RUGBY LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 45, 22 August 1938, Page 5

RUGBY LEAGUE

WELLINGTON BEATEN

REPRESENTATIVE MATCH

The Canterbury Rugby League team beat Wellington by 18 points to 13, at Newtown Park, on Saturday, in a fast and exciting game. The ground was a little on the soft side, but was not bad enough to prevent good back movements or swift play. There was a fair crowd present. Wellington's initial attack caught the visitors by surprise, and they did not regain their confidence until the closing stages of the first spell when they crossed the half-way line for the first time. Indeed, for seme time after the game started it seemed that Wellington, if they could keep up the pace they had made, would have little trouble in winning. In the opening stages the Canterbury backs did not get many chances owing to the spoiling game played by the local forwards and lack of the ball.

It was a different game in the second half, however, for Canterbury came to life and sent down attack after attack. They were combining, handling, and following up splendidly, and the rearguard showed pace and determination. Not that Wellington were out of the picture by any means for they were unlucky not to score on at least two occasions, and were superior in the last ten minutes or so. On the whole the score was a fairly good indication of the relative strength of the teams. In the first spell the Canterbury backs were standing flat-footed and the opposing forwards had little trouble in keeping them in check. Patrick, at centre, played a great game for Wellington, and Edie was also prominent. Cootes was most useful in the pack, his Australian experience apparently standing him in good stead. Bellamy was the outstanding forward for Canterbury, and Clark, Grimes, and Price were always to the fore. Young, Whitley, Rope, and Davidson all played very attractively in the backs and were responsible for many fast and spectacular movements. . ' The handling was mainly good, and much of the back action was tricky and clever. The game was one of the best representaitve fixtures seen in Wellington fdr some time. The teams were as follows: — Wellington: W. Spencer; T. Holland, A. Patrick, T. Cook; G. Eadie, C. Mulholland; G. Marshall; J. Cootes (captain), G. O'Halloran, C. Berry, J. Mustchen, A. Selwood, A. Swanberg. Canterbury: W. Guy; R. Whitley, I. Rope, C. Davidson, J. O'Connor, L. Young (captain); N. Boutery; J. Clark, J. Airey, R. Price, R. Barnard, G. Bellamy, E. Grimes. The referee was Mr. W. Simpson. Wellington attacked immediately, the backs and forwards indulging in a bout of passing, which Canterbury failed to stem. The Wellington backs, at this stage, were playing excellent football, their passing being clean and faultless. They had Canterbury completely bustled, and the backs moved into the attack in a passing movement, which included the whole of the line, Patrick scoring fairly wide out. Wellington 3, Canterbury 0. Canterbury, despite the efforts of Whitley and Young, were unable to assume the offensive on account of the hard rucking by the Wellington backs and forwards. Marshall, at half-back, was prominent in every movement, his tackling being especially deadly. Once again the Wellington backs combined \n a spectacular passing movement, which ended in Eadie scoring. Wellington 6, Canterbury 0. Cootes gave ample evidence that he had profited by his visit to Australia, his hooking being responsible for Wellington's superiority in the scrums. After some torrid moments on defence, Bellamy, of Canterbury, relieved and passed to Grimes, who, after a run downfield, had Wellington defending. Wellington managed to stem the Canterbury attacks, but they were kept well extended. The first half was full of incident, fast open play being the order of the day. Just before half-time Guy, of Canterbury, was injured and replaced by D. Smith. Young, of Canterbury, broke away from the ruck just on half-time and after a run that beat the opposition, passed to Whitley, who handed to Young, and from him to Price, who snored. Young converted, the halftime score being: Wellington. 6, Canterbury 5. ,-,, The early stages of the second spell were characterised by fast, spectacular football in which both teams battled hard for mastery. The heavy Canterbury forward pack commenced to dominate the game, Bellamy, Clark, and Price being prominent in several dangerous movements, which were checked by the deadly Wellington tackling. The kick and follow-up pro-, cedure was exploited with good effect by Canterbury. Young scored a try when he stab-kicked and through fast following up secured and fell over the Wellington line. Canterbury 10, Wellington 6. , Several times Wellington turned defence into attack, Coutts and Spencer nearly scoring on several occasions. Canterbury did not have things their own way, but the weightier pack commenced to wear Wellington down. The understanding between the Canterbury backs and forwards was responsible for a try being scored by Rope. Davidson converted. Canterbury 15, Wellington 6. During a sortie by Wellington Selwood kicked a penalty. Shortly afterwards Clarke scored. Canterbury 18, Wellington 8. ■ ■'*' *l«i Stung to greater efforts by these reverses, Wellington attacked desperately, and after some spectacular play were hammering away on the Canterbury line. Coutts made prodigious efforts to place Wellington in the lead. Several times he broke away but was pulled down just short of the line. Wellington were determined to score, however, and just on time O'Halloran back-passed to Coutts, who scored. Spencer converted. The game ended with the score: Canterbury 18 Wellington 13 GAME ENDS IN DRAW. The two leading teams in the Rugby League reserve grade, Miramar and St. George, provided excellent football in the' Curtain-raiser to the representative game at Newtown Park. Miramar attacked from the commencement, the backs playing good football, the passing movements being faultless. Wickham, at second fiveeighths, and Webster, at centre, were prominent in every Miramar movement, and it was largely through their efforts that Miramar had the lead by 10 points to 5 at half-time. St. George battled hard for the'lead, backs and forwards combining splendidly, but Miramar proved the better team, and despite St. George's hard battling they could not gain the lead, but managed to end the game in a draw, 10 all. Bouzaid was the pick of the St. George backs. For St. George James and Bouzaid scored tries, and Bouzaid converted a try and Littler kicked a penalty. Richards and I.Tinnock scored tries for Miramar, and Trillo and Askew kicked penalties.