INCIDENTS IN PLAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 129, 3 June 1935, Page 5

INCIDENTS IN PLAY

CONTRAST BETWEEN BACKS

The trial at Wanganui was favoured by excellent weather, but interest did not produce a crowd as large aswas expected at Spriggen's Park. Still, it was r quite a good assembly, and m it were^ many prominent players of the past. Many Wellingtpnians were present, among them being Messrs. S. S. Dean, F. Glasgow, W. J. Wallace, and A. McDonald, of the New Zealand Rugby Union's management committee. The match was nothing great as a spectacle, although it had its bright features: The concerted play of the Wellington-Wairarapa team was too much for the collection of players from the other four unions, and, while keenness was always apparent on both sides, the contest was too uneven to stir enthusiasm-to any extent.

The teams were:—: Taranaki-Wanganui-Manawatu-Horo-whenua: Full-back, A. CoUins (Taranaki); three-quarters, L. Edwards (Taranaki), M. Campbell (Wanganui), A. L. Bradley". <Manawatu); fiveeighths, G; 'Brown (Taranaki), W. Campbell,- (Horowhenua); half-back, C. Gudgeon (Taranaki); forwards, R. McKenzie (Mariawatu), I. A. Mclntyre (Wanganui}, R. Clarke (Taranaki), E. R. G. Steere (Wanganui) captain, R. Merwood (Horowhenua), P. Fastier (Taranaki), T. G. Fowler (Taranaki), M. F. Henry (Manawatu). Emergencies: Back, J. Morgan (Wanganui); forward, L. Bishop (Horowhenua). Wellington-Wairarapa: Full-back, J. Hemi (Wairarapa);. three-quarter?, N. Ball (Wellington), C. Stringfellow (Wairarapa) captain, A. Wright (Wellington); five-eighths, R. Devine (Wairarapa), W. Langdon (Wellington); half-back, B. Sadler (Wellington); forwards, A. Stevenson (Wellington), E. Barry (Wellington), J. Butler (Wellington),'N. Trass (Wairarapa), G. Laing (Wairarapa), R. Hull (Wellington), C. M. Ongley (Wellington), P. Leahy .(Wellington). Emergencies: Back, E. W. Tindill (Wellington); forward, J. McNeile: (Wellington). PLAYERS EAGER. There was no mistaking the eagerness of the players to jump right, into action,' and immediately the ball was kicked off Hull and Ongley dashed through and carried -play to near the opponents' line, where a penalty kick relieved the., pressure. Soon afterwards another penalty was awarded against Wellington-Wairarapa, and with each kick Collins found length and direction. But the WellingtonWairarapa forwards were on a hustling mission, and they took some stopping. .Their line-out play, with Barry, Trass, and Butter conspicuous, was quite good, and this let the backs have their main opening gallop. It augured well, the ball going through to Wright and infield again to Stringfellow. On the other hand the Red-and-Blacks (Taranaki, etc.) could not settle down to effective work in the rearguard. As the play progressed the contrast became greater. ' Weight applied by the northern forwards did not produce the results; the good achieved was undone by backs who simply could not pass or handle with any degree of accuracy. The trouble mainly was on the sector between forwards and three-quarters, and it was bad for the centre, who did look Jike doing something worth while if given the chance. SADLER'S SMARTNESS. The ■ Wellington-Wairarapa pack worked hard against the bulkier set and Sadler was quick to serve those behind him. They handled and linked up quite well, and now and again Ball loomed up as a danger on the wing. Most of the play was being made by the Wellington-Wairarapa backs, but generally when a score seemed likely there was a hold-up. Collins made powerful and well-directed touchfinders, and occasionally the forwards would burst through to turn the tide. Mclntyre, Steere, and Clarke being conspicuous in one spirited rush. Invariably, however, the play came back —Sadler to Langdon, and so on. By way of a change, Langdon broke in on the opposing backs in one of their essays, and then Sadler snapped up smartly, as was his practice throughout the game, and whipped a long pass out to Ball, who supplied the first real thrill in a determined dash for the line.' One and another were brushed aside, by Ball until, he was stopped just short of the, objective. A minute later Hemi narrowly missed landing a penalty goal. A fast follow-up by Hull had Collins in trouble but he got out of it, and soon afterwards a surprise was sprung by the Red-and-Blacks. Bradley made a short burst, and when hemmed in, he threw a wide pass infield, Merwood taking the, ball and going over for a try, which Collins was unable to improve. Taranaki, etc 3 Wellington-Wairarapa — 0 Well served by the forwards, the Wellington-Wairarapa division retaliat-ed-strongly, only to incur further penalties. They were a keen and persistent lot—backs and forwards—but nothing of account happened until Sadler sent Ball away on another of the determined winger's powerful

j drives. After beating two men Ball passed to Leahy who, in turn, gave a reversed pass to Ball, and it was all the opposition could do to stop Ball from dodging over. There was no crowning of efforts, not even when Stringfellow went over the opposing line, a forward pass being the undoing of a good movement. Asserting ihemselves, the Red-and-Black forwards ate up much territory, but with prospects bright Mclntyre made the fatal mistake of trying to pick up the ball instead of keeping it at toe, the inevitable knock-on occurring. The play generally was short of the mark expected of players on trial for a New Zealand team, and there came a period of scrappiness, which was broken by Stevenson, who, ever on the alert, cleared out in mid- ' field. A pass to Barry, who came up fast, was low. It was then from a desperate clearance that Hemi dropkicked a splendid goal and gave Wel-lington-Wairarapa the lead for which I they had been trying by devious ways. Wellington-Wairarapa 4 Taranaki, etc 3 BALL'S EFFORTS REWARDED. An increase was made a little later. In mid-field Stevenson made the most of an opening, and then sent a welldirected pass—a long one—to Ball. Fnding one way barred, Ball tried another, and shaking himself free of Collins, he dodged over for a try, which was converted by Hemi. 9-3. The opposing forwards played with renewed energy, but were stopped by Sadler as well as being left high and dry by their backs. Except that Hull narrowly missed scoring in a Welling-ton-Wairarapa rush, there was little of note in the play during the remainder of the spell, which ended Wenington-Wairarapa 9 Tarahaki, etc. ... ... 3 MARKED SUPERIORITY. Although not so satisfying, the first spell, it was thought, would set the participants for a better second session. Some shuffling was done in the Red-and-Black team, Clarke and Steere taking a turn on the sides of the scrummage and Campbell (Wanganui) changes places with his namesake of Horowhenua, who was later shifted out to the wing, Edwar.ds moving in. Ball and Wright, the Wellington-Wairarapa wings, also, changed places. It was not long before the better set of backs was on the move again, and at the end of the line Wright made a dash before short-kicking. This had Collins (who had just previously failed in an attempt to place a penalty goal) in trouble, but he just managed to touch down and avert a try. STEVENSON IN SUPPORT. ■Wright next came on the open side as an extra man and in subsequent combined movements Stevenson linked up well with the backs. There was a good deal of running across field, except that Ball and Stevenson cut deeply :into the defence. Supporting a dash by the Hutt rover, Stringfellow made a kick to the centre, where Trass was on. hand and went over for a try,, which Hemi converted. 14-3. The play was becoming more onesided than ever, but for one reason and another further tries were missed. When Sadler worked the blind side — as he did occasionally, without overdoing it—Langdon and Ball co-oper-ated splendidly and Sadler finished off a bright bit of play, only to be recalled, a pass having gone forward. LACK OF COHESION. A fair share of the ball was being gained by the Taranaki-Wanganui-Manawatu-Horowhenua pack, but the efforts of the backs were lamentable. Under better circumstances Campbell (Wanganui), Edwards (Taranaki), and Bradley (Manawatu) would, no doubt, have shown up quite favourably. Fastier, Clarke, and Steere were prominent in some loose rushes, but the defences were not broken. The opposing backs, well fed by Sadler, were generally quick to turn the tide, and Hemi assisted with some hefty punting. All round there was keenness, though the standard of play was not high. Occasionally Campbell (Wanganui) and Bradley made determined solo efforts, but the opposing backs, working in unison, quite overshadowed anything from the opposite rearguard. After Stringfellow had been stopped in the danger zone, Stevenson easily capped another passing bout and Hemi converted. The position was becoming rather too one-sided to be particularly interesting— Wellington-Wairarapa ..'. 19 Taranaki, etc. ......... 3 When preparing to strike again the Wellington-Wairarapa division lost its captain, Stringfellow, who fell heavily when tackled. Tindill filled the gap. Edwards burst from a lively bout of play and showing some dash he piloted his side to likely territory. Here, a penalty was awarded; and Collins landed a good goal. 19-6. BRIGHT FINISHING TOUCHES. However, there was no mistaking which side had the upper hand. The Wellington-Wairarapa backs made good use of the heeling by their foi> wards, and in one sharp bout Langdon drew his man well and let Devine over for a try, Hemi again converting. ! The Red-and-Blacks could not hold the opposition to any extent, though Mclntyre and Fastier showed up' conspicuously in efforts to turn, the rising tide. Ongley, had missed a try in being forced against the corner flag, but a penalty kick found Herm's boot as accurate as ever, the Maori full-back placing a goal" from ,near the touchline. 27-6.' A last rally by the Red-and-blacks aroused enthusiasm* Edwards and'the Campbells supplied the flourishing' touch; Campbell (Wanganui) making the final bid and succeeding as Hemi dived low and brought him down near, the corner. A try was awarded, and. this was. convicted splendidly, by. ■ Collins,. making, the final score:-*- • ' Wellington-Wairarapa ... 27 Taran.aki, etc. ............ U^, Mr.' A. E. Spratt, of Taranaki,- 'was the referee.