THIRD LOSS OF RUGBY TOUR

Southland Times, Issue 23288, 26 August 1937, Page 6

THIRD LOSS OF RUGBY TOUR

Wellington Beats Southland A DISAPPOINTING GAME VISITING BACKS TACKLE POORLY (Special to The Times) WELLINGTON, August 25. Wellington secured a 19 to 5 win over the Southland touring team at Athletic Park today before an attendance of between two to three thousand people. Misfortune continued to shadow the tourists and, while A. W. Wesney, A. G. Sutherland and C. Soper of the original team chosen were unable to take the field, R. H. Ward, G. Baird and R. Henderson were compelled to retire during the game. Recent winds were responsible for a hard ground. Although there were several bright patches the game taken right through was disappointing. As was to be expected it was fairly open, but repeated mistakes by both back lines spoilt numerous chances. Territorially there was not a great deal between the two sides, but the home fifteen was able to finish off its bouts to greater advantage. GRIFFITHS PLAYS WELL Griffiths played a sparkling game in the Wellington backs and he engineered several good movements. He was well supported by Veitch, Thurston and Wright, the latter, on the wing, shaping really well. The tackling of the Southland backs was weak to say the best of it, J. Miles and J. Purdue being the only ones to make much headway in thic direction. Several movements broke down at G. P. Thomas, but P.

Grace shaped well at times. J. Purdue again gave one of his best displays both behind the scrum and when he went back to full-back. It was no fault of his that his outside men could not make better use of the chances he gave them. Both teams gained almost an equal share of the ball from the scrums and line-outs. Devine and Fraser-Smith showed up in the loose for Wellington and Lambourn and Wells in the tight. The Southland pack was not well suited by the conditions, but again it gave a first-class display. S. Purdue, N. R. Irwin and W. Parker were always at the head of loose rushes, while C. and L. George and J. Mattingly accomplished good work in the tight. Until compelled to retire Ward was giving a taste of his real ability. The margin between the two sides was not as great as the difference in the score would indicate and while the Maroon forwards did their part the defeat could be attributed to the back line. On the other hand the Wellington rearguard was able to make the most of Southland’s mistakes. In the Southland team J. Dunstan replaced Soper and Miles replaced Wesney. The teams were as follows:— SOUTHLAND FULL-BACK.—J. Ballantyne. THREE-QUARTERS. —R. Henderson, J. Miles, G. Baird. FIVE-EIGHTHS.—P. Grace, G. P. Thomas (captain). HALF-BACK.—J. Purdue. FRONT-ROW FORWARDS.—J. Dunstan, J. Mattingly, L. George. MIDDLE-ROW.—E. R. Chesterman, R. H. Ward, S. Purdue, N. R. Irwin. BACK-ROW.—C. George. WELLINGTON FULL-BACK.—Vartan. THREE-QUARTERS.— Thomson, Thurston, Wright. FIVE-ElGHTHS.—Griffiths, Veitch. HALF-BACK.—Thomson. FRONT-ROW FORWARDS.—OngIey, Lambourn, Wells. MIDDLE-ROW.—O’Brien, Devine, Fraser-Smith, Souness. BACK-ROW.—Gus. From a scrum following the kickoff J. Purdue made a good break before sending to Miles, but the latter’s pass to Baird went astray. Southland again secured possession from a scrum a few minutes later, but Purdue missed badly. The Wellington backs figured in a fine bout. Thomson, the last to handle, was well grassed by Baird. A penalty assisted the home side to work play to Maroon territory. The Wellington backs lost a good chance when Thurston lost his pass and Miles returned the scene to halfway. J. Ballantyne and Thomas found the line in turn but the Wellington backs continued to throw it about. Vartan gained 50 yards with a line kick and again the Wellington team pressed till Purdue found the line at halfway. From the following scrum Thompson cut round on the short side and made a good break before sending out to Wright. The latter went over well out. Vartan missed with the kick. Wellington 3, Southland 0. The Southland forwards took play to the Wellington line with a passing rush and the home side was compelled to force. Two scrums followed,' Southland obtaining possession from each. From the second Grace essayed a pot which went wide. The Maroons continued to attack and a kick at goal from a penalty was taken by Mattingly but was unsuccessful. Southland continued to attack and two penalties to the Maroons followed. A second attempt by Mattingly failed. From line-outs and scrums the Southland pack repeatedly obtained possession but their inside backs were turning it to little account. S. Purdue and Ward figured in a bout which gained them 50 yards and a scrum in front of the Wellington posts followed.

J. Purdue again cut round the side of the scrum and passed in to Ward, who went over. Ballantyne converted. Southland 5, Wellington 3. Play was held up just after the kickoff when Ward was injured but he resumed for a while. He later retired and was replaced by W. Parker. Lambourn and Devine led a rush to Southland territory but a line kick by J. Purdue eased the situation. The Wellington backs continued to attack and gained big slices of territory. Baird and Thompson collided and both had to retire with head injuries. They were replaced by A. Scott nd Burns respectively. A good mark by Grace again saw Southland out of trouble. Wright and Wells stemmed a good opening made by J. Purdue and Thomas and play centred in midfield for some time. Wellington’s next try was a fine piece of work in which Griffiths figured prominently. Thompson sent out to Veitch, to Griffiths. The latter inpassed to Thurston who cut through before passing to Wright. An inpass was again handled by Griffiths, who sent on to Guy, the latter scoring under the pos'ts. It was a piece of work. Griffiths converted. Wellington 8, Southland 5. Wellington was now having the best of the exchanges and its backs were opening play at every chance. Wright made a fine break but J. Purdue was back in time. Griffiths cut the defence in half a minute later and Wright was grassed in the corner. The Maroons were hard pressed for a time and twice Thomas saw them out of trouble. A hectic passing rush by the Mhroon forwards in which Parker, C. George, Dunstan and Irwin were prominent, ended in Thomas lining inside Wellington territory. Southland was continuing to attack at the half-time whistle. From the kick-off Southland stormed the Wellington line, but in attempting to cut through Grace was well tackled. Griffiths went out to the second fiveeighth position and Veitch came into first. Devine took play to the Maroon twenty-five and a good bout by the Wellington backs saw Henderson tackle Wright just in time. A fine line kick by Ballantyne gained 40 yards but Veitch immediately found touch inside the visitors’ twenty-five. The Southland forwards were playing with more dash. Irwin and L. George led a good rush, while a minute later Henderson was well tackled by Wright. Veitch got Wellington out of trouble when he found touch at the Maroon twentyfive. From the line-out to follow, Southland forced. LAMBOURN SCORES Weak tackling almost let Griffiths and Thurston through but S. Purdue and Mattingly headed a rush out of the danger zone. Thurston and then Veitch cut the opposition in half a few minutes later, ending in Lambourn going over handily. Griffiths converted. Wellington 13, Southland 5. | The George Brothers and Irwin with | a forward passing rush took play to Wellington territory. Two efforts by the I Southland backs broke down badly and I allowed Devine to kick through to the i Maroon twenty-five. A fine break ! from the scrum by J. Purdue gained ! 50 yards, while a minute later Grace cut right through but the ball bounced in favour of Griffiths, who with Buriys put Wellingtoin in an attacking posiI tion. The home side stormed the ■ Southland line. Piay was held up for i an injury to Henderson. He retired and i was replaced by T. Mackie. From a ■ ruck on the line Thompson sent out to ! Griffiths, to Burns, the latter going over unopposed. Griffiths’s kick failed. Wellington 16, Southland 5. J. Purdue went to full-back and Mackie played behind the scrum. The Southland forwards were on top for a time but twice Vartan cleared. Veitch ran through the Southland backs and sent out to Thurston, to Wright, the latter going over for a good try. Vartan missed with the kick. Wellington 19, Southland 5. Two penalties saw Southland out of trouble, but a bright movement by the Maroon backs compelled the home side to force. Wellington continued to be penalized and S. Purdue and Soper carried play to Wellington territory. E. R. Chesterman went over but was called back and from the ensuing scrum | Thomas essayed a pot which was well | astray. A pot by Mackie just after fell short and a good piece of fielding by Scott saw him held up on the line. The Maroon forwards were on top but mishandling and holding on too long by the rearguard frequently found them in trouble. Grace and Irwin gained ground but Veitch sent them back. Time sounded with the scores:— Wellington 19 Southland 5 Mr J. S. King was the referee. MANY PLAYERS ON THE INJURED LIST (Special to The Times) WELLINGTON, August 25. At the hotel tonight the Southland team was not altogether a happy party, not as a result of the day’s match, but because several members had had to receive medical attention. The tour has been a disastrous one as far as injuries have been concerned and the selection of the team for the Canterbury match is not going to be easy. It is quite possible that if some of the players do not improve by tomorrow that additional recruits will be required from Southland for the remaining matches. Some concern was felt when the All Black forward, R. H. Ward, was compelled to retire today. The injury was to an ankle, but a medical examination revealed that it was not serious. It was stated tonight that it was unlikely that he would be asked to play in the Canterbury game, as a further injury may jeopardize his selection for the All Black side. A. W. Wesney’s knee has improved somewhat. He, too, will more than likely not play in the Canterbury match. A. G. Sutherland will, however, as he has made favourable progress during the past couple of days. R. Henderson injured a leg just above the ankle and it is possible that he will not take part against Canterbury, while the same can be said for G. Baird. The head injury he received necessitated four stitches above the eye. N. R. Irwin received a damaged elbow in today’s game and this required medical attention. The seriousness of his injury may not be felt for a couple of days. E. R. Chesterman was another casualty and he is suffering from rib injuries. All those above-mentioned, with the exception of Sutherland, are doubtful for the Canterbury game. The team crosses over to Christchurch tomorrow evening. FOUR* WINS AND THREE LOSSES SOUTHLAND TEAM’S RECORD Southland has, now won four and lost three of the seven games played this season. Two games remain to be played, against Canterbury and South Africa. Following are the results of the games played:— v. Otago, at Dunedin, won 12 to 7. v. Otago, at Invercargill, won 14 to 11. v. South Canterbury, won 11 to 9. v. Manwatu, lost 20 to 22. v. Hawke’s Bay, lost 5 to 19. v. Wairarapa, won 29 to 11. v. Wellington, lost 5 to 19. Games to be played are:— August 28.—v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. September B.— v. South Africa, at Invercargill.