SPECTACULAR PLAY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 72, 22 September 1930, Page 4

SPECTACULAR PLAY

WELLINGTON'S BIG WIN

WAIRARAPA OUTPLAYED

Wellington's llugby representatives came into their own again on Saturday afternoon, when they registered a particularly jrood ■ performance against "Wairarapa at Athletio Park. The day was line and the exhibition was a splendid one for the spectators, of whom there were about 7000. The local team on this occasion was led by Cooke, whose presence made a great dilternice to the operations of the rearguard. Hacks and forwards, however, were in much better form than on the previous Saturday, and AVaivarapa, ndt by any means weak, found the local.side too fast itnd clever. The visitors played quite a prominent part,, some of their efforts contributing to the many .spectacular features d£ the game, in which some, of the .scoring was done in sensational manner. There was hard play between two solid packs, but in the main the game' was open, and the pace was hot from start to finish.' Wellington were the better side all round, and such was their superiority that they frequently set up attacks from their own twenty-five. Backing up was a partial* lat-ly good feature of the local team's play, and with most of the breakaways—and there were many during .the game—there was always a player—not infrequently Cooke^-quickly on hand to carry on. • The scoring was high, and, in spite of the fact that Wellington was without a reliable place-kick, the local total reached 42 points. Wairarapa's score was 19, making a total of 61 for the match. It was exhilarating football all the way, and some of ihe efforts . which resulted in tries were of a really high-class order. Page and Cooke; both showing much speed, combined beautifully in one successful dash —a brilliant piece of play. But the game was full of .incident, and there was not the slightest doubt about Wellington's superiority" as represented by the scoring. It was a com? plete reversal of the form shown on the previous Saturday. The teams were:— ' Wairarapa: Full-backj F. Fitzgerald; three-quarters, It. Jury, 7j. Roach, F; Fuller; five-eighths, T. Nikorima, T. Corkill; half-back, I. Hart; wing-forward; J. Le Quesne; forwards, K. M'Calmont, K. Reid, K. Fan-brother, I. Harvey (captain), J. Churchouse, S*. Best, N. JM'Gl'egor. Wellington! Full-back, W. J. Barrett: three-quarters, D. J. Oliver, N. Ball, J. p. Mackay; five-eighths, A. E. Cooka '(captain), J. R. Page; half-back, 11. J. Julian; wing'forward, O. Price; forwards, Ti. JesaUp, E. Coulston, E. Barry, A. C. M'Pherson, H. F. M'Lean, AY. E. Fell, IX. E. DiedeYich. THE FIRST SPELL. Cooke, having won the toss, AVellington played with buu and breeze behind them during the first spell, and it did not take ibem long to demonstrate that they, were in better working order than on the previous Saturday. Wairarapa made some advances early in the game, mainly as the result of breaking in on AVellington's attempts to open up the play. Cooke and Barrett, however, were watchful on defence, and their kicking gained much territory for AVellington, Cooke being very heady in the use of the attacking kick to touch. Between the forwards there iv'ere stern encounters, but the backs as yet were not combining effectively. The "up and under" policy served Wairarapa Moll, and when Corkill followed up and ('aught Barrett in possession the visitors lushed play to near the AVollington goalposts. The pressure, though solid, was held, but from a scrum the visitors made further attempts to cross the AVellington. line. No sooner was Hart held up than the ball went oiit to Reid, who succeeded in gaining a try, which Fuller failed to convert with a good kick. Wairarapa 3 Wellington ;.. 0 The local team retaliated hotly, aud •when Jeesup sent Price away the visitors' line was in danger. Price's pass was taken by a defender, and a desperate clearance was made. Ball then tried to let Mackay through, but the pass was missed. Vrom the drop-out, after Cooke had failed ja an attempt to land a penalty goal, Oliver provided a thrill with a lone-hand bid for a try. Taking the ball, he cut across-field from the left-wing, then headed south, and carved his way through the defence*. He was almost upset, but quickly straightened up and forged ahead, only to be brought down near the line. He was up again in a flash, and forced his way over, scoring a sensational try near the posts. Page failed to convert. Wairarapa 3 Wellington 3 AVellington continued to have the better of the play, and when a relieving kick by Corkill was charged down Cooke was quickly on the scene. He just failed to gather in the ball in his stride, otherwise he would have been hard to stop. The local backs were working up combination, aflii had to be closely watched, Julian and Price both keeping them in work. A penalty kick gave M'Lean a hard chance to goal, but his effort did not succeed. later this player made a good dash, in which la was well supported by Cooke, wTio Vrafl at the Wairarapa line when brought down. A scrum ensued, and from ■thie Priea dived across. His try was con-1 Terted by Cooke. Wellington 8 Wairarapa 3 'A bout of midfield play was unattractive, except for some nippy play by Julian. Smart following up by Wairarapa caused Wellington to be bustled for a minute or twOj until the pressure was relieved by a force-down. Ere long the home players Were nnder way again as an attacking force, the forwards pressing solidly in the tight and exhibiting dash in the loose, with the backs on hand and eager to top off the movements. Inside the Wairarapa twenty-five a scrummage infringement gave Wellington a penalty kick; and Cooke landed a goal. Wellington '. 11 Wairarapa 3 , The application of weight by the visiting forwards led to a vigorous attack, at the end o£ which Corkill just failed with a smart effort to reach the objective. A struggle ensued near the ■Wellington goalposts, and it ended with a free-kick to Wellington. In subsequent play Jessup, Ball, and Fell were conspicuous for Wellington, and Le Quesne and Fuller for Wair pa. Fuller did some clever sidestep]; ill trying to change defence into attac >ut his trickiness finally threw him ■ :s balnnce. Wellington held the upper ml until I!. Jury followed up a kick and caught the Wellington fullback in possession, when ihero was danger, as in this cane, Cooke was always on the scene, and a pass from Barrett enabled the Wellington captain to clear. The visitors wero back agam, TTaj.'t putting in some 'good work, and finally serving his backs. Corkill linked up well, but Nikorima fumbled. The position, however, Was still looking hopeful for the visitors, until Cooke made a clever clearance. There was some give-and-take play. before Julian, Page, and Oliver combined well in a passing bout, which gained much ground. Soon afterwards the AVellington rearguard was in action again. 'The leather, going right through from half to iving-three-quarter. Ball drew his man i'jilendidly, .and Maclitiy was able to score <i fine try. Cooke failed to convert.

. . Wellington 14 Wairarapa 3 Price started the next local advance by breaking away, with the ball at toe. The backs were served, but this time Ball was closely guarded. The attack was maintained, forwards and backs making matters lively for the visitors, who were "linally 'unable to check Oliver when he was sent away by Julian on the blind side. Oliver outstripped the opposition • and scored. Mackay failed to convert from u-ell out. Half-time sounded with the score:— Wellington "^ . \ Vairarapa 3 THE SECOND HALF. Wellington commenced the second spell "■iihout Mackay, who was receiving atten-

lion to his chin, a cut in which required to bo stitched. Price played as wing-three-qiinvtcr Until Mackay came on again, awl Julian took over the job of putting the ball into the scrum. The &iuuo -was carried on in lively mood, each side making advances, with Wellington the. more persistent. A Wellington rush, with Price at the head, compelled the visitors to force down. The relief was only temporary. 'Julian set the backs in motion, Page.and Coolie making ground and Page joining in again and passing to Ball, who made the way easy for a try by Mackay^ who failed to convert. Wellington 20 AVairarapa 3 The visitors were not faring well, but they showed no signs of letting up; in fact, it was not long before Nikorima m/ide a great dash for the AVellington line, and was Unfortunate in not adding to Waivarapa'g account. A little later Hart gave Fuller a chaiice, but the pass was missed. The latter next had nn opportunity to kick a penalty goal; it was not easy, and a good kick just missed. In loose play Wellington showed up to better advantage than the visitors, and befqj-e long the backs' were Balled upon again^ Julian sending Page away. Page clipped on the pace, dummied, 41 and made a great hole in the defencei In a flash Cooke was up with him,- and a sparkling movement was topped off by Cooke scoring under the posts. Cooke's kick was charged down. 23-3. There was1 a sudden Change immediately afterwards, Harvey setting Wairarapa on a likely mission. A knock-on stopped progress, but in a scrum Wairarapa were awarded a free jkick, and Fuller added three points to the score. Wellington .., 23 . . Wairarapa . / 0 Rallies by_ both sides made the play fast and entertaining, and a good.deal of it was ■in', the. visitors' favour. Another penalty enabled Pulletl to give further demonstration of his ability as a place-kick,, and this goal made the snore 23-9. AVairarapa's out' look was a little brighter, and the recent successes stirred them to greater efforts. Wellington, however, were on their game, and engaged in further dasljes, combined and solo. Page was conspicuous in the backs and Fell in the forwards. On one occasion Mackay made a great bid for a try, but was overtaken just in time by Roach, who showed a lot of pace. It was then that the rearguard opened out,, and when Ball was served the direction of the attack'was suddenly changed, Ball cutting through and scoring a hue try, which Cooke converted.

Wellington 2S Wairarapa ' <) Hopeless as Wairarapa's position now looked, the visitors still kept moving briskly to the attack, and were just as quick in getting back to defend when Wellington broke away. .Another spectacular- dash was made by Nikorima, who dodged and side-stepped until ho appeared to have a great chance of a try. He was overtaken, however, but Fan-brother waa there to taKe the pass, only to find his way barred. Hart then , supported, and gave Jury an opportunity, which, however, was lost through the ball being dropped. After being driven back to midfleld, the visitors set up another attack. In this Nikorima lost possession, but the ball was regained and sent on to Jury, who this time evaded three opponents and scored a try, which Puller converted With a fine kick. 28-14. Matters were now looking up, and yet another stir was created when .Fuller brqko in on a, Wellington passing bout. From near his own twenty-five Fuller set off for the Wellington line, and en route he dodged a couple of opponents, finally touching down.- It was a sensational try, and, converted by Fuller, it made Wairarapa's position much better, as well as giving even greater interest to the game. . Wellington 28 Wairarapa 19 At this, however, the Wellington team set about making matters move • lively than ever for the visitors, as well as for the- spectators. Forwards and backs showed their paces. M'Lean started one attack, passed to Cooke, and was up again to take a pass from Gooke, after which Ball "and Mackay handled, the lastuamed topping off the display of fireworks with a try, which he just failed to convert. 31-19. Jusfc afterwards Fuller failed with; a penalty kick for Wairarapa, and then Wellington came back to the attack with the result that Oliver made another determined dash, forcing bis way through in cloSe proximity to touch and scoring.The try was not converted by Mackay. 34-19. The visitors still played "their part in making the ganle entertaining, but they were not equal to driving home their at-' tacks. They had a hard job of it in keeping Wellington out, and finally broke down when Page made a characteristic burst. Cooke was again up in support, but was blocked near the line. The ball was dropped, and Julian snapped it up and scored under the posts, Cooke converting. 39-19. Wellington had some final flutters, setting out from their own twenty-five. Mackay started one of them, and the ball went right across to Ball, who "sold the dummy" and, cutting in scored under tie posts. Cooke's kick failed. The final score, was:— • Wellington 42 Wairarapa ~,. " yj Mr. J, Scott controlled tne ganio.