RUGBY MATCHES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 198, 23 July 1931, Page 4

RUGBY MATCHES

WELLINGTON DEFEAT SOUTHLAND. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 22. Mainly through the' efforts of their swift back division in displaying great combination, Wellington’s Rugby representatives defeated Southland today by 36 points to 13. successfully staving off the first challenge for the Ranfurly Shield. In the first half the match was rather a ragged one, but after the spell Wellington got going quickly and rattled on 28 points to their opponents’ 13. after having had an advantage of eight points at halftime. Southland’s main strength lay in the forward division, but throughout the game the Wellington pack more than held their own. Had the Southland hacks been able to handle the ball accurately, and had the inside men displayed a little more penetrative ability. Wellington probably would not have had such an easy victory. Not a little of Wellington’s success was due to Lilburne. plaving at first . fiveeighths. Often he was the originator of his side’s attacking movements, and his tactics enabled the speed of the Wellington three-quarter line to operate with telling effect. Kilbv played a splendid game behind th° Wellington scrum. The full-back Pollock was cool and resourceful. Southland won the toss and Lilburne kicked off. Ball finished a smart forward move bv scoring Wellington’s first try. The kick failed. After further forward plav there came a flash of the Wellington backs’ form. Kilbv secured • from the scrum and passed to Lilburne. and the latter made a wonderful opening to pass to Page and McDonald, both of whom received the ball while travelling at top. The last-named outdistanced the opposition and scored under the posts. Pollock converted. Grant started a Southland attack from the kick-off, running through a group of Wellington forwards and

handing on to Southern and Johnson. The last-named carried the play close to Wellington’s line, but the Wellington hookers secured from a scrum there and Kilby forced. . Again Southland came down to the line and were within dangerous territory for Wellington for some time. Eventually Wellington cleared, and half time came with play again a_t half way. Events moved quickly in the second spell. The Southland full back fumbled and Jessep was on him. A bout of passing between the Wellington forwards ensued, and McLean got over. Pollock missed with the kick. From the kick-off came the first or two splendid movements among the Wellington backs. Both were started bv Lilburne. but in the Southland 2o McDonald passed forward. From the scrum the Wellington forwards broke away and Barry scored, Kilby convertinf’he Wellington attack continued, Lilburne starting movements that only just failed, and Southland were compelled to force. Southland’s first score came after the forwards had gained ground up to Wellington’s 25. Wellington secured from the scrum, but Lilburne, in attempting a short kick, put the ball into Grant’s arms. The Southland five-eighth put in a good sprint and handed on to Crosbie, who scored. Porter converted. Page cut through, making an opening for Lilburne, who dived over. Next Ball worked his way over and Kilby converted. Then the Wellington forwards bustled the visitors’ defence and McLean touched down. Wellington again pressed and Ball, when tackled, in-passed beautifully, and Lilburne received and flashed over. Kilby converting. Just on time Southland dribbled to the Wellington 25, and Grant secured from a pass and scored. Porter converting. The game ended with the score: Wellington 36, Southland 13. WAIRARAPA BEAT BUSH. Per Press Association. CARTERTON, July 22. The Wairarapa and Bush Rugby re-

presentatives met at Greytown today in ideal weather. The match resulted in victory for Wairarapa by 14 points to nine. Winning the toss Busli elected to play with sun and ground advantage and made .the pace willing from .the start. Chivvying Wairarapa into their twenty-five and pushing home a forward attack, they scored under the posts, Aitchison going across. It was remarkable how easily B. Udv missed the goal. Wairarapa retaliated with a combined forward and back rush, which placed Bush in a very difficult situation, Fitzgerald finally going over a. few yards from the corner. Stringfellow missed the goal. The game developed into a series of scrums, neither side gaining much advantage. The speed of the Bush forwards nullified the advantage of the Wairarapa backs, who were bustled almost continuously. With determined forward play Bush carried the ball to the Wairarapa line, where ,K. Goodinagh scooped up from a melee and fell across to score near the corner. Udv failed with the kick. There was no further score at halftime. The second spell opened with Bush forwards still attacking, but finally Wairarapa began to penetrate and several pretty back movements eventuated. From one Oliver received and went over at the corner. He missed the kick at ’goal. Trapp next brilliantly cut in. swerved and. touched down under the poles. Fitzgerald converted. Bush retaliated with a very fine forward rush backed up by Udy, Aitchison and McCarthy. After a tussle near the line Wairarapa were penalised for off-side and Udy kicked a goal. The final score came from a back movement by Wairarapa which carried plav well up-field. The forwards carried on exceedingly fast and Best kicked through and fell on the ball. ' No goal resulted and the game ended: Wairarapa 14, Bush 9. Mr J. Blake was referee. • The team fielded by Bush was the best seen in the Wairarapa for many years. The forwards were big and

hefty, with a nice turn of speed, while the backs were sound in defence, and quick to take advantage of openings. CLUB’S PROTEST UPHELD. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH. Julv 22. For the first time for many years the Canterbury Rugby Union last night heard a protest from a senior club, as a result upheld it, and declared the match Sydenham versus ’Varsity drawn. The referee admitted that he should not have awarded ’Varsity’s second try. REPRESENTATIVE MATCH AT BULLS. (From Our Own Correspondent). BULLS, July 22. Great interest was manifested in the annual representative match between Te Kawau and Rangitikei Sub-Unions, played at Bulb on Wednesday afternoon in fine weather and on a dry ground. Te Kawau were without the services of several selected players, notably Goldfinch and Taylor, while L. Homes could not take the field for Rangtikei, Claude Ellery being substituted. Tie game was a hard one, but not brilliant, and the better side won on the play, Te Kawau nine points being made up of two tries and a penalty goal to Rangitikei’s two penalty goals. Te Kawau won the toss, and Rangitikei (green) kicked off against a fairly strong breeze. To Kawau (black and white) gained the advantage of the opening exchanges, but T. Hartley raced. back, fooling several opponents, and getting to the visitors’ twenty-five. Taiuru went further, but was unsupported. Waldin smothered Fuller, and the ball went out at Te Kawau’s corner flag. Fumbling by H. Taiuru let the magpies back to halfway, and the greens’ rearguard passing to both wings gained little ground. Te Kawau secured from a scrum and the ball passed out to Royal, who was well taken by Gallagher. A free kick saw M. Moffatt’s shot both short and wide, Hayward finding the line. H. Taiuru failed to take a long kick by M. Moffatt, and from the ensuing scrum Marsh dashed over. M. Moffatt’s kick just went outside. Te Kawau 3, Rangitikei 0. With a quarter of an hour gone Rangitikei, faced with a deficit, attempted to open up play, and the ball went through the lino to Gallagher, who was caught in possession. Offside play saw Hayward lino well upfield, and the green forwards swarmed on to Te Kawau’s line. A free kick was marked by Hayward, but his shot went astray. Rex Harris led the magpie forwards back to midfield, but the green forwards came back again. Scott and M. Moffatt gained ground with useful kicks. L. Moffatt broke away and kicked, but Downs raced back to halfway. Straggling play ensued, the magpies’ passing being frustrated by Waldin’s fine play. T. Hartley sent Downs away, but he was dragged down. Then, from a free kick, G. Hartley kicked a great goal. With 35 minutes of play tho scores were level. Rangitikei 3, Te Kawau 3. Tho green backs passed, gaining little ground, and then weak play by H. Taiuru nullified the advantage. Waldin broke away with a 50 yards run, and G. Hartley had a fruitless shot at goal. Half-time then sounded. A free kick to Te Kawau saw Fuller kick well upfield, but wild passing by the magpie backs came to nothing. Hayward, with a long kick, sent M. Moffatt out of bounds and when tho ball came into play again tho Rangitikei forwards made their way over, Te Kawau forcing in time? Hayward had a shot from almost half-way, but missed, and Rex Harris lined well at midfield. Te Kawau backs handled well, the ball going to L. Moffatt,, who short-punted and secured again, racing past two taeklers. to score a fine try. M. Moffatt failed to improve the scores. Te Kawau 6, Rangitikei 3. The magpie backs swung into line again, but a forward pass, spoiled another likely try by L. Moffatt. Rex Harris again dribbled through, and M. Moffatt, with a neat kick, found the line' near the greens’ corner flag. T. Hartley marked and lined, and a free kick to Rangitikei gave Waldin a chance to remove play to safer territory. G. Hartley cut through, but lacked support, and a good opportunity was lost. Gallagher took a pot shot at goal, but the ball went wide. Un and down play ended by M. Moffatt having a shot at goal, but tho ball fell short. Another free kick to Moffatt also went astray. Waldin and Gallagher broke away, but Cootes proved safe. Hayward and marsh made individual efforts for each side, and then Scott took a penalty, the ball hitting the upright and. bouncing in. To Kawau 9, Rangitikei 3. Tho feeble green defence almost let Te Kawau forwards over immediately. The green forwards attacked hotly in an effort to save the game, and C. Ellery was almost over. Then G. Hartley goalcd magnificently from half-way. To Kawau 9, Rangitikei 6. Rangitikei backs passed well, and Gallagher put in a great sprint, but was collared just in time. Hot play on the magpio lino ensued, but To Kawau forced, and the game ended soon after without additional score. Mr W. E. Gibbons refereed.