WELLINGTON

NZ Truth, Issue 1080, 12 August 1926, Page 14

WELLINGTON

ATHLETIC AGAIN DEFEATED 'Varsity Novf Are Second Ift Senior Gr^ade Competition

(From "truth's" Special Wellington Represencative.) By defeating Athletic on Saturday, Oriental have put a little 'more interest intxi the senior A. grade. 'Varsity accounted for Petone and they jare now only two points behind Athletic. The students have n<iw a fighting chance of winning the competition.

ORIENTAL Have their forwards to thank for the victory gained on Saturday ovefr Athletic. ••' With the fine (example set by Sly and Moffitt the *'magpies" made the pace a cracker, and m the early part nl the game-they ran.the well-trained Athletic pack 6ff their feet. "Ories" must have concentrated on this game, for they gave 'evidence of being very fit. ;;"' ■ *-. They macje good use, too, of the gale behind them m the first spell, which ended 12 to 5 m their favor. Very genuine regret from all sides was expressed that Pringle had • to leave the Sold. .' During hss short sojourn on the ground net displayed . some of his old form, and' it was a terrible pity an unfortunate accident should happen along just on the eve of Wellington's most important fixture. From jail accounts it is pretty certain Pringle, will 'not do the. Bay trip. Oriental fully deserved their victory, for on the clay they played better football than did their opponents. Theif really should have been awarel/ed a penalty try towards the close of the game. ■ Kitto app arently missed

c incident that along the line burst through on his own, and "Snowy" Svenson was the only opponent he had to deal with. He kicked the ball over Svenson's head and dashed along to get what would tain- try had not Svenson brought him down whon he was yards

from the ball. Snowy succeeded m his oDject, but he was very lucky. • The. best backs on the Athletic side were Svenson, Sutton and Whinham. Taylor was not up to his usual form a3 full-back. He did not appear to relish the bustling tactics of the opposing forwards. Tyree and Edgar were the best of the Athletic forwards, but the pack did not combine as m their past games. If it comes to a final between. Athletic and 'Varsity, "Truth" is inclined to the opinion that the students will win the day. Petone Go Under . University made no race of it m the first spell, when, with the aid of the strong wind,. they ran up 23. points. During the second spell they were unable to add to this total, and Petone who could not register a point m the first spell, gathered m a score of 3.4 when playing with the assistance of the wind. : It was not by any meai^s a good exhibition of football, except that the students continually endeavored to play the open game which has made them m seasons past the most popular team m the competition. ,On the University side, the two selected reps., South and O'Regan, were outstanding players. South is sure to play with credit next Saturday. ' . O'Regan, too, has "never been better. . Petone were off their game, and they sadly missed Ginger Nicholls, Fitzgerald and G. Nicholls. Mark Nicholls made his reappear-

ance after the Australian trip, but he too," except for his goal-kicking, appeared sluggish. - A. Thomas and Warden were the pick of the van. Being only two points to the rear of Athletic, University are set on winning the championship. To bring this about means that Athletic must suffer two defeats — easier said than done. Those who' argue that four points for a potted or field goal are too many wculd have food for talk on Saturday. The Marists^team gained 12 points by means of the "pot," but even if the points were too many the kicks themselves were really meritorious efforts, for they were all from just on halfway. • Griffin, Gerald Barry and Condon provided these tit-bits.

Condon was making his first appearance^ as a senior player, and favorable impreswas on the day the best player on He is a nuggetybuilt player who will stand up to ■ a hard season. Condon apparently has been well schooled m the advantages to

be gained from constantly following up long kicks. Lost Art, i ' . . . •■ Poneke have lost the art of scoring. They are not the Ponekes of old, particularly so amongst the backs. Sid. Shearer played his customary hard game, but he was not well supported. Berhampore with a depleted team had to fight for their lives to gain a victory over Selwyri. by 8 to 6. In the last half of the game Selwyn had the upper hand, and really they were unfortunate m not gaining more points. Walters as full-back was at his best. Many are beginning to think thia player might' well have been given & place m the team for the Bay on Saturday. . - He is displaying even better form than last season when he was considered good enough to hold dov/n the job of full-back against the outside reps. Lang is giving better,, exhibitions just now. He was most promising at the beginning of the season, but then Went off with a bump. Deere is also prominent again. He would have strengthened the front row of the rep. forwards. Old Boys In Form Winning by 16 to -6, Old Boys gave a taste of their earlier form when they met Hutt on Saturday. Grenfell and . Bramwell, both of whom are m the reps., shone out 'above the other players. Grenfell made splendid openings for his wingers, alway.s giving his passes at the correct time. "Truth" still hopes Grenfell will be Wellington's full-back next Saturday. - Footballers! Perfect fitness means games won. Mustard Baths during practice will carry you fresh %.nd tireless through the critical closing stages cf a strenuous game, and taken afterwards removes the tired feeling.♦