WEAK OPPOSITION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21127, 29 August 1938, Page 12

WEAK OPPOSITION

WELLINGTON HAS DAY OUT By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, August 27. Wellington had a runaway victory over a lifeless Taranaki team at Athletic Park to-day. Winning the ball with monotonous regularity, particularly in the second spell, and giving a confident display with forwards and backs linking up cleverly, Wellington piled up a big score, winning by 47 points (nine tries, seven converted, and two penalty goals) to six (two penalty goals). It was one of Wellington’s biggest successes in interprovincial Rugby for many years against a strong Union, and could be attributed to marked success in the scrums, excellent cohesion between forwards and backs, and the extremely disappointing display of the opposition. Taranaki finished a very battered team. Simpson, the full-back, and Joyce, a front row forward, had to retire in the second spell, while several others of the team were nursing injuries received as a result of being forced continually to defend against a team which was in an inspired mood. With Lamboum hooking excellently, Wellington won 22 scrums to eight. Tindill was in great form behind the scrum, varying his play cleverly. Sargisson, a young Hutt five-eighth, was the best back on the ground, and the Wellington backs were seen in some rousing movements, in which the full-back, Fleming, frequently joined. As a result the Taranaki defence was repeatedly penetrated in the centre, and in the concluding stages became disorganised. Todd (Wellington), who was one of the outstanding forwards in the previous week against Hawke’s Bay, again gave an excellent display and confirmed the impression that he is likely to attain higher honours. Fulton, the Wellington centre, had a day out, repeatedly carving great holes in the defence with strong, straight running. Coull was the pick of the Taranaki forwards, who battled hard but received little support from the backs. Much interest centred in Sullivan, but his opportunities were limited and he failed to produce the form for which he is noted. The best Taranaki back was Simpson, the full-back, who brought off some magnificent saves. Half-way through the second spell he was injured in stopping a fierce forward rush and had to retire. Todd (2), Jones (2), Edwards, Wright, Fulton, Hegglun and Wales scored for Wellington, Fleming converted seven tries and Fleming and Todd kicked penalty goals. For Taranaki Simpson kicked two penalty goals.