FAST & OPEN GAME

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 32, 6 August 1936, Page 22

FAST & OPEN GAME

WIN FOR SILVERSTREAM

In a fast, open, and frequently spectacular game at Athletic Park yesterday afternoon, St. Patrick's College, Silverstream, defeated Wellington College by 19 points (5 tries, 2 converted) to nil. Despite the score, the game was very evenly contested, Wellington College actually having a territorial advantage in the earlier stages. Only one try was scored in the first half, but in the second spell the extraordinarily fast pace set by the Silverstream backs began to tell, the Wellington attack weakened, and assault after assault was launched upon the Wellington line, three tries being scored in twelve minutes.

The speedy Silverstream backs dominated the game, their skill in handling the ball being evident in a number of spectacular passing movements. Chancy was particularly, sound in defence and several times made openings for Hampton to break through. Tacon, O'Kane, Edmonds, and O'Fagan all played well in the. backs. Hampton handled in four of the five try-getting movements, scoring two tries, converting two, and playing throughout -.an exceptionally fine game. The Silverstream forwards were slightly heavier than the Wellington College pack, and fed their backs well in the set scrums and lirieouts.

The Wellington College, team missed two of its best players, ■ the forward Adams and the fast wing-three-quarter Longley. Bradley played a very sound game at the base of the scrum, although he was constantly harassed by fast-moving Silverstream forwards. He kept his .backs supplied but the ball seldom got out to the wings. Ongley, 'the Wellington captain, particularly missed Longley on the wing, and showed great reluctance to let the ball out, being three times caught in possession.' The Wellington College forwards stood Up to their heavier opponents exceedingly well, getting the ball out to the backs on every possible occasion. They were frequently dangerous in loose # movements and until near the end were sound on defence. A feature of the game was the presence on the bank of large parties of supporters from both colleges who urged on 1 their representatives with frequent and stirring hakas. Bright individual play was frequently rewarded by a laudatory chorus of "Well played ——," repeated several times. The teams were:— :' Silverstream.—Wall; Edmonds, Hampton, O'Fagan; Chancy; O'Kane; Tacon; Fox, Holmes, Rewae, Hall, Brownlie, Killalea, Coady, arid O'Connor. Wellington' .College,—Alexander; Bowyer, Pocknall, Jamison; Thompson, Ongley; Bradley; Bartlett, Harding, Sinclair, : Woodcock, Hamilton, Oxley, Gandar, and Armstrong. The game started at a fast pace, Wellington .College playing with a light northerly breeze. Alexander missed a penalty/ and play shot-down to his own end, but. Alexander .got back . and turned'defence into attack so that Hampton had to force down. Several •attacks by Wellington College, followed, but' although the defence was too strong, the score was nearly opened when an attempt to pot by Ongley just dropped under the cross-bar. Silverstream retaliated with a spectacular passing movement led by - Ghaney, but Alexander forced. Wellington College fought back, and a penalty kick was allowed for a scrum infringement on the forty yards' line, but a fine kick by: Alexander just misled -the posts. From a scrum in his own hall Hampton cut through brilliantly and sent to O'Fagan, who dutsprinted Jamison down-the line and swerved'to score under the posts. Hampton converted. Silverstream 5, Wellington 0.. The Silverstream backs were now handling excellently, and a well-judged rush soon had Wellington defending hard, but Ongley saved and sent to Bradley, who cut through and kicked, but the ball went ovfer the dead line. From a mid-way scrum Tacon sent/out to Hampton,, who, when passing* was brought down by Ongiey. O'Connor ] took the difficult pass and had a clear run when Jamison, following fast behind, brought him down with a spectacular twelve-foot dive. Wellington i College fought ( hard, and from a scrum j in the Silverstream twenty-five, Bradley reverse-passed to Jamison* who was tackled within' feet of the Silverstream; line/-From the succeeding scrum; the ball shot across-field to j Pocknall, who/ was brought' down by Chancy right under the Silverstream posts, but Wail relieved and the halftime whistle went with the score unchanged: Silverstream 5, 'Wellington College 0. . ''.'.- ■

y -: SECOND HALF. The second ! half opened at a very fast pace, Wellington College being particularly .dangerous • in; a passing rush," but Chancy relieved. From a scrum!on the ' Silverstream lirie Tacon cut through,and saved a very tricky situation. Play returned to half-way, and twice the ball went out to Ongley, but each,time he was caught in possession. Fox broke through from the third scrum, but .was brought down by Alexander under the Wellington College posts'. ■' Tacon received from the five-yards scrum and dived to score, but other hands were also on the ball. Soon afterwards the ball went out the full length of the Silverstream line, but Edwards was forced out. A strong penalty kick by Brownlee, of Silverstream, just missed the posts. From a ruck on the. Wellington twenty-five O'Kane sent to Chancy. who cut through brilliantly, sending to Hampton, who outpaced the opposition and scored. Brownlee just missed the kick. From a midway scrum shortly afterwards, O'Kane. cut through, .but Alexander brought him down. In less than a minute, O'Fagan was sprinting down the opposite line, but again Alexander saved. Hampton attempted a penalty kick from wide out, but missed. Wellington College fought back, and a passing movement looked promising, but Ongley tried to cut in, and was caught in possession. From a 40-yard scrum, Tacon sent to Chancy, who sprinted across field, blocked Ongley and Packnell, and sent to Hampton, who scored a brilliant try under the posts. Hampton, converted. Silverstream 13, Wellington 0. Hampton was soon racing across field in another dangerous movement, but he was brought down by Bradley. From a fifteen-yard scrum, in Wellington territory, Tacon snapped up the ball and fought his way over. Brownlee missed the kick. Wellington College was now almost constantly on the defensive, and showed evidence of being unable to keep up with the pace of the game. They were defending desperately in one corner, when Hampton sent to Edwards, who raced right across the field and scored in the other corner. The kick failed. Play flared up almost on time, when Wellington College staged a last desperate attack, and, with cheering college boys swarming down the bank and on to the sideline, werit right down to the Silverstream line, but the defence was too strong and the whistle went without the score having been opened for Wellington College, Silverstream 19, Wellington College 0. :

The Silverstream team partly ran and were partly carried off the field by their enthusiastic supporters. The referee was Mr. J. Troy. CURTAIN-RAISER.

The curtain-raiser played by second A grade teams (under 9st 71b in

weight). from the two colleges resulted in a win for Silverstream by 18 points to 3. For Silverstream, tries were scored by Larsen, Minto, Butler, and Quirk. McCarthy potted a goal and converted one of the tries. Porter scored for Wellington College. On Wednesday next, Silverstream will play St. Patrick's College, Wellington; at Athletic Park, and on the following Monday will meet St. Bede's (Christchurch) in Wellington. On Saturday week they will play Palmerston North Boys' High School at Palmerston North.

On Monday next, Rongotai College will play Stratford Boys' High School on Kilbirnie Recreation Ground.