SEASON CONCLUDES

Chronicle (Levin), 23 September 1946, Page 4

SEASON CONCLUDES

-Press Association

WELLINGTON LOST NUMBER OF CHANCES , NARROW WIN FOR AUSTRALIAN TOURISTS

By Telearaph—

\\ ELLINGTON, Sept. 22. Better coordination in the forwards and an improved understanding throughout, were the most notieeable features of the form of the Australian team in defeating Wellington by 16 points to 15 at Athletic Park on Saturday. The quality of the game, on the whole, was marred by a heavy wind with driving misty rain for the second spell. There was a crowd &f--^ approsimately 25,000. ' i J Australia packed better in the scrums and were tigher in the lineouts. For the ilrst time this season Wellington found tliemselves well beaten for pos- 1 session though neither side showed i absolute fmish. j Playing with the wind Australia I estabiished a 13 — 6 lead at half time j and, figliting magnificently throughout ! the second spell, were able to hold the , lead though Wellington could hav*e j pulled tlie game out of tlie fire with \ penalty kieks. With Cooke back in the Australian side, a considerable .cl.ifference was made in the work of .'the pack especially in the lineouts. Other outstanding Australian forwards were McLean, Windon and ilardcastle. Baw- ! son's liooking played an important part j in the win though the publie often -ex- * ] pressed tlisapproval at the way the ball j came from the scrum. Tlie Australian backs did not eombine with the same precision as in earlier games but nevertheless were frequently dangerous. 1 McBride was on his game and showed | up, along with Allan, as being among I the best backs on the field. - Again Wellington forwards were | responsible for the major share in their team 's performance. Beard, in line with his consistent form in representative li.xtures this season, proved that he had few equals if any in either pack and was magnificent in all departments, though they combined well to score one very good try when Wiekham went over from a blind side move- ' ment initiated by Paewai. Wellington backs showed lack of finish at cruCial moments. More than onee they we,te splendidlv placed to score but passes went astrav. With Australia dominating both lineouts and scrums fewer* opportunities came the way of Paewai and even when he did get possession he had to be wary iudeed of the alert and speedy Windon who played more as a back than a for- : ward, standing well out in the lineouts - and raking the inside Wellington backs in possession. Of the two fullbacks, Piper was lceen in antieipation and fast to follow up, wliile his kicking, in spite of tlie highly difticult wind, was scarcely ever at fault. Wishnowsky, Wellington, was safe in handling and readv to join with the backs in thrusts but did not measure up to the conditions as well as Piper. Australia were iirst to score from a s movemeut which started with Hard- | castle in the lineout at halfway. Tlie | ball was taken across the iield in.a good n team attack to be Minished off by 3 Windon, Piper couvertiug. Windon ^Jso i made the next try for Eastes who went | over, Piper again adding the points. | Beard threw himself over from a line- ,| out to open Wellington 's account. | Windon scored again for Australia and | Beard kicked another penalty for W el- | lingtou to make the half time score « 13 — 6. Wickham scored a try for § Wellington on' resumption after two | penalty kicks in good positions, thopgh ^ with a treacherous wind, had missed. Beard then kicked a peualty and Piper followed with one for Australia. - A further penalty kick by Beard brougiit ihe score to 16 — 15 which remained un- i change thouglr there were further chauces for Wellington to forge ahbad | from penalties, one by (Beard tivo minutes from time miss.ing the posts.-'. .. In a curtain ; ramef WeUingtQir^'B d-pvrered Marlborough "'s -colour"!^ for- ^6he ffrst time this /season, the. segiie bwng T7 — 12. Sr a *-f oy wa^llf V slight advautaget liijt, WelxpTgtQp^'l^s were superior. For the winners were scored by Morrison and Taeger. ' Kenny converted a try and kicked three penalty goals. For Marlborough tries were scored by Fitzgerald and A. Gfbb. Croudis converted a try and Taylor got a field goal.