WAIRARAPA WIN

Wairarapa Daily Times, 19 July 1934, Page 6

WAIRARAPA WIN

INSPIRED PLAY. VISITORS LACK PENETRATION. Presenting a watertight defence, and an attack which was characterised by vigour and marked penetrative power, Wairarapa’s representative fifteen covered themselves with glory by defeating the elect of Wellington in a representative Rugby football match at Memorial Park yesterday afternoon by 21 points to 16, before a. good attendance. It can most certainly be said that there was not a weak link in the home side, who excelled themselves on the day’s play. The hero of a stirring game was Stringfellow, the Wairarapa captain, who,, with little more than a bare two minutes to go to the final whistle, and the teams on level terms, 16 points each, fielded a stab punt in Wellington’s 25 to race for the line to score as brilliant a try as has been seen on the ground for many a day. Hemi converted in splendid style to make the position secure for Wairarapa. Wellington carried the majority of the serums, giving their backs every chance. The visiting rearguard handled well, but lacked penetrative poAver; noticeably so in the second half. Wairarapa’s defence was particularly sound, and although the visiting backs got well away on various occasions, the tackling of their opponents was too good. Most of Wellington’s dangerous movements came from the centre of the field through the medium of stab punts and high kicks, aided by the good following up of a fast forward pack. Wellington had the better of the play in the first half, and led 8/3 at the interval, but Wairarapa were undoubtedly superior right throughout a strenuous and well-contested second half. The Wairarapa forwards to a man played well, and finished up stronger than their opponents. Taking a line through the play of the home backs, on the day they would have upset the calculations of any provincial team in New Zealand. There was vigour and thrust in every movement of their attack, and their defence was exceptionally sound and resourceful. In fact, the Wairarapa tackling was so solid that finally the Wellington backs were forced into kicking instead of trying to beat their man. This very often finished up tothe advantage of Wairarapa. Apart from Kilby, the visiting backs wbre disappointing. They handled the ball well, but seldom ran straight. Dellabarca, the Wellington back row forward, was one of the outstanding players, and had it not been for his smashing thrusts, Wellington’s score would have been small indeed. Time and again he was really brilliant in open play, and overshadowed the play of his associates. He was a continual source of danger to Wairarapa. It has to be taken into account that the Wellington side contained no less than three All Blacks to tour Australia. This fact no doubt spurred Wairarapa to great deeds. On the Wairarapa side, Stringfellow and Devine were magnificent, and the best back pair on the field. The. long and accurate line kicking of Hemi, the youthful Wairarapa full-back, was a feature of the game. It was indeed wonderfully spectacular on occasions. His goal-kicking was at first somewhat faulty in direction, but once he found the range, his good goal-kicking in the second half was an important factor in the success of Wairarapa.

The general standard of play was good, and it rose on occasion to a high plane. Wairarapa more than maintained the improvement shown against Hawke’s Bay earlier in the season. The win will hearten the Wairarapa supporters considerably. The teams were as follow: — Wellington (Black): Crisp; Ball, Hansen, Fuller; Lilburne, Pollock; Kilby (captain); Dellabarca, McNeill, Butler, Reid, Barry, Martin, Coulston, Boyl. Wairarapa (Green): J. liemi; F. Fitzgerald, C. Stringfellow. (captain), G. Booth; R. Devine, P. Himona; R. Nunn; G. Kccble, C. Seivcrs, I. Smith, M. Trass, G. Laing, R. Howard, K. Reid, K. McCalmont. Referee: Mr 11. J. McKenzie. • Wellington kicked off, and in the early minutes wore awarded a free kick for off-side. Fuller took the kick, but missed. He again missed a little later. A smart passing rush by Wairarapa saw the ball pass from Fraser Smith to Trass, to Laing, who was collared well. Dellabarca and Hansen figured in a Wellington* attack, which was spoiled by a knock-on. Guy. Booth endeavoured to pass back to Hemi. The latter could not reach the ball, and Dellabarca rushed through the gap. A solo dash along the line by, Fuller was stopped by Hemi. Fuller again missed goaling from a free kick, but a minute later made amends from a free, kick taken about ten yards on the Wairarapa side of the half-way line, to score the first points of the match. Wellington 3 Ti airarapa 0 A dribbling rush, with Dellabarca again prominent, was nipped in the bud by Hemi. The Wairarapa full-back put in a thrilling run down the line to ward off three opponents and gain a lot of ground before being stopped. After half an hour’s play Wairarapa evened. Following a scrum, Nunn broke away and passed to Reid. The latter sent it on to Fitzgerald, who dashed, down the lino to score a fine try. Hemi failed to convert. Wellington 3 Wairarapa 3 Himona stopped what might have developed into a dangerous Wellington passing rush. Howard picked tlio ball up from the ruclc, but before he had gone far was pulled down. From a free kick Hemi missed a fairly easy opportunity to put his side in the lead. Wairarapa took the initiative for a period and held the visitors to their own territory. Stringfellow, Devine and Fitzgerald were putting in some fine work. A minute before half time Kilby got possession and passed to McNeill. The latter slipped the ball to Dellabarca, who scored an easy try behind the posts. Fuller converted. The score at half time was — Wellington 8 Wairarapa 3

On play recommencing, Wairarapa were at once aggressive, and Sicvers, accepting a pass from Himona, scored a try which Hemi converted, to bring the sides on level terms again. Next minute, through tlie efforts of the brilliant Dellabarca, Wellington shot into the lead again, Dellabarca scoring behind the posts for Fuller to convert. Wellington 13 Wairarapa 8

Temporarily, Wellington wore in the ascendant, and a pass from Kilby to Barry saw the latter over the line for a try. Fuller missed an easy kick. Wellington 10 Wairarapa S From this on Wairarapa established a definite mastery. McCalmont was all but over, and later Hemi goalcd from a

free kick for obstruction. Wellington 16 Wairarapa 11 Excitement was now running high, and as the minutes ebbed out Wairarapa became more dashing and confident. Prom a scrum well in Wairarapa territory, Nunn shot the ball out to Himona and Devine. The latter made a great opening for Stringfellow, who biilliantly rounded off a splendid movement. Hemi just converted, the ball stiiking an upright and glancing between. Wairarapa 16 Wellington 16

The Wellington full-back, Crisp, put in some sound work at this period, but he was hard-pressed by the Wairarapa backs. Fuller relieved the pressure during two successive Wairarapa attacks. Ball fumbled a pass in a Wellington passing rush. Next minute play had flashed to the other end of the 'field, where Crisp missed to let Lamg through, but the latter was not able to get far. "Can Wairarapa win?” was the question on every lip. Stringfellow answered the question when the fielded the ball near the Wellington line to dash through and brilliantly score his second try. Hemi goaled with a great kick from the side line, and two minutes later the game ended with victoiy —the first in a representative match this season —to Wairarapa. Wairarapa 21 Wellington 16

TEAM TO PLAY BUSH. At the conclusion of yesterday’s match it was announced that the following Wairarapa Rugby representative team would play the Bush Districts at Eketahuna on Saturday: — Pull-back: J .Hemi. Three-quarters: P. Fitzgerald, C. Stringfellow, G. Booth. •Five-eighths: P. Himona, R. Devine.

Half-back: R. Nunn. Forwards: Front row, R. Howard, K. Reid, K. McCalmont; middle row, Fraser Smith, C. Seivers, M. Trass, G. Laing; back row, G. Keeble. Reserves: Back, E. Henderson; forward, Sullivan. The team will travel by bus, leaving Carterton at 10 o’clock and Masterton at 10.30 o’clock on Saturday morning. Players are to provide their own black shorts, and any who are not available are requested to notify Mr Q. Donald, Martinborough. The team is the same as that which defeated Wellington yesterday. MANAWATU DEFEATED.

PALMERSTON NORTH, Wednesday. Playing in sunshine on a heavy ground, the Hawke’s Bay tourists beat Manawatu by 22 points to 16. The Bay backs were superior in handling and tackling, but the home forwards fully held their own, securing a generous share of the ball and breaking well, but the rearguard was uncertain. The Bay had a definite advantage in the first spell, the backs showing good anticipation and fast penetration when attacking. Bradley opened for Hawke s Bay with a penalty, Finlay replying in like fashion. The game, was, in the main, open, the visitors assuming command. Towards the interval tries were scored by Steere and Rolls (2), and Evans converted one. The score at the interval was: Bay 14/3. In the second half the Manawatu forwards dominated play. Devine, Crawford and Gillespie scored tries for Manawatu, and Finlayson converted two, A.psey scored a try for Bay, which Evans converted. Evans also scored a try. —(P.A.)

BEBBINGTON SHIELD. DANNEVIRKE, Wednesday. The Bebbington Shield, which was Avon recently by Dannevirke from Horowhenua,- has gone to Pahiatua, who to-day beat the holders, 8 points to 3 Spring and Coomber scored tries for Pahiatua, Udy converting one. Cochrane scored a try for Dannevirke. The winners Avere superior in the fonvards, headed by Mahoney, who Avas outstanding. The Dannevirke inside backs handled poorly. —(P.A.)