WIN TO WELLINGTON

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 13, 16 July 1934, Page 5

WIN TO WELLINGTON

After a gruelling contest in which both the backs and the forwards saw plenty of the ball Wellington, by virtue of superior combination and solid forward play, accounted for St. Patrick's College Old Boys at Kelburn Park by 11 points to 4. At no stage could thVgame be-termed one-sided, although Wellington, who were not at full strength, held an advantage in t'ne second spell and made the best use of every opportunity that was afforded them. During the first fifteen minutes of the game St. Pat's kept Wellington in their own territory, but Weak handling by the backs nullified the good workiof the forwards, and their only reward was a field goal smartly "potted" Iby Johns. ' This reverse in theiearly stages had 'the effect of infusing much more life into the Wellington forwards, who, up to that time, had seemed content to be on the defensive. Whereas the Wellington backs had been practically starved, their forwards now gave them a feast of the ball and St. Pat's found their defence sorely tested. Shortly before half-time sounded a converted try gave Wellington the lead, which they increased by six points in the second spell. Although the St fe Pat's forwards more than held their own^in the loose, they were unable to obtain the ball from the line-outs and scrums, and it was owing to this fact that they were unable to make up the deficit. Wellington owe their success largely to the fine performance given by their inside backs, who were responsible for the majority of the penetrating attacks that gradually wore down the defence. , •

The teams were:—Wellington: Creswell; Kane, King, Paterson; Trapp, Hutchinson; Kilby; Denton, Hingston, Cathie, Thornton, Carlyon, Howatson, Alexander, McLean. St. Patrick's O.B.: K. O'Connor; Phillip, McGreevy; P. O'Connor; P. McCarthy, McDermott; McGuiness; Dennehy, Hart, Jones, Jeffries, Brice, B. McCarthy, Sarsieh, Johris.-f • ■ . ; , From the kiclj;off St. Pat's immediately took up the, attack and Creswell was kept well occupied. Time and again he sent St. Pat's back with his strong and wellplaced line-kicks, and the ex-collegians found it difficult to break down, the defence. O'Connor was given'a hard chance, and after Wellington had been kept on their own line by St. Pat's very aggressive forwards, Johns ■• opened the' latter's account with; a "snappy" field goal. Halfway through the spell'the Wellington forwards brightened up their play considerably, 'and success attended their efforts when Thornton dived over for King to add the extras and. place Wellington in the lead. Determined to hold this advantage, Wellington adopted the aggressive after j the resumption of the game and showed good combination in their back division. Kilby worked the blind side for Hutchinson to send Kane over in the coiner. Wellington kept up the pressure, and a movement, in which Kilby and Alexander figured prominently ended in the former adding a further three points to Wellington's total. The game ended: Wellington 11, St; Pat's Old Boys 4. The referee was Mr. R. Paton. . .