WELLINGTON RUGBY

Camp News, Volume 2, Issue 85, 15 August 1941, Page 7

WELLINGTON RUGBY

Athletic Virtual Senior Champions

COMMANDING LEAD

Repeating their first round performance, Marist Old Boys beat Army in the main game of the Wellington Rugby Union’s senior championship on Saturday. Athletic continued their

winning sequence, and with a lead of six points may now be regarded as the virtual champions for the 1941 season,

as only two Saturdays for club games are left.

Conditions were ideal overhead’ on

Saturday, but most the grounds were very heavy. Results were : Marist

Bros. 0.8. 14, Hutt Army 8; Wellington 13, Johnsonville 9; Athletic 12, Petone 3; University 12, Hutt 6; St.

Patrick’s 0.8. 19, Poneke 3; Eastbourne 31, Air Force 12; Wellington College 0.8. 14, Oriental 9.

Well Merited Win.— Though the Army team was not at full strength and also lost Finlay and Donovan . during the course of the game, it is doubtful if these factors would have altered the result of

the Army-Marist Bros. Old Boys game. The latter led 6-5 at the interval and 14-8 at full time. Reasons for their success were the same harassing of the opposition as in the previous encounter, solid rucking and scrummaging and. generally speaking, more competent play by their backs. Army got an even share of the ball, but the backs’ passed rather wildly at times and rarely seemed able to find gaps due to the solid Marist defence. The winners, on the other hand, worked more smoothly as a team and made fewer errors. .Callanan gave excellent service at full back and the whole rearguard proved sound. Smith and Cullen were two of the best forwards and frequently bustled the opposition into mistakes. Donnelly and Ewert were two of Army’s best backs and Waugh made some nice breaks when the chances came his. way. Bowman led the pack ably. Rankin, Jackson and Bydder were always prominent. For Marist Bros., Norton, Fox and Morley scored. Stanaway converted one try and also kicked a penalty goal. Donovan scored for Army. Finlay converted and Ewert kicked a penalty goal. Referee, Mr. J. Hepburn.

Championship Points. P W D L F Ch. A Pts Athletic ......... P W D L 15 2 F 13 260 A 0 108 Ch. Pts 2 26 15 260 13 108 0 26 Army 13 10 0 3 232 107 20 Wellington 13 15 10 10 0 0 3 5 232 191 107 143 20 20 Marist Bros. O.B. 15 10 o 191 143 20 O.B. 15 15 9 9 1 1 5 5 161 161 95 95 19 19 Petone 14 14 8 8 2 2 4 4 j 49 149 106 106 18 18 Hutt . . ; 14 8 1 5 165 165 138 138 17 17 Johnsonville ..... 14 6 2 6 91 119 14 Eastbourne 14 6 2 6 91 119 14 14 6 1 7 166 149 13 College Old Boys . 15 7 0 8 154 169 13 University 15 6 0 9 114 137 12 St. Pat.’s Coll. O.B. O.B. 15 15 5 5 1 1 9 9 146 146 168 168 11 11 Oriental .... 14 5 0 0 9 9 124 124 197 197 10 10 Poneke 15 3 1 11 101 204 7 Air Force 14 3 0 11 99 199 6