BRIGHT RUGBY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 July 1938, Page 7

BRIGHT RUGBY

HAWKE’S BAY REPS. WIN WAIRARAPA BEATEN ON SATURDAY. SUPERIOR SPEED CARRIES THE DAY. A speedy, polished back-line, well supplied with the ball and working with the precision and smoothness of well-oiled machinery carried the visiting Hawke’s Bay Rugby representatives to a 23 —6 win over Wairarapa at Memorial Park on Saturday afternoon. It was a keenly fought game with plenty of bright and interesting incidents and attracted a crowd of about 2,500. • Though out-speeded, outplayed and out-generalled in the backs Wairarapa put up a gallant fight throughout, their forwards covering themselves with mud and glory. The home forwards had the edge on the opposing pack practically all the way and the only phase of the game in which the Bay forwards were superior was in securing possession from the set scrums. It was this advantage, however, that enabled them to come out on top. So long as they could keep play tight, the Wairarapa forwards dominated the issue but once Clothier whipped the ball away from the scrum a score was in the wind. Even allowing for the fact that the opposition was not too good the display of the Bay backs was excellent. There was a touch of real class about several of their movements. It is true they made mistakes but these they were quick to smother up and rarely did Wairarapa profit from a dropped pass or a miss-field. From the base of the scrum to the flank three-quarters each link in the chain was tried and not found wanting. Contrasted with the virile, bustling though lighter, Wairarapa pack the Bay forwards were inclined to appear heavy and sluggish and for the greater part of the game were more or less content to endeavour to hold the home pack in check and let their backs do the attacking. The visitors defence was first-rate as indicated by the fact that Wairarapa failed to cross their line on a single occasion. Individually the Wairarapa backs played their part' fairly well but they were opposed to a definitely superior combination. Although generally speaking the Wairarapa defence stood the test remarkably well the tackling of the backs left much to be desired. It was not so much that they would not tackle but that their tackles were ineffectual and time and again Bay men were allowed to break away from lovable embraces or get in clearing kicks. Although there were a number of stoppages for injury, particularly in the second spell the game was played oin a fine spirit.

Dyer played a remarkably safe game at full-back, his fielding and touchfinding being first rate. Two of his saves were really brilliant. Though troubled to a small extent by the speed and trickiness of Peterson, Apsey was his usual versatile self. Fox, on the right flank, saw more of the ball than Apsey, and he was always a source of potential danger. He handled the heavy going well, running with speed and determination. Though more subdued than in past seasons, Le Quesne played a brisk, tradesmanlike game at centre. Young Reid, at second fiveeighth, was the star turn of the match. A quick-thinking, fast-moving boy he carved big gaps in the ranks of the opposition. His every move had the hall-mark of class, while his brace of tries were real gems. The passing of the years appears to have little effect on the Clothier-Bradley combination, which functioned smoothly and effectively throughout the match. It was a pretty piece of play when Clothier sold a beautiful dummy and raced to the Wairarapa full-back before sending Bradley across unopposed. Ward, O’Brien and McKenzie were the pick of the Bay forwards, who in spite of their superior weight hardly made the grade on the day. They appeared to lack the inspired leadership that the Wairarapa skipper, Percy, gave to the Wairarapa pack. Keeble provided a 100 per cent efficient service from the set scrums.

O’Callaghan played a sound game at full-back, his touch-finding improving as the game progressed. Peterson kept Apsey well bottled up and he used his speed to advantage when given a chance. Johnson, on the other wing, was patchy, and his defence was not 100 per cent. Henson, at centre, was prominent at times, but he found Le Quesne a difficult proposition. Brown was completely overshadowed by Rind. Hatton was easily Wairarapa’s best back..He played at the top of his form and in good company would go far this season. Reiri, though suffering from the over-eager attentions of the Bay forwards, gave a splendid display behind the home pack.

lan Percy was outstanding among the Wairarapa forwards, who all played splendid games. He was well supported by Crookenden, Stringfellow and Rosyth. Had they received an increased measure of support from their backs, the Bay’s winning margin would have been considerably reduced.

The Bay, well supplied with the ball had all the better of the opening stages of play and Reid, Apsey and Le Quesne all went within inches of scoring. The Wairarapa defence, however was sound, while the Bay let slip several likely scoring opportunities. The spell had been in progress twenty minutes when Reid completely fooled the opposition to race away for a great try. Dyer narrowly missed the kick. Following a bright effort by Apsey, Reid capped a smart back rush with a try, which Dyer failed to convert.

Wairarapa then assumed command by virtue of the solid grafting of their forwards and Reiri was unlucky in n ot scoring. O’Callaghan landed a good penalty to open Wairarapa’s account. Wairarapa maintained the pressure but Dyer proved the rock on which most of their efforts were wrecked. Two more Bay tries came in quick succession just before the interval. Reid made a brilliant opening

for the first which was scored by Fox and after O’Callaghan had kicked another penalty goal, Clothier sent Bradley across. Fox converted the first and Bradley missed a sitter. Fortunes fluctuated for some time after the resumption, but the Bay increased their advantage when Clothier sent a neat pot sailing true between the uprights. Reid had a hand in the final try. He raced down the line and when bottled up sent in a clever centring kick which Apsey collected to hand on to Bradley to Ward who strolled across. Bradley converted. Mr H. J. McKenzie was referee., WAIRARAPA TEAM TO MEET WELLINGTON. The Wairarapa representative senior Rugby team to play Wellington at Masterton on Wednesday, has been cnosen by Mr E. McKenzie, sole selector, as follows: — R. O’Callaghan (Old Boys); R. Johnson (Red Star), F. Morton (Old Boys), W. Peterson (Red Star); O. Hatton (Old Boys), Brown (Carterton); L. Reiri (Masterton); A. Crookenden (Masterton), T. Hood (Greytown), C. Rosy th (Carterton), I. Percy (Masterton), A. Mathieson (Carterton),.' H. Mathieson (Carterton), W. Stringfellow (Greytown); D. Smith (Carterton). Reserves: C. Welch (Masterton), J. Sievers (Old Boys), E. Denbee (Old Boys), D. O’Connor (Red Star), I E. Hehderson. The referee will be Mr J. Blake. Players are to assemble at the Park at 1.30 p.m. and are to provide their own black shorts.

JUNIOR CONTEST WIN FOR WAIRARAPA. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) NAPIER, July 16. In a closely-contested match played at McLean Park, Napier, today the Wairarapa junior representative fifteen beat Hawke’s Bay by 13 points to 8. Well on in the second spell the score was eight-all, and their was a keen struggle for mastery. A converted try toward the end of the game gave Wairarapa the lead, and they held it to the final whistle. The ground was greasy following a heavy shower of rain before the match began, but no rain fell during the game. There was little between the two teams in the earlier stages, both sides attacking in turn. If anything, the Hawke’s Bay forwards were superior, but this advantage was offset by the undoubted superiority of the Wairarapa backs. Wairarapa scored first, Hargood beating the defence to score in the corner. Rayner converted with a splendid kick. Within a few minutes of the opening of the second spell Hawke’s Bay drew level as the result of a try by Lynn, converted by Brownlie. Wairarapa came back and Hargood scored his second try, Workman’s kick going wide. Wairarapa 8, Hawke’s Bay' 5. A splendid penalty kick by Brownlie again .brought the scores level. Fortunes fluctuated for a periou until Faulknor scored in the corner. Rayner converted, giving his side a five-point lead, which they held for the brief period until time was called. The teasm were:—

Hawke’s Bay: Howell, Fullarton, Nolan, Dunn, Collinge, Stanford, Paewae, Brownlie, Lynn, Thompson, Hook, Stephens, Guthrie, Scullin, Ward. Wairarapa: Foreman, Maurk, Faulkner, McCullough, Hargood, Steffert, Chadwick, D. Alexander, Workman, Humphries, Alexander, McPhee, McCalmont, Rayner, Howie. Mr E. Singleton was the referee.