WELLINGTON'S WIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 42, 18 August 1941, Page 10

WELLINGTON'S WIN

MATCH WITH WAIRARAPA

MUD A LEVELLER

Under the most trying conditions teams representing Walrarapa and Wellington did their utmost to prevent their match at Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon from degenerating Into a Rugby mud scramble. There was plenty of slithering and sliding on a surface already churned up by an entertaining inter-collegiate curtain-raiser, but the greaay ball was handled well on occasions. Wairarapa pressed Wellington strongly, notably in the second half, and ran the local representatives to a close decision. Almost at the finish the match took its most spectacular turn, brought about by a magnificent solo effort. Throughout the play one contestant and another' showed up In dashes and nippy play, and there was some valiant work on defence.

The teams were:—

Wellington.—Callanan: Sherratt, Pearson (captain), Hudson; Ewert, Norton; Church; Carter, Rankin, Cassldy, Harvey, Mullett, Stanaway, Oxley, Shannon. During the second spell Ewert retired hurt and was replaced by Hallewell.

Wairarapa.—Jensen; Playle, Thompson, Colquhoun; Mahupuka, O'Kane; Sugrue; Joblin, Buttress, A. Matheson, H. Matheson, Conwell, Desmond, Howard (captain) ,* Walker. From a bright beginning in which the backs showed up enterprisingly, Wellington made most of the play during, the first spell. They accommodated themselves to the conditions much more quickly than did the visitors, who, however, countered quite effectively with the ball at toe and managed many times to kick clear when a Wellington movement broke down. Although it was apparent that combined passing bouts by the backs were risky, the local rearguard not infrequently broke off in open order, but rarely got far. Still, the efforts help to give the play some of its brighter patches. It was from a pass on the blind side that Norton slipped through for Wellington's first try. Strong loose rushes were employed subsequently, but the" spell was well advanced before Wellington made another successful penetration. This came about through a rush in which Stanaway, Oxley. Cassidy, and Rankin were the principals. When the ball was finally kicked across the Wairarapa line Rankin won the race for the touch-down, and the try was converted by Pearson. 8-0. For all their struggling under the severe handicap of the conditions, both sides played with renewed dash in the second half. Wairarapa found their feet and used them to good effect, except that there was not the ability to finish off the many advances. Then, too, there was some sterling defensive work; this applied to several of the players of both sides. Now and again a breakaway served to vary the strenuous tussling between the packs, and at times the backs tried to niakte good With the ball In hand. It was all very difficult, but Interest was held. Colquhoun capped a Wairarapa rush with a try, which Mahupuka converted. The visitors went, close again, but in the end they had to beat a very hasty retreat in order to prevent a Wellington . dash from gaining points. In this great effort Hudson was the leading figure. He set out from well inside his own half and, kicking on and on, finally sent the ball over the Wairarapa line, only to be beaten to the touch-down by a fast-follow-ing opponent. The result was: Wellington S, Wairarapa 5. Mr. A. Hooper was the referee.