RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 82, 3 October 1931, Page 20

RUGBY

S| -~-,.. .. .»». "omofiocM-

|iS ; -FEr:?tQSSES

WELLINGTONS RECORD

■■JsE.l HAWKES BAY GAME

'.[ the play generally this;sea«o!n.:jik.s been/nothing -out of the way, the j form |of .^Wellington ?s representatives: has accounted for quite a ..creditable!record.': 'All;r6undj however, there has i'been much' about firstglade 'representative football, and' ho fat '-aitfi Wellington "is ■ concerned."-' the ■brightest ,play has been that provided by tho/B representatives. '■ ;Th.o players, 6£ ceurse,; have had: a( very strenuous tiniejiand'i the number, of'calls' upon theiß, not only for matches (inter-eljjb aridirepresentative) but; also for1 special training possibly-had something to do with Some'of the disappointing features of'theplay. As'hasibeen pointed:out previously, the placing; of players in positions to; which /they were not best suited-,also affected team performance. However, .the selector, has brought out some/ very likely you,ng talent, even if htf has Overlooked; some of the right kind,, and there should be no lack of gtfodimaterial for-next .year's engagement*, '.Taking the season right through Mtd, considering' the present state of thing* in the business rworld, the Wellington Bugby Union has every reason tos feel well pleased with the financial reiufart from matches. / In that respect it :has.:been a surprisingly good; season. ''A^iream's Becor*. ' WeUingtbn'a ' 'YA*"' repVesentatives had'eight games> six being won and two lost. • ;The record is as follows:— -.. y.'Tiranaki, at Hawera—Won, H-6. jr. Southland, at . Wellington—Won, / 36-13. '.' ■ :-' "■ '•- ■"-. jr.^Canterbury, at Wellington—Lost, ;V6-S. '■ ■/ - "." ':■' -.": • ■'■ •■ V.vdtjigb, at -Wellington—Won, 13-11. jt. Australia, at Wellington—Won, 15-8. V. Tarariaki, at Wellington—Won^ " ' 1544. .. ■-•■■::■•"■". ■':■■■: ■■~ ■■ ■" y.■'• Auckland,-at Auckland—Lost, 19-27. jr. Eawkesßay; at Napier—Won, 15.8. No -player took/part in all Wellington 's "A " games. Sis—E. Jesscp, F. D; kilby, C. A. M'Pherson, J. B. Page, H>;jt Pollock, and .E.Eeid—played/in seven, Jessep and Page playing in tho Test-match, at Auckland on the day of the/match against Taranaki in Weilingtoih ' Kilby and M'Pherson missed theiOtag'o matcTii; Pollock the ' Canterbury 'match,; and/Eeid the Southland wa-teh'iv•■-'•■■.■-' -.: •■ -'.I - " ■■ ■■ ■;: ■■■ ■- Six^E. Barry,' E. Coulston, B, E. Dfiiafjch, /H. T. . Lilbiirne, H. F. M'Leah, and M.. F. Nicholls—took part in-.; iix. games. Barry missed games against Australia arid Taranaki (in Wellington); Coulston those against OtajifO: and Hawkes Bay; Deidrich those agiinst -Taranaki (at Hawera). and Hawkes Bay j'i.Lilburne. against Auckland;and■'■TaranalU',in Wellington (he played in -Te^t snatch tat Auckland on tnat:.:d'ay>;'jil^tean missed, against Canterbury;'and;,Otago; and Nicholls against//.TarUnaJci -at Hawera, : and Southland. ■"■;'": '."■"';■■• ' ■':'' Two-^-^fi: Ball and A; M. Macdonald •-^played in;'five. Ball missed ma.tch.es against Caiiterbufy, Taranaki, at Wellington' (playing in the "Test'-at, Auckland),- and Hawkes,'Bay; v Macdonaltl inis'sed. against' Otago,; Australia, and AucklanjJ. ',-Two^-J." D. Mackay and b. : Price--piayed [in four. / t Mackay played .against. Southland; Otago^.. Australia, and, Auckland;. Price /played against Canterbury, Otago,, Tariinakij in Wellington, and Auckland* Three •*-L. .C. Bydder, J. D.'.Shearer, B; Stiver ~play.ed ' in,: three. -- '■' Byfldei; /played against'Olago, in Wellington, Hawkes Bay; . Snearef, played -against Otago, 'Australia,-.• Taranaki-■ jri ■Wellington; and, Stiver played.' againar Southland, Austfajia, and 'Hawkes Bay. •three—^. .Ucllabarca (V. Taranaki at Bawera, Canterbury); W". Huxtable (v. eanterbury,/Taranaki at Wellington); and JVL. Griflxtbs. (v. Taranaki in Wel-Ungtonj-ancl Aucklahd^played in two games. -Eleven, played' in only one game:'B. Ball (y.- Taranaki, in Wellington),Jß.. 'Blacker-.,(v. ' Otago), J. X (v. ;Otago), F. Cormack (v. Canterburj^second. spell)," C. E. Dinnis Cv. Taranaki, at Hawera),- W. -E. Fell (v/Southland), F. Fuller (v. Canterbury, first spell), A. Hanseri (v. Hawkes Bay, second spell), W. Feck (v. Taranaki, at Hawera), S.:Wafd (v. Hawkes Bay)," 1.. WyJie (v. Hawkes Bay). gcorers;and"Oaps. >M For- the; eight, game's the Wellington iA team's'scoring account was made up of 31. tries, 15; goals from tries, 2 penalty.-goals, and one "potted" goal. Tbe-acorers were:—N; Ball (6 tries), 18 points, H. B. Pollock (8 goals from tries) 16, M. F. Nicholls (3 goals from tries, 2 penalty goals) 12, H. F. M'Lean (4 tries)' 12, -E. Barry (4' tries) 12, F. D., Kilby (4 goals from tries, 1 potted goal) 12, H. T. Lilburno (3 tries) 9, A. M. M« Donald (3 tries) 9, J. B. Page <3 tr.ies):9,\V:Huxt.able (2 tries)-6, L. C. Bydder, J; Deliabarca, J. D. Mackay, O. Price,' J. D. Shearer, and S. Ward (each'one try) each three points. 1 There wfire six new caps:-—F. Cormnck (with dating for 1929), H. T. Lilburne, A. M. Macdonald, H. B. Pollock (with dating for 1930), L. C. Bydder, and 'E. Stiver. . The following nineteen players havo thoir.caps dated: N. Ball, E. Barry,: E. Blacker, 'J." E. Coinon, E; Coulston, 8.-E. Diederich, W. E. Fell, W. Huxtalble, JE." Jessep, F. I). Kilby, J. D. Mackay, H. F. M'Lean, C. A. M'Pher--80n,./M-' F. Nicholls, J. B. Page, W. Peck, ,Q. .Price, E. Beid, J. t). Shearer. ' Eight gain no status so far as '^caps". are concerned: B. Ball; J. Deliabarca, C. Dinnis,' F. Fuller, J. L. Griftiths, I. Wylic, S. Ward, A. Hansen. The B Representatives. : Wellington B representatives played fixe games with-the following results:-^ Against Bush Districts, at Pahiatu^j jyon 14-5. .•..•'"■ ""■;'■-. ".■'-. '• :■ ,-■ ' Against Southern Hawke3 Bay, at P,innevirk«; won 24-12. '.■',- ' • Against Marlbprough, a.t Blenheim; lost 13-14.';. .'■,,"•., ". ..'-. -.. Against Maiiawhenu'a,' at Wellington; yon 33-21.' ' '■',-•' ',' '■'■' '"■ ■ ': ' Against Nelson,: at Wellington; .lost 1347.; ■:-" :.. .../:' ■ ::.■ Four players—B... A..'. Killeen, P. O'Connor,-J. C.Smith, and B. Watsonplayed m : all.g^mea. Six played in four game's^—J. E? jCpman ~ (missed Southern Hawkes; Bay)j.Al, Hansen (missed Nelson),' A.' Ke'nny (missed Southern Hawkesj 'Bay); -IV BoyrioTds (missed Manawuenua),^.- J. Stanley (missed Nelson), S.. Ward; (missed Nelson); ' Five played, in three games—J..H. Butler (v. Bush, 'Southern Hawkes'Bay, Nelson), J,'Li Oriffithi '(v.'B'ushySouth,era HaWkds (Bay,. Nelson), J. McCarthy (v;Soiltiern Httwke'a Bay.'Maflborough-, jyanawhenua), B. '■• Masters :(v.' Bush, Southern'Hij-wkos Bay, Manawhenua), I. Wylie' (v. South' Hawkes Bay; Marlbor-ough1,-Manawhenua). - Three played in tavo gafties—-J. .Deliabarca (v. Manawhenuaj.Nelson); F. Hepburn (y. Marl-' boroughy Nelson),' Hi Organ (v. Southe't'3 Hawkes 'Bay, Marlborough). Ten played in one game only—B. Ball- (v. Nelson.), L. Bydder (v. Manawhenua), W. Davidge (v.Marlborough), P. Dennehy (v. Southern Hawkes Bay), B. E. Dindrich (V. Kelson), I. Ramsay (v. Bush), E. Stiver ,(v. Manawliemm), J, Burn (v. Kelson). E. Coijlstoii ; (v..NNe t K0J1), Po.Fhillips (v.Bush). The B team scoring account was made up .0f, "23 tries,; 9 goals from tries, 2 pwi»lty goals, and one "potted" goal. The scorers' Ware: .-L' Wylie (6 tries), IS points;, j.- L. Griffiths (3 tries, 1 potted]

goal), 13; A. Hansen (± trios), 12; J. E. Coman (3 goals from tries, 2 penalty goals), 12; B. Masters (5 goals from tries), 10; B. Watson (3;tries), 9; E. Stiver ;(2 tries), 6; -J. Deliabarca (2 tries), 6; C. J. S.taaley (1 try), 3; 8. Ward (1 try), 3; P. Phillips (1 try), 3; and F. Hepburn (1 goal from try), 2. ,Wellington v, Hawkes Bay. Failure in defence, and inability among »he backs', to give effect to opportunities for smart passing movements likely to penetrate Wellington's rock-like opposition, spelled defeat for Hawkes Bay; on Saturday, writes '' Scrum in,1, the Napier " Daily Telegraph." ;.~ ! The; wind , was .an all-important factor-in the' game,•;and it is significant that; while the visitors scored three tries during the first spell, with the. breeze behind^;them, ..they were not hampered to/such a .degree, when they were, playing against it, as- Hawkes Bay had1 been. / : Wellington's rearguard' /showed:' samples' of .rare "form in the/-first twen minutes; of -the match. ; Buns in.-which Jjjilburne, arid 'Page figured prominently Sdllowed; one ...anqther' in ;■ quick 'succession, and;it was'a matter for wonder that-the did not score, more tries dliririg, the session. ' ' It was left to their forwards- to, carry .on the good work 'in. the second-spell, The nerve and sparkle of;the backs appeared to hafe vanished. Their effectiveness seemed mastered^ But their vanguard, was jby-bo-means beaten. Picking up the threads of aggressiveness where their backs had-left off, the visitors' packmen v:Bhowed; remarkable ability fii gruelling .work, and were able tosweep from defence to attack in repeated . sOrtiesv that frequently carried them sixty.or severity yards. Wellington's Besti : "There were many whom one-would nanie as bjeing outstanding individualists. Both "Page and Lilburne, especially ...tne- former, were particularly impressive, Svhile Pollock, at full-back, played a consistently safe and, resourceful game. It was Kilby, however, who captured' the honours among Wellington's backs.', Smart in attack, quick to let' his backs aWay, and never failing to take, an-opportunity to slip round the blind, side, |c revealed mercurial form that left• one-speculating upon the reasons'for ■ his omission from the All Black side. . . ■ Hawkes Bay did.apt see Nicholls at his; best. He ■ was, vto say the ;least, most disappointing. Examples of outstanding geueralsbip, arid the master-ful-strategy for which he has such a reputation, were rare. ; M'Donald, the visitors V wing ,'three-quarter, was particularly attractive, in swift runs eariy in. the game. • One .gathered the impression; that Wellington's total score might easily have been much larger had he.been more freely fed. His enforced retirerijent midway through the second spell'was indeed regrettable. Of the .visitors'forwards,' M'Lean was possibly the most prominent. Barry, and Stiver were also frequeritly conspicuous, though last year's All Black unquestionably led '■■ the pack. Toe Nelson Match. . s, ' '-, In tlie pack fielded TsyNelson;at; Athletic Park ;last ■ Saturday, the Wellington B!team Was up against a; solid;proposition which made it difficult: for. the local rearguard, which has .'previously indicated that it" is an effective; scoring machine,to get , under way. ; Led by the redoubtable Max, the visiting seven had size '.arid weight whic.h Was applied scientifically so 'that' the . [best was realised from the '.'advantage. In the loose j also the visitirig forwards worked, to gopdr.accdunt, their play as ' a teatn indicating that they; had .been coached along the right lines.. There was method in most that they did, their dribbling arid • short" passing, tactics causing- the locals any. amount of trouble.;/.;' ;■ ;";.' ■'. :■.. , .'.... If there was one respect in which the visitors''display could be criticised -atwaisirf the matter of off-side play, and tjieir tendency to offend ill this way was not checked ?to ;tbe extent .it should have .been by tthe referee,./who allowed many 'illegalities' to pass.. Nevertheless, the' Nelson forwards gave a/fine display, 'arid <he Success for which they paved the -way' was '.well-deserved. . Jllaij "who played on the side of. the scrum,; showed' foftb ;in . keeping with that which' won hjin arplaee in the New Zealand side, and his; activities alone caused, the home team; v'• lot ■of trouble. Too of ten Vere attempts, nikde to check the All Black /by -tackles, aimed at his shoulders) with the result that he was frequently allowed to go much further than he should have been. THere'were several other members.of the pick j however, who' acquitted themselves exceptionally well. 'Among theso were'Shuttleworth,- Buttress, arid MacLean, while the wing-forward, Newnian, also had a hand in most that was doingi ■The visitirig backs were riot up to the standard of their forwards, and showed to advantage only in flashes, mostly during the secorid spell. The game was well advanced before Fovrier, the halfback, iriet with any; appreciable success in'getting' the^ men' outside, him _under way, although an improvement was ef,fected when-Beed changed places with Stewart, ;arid went to first 'five-eighths. The best of the/ backs was Snodgrass, who is still/well, up^to .interpravincial requirements as a, wing-three-quarter, and has also'not-forgotten how to kick goals. Boyce "bowed more to advantage as-a defensive, than as an attacking player.' , ■Wellington's main fajling was in the matter of defensive, play, .and at least tw^o of ithe tries scored against them could, ha.ye been prevented by conscientious tackling. :The tparii's display; however, against'an older and more experienced side, was. a creditable one, especially; so far as the backs were concerned.' ■■■'-/ .''■•;/,-..■.'.. '' .'■ .-■' ' ■.. ■ .A'pleasing featurei was the manner in which they were prepared to meet every move on the part of their opponents with a counter-move in which defence was not always the' first consideration, some -attractive attacking. drives being initiated from wfill inside their own territory; <C6man was "an. able director behjnd the scrumi. arid ha supplied a good measure: of reliability on defence as-well'as^initiative on attack. ■■ : There were fe>v- better backs on the ground > than Killeen, playing at first five-eighths, who again'indicated that the'best was not-seen of him in; the eea-sori-'a felub matcheg. -He.showed a good understanding with 'Coman in. opening up/attacks on either the blind or the open side, and was brie of the few local Tjacka whose defence came up ; to requirements.. Outside of him was Griffiths, who' has established a. reputation —and played up to it-^as. an inside back of :the opportunist type, whose speed Off "the mark and general alertnessv makes hito ■ a valuable member of any side. O'Connor >also appears to be the makings of a top-notcUer, and if B. Ball could combine his brother's, sidestep -with. his own determination and speed he '.would te a first-rate,scoring -nian. .- '» :'■■ - "■■" ■■'..- ' '■•' ,-.-■•.■ '.In' the, forwards Coulston ; was an ; honest toiler^ w^o.V frequently broke loose from the ruck.to start the locals pff,,and Deliabarca andd Diederish were generally on hand'once such a. movement was under way. Deliabarca's pace was continually in evidence, bat Diedorich's play was spoilt by uncertain handling and a tendency to tlo the' wrong thing when the' bail was being throwri abdut in the open. Watson showed plenty of promise at wing-for-ward. . '■' :. ': An interesting point about the: scoring records of the Wellington A aii'l B rej:tre.»ei)tntivo teams, this season is that the highest ..individual tally for. each team was gained by a wing threequarter and was made up oE six tries in each ease. It is also worthy of note that each • half-back scored the same total of points. ,