FINISH LACKING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19997, 24 July 1939, Page 11

FINISH LACKING

TOURISTS' ATTACK DEFEAT OF BAY TEAM WAIRAIIAPA CONTEST SEVENTEEN TO TITKEE SCHOLLUM IMPRESSIVE i Sj»*« mi ti ii,i, nci iiUi., Tills Clay. Oil the Canenon snowgrounds on Saturday Wairarapa dereated the touring Poverty m.v .team by IT points to three in a hard but ai times rather ragged game. Wairarapa .scored three tries, one of which was converted and two penalty goals, while' the tourists could register only a solitary penalty goal. The scores, however, did not give a fair indication of the run of the play. For most of the second spell 'Poverty Bay held a decided territorial advantage but the attacks lacked the finish necessary to penetrate the steady defence of the home backs. The Poverty Bay rearguard threw the ball about in spectacular fashion and appeared superior to the Wairarapa backs in many likely invasions which, however, broke down repeatedly before the deadly tackling of tiie home team. In the vanguard the tourists were taller and heavier, but. they could not dominate the bustling Wairarapa forwards.

The weather held line for the period of play, but the ground was well .soaked by several days of rain and was marked by slippery patcb.es which at critical moments proved a big handicap to the dry-day players from, the north, and whatever modicum of luctc entered the game was undoubtedly against the tourists.

The teams were:—-

Poverty Bay (scarlet).—T. 11. Scholium, A. I. McAneney, T. C. Smiler, R. A. Short, T. M. Sharp, R. McKinlev 11. Littler, R. Rogers, K. N. Twigg W. E. Aitkcn (captain), M. A O’Brien, G. H. Phillips, W. G. Johnston, H. C. Anderson, J. A. Shanks

Wairarapa (green).—F. Fitzgerald, j. Eastwood. G. Brown, W. Paterson, R. jirumon, O. Hatton, E. Denbee, K. Jobim, H. Matneson, M. Trass, IVI. Ross, I. Percy, L. Mason R. Howard (captain), and J. Walker.

Ot phe Poverty Bay forwards those who appealed most were Anderson, Phillips and ' Rogers. O'Brien anu AitKen put in a iot of useful worK, while no fault could be found with the others individually. They combined well in t'ne loose rushes ana the way they kept the ball at their toes seriously worried the defending backs who .had few Opportunities ot picking up the ball cleanly.

Of the backs the outstanding player was Scholium at full-back. His handling and line-kicking were of a high standard and considering the amouru of work he was forced to do his mistakes were very few and not of a serous nature. His performance placed him as probably the best back on me field. McAneny, who was playing his first game of the tour, was a hard man to cope with. Whenever the ball came his way lie did something wim it and although ins display v,as i.o. polished no was a valuable member of the side. Sharp at centre was prominent but was inclined m m.os ins passes while Short played as w«_n as he was allowed to by his vis a vis. Both five-eighths, McKinley ana Smiler. were hard pushed from start to finish and were not allowed much latitude, although they, with the halfback. Littler. handled well and showed flashes of good football. Wairarapa’s Early Score For Wai rarapa, Brunton, the second five-eighths, performed best and gave a really fine display. He was responsponsible for a large percentage of the score. Hatton was inclined to kick too much and it was that habit of hi.-, which prevented the back line getting going on many occasions. When he did send the ball on to Brown and Peterson they did good work. Poverty Bay kicked off facing the sun and the wind and an infringement almost immediately allowed Wairarapa to find the line well up the field. From the line out a ruck formed and the ball travelled front Littler out to Short who was well collared before he could get away. Bruntin went away fast and sent on to Peterson to run round behind the posts, opening Wairarapa’s account after only a few minutes of play. Brunton converted.

Twigg came through a ruck with the ball at his toe and Eastwood mulled badly in trying to lake it, putting it out. A ruck developed and play went up to near the Wairarapa line, where a penalty allowed Brunton to clear. From a scrum Littler sent on to McKinley who went over to lose the ball before he could ground it. It was a very neat movement and the were unfortunate that it did not bear fruit. McAneney’s Tackle The ball went to the Wairarapa backs and Brown went away hard to Peterson. The latter streaked up the line, but was well tackled by McAneney when about five yards from the goal line. From a scrum Phillips obtained and the ball travelled in a dribbling rush to Fitzgerald, who collected it and put it out.

Littler again sent the ball out fast t to McKinley, to Smiler, who mulled it. Poverty Bay were given a penalty kick for offside play and the forwards, led by Aitken and Phillips, followed up fast to get very near the line. Play surged back to the twenty-five, where another penalty was awarded and O’Brien had no difficulty in goaling. For a time the Bay looked exceedingly dangerous, especially when Anderson broke through and was only stopped by a knock-on. From the scrum the pack went again and Brown saved the position by picking ,ip neatly and sending on to Brunlon ,o clear.

Peterson went: up the line, bu Scholium scooped the ball up magnificently and found the line 50 yards up the field. Denbee sent to Eastwood, who failed to collect, the b.u rolling out. Percy and Howard 10.. .i good rush which was definitely stopped by McAneny with a fine kick. The Wairarapa forwards were go-

ng very well at this stage and a dribbling rush beat Scholium, although he was able to get round again and force. Wairarapa attacked again and were given a penalty kick which Brunton goaled. Pressure by the Bay Poverty Bay put on the pressure and a' forward rush was followed by a line back movement which broKe down at McKinley when on the reverse. Brown and Brunton went away hard and the lull-back was caught with the ball. He attempted to play it and Wairarapa were given a penalty kick in front of the goal. \ Brunton was successful and Wairarapa were eight points up. The rest of the spell was fairly even with the Bay having a slight territorial advantage. Just before 'he half-time whistle a penalty was given against Wairarapa, but too far out to be of use, and the spell ended with the scores still showing Wairarapa 11, Poverty Bay 3. The Bay attacked immediately from the kick off for the second spell, and McKinley beat Denbee with a short punt. The Wairarapa forwards dropped back.quickly to the goal-line, and from a ruck Denbee sent the ball to Hatton who cleared. For a lengthy period the red forwards swarmed on the line but were unable to cross successfully. Play remained in the Wairarapa territory for a quarter of an hour and then came a startling retaliation, a scrambling movement started by Denbee and Hatton ending in a score by Percy. Bruntoti’s kick failed. Poverty Bay kept up the pressure, but nothing t hey did yielded any

result, partly because of over-eager-ness. Near the goal-line a punt by Walker was charged down, but Percv ’■'"at the attacking forwards for the ball to again force. Another penalty kick was missed by O'Brien. Time and again the Bay assailed the line, but the defence held good and was turned to attack whe n Peterson broke from a ruck and sent Howard up to .score. Brunton again missed coaling. Though now in a hopeless position the visitors continued their a Torts and a thrill came when Sharp minted the ball over the line and boat three defenders to the touchdown, only to find that the leather bod reached the dead-ball area and the game ended with the scores:— Wairarapa 17, Poverty Bay 3.