date away back to 1880, and next week's contest is the fiftyfifth.between the unions. Of,the games played to date Wellington have won 37 and Wairarapa 13, the remaining four having been drawn. The first match, in the long series was played at Greytown, and resulted in a win for .Wellington by one goal and three tries to nil. Some points from the long history of the contests are supplied by Mr..6. J. W. Jackson: — Wellington maintained their winning sequence until the second match of 1887, played at Grey town, when Waira\..Tapa were victorious by 5 points to nil. In 1888, at Wellington, the local fifteen .won by 9 points to 2, but Wairarapa had their revenge in the following (season, winning at Greytown by 5 points to 3. Wellington won narrowly by 11 points to 10 in the following ryear, and also won 1890, 1892, and •1894. Wairarapa's turn came again in 1895, when they won at Masterton by 8 points to nil. In 1896 Wellington won r by 16 points to 3, but in .1897 at Masterton success again came to Wuirarapa, this time by 3 points to nil. In >:1898, 1899 (two games), and 1900 (two games), Wellington won all games. In 1901 also two games were played, Wellington winning one by 14 points to and the other being drawn, 9 points 'ieach. In the four succeeding years home and home matches were played, and Wairarapa were successful on two occasions, in 1903 at Carterton by 8 points to 3, and in 1904 at Carterton by 8 points to 5. In 1905 at Wellington the local team won by 13 points to 11, and the match at Carterton in the same year was drawn, 3 points all. FAMOUS COMBINATION. In 1906 at Wellington the local side spored an overwhelming victory by 62 points to 9, this being the highest score recorded in any match between the unions. The Wellington team on this occasion included several members of the famous 1905 New Zealand team —Wallace, Roberts, Thomson, and McGregor—and their combination and anticipation of .one another's play was irresistible. In illustration of the nature of the Wellington attack it may bo mentioned, that on one occasion a movement which resulted in a try was started from Wellington's in-goal area. Wairarapa were, however, often on attack, and missed several scores by narrow margins. In 1907 Wellington won one came by 12 points to 3, and the other at Carterton' was drawn, 3 points each. In 1908, 1909, and 1912 one game in each year was played, and all were won by Wellington. The two games in 1913 were both won by Wellington. In 1914 again Wellington won the only match at Carterton by 6 points to 3. Wairarapa's turn came again in 1915 when at Carterton they defeated the city representatives by 23 points to 8. In 1917 at Masterton the country fifteen was again victorious by 8 points to 3, but at Wellington in the same year the city team won decisively by 39 points to 3. In 1918 each union won a match, Wairarapa at Carterton by 19 points to 5, and Wellington at Wellington by 33 points to 3. Wellington won both matches in 1920. WAIRARAPA'S ONE CITY WIN. Then came a break until 1923 when in Wellington the match played as an early game to the North-South island match resulted in a pointless draw. In tho next season at Carterton Wellington were defeated by 18 points to 9, but, turned tho tables at Wellington in 1925 by 28 points to 12. Wairarapa won again at Carterton in 1925 by 24 points to 17, and in 1926 scored a decisive victory in Wellington by 36 points to 19. This latter victory is most notable by reason of the fact that it marks Wairarapa's only win over Wellington in Wellington, al- , though their representatives shared the honours in the cT:-rfftvJ game of 1923. Wairarap.,l *-ere *f«!l>» the victors at Carterton in If4vf^tiy 9 points to 3, and established their longest sequence of victories, three on end. In 1930 at Wellington the city representatives won by 42 points to 19, and were again successful at Masterton last • year 'by 26 points to 3. PLAYED IN BOTH UNIONS. Many players from the Wairarapa nave earned representative honours for Wellington. The list includes:— Tand h. A. Beard, who appeared as Wellington representatives in 1913 and 1914; Allan Cameron, 1908; A. E. Cooke, 2931; E. Dockery, 1897; F. Fairbrothcr. 1885-1888; F. Fuller, 1931, 1933; F. Hawke, 1898-1900; G, Miller, 1913,1914; A. J. (Paddy) Maguiro, 1898; A. MeMinn, 1902; W. McKenzie, 1893; T. S. Ronaldson, 1879-1882; H.^ Udy, 1882----1883; H. Wrigley, 1901-1902; E. C. Prendeville, 1908; W. Warner, 1905; -J>.. N. Burns, 1922, 1926; F. C. Hutchison, 1920-1921; W. Hart, 1923, 1924, 1925; P. Ward, 1930; J. Perry, 1883, 1885; G.'Huine and C. Hume, 1885, 1888; E. H. D. Whatman, 1885, 1888. The present chairman of the Wellington Rugby Union's management committee (Mr. J. Predeville) was also a Wairarapa representative during his playing days, and on one occasion acted as player-manager of the Wairarapa team, which visited Taranaki, Wanganui, and Manawatu. WAIRARAPA FAMILIES. Waii'arapa football has been notable for the number of relatives who haveplayed for the various club teams at at'- about the same time. Carterton

NEXT WEEK'S HEPEESEXTATIVE MATCH By "Dropklck."

has had the McKenzie brothers —Jack, Bert, Ted, and Norman—the Cadwalladcrs, Jack Johnston, and the late Alf Johnston, and the Armstrongs. Greytown has had Percy and Clarry Rogers, the Udys, the Workman brothers — Jack, Bob, and Eddy—Angus (Tim) and Archie McMastcr, Matt and Paddy Maguire, and the Skect brothers. Familiar names in Masterton football aro the O'Learys, Grays, Spackman, Perry, Watson, Welch, and Whatman families; and in Featherstou the Cuudys and Donalds have been very prominent^ tempekTn test SPRINGBOKS V. WALLABIES corded that the battle between the foiwards became torrid, and with the lis ng of tempers the referee stopped the riiv and kept the forwards apart for Jminute to P a llow them to down There was an unpleasant incident later X Same, whJcerutti was struck by a fist in a loose serum and fell pios trThls was the first Test everflayed between the two countries, and the special report to the "Daily Telegraph (Svtaey) states that there was a reScr^l. The seore-17 to 3 in favour of the Springboks-reflected the superiority of the South African team nPthe daf. In the first half the Wabbles made a splendicl stand, and at halftime the Springboks could show an advantage of only six points. These came from an early try by Craven, the Springbok scrum half, who played a brilliant game, and from a dropped penalty goal by Brand from forty yards out shortly before the interval. The ball struck the crossbar and bounded over. There were times in the first half when the Wallabies played the bottei football, ,and the . forwards won 11 scrums to 10. TOURISTS WORN DOWN. Though the Wallabies began the second half splendidly, they were gradually worn down, -and the Springboks scored three more tries, the last of which was converted. Play was brightened up in the second half by the Wallabies launching determined attacks. One fine passing movement ended when McLean, on tlie wing, failed to take a pass one hand. Biilman then attempted to cut through, but was brought down by Dalton. The Springbok forwards carried out a rousing dribbling rush, which went half the length of the field, and was checked only five yards from the line. F. Bergh went over from a loose scamble for a try. _ The Springboks were twice penalised in a minute within their twenty-five. Biilman missed with the first kick, but scored a penalty goal with the second. Cowper and Kelaher, by to-and-fro passing, made a brilliant run half the length of the field. From a scrum midfield Craven broke away. He was overhauled from behind by Kolaher. Dalton, racing up, booted the ball on. Steggall threw himself on it a few yards from the line. The ball worked free, Bergh picking, up and scoring. The game waged hotter and hottpr. the Wallabies fighting a great losing battle. Sturtridge and Kelaher, passing back and forward, figured in a thrilling fifty yards' run beforo the former was downed with the ball. In the concluding stages, the Springboks were on top. From a scrum, Craven fed Osier, who raced through, to score. Brand converted, leaving tho Springboks winners by 17 to 3. The lesson of the defeat is that the Wallabies' attack is not good enough to pierce the Springbok defence. It will'have- to improve if the other Tests arc to be won. "NEED NOT DESPAIR." The Australians need not despair (the report states). The 1928 All Blacks were beaten 17 to nil in the first Test, yet managed to share tho rubber with the Springboks. - Dr. W. Matthews, the Australian manager, in an interview, said:—"l am satisfied with the form of the team and more than' satisfied with the forwards, who held such a great pack in the tight rucks. The difference between the two teams was that we did not grasp our opportunities, and the South Africans did. Our forwards let them through on two vital occasions, and they scored both times. The weight of the South African forwards told in the concluding fifteen minutes." This is the story of the game. The Springbok pack wore down their lighter opponents, who battled heroically in the tight to obtain a full share of the ball, but the effort wore them down, and they were beaten in loose play. Clark was not the electrifying figure he was against the Western Province a week earlier, and the breakaways allowed too much scope to the burly Craven, the Springboks' scrum-half, who was responsible for two tries. The Wallabies won 23 serums to 22, 32 line-outs to 26, and had 12 penalties to 11. TIME UP ! Considerable comment was occasioned* recently when referee J. A. Malcolm, the old Wellington and North Island full-back, terminated the Pon-sonby-Grafton game without waiting for the ball to go out of play (states the " Observer," Auckland). Those who questioned his ruling evidently forgot that tho referee may blow "time" when play is stopped for anything but a penalty kick. The play had already gone a good two minutes over time. There had been a line-out 'when time was just about up, l)ut Mr. Malcolm gave Ponsonby the benefit of the doubt, and led by Solomon they made a desperate effort to pull the game out of tjio fire. A free kick came to Grafton, but Moore just failed to get the line,' and though the Grafton, defence was tenacious, tho whirlwind Ponsonby attack was still waxing hot when a knock-on occurred and the 'referee blew his whistle for time. In doing so he undoubtedly took tho best courso in a rather perplexing situation. HAWKE'S BAY FINANCE "Our gate takings this year have been very poor, and we're going to be faced with a pretty heavy deficit,'' remarked Mr. J. W. Norrie, chairman of the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union, the other evening when tho union's management, committee was considering the question of whether the union should go to the expense of about £60 in sending a Hawke's Bay junior representative team to Gisborne this season. Mr. Norrie mentioned that the union had to make allowances for the tours which the Hawke's Bay senior representatives were to undertake next season. It was decided that the juniors' trip to Gisborne should be abandoned for the present season.