In a scrappy rugger game at the Race Course yesterday afternoon the Area Details defeated a Club XV by a dropped goal and two tries to a try, 10-3. Play throughout never reached a high level, the only good orthodox handling movements coming from the Club, but they never materialized into points. The soldiers had a far better pack and managed to secure the ball almost at will and it was this superiority in the forwards that eventually put paid to the Club's chances. As the game progressed the Details improved a great deal but good tackling and Kicking by Chadwick, the Club's fullback, prevented any heavy scoring.
The game began with the Club three men short and the soldiers, quick to take advantage of this, were soon on the attack. Bad fumbling. however, on the part of the threes lost several opportunities. Ten minutes after the start, a Details" foot rush saw the ball taken well into the Club 25, where, from a loose scrum Wilmot gathered and slung back to Hamlin who dropped an excellent goal from twenty yards. Five minutes later, following another foot rush, Evans secured a wide pass made by Laird and went over near the corner flag. The kick for the extra points failed. The soldiers narrowly missed going further ahead immediately after when Woods kicked ahead and was only just beaten to the ball by Chadwick who touched down in goal to prevent any further damage.
The second half was much more even and the Club, now fielding fifteen men, had ample chance to redeem themselves, but the inability of the threes to gather the ball at the correct moment spelled disaster on several occasions. Midway through the second half after a foot rush, Hall, well up with the ball, took it over the line and falling on it made the Details ten up. The t converted.
The Club then came into prominence with some good work on the part of the forwards and after hammering at the "Tommies'" line for several minutes, were able to go over after a mistake by the Details' backs, Lucas scoring an unconverted try.
AREA _DETAILS: Capt. Barclay: Pte. Morris, Dvr. Woods, Dvr. Wilmot. Pte. Wybrow; Sgt. Hamlin, Crt. Simpson: Sgnlmn. Evans, Cpl Hurditch, Pte. Rokers, Pte. Faulkner. Pte. Riddle, Pte.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.