EASTBOURNE CHECKED

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 128, 1 June 1936, Page 16

EASTBOURNE CHECKED

A check to Eastbourne's winning way •was given by Wellington College Old Boys at Athletic Park in a game which wasstrenuously and keenly fought and which, particularly in the second spell, provided some stirring Rugby. Old Boys thoroughly deserved their success. Playing with the wind in the first spell they put on ten points to three by Eastbourne, Old Boys' forwards doing very well indeed. In the second half Eastbourne, though assailing Old Boys' line for a long time at one period, could only muster another three points. By - doing this they reduced their deficit to four points, but all hope of their being able to overcome the four points' lead that remained .to Old Boys vanished when thpir opponents added another try to give them the. honours by 13 points to 6. The teams were:— Eastbourne: Crisp; Walling, D. Plank, McMillan; Fleming, J. Plank; Foley; Robertson, Berry, Griffiths, N. Dellabarca, J. Dellabarca, Robinson, Clark, Waite. ' Old Boys: Masters: Burns, Binning, R. Wright; Hill, Baldwin; Sadler; Souness, Amies, Lamason, Hewitt, Claridge, J. Reynolds, M. Wright, Bydder. - 'The rain made the ball, somewhat difficult to handle, but, nevertheless, both teams infused plenty: of ddsh • into their play and the ball was thrown about freely at times. Old Boys, though receiving a shock in the first minute or two of the game when they were compelled to force, made a better altroivid showing than Eastbourne, whose performance probably was a little disappointing to their large following. There was something missing from Eastbourne's play, and. except for a time in the second spell, they did nol appear as a team capable of winning through. Eastbourne are loo!>-d upor as a team giving their best perfprm ance 'in good weather conditions ane •when the ball is dry. The absence oi these conditions possibly affected then to some extent, but not wholly, foi such were the tactics adopted by Olc Boys that for much of the time, at an 3 rate, they could only play as well a; Old Boys would let them.. . After forcing Old Boys right to theii line at the beginning of the first spell Eastbourne suffered a quick reverse Burns getting in on an Eastbourn< back movement, which had broker down, making a good opening for Sad ler to travel full speed over the East bourne line for a trv. whifh Lamasoi easilv converted. five points which, thus gave Old Boys a splendu

start and undoubtedly had a Sood effect upon the side, seemed to torpedo Eastbourne, who for the greater part of the spell had their work cut out to check their opponents activities. J. Dellabarca, with a characteristically smart breakaway and follow-up, scored a try—which gave Eastbourne a lift along the way, but before the end of the spell a try by Binning, converted by Lamason, took Old Boys score to 10 C?aridge did. not return for the second spell, his place in Old Boys pack being taken by For a lone time Eastbourne had Old B?ys defending hard, some good work being put in by Fleming, the two Planks, and N. Dellabarca, but the efforts of nt ®® of these players led to points. At last from a struggle between the forwards the ball was. sent back to Foley, who immediately set in motion a crisp bout of passing out to D. Plank. This smartly straightened up the attack, and, beating off two of Old Boy® defenders, scored an excellent try. Flem ing was unable to convert. The position now looked rather more hopeful for Eastbourne, but it was dissipated when Lamason led his men downfield for Binning, in subsequent play, to send Btirns over for a try. Lamason failed to convert. Old Boys 13, EastThe referee was Mr. H. B. Simmons.