RUGBY FOOTBALL FINE ALL BLACK RUGBY TRIAL

Grey River Argus, 2 September 1948, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL FINE ALL BLACK RUGBY TRIAL

Weliingtoß Defeats Wairarapa-Bush P.A. MASTERTON, September 1. The dashing play of G. W. Delamore. Wellington’s brilliant first fiveeighth, was a feature of the All Black trial game, in which Wellington beat the combined Wairarapa-Bush team by 19 points to 11, before a crowd of 5000, at Solway Showgrounds, Masterton, this afternoon. The road to Wellington’s success was paved by the solid work of the forwards, particularly in the first spell. It was a fast, open game, with spectacular passing rushes on both sides. ' B. Couch, who is not enigible for the South African tour, was the outstanding Wairarapa back, handling well, and engineering some line moves. The half time score was We:lington 9; yVairarapa-Bush 3. In the second spell, Wellington added 10 points to Wairarapa’s eight, indicating a closer run of play, when a reshuffle of Wairarapa’s front row. and other changes saw the home forwards turning the tables on Wellington.

It was Delamore’s day. He participated in King’s try, he kicked a penalty and converted O’Donnells try, he made a great run for Wards try, andconverted that try. However, Couch was not outshone by Delamore. Regained two of Wairarapa’s tries by fast following up, and his dummies and swerves were finely executed. M. J. Doyles, Wellington’s full-back, was impressive. He played a solid allround game, both on defence and attack. D. H. O’Donnell was well suited by a reasonably firip ground, and scored a well deserved try from good following up. White and Wills stood out for solid toil in the Wellington pack, and no fault could be found with the hooking of the front row men, especially in the first spell. Wellington’s back line was impressive, from Delamore outwards. Hourigan showed an abundance of speed in the combined side. A. Nolan, at half, went exceedingly well. His* runs up the blind side of the scrum were bright features of the game. Blake and Matthews, neither of whom are eligible for the tour, were outstanding Wairarapa packmen, although Henderson and Kight were associated in some enterprising loose rushes. J. Motoff, a youngster with a promising career, went well at centre, preath strengthening the backs in the second spell. He and Humphrey and Muller combined well. Humphrey, at wing three-quarters, was brilliant. WELLINGTON OPENS SCORE After seven minutes of play, Wellington drew first blood, when, from a ruck, Mullins passed to Ward, who passed on to, Hourigan, who raced over for a good try. Doyle missed the kick. Wellington 3; WairarapaBush 0. Soon after, Hourigan was penalised for off-side play, when Wellington was being pressed, and Mahupuka kicked a penalty from well out, to even the score at Wellington 3; Wairarapa-Bush 3. Play 'ranged up and down the field, and then Bevan, Delamore and King were associated in a thrilling rush, for King, on the left wing, to score a resolute try. Doyle missed the kick, making the score Wellington 6; Wai-rarapa-Bush 3. With about half an hour of play gone, Wellington pressed hard, but Mahupuka eased the situation with Tong line kicks. Offside play resulted in Delamore kicking a penalty from a difficult angle to carry the score to Wellington 9; Wairarapa-Bush 3. Bevan went off injured, and was replaced by W. Dougan. A feature of the play that followed was a prand move on the blind by Nolan. The spell ended with the score Welling ton 9; Wairarapa-Bush 3. Second spell changes were:—Wellington: Potter replaced Mullins at second five-eighth; Shannon replaced Lloyd at the side of the scrum; Lay replaced J. E. Wills, and Lloyd took Leahy’s place in the front row. In the Wairarapa-Bush side, P. Twentyman went to full-back; J. Hotoff to centre; S. Walsh to half; Small and Kight in the scrum; and in the row, Wilkins and Matthews went in. DELAMORE BRILLIANT In the second spell, O’Donnell was rewarded with a try for fast following up, Delamore converting, and making the score Wellington 14; Wai-rarapa-Bush 3. After- Muller had made a great run, Hotoff made an opening for Couch.to toe the ball over the line and score. Humphrey missea the kick, making the score Wellington 14; Wairarapa-Bush 6. Delamore, with a brilliant dash down the middle of the field, slashed the Wairarapa defence to ribbons to transfer to Ward, who scored. Delamore converted his to carry the score to Wellington 19; Wairarapa-Bush 6. Wairarapa retaliated when Kight and Henderson lead a fierce forward rush for Cough to follow up and score Humphrey converted, making the score Wellington 19; WairarapaBush 11. In the play that followed before the final whistle, and with no change in the score, Potter went oft hurt, and Mullin went back.

Railways Team For Final Trial L. Kearns (Westport) has replaced G Parkinson (Nelson), in the Possibles Railways team to play the final trial match at Christchurch on Sunday before the selection of the South Island Railways team. K. Horrack (Greymouth) is an emergency half-back and D. Dewar (Greymouth) will captain the team. The Probables team. —Full-back, L. Todd (Otago); three-quarters, k.. Mclntosh (O.), B. Welsh (Southland), F. McNickel (So),; fiveeighths, C. Lawrence (Q.) captain), G. Barbara (O.); half-back, L. Gunn row: N. Munnings (S.), W. Muir (S.), A. Murphy (O.); middle row: H. Budd (S.), G. Turner (S.), W. Muirhead (S.), C. Hunt (O.), back row: A. Stevens (O.). Reserves: Forwards, J. Henderson (O.), O. Hicks (S.), D. Munro (O.). Backs: T. Reynolds (O.), S. Aitchinson (S.), and E. Gorton.

The following will represent West Coast fourth graders to play Inangahua at'lkamatua on Saturday:--Lindbom, McNabb, M. Boyd, Louis, Hyndman, Fairmaid, Parker, Corcoran, Williams, Lowther, Brown, Lyes, Brailsford, Hall, Ross, L, Boyd, Kelly, Cowan, Frankpitt. The team will leave Greymouth by bus after the arrival of the express from Hokitika on Saturday morning. The match will commence at 1.15 p.m. and the Hokitika members of the team will return t 0 Hokitika oy the afternoon’s express. The Star fifth grade team to play Sydenham at Rugby Park at 2 p.m. to-morrow is:— , Blackburn, Henry, Sutherland, Robertson, Tainui, Williams, Patterson (2), Swift, Cooper, Richards (2), Purton, Wootton (2), Richardson, Roberts, Harrington. 3rd GRADE REPRESENTATIVES As. permission to run a bus to Christchurch has not been granted, the West Coast third grade representatives leave by the 7.35 train for Christchurch to-night.