RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 10 September 1934, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

WELLINGTON V. ATHLETIC. At the Levin Domain on Saturday afternoon the football gala arranged by the Athletic Club attracted quite a fair of Rugby enthusiasts. Proceedings commenced with two primary schools seven-a-side matches. These were keenly contested, as is shown by the fact that in both games no scores were registered. The seven-a-side game between the Levin High School and Athletic junior teams followed. In this game the High School boys proved too good, winning by the wide margin of 17 points to 3, The chief attraction of the afternoon was the senior game between representatives of the Wellington and Athletic Clubs in which the visitors showed themselves, as a team, to be far superior to the local boys. They had the advantage in weight and assisted by speedy backs, •who handled the ball well, combined with good team work, they had no difficulty in securing a comfortable victory by 30 points to 6. However, Athletic put up a good tight, keenly contesting the game throughout, but they lacked the finish of their opponents. During half-time midgets from the Levin primary school staged a seven-a-side game, • which caused much amusement, the Yellows prevailing over the Maroons by 10 points to 3. THE SENIOR GAME. The personnel of the senior teams who lined up are as follows: — Wellington (Yellow and Black): Newman, Ball, Evans, Blythe, Trapp, Hutchison, Hislop, Cathie, Hingston, •Bracken, McLean, Thornton, Read, Taylor and Alexander. (Athletic (Blue and Black): Galpin, Dowdall, Falloon, Kingsbeer, Curtis, Williams, Hogg, Byrne, Palmer, Galloway, Stratton, Leger, L. Bishop, R. Bishop and Bignall. (Play was set in motion with Athletic defending the eastern goal. The game had not been in progress long when the visitors set up an attack in Athletic's territory. Following a lineout near the latter’s line the ball went over and Taylor was able to open Wellington's score account. Newman fail-

■ed to add the major points.' Shortly after from a penalty, R. Bishop had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Almost immediately afterwards Wellington had to force. With play in midfield, Trapp, intercepting a pass, got possession and out-distancing the opposition scored in a handy position. Newman converting. Athletics then set out to overhaul the leaders and sweeping down on them ■were unlucky to lose the ball near the line. However, (with play near Wellington’s 25 line a penalty in favour of Athletic resulted in R. Bishop goaling, malking the’ score Wellington 8, Athletic 3. I'his appeared to inspire the home team’ and a dribbling rush inside the visitors 25 saw the ball go over the line and Galloway get up in time to touch down. He took the kick himself, but failed to increase the score. Wellington now took a turn at attack and from a scrum close to Athletic’s liiio'Hislop, the half, got the (ball and came round the side of the scrum, to score. Newman failed with the kick. ; Near the close of the spell, Galpin, with the opposing forwards Sweeping down on him took a. very fine mark. The spell ended: Wellington 11, Athletic 6, In the second half, Pryde replaced Blythe as wing-threequarter for Wellington. The visitors quickly had the home team on the defensive and from a melee near the line Pryde crossed. Newman again failed with the kick, A dribbling rush by the visitors was followed by the ball being picked up and passed across field to Pryde, who worked his way through the opposition and scored. Newman could not add the extra points. Taking the ball from the kick but Thornton sent it on to Evans, who made a good run through oppositionu, until tackled, he then passed to Hutchison, who completed the movement. Newman converting. Wellington 22, Athletic 6. The visitors were now handling the ball in good style and had. .the home team hard presped. Following a ten yards ’ scrum Read scored, the try being converted by Trapp. The substantial'lead of the visitors di(J ; not deter Athletic as they again became aggressive and. .a penalty to them, saw R. Bishop have an unsuccessful shot at goal. Then they launched a good piece of passing, but this was halted five yards from the line. Shortly afterwards Kingsbeer from a penalty, had a shot at gpal, without success. Athletic came again, but the visitors clearing, carried play to the other end of the field, where from a penalty Taylor goaled as time was called. The final scores were: Wellington 30, Athletic 6.