REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY.

Shannon News, 31 July 1923, Page 4

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY.

MAN A WAT U - HOR OW HEN U A Vj WELLINGTON. MERRY MOMENTS IN THE MUD. WIN FOR CITY TEAM. Prospects for fair weather for the above match were good on Friday night, and enthusiasm was running high, but to the disappointment of almost everyone, fairly heavy rain set in and continued off and on until mid.day on Saturday, saturating the grounds to such a state that all other out-door sports were postponed with this single exception. Athletic Park is seldom anything but a quagmire at this time of the year, so tfye 6000 odd spectators who rolled up to see the matah were not in the least disappointed when they saw a mud-scramble. THE TEAMS. WELLINGTON. Full back, Malcolm; three-quarters, Malfoy, Nicholls, O’Sullivan; fiveeighths, Johnson, Gibson; half, Hall; wing, Calcanai; hookers, Scott, sßarclay; lock, Martin-Smith; supports, Sullivan, McNaught; back row, Brown, Anderson, Reserves: Mansfield, Wogan, Rose, Booker. “COMBINED.” Full-back, Johnson; three-quarters, Glendinning, Kelly, Bailey; fiveeighths, Cowie, ""Maire; half, McDonald; wing, Broughton; hookers, Anderson, Bevan; lock, Tana; supports, Gardner, Moynihan; back row, Hanson, Galpin. Reserves: Sly, Swainson, Moses. Explanation.—Jacob did not play as originally intended, so Broughton fool? his place as wing forward, and Gardner took Broughton’s place as support to the scrum. At half-time Gardner went off owing l to injuries to his thigh, and was replaced by Sly. THE GAME. Wellington won th e spin of the coin, and decided to play with a rather stiff breeze in their favour. There was no sun to speak of. “Combined” opened with a short kick, and almost immediately played off-side, and the bk' -’-‘s returned the leather to greens’ tw<-y-five, with a long line kick, from the ’drop-out, . a great mud scramble took place, with the much smaller Wellington pack putting up a big fight against their heavier opponents, Hall,,the Wellington half, picked up from the ruck and attempted to cut through, but slipped. The visitors, in their attempt to stop him played off-side, and Malcolm drew first blood with a beautiful kick. —Wellington 3, "Combined” 0. • -

Back came green to tlie attack with a strong determination to do things, and following the kick-off Cowie got away, but finding his path blacked attempted to 'kick, wirier was charged down, and Scott, following through the rebound, dribbled the ball down field and scored, Malcoim this time failed to find the uprights.—WeLington 6, “Combined” 0. To have had two scores piled against them in rapid succession hem the effect of bucking the visitors up, and they put on an overwhelming rush, sweeping all before —cm, and carrying play well into Wellington’s twenty-five. A scrum took place practically on the line, and Maire securing the leather, cut< round tp the blind side and slid through to victory. Kelly’s kick lacked direction and “boot.” —Wellington *6, Combined 3, Wellington returned to the attack willingly and another forward clash was fought out in greens’ twenty-five, each side gaining and losing in quick succession. Wellington again took command and for the first time whipped th e ball out to the backs. Gibson secured, but, finding himself hemmed in, kicked and Had followed up fast and, racing Glendinning for the ball, dived at it and scored a most spectacular try. Malcolm again failed with the kick.— Wellington 9, Combined 3. The black combination was now taking full ad-

vantage of the wind i and making “every post a winner” while it lasted. They booted the ball high every time a chance presented itself and followed up fast, making it very awkward for, the visitors to defend. Play swayed from side to side, until Malfay, Wellington's speedy wing three-quarter took charge. Putting up a high one, he did a great sprint and reached the leather at about the same time as Johnson, the green full-back. The latter tried to snap t'he ball up in his stride and slipped, and Malfoy flopped o,n it and scored. Malcolm this time made up for his past mistakes, and put over a lovely shot from a difficult

angle.—Wellington 14, Combined 3 t A good deal of exchange play now t'ook place, with the visiting forwards fighting like Trojans, and the opposition getting in a point wherever possible. Wellington finally broke through, but the ball found t'he “dead” area, and play came back to the twenty-five. Tho green forwards at once retaliated with a ponderous rush, and succeeded in taking play to within a few feet of victory, but off-side spoilt their attempt, amd Wellington found relief in a good line kick to half-way. Following up this gain, the pressure was maintained, the ball working across field and into green’s twenty-five, where, owing to the stubborn resistance encountered, it “hung fire”'in the midst of a pack of mud-smeared slaughtering forwards. Combined at last squeezed through, but again kicked too hard, and the ball went to Nicholls, who was mighty close to off-side, and he took it at his toe, and scored under 'the posts. Malcolm had na trouble in annexing the major points.—Wellington 19, Combined 3. At about this time, the visiting team had had enough, and having received a good gruelling in the mud, changed their tactics, and, hurrying to the attack, set up a straight high punt. Both forward packs closed in for the fray. A terrific struggle followed until Moynihan broke through, and took the ball to witfiin ten yards of home. Another willing mud scramble took place, with the black forwards defending desperately, Relief came in the form of a

line kick, and from then on Wellington gradually sneaked down field, where, from the ruck, Hall cut through, and giving the ‘.dummy’' to his would-be tacklers, tri id a little kick. Kelly raced for Ike ball, and forced just in time. In play again the ball came to Gibson and Calcanai, who worked through and, dribbling, came gloriously near t’o scoring. Play went to the other end, and just as Wellington broke away again, the first spell ended, with the score unchanged.—Wellington 19, Combined 3. SECOND SPELL. Wellington kicked off; and play was endimmediately transferred to their end, where the determined'attacks by their opponents, who were now playing with the wind, caused a good deal of anxiety. Wellington played offside, and Kelly tried an unsuccessful shot at goal, and the black combination carried on the good work. The visitors had evidently decided to make or break it in the second spell, and they came to making it. It was their turn now, and, making full use of the wind, their heavy forwards were a source o,f annoyance to Wellington from now on. Johnson chased up a high kick, but his opposing fullback was too “fly," and cleared nicely. Striking back again greens rushed play, and compelled Wellington to force. Play figured in mid-field for some time, each side seeking an outlet. Hanson, Galpin, and Moynihan did tremendous work, and took the leather to within the opposing twentyfive. Prom a scrum green handled the leather, and Cowie made a good bid for the line after a cut in. He was well tackled, and passed in-field to Moynihan, who crashed through and obviously scored. To the surprise of all, a scrum five, yards out was given. Here black played off-side, and ' Kelly tried still another shot, without any luck. A good kick in the green combination was lacking, and several easy chances were lost for this reason. Another fast and furious struggle, with plenty of mud took place on Wellington’s line, and the black forwards were fully extended to stem the attack.

The ball went out, and from the throw-in Moynihan caught and dropped over the line and scored. Kelly’s kick fell short. —Wellington 19, ComSpurred on by this success, Combined attacked hot and strong, Hanson was doing good work and time and again broke through. Play swung to the other side, where Maire tried a shot at goal, but there was not enough “boot” behind it, and it fell short. The attack was still on, and play was forced to Wellington’s twenty-five, where Broughton again got over between the posts. Cowie successfully converted. —Wellington 19, Combined 11. Time and tid e waits for no man, so green attacked desperately to endeavour to equalise. A ding-dong struggle took place at Wellington's end, and at th e dall of time the combined team were hot on the trail, but the game ended with the scores unaltered.—Wellington 19, Combined 11. Mr C. E. Bradley was referee.

HAWKE’S BAY DEFENDS SHIELD. WELLINGTON DEFEATED BY 10—6. NAPIER, Last Night. In the Ranfurly Shield match today, Hawke’s Bay defeated Wellington by 10 points to 6, after an interesting game. The weather was fine, but windy, and the ground in good condition. The challengers had the advantage of a strong wind in the first half, ..and were mostly on the attack, but the movements of the backs completely lacked finish, and the Bay defence was sound. Faber scored a try for the visitors before half time came

In the second half, Hawke’s Hhy had the upper hand most of the time, but they, too, showed want of polish. Yates (Bay) potted a splendid goai from halfway. Duncan scored an unconverted try for Wellington, Nepia kicked a goal from a free kick syds from halfway, and Kirkpatrick kicked a penalty goal.

DUNEDIN FLAG COBIPETITION,

WON BY ’VARSITY A,

DUNEDIN, Last Night.

The results of the Rugby flag competition were placed beyond doubt on Saturday, when University A, in the teeming rain beat Kaikorai by nine points to eight. Other results were? Pirates (3) Zingari (3), Dunedin (7) Taieri Rovers (nil), Southern (12) University B. (10) Alhambra (18) Union (6). University A. have now twenty-two flag points, Kaikorai seventeen, Alhambra sixteen, Zingari twelve, Southern twelve, University B. ten, Pirates nine, Dunedin six, Union four and Taieri Rovers two. MANIAPOTO DEFEATS MARUNUI. ' TE KUITI, Last Night. Maniapoto defeated Taumarunui today by 20 points to 5, after a fast open game. Maniapoto were vastly superior in forwards and their backs were quicker to seize chances. Taumarunui played better in the second half, scorirfe- 5 to their opponents’ 3. SEDDON SHIELD. CAPTURED BY WEST ' COAST.

NELSON, July 28. West Coast defeated Nelson to-day for the Seddon Shield in brilliant weather, and before a large attendance. The score indicates the merit of the teams on the day’s play. Nelson hau practically the same team as that which held the Shield last year. Priest being the only new man. In the first spell, Mouat scored for Coast, after a scramble near the line. Warner failed j with the kick. Later, Steele ran ; thro'ugh half the Nelson team, scoring a brilliant try amid applause. He failed with the kick. At half-time, Coast were 6 and Nelson 0. The second spell opened with Grant

getting over, hut the ball was knocked on. Prom a free kick, Jack Byrne put on a fine goal for Nelson. With play in the Nelson 25, Grant went through his opponents and Snodgrass kicked a magnificent goal from the touch line. With play'in Nelson territory, Moynahan scored in the corner and the score stood at: Coast 12, Nelson 8, till time was called, notwithstanding great efforts by Jack Byrne and Snodgrass to save the day. Toward the close Palmer (Coast) was injured in the groin and replaced by Reynolds. For Coast, Steele was brilliant, and Goodall, at full-back, was safe. Burley and Bannister were prominent in a fine pack. For Nelson, Snodgrass and Byrne were brilliant, and the forwards were a level lot of triers. The winners had a splendid reception from the crowd. SOUTHLAND DEFEATS WANGANUI. ' LAST MINUTE VICTORY. WANGANUI, Last Night. After a fast, open game, Southland i defeated Wanganui by 17 points to 14. I Delves kicked a penalty goal for Wanganui in the opem,. 0 stages, then Bell equalised with a try after a brilliant run from half-way. The .Southland forwards were aggressive, White and Richardson in turn scoring, and Agnew converting one. Delves kicked another penalty, and Ross converted from a mark. Southland led by 14 points to 9 at half-time.

In the second half, a good passing run led Potaka across and Delves put Wanganui one point in lead, as the result of another successful shot from a free kick. In the concluding stages, play was fast and exciting. Within a minute of time, Shand set his backs going, and the ball worked out to Coakley on the wing. The latter gave a reverse pass to Brown, who completed a fine piece of combined play by getting across at the flag. The backs were evenly matched, but the South forwards were better than the opposing vanguard. White playing an outstanding game.

TIMAltr COMPETITION. WON BY ZING ART. TIMARU, Last Night. The Rugby premiership was decided at Timaru on Saturday, when Zingari defeated Old Boys by 8 points to 6. The game was fast and willing through out, with few glimpses of combined play. Old Boys scored in the first spell two unconverted tries, Zingari scoring one try early in the second spell. The Zingari forwards then dominated play, and got over in the last few minutes’ of the game, the try being converted.