RUGBY FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 10 September 1935, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

BULLER DEFEATS WELLINGTON(Our own corresponaenT.) WESTPORT, September 9. The weather and ground conditions on Saturday, when Buller met and defeated the Wellington touring side, by a substantial margin of points, were ideal, but the attendance was by uo means in keeping with the proportions which the match warranted. The Buller side were a much superior combination in all departments and the work of the backs was again an outstanding feature of their play. Stewart. Strachan, Holder and Coy. turned on some delightful passing and have now developed into a machine that would test tiic strongest club team i n New Zealand. The Wellington forwards failed badly and the back line as a combination showed many lapses both in attack and defence. Many opportunities presented themselves to reduce the arrears but faulty handling and lack of initiative robbed them of the chances. The Buller side were far more enterprising and were responsible for a .standard of football that seemed foreigi to the visitors. as fiveeighth, was the only bright spot in the side. Easton was chosen as m emergency, and heralded his entry into big football by scoring 14 pointy (four tries and a conversion.) Orman, Buck Allen and Brown were always prominent in the Buller pack, and for Wellington, Reid and McLean were always on the move. Hill opened the scoring with a try for Buller, which Holder failed to improve upon. A few minu tea Jater % Holder rounded off a passing i usli to run behind -the posits. Easton added a try to Buller’s score, which Graham failed to convert. Easton was given another opportunity and crossed Wellington’s line, for the see- ; on-.l try, which was not improved upon. At half-time, Buller had 14 points to their credit, whilst' the visitors failed to open their register. Soon after resumption, good work by Onnan and •.older ended in the latter scoring an unconverted try. The visiting backs came into the picture and after a bright bout of passing, Hudson scored a splendid try. Wellington kept up he attack and were revealing a patch of good football. Walling topped off another good passing bout by scoring far out. The try was no-t converted. Buller broke away in a great rush and Strachan scored a t r y, which was not converted. Easton got his third try a few minutes later and Orman’s attempt to convert failed. Spence brought the Wellington side’s points to the total of nine with a penalty goal and Easton scored for Buller prior •to the whistle and also converted. The final figures were: Buller 28j Welling ton 9. Mr Al!oo was referee.