UNLUCKY TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 74, 24 September 1938, Page 26

UNLUCKY TOUR

WELLINGTON TEAM

One way and another the Wellington Rugby team has had an unlucky spin on its tour of the South Island. Some players were not available for the full journey, some contracted measles, and others were injured, with the result that calls for reinforcements had to be met. The much-altered team found it; self facing today's Canterbury match with only one emergency. In spite of the misfortunes, it does seem that the side lost opportunities of gaining more successes. In its comment on the Otago-Welling-ton match the Dunedin "Evening Star" states: — The Otago inside backs combined excellently, and Trevathan and Berghan

had an excellent understanding of each other's play, and in landing a field goal Trevathan brought his tally of points for the season in club and representative games to 173. Simpson gave improved service from the scrum, arid; Berghan paved the way for several good movements, one of which led to the try by Neiper, who finished off as well as any back. " The three-quarter line went well, the wingers, Black and Werner, both showing plenty of dash and determination. Werner made one particularly fine run in the second spell, but shortly afterwards had to retire injured. Making his first appearance in representative Rugby, Mehalski, at centre, played a solid and serviceable game; and Taylor, as usual, was always safe at fullback, and one especially bright bit of play on his part came in the second spell, when he brilliantly gathered a long pass from McLelland and raced away to start passing which threatened trouble until pulled up thrqugh an infringement. The Otago forwards began somewhat 'spasmodically, but towards the end of the first half they settled down, and in the second spell they worked excels lently together with their backs, staging loose rushes and short passing, which had the defence badly rattled at times, and in the latter department Neiper and McDonald were especially prominent. Vorrath and Parkhill toiled from start to finish, and Tyrie and Quaid were prominent for fast following up, the former making a promising debut in representative football. McLelland was often conspicuous in the short-passing rushes, and Mahoney rucked solidly. Taking any amount of risks, the Blues were all over Wellington until well on in the second spell. LOST OPPORTUNITIES. j The first spell provided a tale of Jost opportunities so far as Wellington was concerned, the backs lacking penetration, and many movements stopped at Jones, who showed considerable indecisiveness at second five-eighths. Sargisson showed a lot of promise, but while O'Halloran opened up play well enough his play lacked variety, and much of Wellington's passing swung across field, gaining little ground. Although the three-quarters did not have a great many; opportunities^ Fulton

i drew the defence well on occasion, and apart from one or two lapses in fielding the ball Fleming played a fair game at full-back. Generally speaking, however, the Wellington backs did not greatly impress. The Wellington forwards packed a good scrum, and in the first half they gained a preponderance of ball, Burke, the New Zealand University representative, hooking well. Wellington won 28 scrums to Otago's 13, 11 being indecisive, and on the line-outs possession was won by Wellington, four times to Otago's two, eight being without result. Wellington won ten rucks to Otago's nine; but in the second spell possession was much more even, Wellington winning 15 scrums to Otago's 12, with 12 of an indecisive nature. The line-outs were even, each side winning the ball four times, and eight were indecisive. Otago won nine rucks, Wellington eight,, and seven were without advantage to either side. Otago were awarded four penalties in the first half and Wellington one, and in the second spell each side was awarded three penalties.

The outstanding Wellington forwards in the loose were C. J. Pringle and T. Hegglun, and both showed a lot of pace and dash. The former often came through from the line-outs, and Hegglun was prominent in dashes from midfield, two of which led to tries. Pringle had to leave the field with an injury during the second spelL He

followed up well, but was not always well supported by the rest of the pack. The Wellington captain, Fraser Smith, arid Griffin both went well in the tight, and Gilmore was a solid front-ranker, but generally speaking Wellington did not play so well together in the loose as the Otago forwards did once the latter settled down.