WELLINGTON v. ORIENTAL.

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 127, 31 May 1919, Page 12

WELLINGTON v. ORIENTAL.

Great things were expected of Wellington u.t the commencement of the season, but. they have quickly faded from the limelight, and from the display given by them against Oriental at the Park last Saturday it will take a much improved fifteen to bring them to the fore again. The non-appearance of players who it was anticipated would throw in their lot with Wellington is no doubt largely responsible, but. even so the present material should be capable of better things. In this: last game the team was lacking in combination, both in forward and back play, while the handling of the ball ivas_ erratic, and apart from one or two individual flashes there was little indication of knowledge of the finer points of the game. Lack of support to the few better members of the team—the Packer brothers, Brooks, Webster, and TuU—was also noticeable.

. It would be disappointing to see the Yellow-and-Black colours, which have on many occasions flown prominently in senior Rugby, low on the championship list. The experience of the past few Saturdays— not that it is any disgrace to suffer defeat at the hands of a better team —should be an incentive to remedy the aiany ia.ults. As the season is not far advanced there is ample "opportunity for improvement, and, incidentally, of enabling enthusiasts to realise their early expectations of the Wellington fifteen.

By defeating Wellington, Oriental secured another well-deserved win, which, places them next to the three leading teams in the senior competition. However, there was nothing very attractive in their exhibition, except that the forwards worked hard throughout and held a distinct advantage over their opponents, though there was only a difference of two points in the final scores. This was due to over-eagerness, faulty handling, and lack of head work Time after time they carried the ball to their opponents' line, but there lost it for the reasons specified. Otherwise their win would have been more decisive. This team seems to be improving with every game, and when in proper-working order will- have fc> bo reckoned with by those teams' which have already displayed tfieir superiority. Gair, Devine, and W-atts appeared to be the best of a •billing pack, which had one passenger on Saturday, while Papps anil Riding put in some good work in the hack division: Innes played well behind the eorum, and with a little more head-work, so essential to a half-back, should be able to help his backs considerably.