COMBINED TEAM V WELLINGTON.

Shannon News, 26 September 1922, Page 3

COMBINED TEAM V WELLINGTON.

NARROW WIN FOR CITY REPS

On Saturday the combined Manaw a-tu-Horowhenua team met Hue; Wellington jreps. on the Athletic Park, and suffered defeat by the narrow margin of 17 to 16 after a moderate exhibition. The combined team won the toss, and played with sun and wind be hind) Ithjbm, an advantage that .enabled them to confine play -to Welling-

ton’s territory for the major part 01 the first spell. Leader was die in-s. conspicuous player, executing a sip aid run from hdli-day. Reaching the lullback, he was about to i ass to Brarnwell, who was interfered with. From the resultant penalty, Jacob could no. make the ball rise. The visitors lost a. try shortly afterwards, Jacob elec c ing to pass instead of continuing his run. From the first scrum, the visitors. screwed, and came away wlthUhe ball at toe. In the remainder of the scrums, the advantage, if any, lay with the home team. Carmody survived one tickle, and continued to run along the wing, but Johnson, the visitors’ full-back, evoked applause by cleverly snatching the ball from his

opponents’ feet and clearing to the line. The same player kept himseh in the spectators’ view throughout the game, giving a fine exhibition of kicikng from awkward positions, an I making only one palpable mistake. From a, penalty kick near the line, Jacob, the Maori “rep” wing forward who was playing fiv-eighths for the second time in important fixtures, sent, the ball just under the bar. There were clever isolated bits of play by Mahoney and Thomas (Wellington) and T. Moynilian (combined team), who completely fooled his opponents in relieving his own line. Leader eventually started the visitors’ passing, and, coining in at the finish, secured the first try. Jacob failed to ■ convert. Anderson got away from his I own twenty-five, beat H. Nicholls ra- j ther easily, and gained a consider- : able distance before passing to Be-' van, who knocked on ten yards from ! Wellington’s line. From a free-kick, i

Jacob again missed. Mair, from a ruck, broke across the line after a. good run, but lost the ball. A long line kick by the vistors’ full-back gave Jacob an opportunity to cross and score. Jacob converted the try. Wellington’s defence was very weak, and their attempts to open the play by indifferent passing evoked a good deal of banter from the “hill.” Eventually Standen and Scott took the leather through to The visitor’s twen-ty-five, where Corner missed a good chance by kicking instead of taking advantage of a noticeable gap in the visitors’ defence. Mahoney was finely tackled by Bramwell, and Malcolm had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Desultory, uninteresting play followed, until Wellington were again penalised for interference, anu Jacob, the obstructed player, goaled. Flalf-time sounded with the scores 11 to nil in the visitors’ favour.

With the wind in their i'avour, Wetiington attacked, and Malcolm kicked a penalty goal, followed immediately by a goal from a mark, , kicked by H. Nicholls. A spirited rush by the forwards gave King a chance of scoring a try, which “Doc” Nicholls converted, bringing the scores level. The home team,, inspired by their success, continued their attacks. Mahoney, the best of the. three-quarters, dodged several opponents, and, though well tackled by the full back, succeeded in grounding the ball. Maicolnfs kick failed. The visitors rallied smartly, and got to the lino, where Leader knocked on. Continuing their pressure. Koro scored from a ruck, Jacob goaling. The visitors held their slight lead for some time, but the play aroused little interest. After unsuccessful kicks at goal by either side, Wellington scored, through the agency of Carmody, H. Nicholls failing at goal. The home team..thus won by 17 to 16.