WELLINGTON TOO STRONG

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 148, 26 June 1933, Page 15

WELLINGTON TOO STRONG

Xot since they sprang a surprise by defeating Eastbourne have Athletic had a win, and that is five weeks ago. • Another loss was their lot" against Wellington, a team which has shown much improvement lately. The match was played at Newtown Park, and Wellington/ Stronger back and forward; but mainly in the back division, had a comfortable win by 21 points to s. . : - ;_■ j The teams wore:— '" Athletic: English; A. Campbell, Buthind, Diack; Upehurcli, Evans; Tindill; Watson, Campbell, MolJier, Logan, Boyd, Lamberg, Gustofsen, AVyeth. AVellington:- Cresswell; Ball, Diack, Pryde; W. H. Smith, Page; Kilby; K. S. Smith, Kingston, Robson, Howatson, Thornton, McLean, Fell, Rathgen. Much of the play was loose and somewhat patchy, although several of the tries were the result of good combined ■ play and sound understanding among the players. The Wellington forwards are a much more fiery lot than they were earlier in the season, and both iv the open field and in the set scrums the back division was well served with the ball and played a prominent part in the' success achieved. On the" other hand the Athletic pack, as was the case the previous Saturday against Poneke, did not go as well as they have shown themselves capable of playing in other games this season. The backs did not have the opportunities of their opponents, but in one fine movement from which he scored Athletie's only try, Evans, the ex-Xapier player, gave a good sample of his quality, as a five-eighths.

Wellington opened their account early, and at no stage did Athletic look like winning. . .A smart'piece of passing from a scrum between Kilby and Pryde ended in Kilby scoring a nice try, which Diack converted with a fine shot; From another scrum, the Wellington backs were off at top speed. Diack cut through the Athletic defence,, to score and then convert. Wellington's score was taken to thirteen points when Page successfully exploited the "dummy" and sent McLean on for a try. This was followed up by 8, snappy piece of passing between Page, Diack, and Pryde, topped off with a try by Pryde. Just before half-time the. Athletic backs got away nicely. Evans, after "handling the ball as a five-eighths, came into the movement again and, changing direction cleverly, ran round to score behind the posts. Tindill converted. Wellington 16, Athletic 5. '■.',■ '

With the advantage of the slope of the ground there were prospects of Athletic making up the leeway in the second spell. They worked hard, but there was no letting up on .the, part of Wellington, and they failed to improve their position. Wellington added to their score near the end of the game, Thornton, Smith, and Diaek combining in a rush from which Diack scored. Diack converted, making the final score, Wellington 21, Athletic 5.

The referee was Mr. J. Gilchrist,