Wellington Win Even Game With Combined Side

Chronicle (Levin), 1 August 1949, Page 4

Wellington Win Even Game With Combined Side

A thrilling display of hard, fast rugby was se.en at Otaki on Saturday when the two representative fifteens, Wellington Maoris and Wairarapa - Bush - Horotyhenua Maori^turned on what was probably tne fastest game seen in the district for many a long day. It was won by Wellington by 16 points to 12. The display was remarkable under the condition. Players were soon mud bespattered and although the ground was well chopped up and the -ball greasy, handling was hrst class. There was no respite for either team, the struggle for supremacy being a magnificent one, and the large crowd showed its appreciation time and again. The standard of play was sucji that df vigil was relaxed for seconds only, aither side was capable of -seizing the opportunity. Three tries were scored tlius. Wellington wore black and the combined side red, white and blue;

Early Try. Spectators were given an early indication of what was to follow when the first score came within three minutes. The combined team kicked off and Henry Ropata, substituting for Kenny at full-back, found the line. A scrum went down inside half-way following the-line-out, and the Black fo'rwards, Hohaia and Yates, and the winger-, Wineera, were prominent in- a rush down the line. Huff cleared nicely, but Ryan, Yates, Sullivan ■ and Hohaia came back pushing everything before them, with/the fivee'ighths, Thomson, in support. The rush r'eached to within 10 yards of the 'Blue line and Huif an'd Poutu he'sitated to take the ball. Thomson snapped it up and dived over near the posts. , Ropata converted nicely to give Black five points. Smart dummying by Haeta saw Heremaia in possession, but he was well taken .by his opposite, Thomson, and Ca'rter, the Blue winger' in turn did some good taekhng. A penalty for offside play enabled Ropata to find the line at the 25-yard mark. A succession of scrums followed during which Blue were penalised and Ropata, from five yards outside the 25, kicked an easy goal. Wellington 8, Combined 0.

Fierce Rucking. Thomson set the B.ack backs racing and their speed and safe handling stirred the crowd, but Poutu stopped the rush. Shortly after fierce rucking ensued, with Hohaia working like a trojan in the tight. Poutu was smart in clearing before the break-away, Sullivan, groupded him hard. A hectic forwarci rush brought the Black forwards to the Blue 25, but the diminutive Carter saved grandly, and the game see-sawed back to half way. A nice passing rush took the ball through the hands of Royal, Horsfall. Matthews and back to Royal, who went over beside the posts. He was tackled as he went over, however, and a five-yard scrum resulted. Horsfall hooked successfully and the half, Parekowhai, shot a nice pass to Smith, who ran straight through to score a neat try alongside the posts. Ropata again converted and Black led 13—0. This further reverse saw B'ue all out to redeem some of the leeway lost, and with the ball at toe Mitchell, Nepia and Winterburn were soon in Black 25. Poutu snapped up and attempted a run; but was forced out. A smart effort by Gray from the lineout saw the ball go to Haeta to Parker to Heremaia to Kuru, who raced through the opposition to- score alongside the posts. Gray's kick was unsuccessful. The score read 13 — 3 and the spell- ended. Thrilling Moves. Ropata kicked off. and a knoekjon brought a scrum. Offside play gave Blue a penalty and Huff found touch. Another scrum followed and Wineera, Horsfall and Solomon raced downfield to reac'h Huff, who again cleared nicely. Lincoln, Nepia, Blake, Winterburn and Parker, with Poutu there also, barged into Black territory for Wineera to snap up and be run out half way, between the 25 and the line. Lincoln secured from the lineout and determinedly smashed Through . to score a well-merited try. Huff missed the kick, for the score to read Black 13, Blue 6. Blue forwards were now packing very tight and pushing hard. Carter Haeta, Thompson, Winterburn and Kuru featured in the next rush to Black territory. A penalty to the defenders relieved the pressure. Some thrilling moves saw the ball thrown about from one side of the field to the other and then right back again, but smart work on defence by G.ra~y, Lincoln and Carter held up the rush.

With some of the sting taken out of the Black backs by the deadly tackling of the Blue team, and lwith Blue also holding a territorial c advantage and spurred on by the spectators, excitement ran high. Following a solid exchange a kick to centre enabled Parker to outpace the opposition, but the ball evaded him when at further try for Blue looked certain. Nepia, Gray, Mitchell and Parker headed the next rush and Poutu was applauded for his good work in stopping his opposite, Wineera, ' when he picked up. Carter then figured in a hrilliant run, jumping high to successfully intercept an'd, with Blake, Lincoln and Nepia following up hard, a try by Nepia took the score to 13—9. Huff missed an easy kick, The pace was still torrid with-no sign of any slowing up. The combined team worked their way down to. the Blue line and from a five-

yard scrum Kuru cleared hrilliantly, dribbling right through to the opposite 25. Fo'lowing up, Heremaia, Carter and Kuru were, away with only ' Ropata to pass, but a knock-on spelt " disaster. Full time was drawing close and from the resultlng scrum . Parker, Winterburn, and Poutu strove hard. Black, with the foall at toe, *5 raced back and the second unfortunate try against Blue' resulted when Kuru was bustled into kicking back to Huff; who had no time to save befere being overwhelmed by the oncoming attackers, Wineera, Royal ti and Suffivan. The latter scored at the corner flag. Wellington 16, Combined 9. With five minutes to go, Blue refused to submit and an exciting rush saw Parker, Blake, Winferburn, Haeta and Carter in turn handle to take the ball to the defending 25. . Excitement reached a new height when, after losing possession,. Lincoln regained for Blue and Blake, Winterburn and Thompson went over together with defending players clmging to them. A 25 was ordered and from the drop out Nepia, Blake and Carter handled in 'turn for the latter to outpace his opponents and score at the corner flag. Huff's run of bad luck with his kicks continued when he slipped and his kick was charged. -Wellington 16, Combined 12. The game ended soon after with the Wellington backline figuring in further passing rushes. Mr. D. McMillan was the referee.