RUGBY FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 80, 1 October 1938, Page 22

RUGBY FOOTBALL

REASONABLY GOOD RECORD

CHANGES AFFECT WELLINGTON FORM

A- To a season ia which the promise of an advance in the expected of Rugby's stronghold was not altogether the Wellington representatives, in spite of an unparalleled yrun of mosfortunes, supplied some interesting finishing touches. i There is little doubt that this season's Rugby, in Wellington revealed l material for big achievement, but for one reason and another it 'was never produced at its best in the series of engagements with other provinces. Had it been, Wellington would undoubtedly have shown a much better record. As it was, the winning of eight of the twelve matches was a reasonably good achievement considering that in no case did Wellnig^on field a team that could not have been improved.

Of Wellington's representative snatches nine were classed as "A"/ games, and it was in these that the rfOur defeats were met. For various reasons the "A" team was changed from match to match, and in the end : tßirty-sev^en players had been, used tolfulfil these engagements. The "B" representatives, strengthened by "A" players, won their three matches, and one of the features of the performances was the leadership of the exOxford University captain and Scottish international, M. McG. Cooper, who, it was thought, would have been a first choice for the "A" team. Wellington's record in representative r matches was: "A" Team: v. Taranaki, lost 8-9. v. Wairarapa, won 27-12. v. Hawke's Bay, lost 12-13. v. Taranaki, won 47-6. v. Auckland, won 12-6. v. Southland, lost 3-10. Y. Otago, lost 8-18. - v. South Canterbury, won 17-6. v. Canterbury, won 14-8. Summary: Played 9, won 5, lost 4; points for 148, points against 88. ;. B Team: ,v. Marlborough, won 17-12. v. Manawatu, won 16-11. v. Wanganui, won 22-14. Summary: Played 3, won 3; points for: 55, points against 37. . All matches: Played 12, won 8, lost 4;lpoints for 203, points against 125.