ATHLETIC 3, v. WELLINGTON 3.

NZ Truth, Issue 152, 16 May 1908, Page 3

ATHLETIC 3, v. WELLINGTON 3.

This game, played on No. 3 ground, was not interesting from a spectator's point of view. The wind rendered any attempt at concerted action on the part of the back divisions abortive, and if thej ball was kicked above the heads of thov players the wind carried it out of tne players' reach.

The Blues, who played with the gale m the first spell, played into their opponents' hands, keeping the play close instead of opening it out and using the wind to tire the defenders out.

t The Yellows m the second spell followed, the Blues' example and made (very little use of the wind. Had either team had' an old general m the field it would have won by a fair margin. The only redeeming features were the really brilliant passing runs which resulted m Wellington's try and the smart' piece of work that enabled Evensen to make a draw for Athletic.

Sheridan, the Yellow full-back, was apparently suffering from ah attack 61 nerves. He did not field the . ball well and was. very weak m his kicking. The three-quarters were safe m defence, m the first spell, but failed to make the play open enough m the second when they had all to gain and nothing to lose. Malfroy, behind the scrum, got the ball away well and stopped some dangerous rushes. Barclay, wing-forward, spoilt an otherWise good performance by a tendency to off-side play. He was lucky m not being penalised on several occasions.

McKellar and McKay , were prominent all through among the forwards. Wilson played well m the earlier part of the game, but the wind took all the go out of him and he failed to do justice to himself , m the latter part.

In the tight the Yellow pack held their own, but on the line-out their opponents invariably got the ball and managed to make headway with it.

Hales the evergreen, who filed the vacancy m the Blue team <saused by the re« tirement of Kivell, played as well as ever he did. It was rfjuite a treat to see the way the "old 'ua" accounted for his man when Wellington scored their try. Cunningham, last year's full, who made, his first appearance of the^ season, was patchy, but played better when brought up to three-quarter m the second spell. Clark and Pool on the wings had little to do. Evensen at centre made no mistake when he scored the try that saved his side from defeat. If this player would only realise, that when he gets the ball' his business is to make straight for the goal line, instead of 'looking for someone, to pass to, he would develop into a really good scoring map..

Richardson, the midget half-back, played the best game on his side. It was not his fault that his backs did not get going, for he passed out whenever he F.ot. the opportunity. He was a stumbling block m the way of the Yellow ; forwards, nipping many a rush m the bud. Kivell, wing-forward, was very conspicu-* ous until he met with the accident which, led to his retirement^ Murray was not as prominent as usual.

The forwards played a hard game all through and stuck to their work till the whistle sounded. They invariably got the. ball from the line-out and generally secured possession from the scrums. "Art." Wilson, was the most prominent and keeps up his reputation as a consistent player. Cunningnam and Rapson were perhaps the best of the remainder.