FOOTBALL

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1799, 29 August 1906, Page 44

FOOTBALL

INTER-COLLEGE MATCH.

WELLINGTON DEFEATED BY WANGANUI.

WANGANUI, August 27. The annual inter-collegiate football tournament commenced at Wanganui today, when Wellington College played Wanganui Collegiate School, the latter winning after a close game by five points to nil. The weather was beautiful and there was a large attendance of spectators. The game proved fast and interesting, and pretty play was witnessed. The Wanganui teajjn was heavier all round than the visitors. The visiting backs at times got clear away, but were overtaken through want of pace. They were attacking throughout tlie greater portion of the second spell, but could not utilise their opportunities. The school played with nice combination, the backs bringing off some pretty passing runs. Hitchings, Todd and Riddiford were the best of the school rearguard, and Sakuna, Ormond, and Robertshaw of the forwards. For the visitors Otterson, A. Paterson, and Grace, among the backs showed excellent form, while Mackenzie, Drake, Lyon, and Baldwin played particularly well. THE PLAY.

Wellington kicked off, and fumbling on the part of the home backs let the visitors into Wanganui’s twenty-five. Here they essayed to pass, but the school backs intervened, and Hitchings, Hartgill and Robertshaw dribbled to the Wellington twenty-five. A Paterson made a fine run down the touch-line to the Wanganui twenty-five, where for a time the home team were hard pressed, till Riddiford relieved with a nice kick out of touch at centre. Wanganui now commenced to work better together, and, Sim getting the ball nicely away, Hitchings mado a fine run, but passed forward. Otterson, A. Paterson, Grace and Childs carried play back into the school quarters, but Todd came round with a splendid run, and, with only the full-back to pass, was overtaken by Mackenzie and collared. Another fine run by the school backs was well stopped by Payne, and the visitors rushed back past the centre. At this stage of the game the teams appeared to be very evenly matched, and their styles of play very similar. A good drib--ble up the touch-line by the visiting forwards looked dangerous, till Tonks, Morrison and Ormond dribbled to safer quarters. Riddiford made a nice dash to Wellington's twenty-five, where Hitchings had a futile shot at goal. Drake, -Mackenzie and Trolove broke away from a scrum, but Hitchings picket! up smartly and returned up the line beautifully. Almost immediately afterwards Sim passed to Todd, and the latter, with a pretty zig-zag run, travelled through the Wellington backs and scored behind the posts. Hitchings converted. On resuming, Grace made an excellent run through, but was finely stopped by Hitchings. Payne, Childs, A. Paterson, and Grace then combined in a magnificent passing run to the Wanganui line, where safe tackling by Hitchings saved a score. The Wanganui forwards were now showing to greater advantage than their lighter opponents, but the backs appeared to be well matched, though the superior abilities of Hitchings and Todd perhaps gave the home team the advantage. The Wellington forwards gradually worked the ball up the field, and Otterson passed out. Riddiford, Hitchings. and Mason at once intercepted, and Hitchings made a good run, though a resultless one Soon after half-time Sim passed out and a pretty bout of passing between Hartgill, Mi, Hitchings, and Todd ended in the latter being collared by Otterson. Excellent line-kicking by Collins enabled Wellington to reach the centre. Both teams indulged in passing bouts, but bad passing nullified their effort®. Otterson let Grace away down the touchline to the Wanganui line, but a free,,, kick brought the home team out of dan-' ger. Pretty passing between Sakuna, Ritchie, and Mason took play past the centre, but Wellington replied with a beautiful passing run, which let Grace clear away. Hitchings outpaced and overtook him, however, and the Wanganui frowarde again went back to the centre. Deller, Butt, and Burnett dribbled away from a lino-out, and Otterson picking up, had a clear run. Being overtaken he threw in to Mackenzie, who missed, and Grace fumbling, the chance was lost. Wellington now penned the home team on their line, and despite their frequent effort® to break away effective ©crew-kicking to touch by Otterson and Mackenzie kept, them there for a long time. Eventually the home team were penalised, and Otterson made a splendid drop at goal, the ball falling under the bar. Wellington continued to attack. Childs broke through the Wanganui defence, and ran to within a yard of the line, where he was tackled. After further hard play at the nui end, Hitchings found the line at the visitors' twenty-five, where Riddiford made a prettty opening and passed to Ritchie, who, however, knocked on. The Wanganui forwards were now getting the ball in the scrum, and Sim fed his backs well. Some pretty passing was witnessed, the visitors’ collaring proving very the home team were unable to increase the score. The Rev. C. Harper, of Palmerston, was referee.