RUGBY LEAGUE
OPENING OF SEASON
PROMISING FORM SHOWN
The Rugby League season in Wellington opened officially on Saturday. The first-grade matches were well contested and the football was of a really good standard. Indications are that the premiership will be full of upsets, as the opening games revealed possible ties in -all teams." r ' ,: ' \
St. George, minus J. Wright, T. Timmins, I. Wilson, and A. O'Connor surprised even, the club's most ardent •supporters, by defeating _ Randwick 23-7 in convincing fashion. It was in the methods employed more than the winning margin in points that St. George impressed. Last senson's champions, with seven points down, suddenly unleashed a scries of concerted rearguard movements which made the reds appear as good as ever. At Newtown Park, Central defeated Petone 15-10. Central have an impressive side, but Petone will do better shortly. Petone were without S. T. Atkins,, who injured a shoulder muscle at practice. They had further bad luck in losing Stirling early in the game, with a twisted knee. Stirling's form was good up to his retirement, but the individual brilliance and unorthodox methods of Atkins might easily have clinched the game 'for Petone. who lacked a thinker in the centre positions. In the closing stages of the game R. Williams raked the ball consistently from set scrums, and J. Coman set 'the backs in motion,' but the fast-breaking Central forwards smothered the Petone centres, who adopted the long in-pass: as a counter. This move is moderately successful, but is comparatively slow in execution. A more. effective. counter would have been a short punt,' lobbed behind the Central forwards, as the latter moved across diagonally. ' This move would worry fast-breaking forwards and harass the opposing centres. J. Cootes played vigorous football, scoring two tries. Cootes is one of the finest forwards Rugby League has known in Wellington and his recent form enhances his reputation.
Cyril Berry leads Central this season and his winning try-getting effort against Petone was the titbit of the match. Petone .were attacking strongly and as the ball rolled clear of a loose ruck, Berry-} picked it up. Finding
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 23
Word Count
351RUGBY LEAGUE Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 23
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