RUGBY IN THE RAIN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1534, 2 September 1912, Page 6

RUGBY IN THE RAIN.

SEVERAL WELLINGTON VICTORIES.

THE LEAGUE SURPRISE.

Wairarapa of the Unknown Form. The thousands- of Rugby followers of this city, who did not go to Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon had a reasonable excuse for uot doing so. Rain fell throughout the morning, a;id only ceased at brief intervals during'the Afternoon. At this particular "influenza season" it was certainly not the sort of weather to attract a, crowd, more especially as the match—Wairarapa w Wellington B—was not by any means the star item of the season. Only a few hundred people could be seen in the stand, "while there wore also a few who paid their shillings for the privilege of standing in., the rain on; the north and west banks. Though the ground'was very wet and greasy, it w:as not, perhaps, as bad as it lias been on some previous Saturdays (luring the

season. Having a victory against Taranaki and a defeat at tho hands of Manawatu, the Wairarapa, team's form was a seeming contradiction, and could not be very- accurately guaged. Before the team took the field-on Saturday, however, it was recognised that it would be handicapped by the' absenca of M'Keuzie, who, in addition to being 'an able captain, is regarded as the team's most powerful forward.

Wellington—Admirably Captained; On paper, the Wellington team did not appear to be a very solid combination, but it was • admirably captained by M'Leod, whose, kuowledge of the gamo proved the deciding factor. ' Indeed, it is doubtful if the value of captainship has ever been more clearly demonstrated during the current season.

•In the first spell the visitors' more than held their own, and. it. was probably, duo to Lambert's, good .line-kicking and to the manner in which M'Lcod went down to tho Wairarapa forward rushes, that tho visitors did not have a greater lead than two points at half-time. In the second half, M'Leod had apparently arrived at the conclusion that Darvill was' the weakest link in the chain of the green backs (Wairarapa), and he directed the bulk of. the attack on that player, .only, working the other, side on a surprise oc-casion.-'"The plnn 'worked wonderfully well, and at the end of the day's play the local team had scored five tries to their opponents' two. Considering the state of the ground, the play was quite bright at times, and the backs on both sides handled the ball I 'better .than had been expected, I

THE PLAY. WAIRARAPA LEADS AT FIRST. Wairarapa won the loss, and defended the northern goal, whence came the rain. J. Murphy kicked off for Wellington, and immediately the visitors put energy into their work, Desmond and Hodge leading a forward rush to the Wellington twentyfives. "M'Leod brought relief to his side with a useful line-kick, which transferred play to half-way. ' The Greens returned to the attack, and, for somo minutes,: tlio operations, were on Wellington's side of tho half-way line. Presently Morris snapped up the ball in a loose 'rush, aud sent out a wild pass, which Hale accepted on the bounce. The Oriental threequarter made a great dash down the sideline, but.was safely grassed by Tait, the Wairarapa full-back. Shortly after Lambert had a good, but unsuccesful, shot at goal from a free-kick, and Wairarapa' forced down. The visitors subsequently tried a. couple of passing rushes, and, when one of these was looking dangerous, Morris' intercepted, and running up to half-way, centred under the goal. Groube, however, took a cleror mark, and saved what looked like being a. certain score. Tait then placed Wairarapa on the attack again with a great line-kick, and Wellington had a strenuous period, during which they were compelled to force. Towards the. end of the spell Wellington seemed to be doing better, and, as the re- ' sultof good work by Morris, M'Leod, Xunn. and M'Kenzie, Wairarapa. were forced once, while'Tait'and Sandell only saved in the nick of (imo on other occasions. In reply to thesu attacks, Groube and Ross carried play into tho Wellington territory, and' the. AYairarapa forwards rushed the ball over the Wellington line, only to see Lambert kick it to the dcßdball line.

Within five minutes of half-time, Bell led the Wellington forwards to tho visitors' twenty-five, and Halo further improved the position by finding the line at the corner. From the throw-in, Cunningham scored, but Lambert failed to goal. Wellington, 3; Wairarapa, 0. Soon after tho drop-out, a Wairarapa forward rush compelled the Wellington backs to find refuse in the dead-lxill line. As soon as the play had been sfriiur again, however, the Wairarapa half (O'Brien) nas<»d to Sandell, who sent it on to Darvill. The latter was tackled by M'Kenzie, and lost the ball within a couple of yards of tlio jine. but. M. .Tohuson secured, and scored. Sandell kicked a fine goal, and _ half-time was'called.with the scores reading: Wai-. rarapa, 5 points; Wellington, 3 points. Second Spell—Mostly Wellington's. For tho lirst ten minutes of the second lwlf, the Wairarapa forwards pressed on the Wellington line, and, on ono occasion, went close to scoring, IK Murphy forcing for Wellington at a critical stage. After' tho drop-out, the local men took a. hand in the attack, and presently M'Leod snapped up the ball in the loosfc, aud transferred to H. Murphy. The latter passed to Morris', who cut in and scored. M'Kenzie mis«?d Iho shot at goal. Wellington, G; Wairarapa, 5. Immediately afterwards, tho visitors were forced, and vet again, when Lambert essayed a pot. at goal. The Blacks kept Wairarapa peuned down until Xunn secured from a line-out, and sent a pass over M'Lcod's head to H. Murphy. The ball travelled on to Morris anil (hen to M'Kenzie, who scored. His shot at goal was again unsuccessful, Wellington,'!); Wairar.ipa, 5. At this stage the visitors, wero practically doing noibing but defending. From a. scrum on the line. Wellington hooked out the ball, and Xunn passed to M'Leod. who ran round the "blind side" ami scored easily. M'Kenzie once again failed with the kick. Wellington, 12; Wairarapa. 3. M'l.eod marked the visitors' drop-out, and. after his kick, (he Green forwards, headed by Henderson, rushed the ball right past tho Wellington backs. It was . thsn sent to Matson, who was tackled on. '■

the line, but Ro?s. took up the feather olid scored. Sandell's kick was a failure. ■Wellington, 12; VTairarapa, S. From this onwards, givc-ond-take pln.v resulted, cither side having scoring chances but not. until right on (be call of time were further points added. At. that, stage Wairarapa had hsc-n romuelkrj to. force, on throe occasions in quick succession, as tho Wellington fonvards attack-

CHARGES MADE AGAINST "ALL BLUES."

SUMMARY OF RESULTS. Wellington A *2s' Wanganui ;..... Wellington B 17 Wairarapa ZZZ.ZZZ 8 Canterbury ..11 Otago ',Z"ZZ'.- 3 Auckland (League) 10 New South Wales ZZZZ. 3

od. The latter then made a final anil Pert - }* scored near tho posts. Jiorris converted, and the game ended Wellington ]7 Wairarapa g . Mr. H. E. Card was referee.