RUGBY FOOTBALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 September 1941, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

THRILLING ENCOUNTER WAIRARAPA V WELLINGTON. LOCAL TEAM’S BRILLIANT WIN. Giving theii’ best exhibition of the code this season Wairarapa beat Wellington B by 21 points to 11 in a return Rugby representative match played before a large attendance of patrons from all parts of the Wairarapa at the Showgrounds, Carterton, on Saturday atiernoon. The weather was ideal and the ground was in splendid order. The teams were. —Wairarapa: C. Jenson, G. Colquhoun, E. Thompson, R. Flayle, A. Mahupuku, N. O'Kane, T. Sugrue, Buttress, K. Joblin, R. Conwell. H. Mathieson, I. Blake, Q. Desmond, R. Howard (Captain), J. Walker. Wellington: Callanan, Fox, Martin, Hudson, Morton, Bedingfield (captain), Johns, White, Mull'ett, Foley, Harvey, Marsden, Haines, Bills, Shirley. In the first half Wairarapa made full use of the light southerly breeze and pressed Wellington hard. After a few minutes of play Mahupuku kicked a penalty from a handy position. Wairarapa 3, Wellington 0. Play ranged up and down field at a fast pace. The first try of the match came when Marsden scored for Wellington under Waira; rapa’s goal posts. Bills converted. Wellington 5, Wairarapa 3. Wairarapa retaliated when G. Colquhoun took a pass from Thompson in an attractive back movement and scored. Mahupuku converted. Wairarapa 8, Wellington 5. O’Kane then narrowly missed kicking a field goal. The Wellington backs and forwards combined in a good movement for Haines to score an unconverted try, making the score Wellington 8, Wairarapa 8. The sun shining across field made conditions difficult for both teams. Half-time sounded with no further change in the score. In the second spell Hudson scored for Wellington. The try was not converted. Wellington 11, Wairarapa 8. In a thrilling race for the ball which had been kicked over the Wellington goal line, Mahupuku had too much pace for the opposition and scored well out. He converted his own try with a brilliant kick from a difficult angle, against the wind. Wairarapa 13, Wellington 11. Wairarapa scored again in quick sequence when Buttress followed up a forward rush led by Mathieson to score a good unconverted try. Wairarapa 16, Wellington 11. Wairarapa took charge for the remainder of the spell and had Wellington well bustled. From a splendid piece of team work Q. Desmond raced through the Wellington defence to score under the goal posts. Mahupuku converted. Wairarapa 21, Wellington 11. Although Wellington made many desperate attempts to score Wairarapa were too strong in all departments and when time was sounded Wellington was again on the defence. Both teams turned on bright, open and clean football with many thrilling incidents. The game was played in good sporting spirits.' In the Wairarapa pack Buttress, Walker, and Conwell were the pick of a hard working team ably led by R. Howard. In the backs G. Colquhoun, Playle and O’Kane were in splendid form. O’Kane played his last game for Wairarapa as he will shortly enter the Air Force. He showed that he has not lost any of his dash. Mahupuku was in good form and showed great strength in all departments. The game was capably controlled by Mr E. Grantham.

A curtain raiser was played between the Carterton thirds and a combined team of third grade players from Masterton. The Carterton team won by 22 points to nil. Tries were scored by V. Goodin (2), McEwan (2), and Catt. Catt’ kicked a penalty goal and converted two tries. Mr H. Johns was referee.