Wanderers' Victory In Nash Cup Was Thoroughly Deserved

Chronicle (Levin), 2 September 1948, Page 7

Wanderers' Victory In Nash Cup Was Thoroughly Deserved

The, final of the Nash Cup senior rugby competition on Saturday saw Wanderers sc'ore a well-deserved victory over Athletic.As in the championship encounter the previous week between these two teams, the Wanderers forwards again dominated play and frequently had their oppohents at sea. On that occasion Athletic's weaknpss was their inability to secure possession of the ball in the scrums and rucks, but last Saturday; they had their share of it and failed because they did not.; capitalise the numerous opportunities which came their way. 1 Despite a good, record in this the ball. kicked or nassed: (4) '

season's competition games, Athletic have been unable to lower Wanderers' colours in their four clashes. They played tO' a nineall draw in one game, but lost the others 3—15, 6—8 and 11—13. On Saturday G. Miiroy, W. Winiata and Stevenson were perhaps the pick of , 'the hard-working Wanderers pack. ■ The latter undoubtedly played his best game to date and notched his team's three tries. A. Royal and B. Marshail, making their debut in senior class, were an asset to their side m the forwards. If anything, Royal probably had the edge on Marshalil. The Wanderers three-quarter iine, Heremaia, Neylon and McCready, were given very little of the ball and the two wingers scarcely had an opportunity mroughout the game. Hakaraia, at the base of the scrum, played a fairiy sound' game, but was inclined to run too far before passing loiit to his inside backs. The Athletic captain, J. Granger, turned in what was unquesticnabiy his finest display.of the season. His leadership of the Athletic staiwarts was masterful, particularly at the eileventh hour m trying to pull the game out of the fire. He was abiy supported oy R. Denton and P. ODonnell. A. Fletcher, who has been playing exceptionaf.ly good rugby this season, showed that he knows. what to do when opportunity knocks and also his versatility, p.aylng at centre and on the side row of the scrum during the game. Among the Athietic backs, G. Huoson was the most outstanding, both on defence and attack. He uas played a co,nsistently solid game throughout the season. Four Athnetic juniors, R. Judd, G. Rippin and R. Desgrand, in the forwards, and B. Law, playing as fhli-back, were given a place in che team to flii vacancies caused through seniors playing in the All Biack trial at Wanganui. TheyJ all justified their incdusion, Rip- 1 ptn m particiuar toiling hard andj tackiing soundly. The latter is sometliing which many of the ' seniors still have to learn. On the day Athletic can have no excuses for their defeat in what was their final game of the season. Wanderers have yet to ! p.ay Hui Mai in the championship hnax and it will be interesting to i see how they fare. While Athietic1 have not been able to beat Wanderers, they in tuni have not yet been able to score over Hui Mai.