RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 155, 1 July 1907, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

A AJJD B MATCH.

The Rugby serdor championships having concluded, an A and B match was played at Alexandra Park on Saturday, a few hundred enthusiasts being present As ia usually the case in trial matches a number of those selected to ptey did not turn out, and following precedent, the B's defeated the As. The latter went off .with a rattle, the forwards, with a loose rush havinz their opponents penned in the 25 'within a few minutes of the kick off. Inside the quarter the ball was thrown ont to Dillamore, who, making a fine opening transiorred to Coote, the Waikato player dashing over at the corner. Eaton made a good attempt to convert, tout the ball fell short The B's tnen took a hand in attack, a so'id rush, commenced by Todd, bein- well checked by Sutherland. A chance of equalising from an opening made by W Wynyard, and improved by Todd, -, V as lost by the latter passing wildly. He made amends by clever work directly after, and then, with another smart piece of play beat tae apposition -and kicked across the line, Hooper following up fast and scoring a good try. Todd failed to add to the points, and the spell ended with the score three all. The B's had all the best of the second spell. Hogan was prominent with a fine ran, but was grassed by Coote, and Todd made another fine run, but his pass was too high. After an unsuccessful- pot at goal by the same player, Hooper made a good run along the line, but Hall took his pass at the critical mirairal and forced. Wilson scored soon after u-ora a left foot kick by Cox, and Wilson again getting the bnl!, passed to Wynyard to Kowe, who scored. Todd converted, aad the game ended: B's 11, A's 35. The game was a trifle scrappy, but was interesting- for the spectators, there being some lively interludes, and some fair combined work at times. Among the backs Kiernan proved very conclusively that he is still the best and trickiest halfback in Auckland. B. Wynyard played well at five-eighths, but Both the Waikato players. Coote and Hughes, showed a tendency to run acroes the field in attack, thus crowding out their supports, Hughes especially so. Coote proved himself to be a good hand at fielding the ball and a sound tackier. Sutherland was very safe at full-back. Todd was the best back on the ,B side, and though ho made a couple of mistakes in parang, his work on the whole was excellent, and he made some splendid openings. lTogan, on the wing, gav-e excellent promise, running and tackling in dashing style. Miller. at full-back, played a game which made one wish he had a stone or two more weight. Among the forwards. MacCormick. Maekrell. Uooper, Eaton, anrl Dunning played well, while Pople showed that, With a knowledge of the finer points of the game, he will develop into a first-class forward.

SECOND GRADE

North Shore (S) beat Parnell (nil). City (23) beat Grafton lull). Newton \11) beat Ponsonby (nil).

THIRD GRADE.

Shore won from Paruell by default.

FOURTH GRADE.

Ponsonby (8) beat City (nil). Newton (8) beat Graiton (nil!.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

Grammar (3) Leat King's College (nil). SECONDARY SCHOOLS , OLD BOYS. I University v. Grammor Old Boya.— Tuis •match resulted in an easy win for 'Varsity by 24 points to nil. Campbell and Woodward shone out conspicuously for the blues, and Baskett did very solid work in the Grammar pack.

BOTORUA UNION" MATCHES.

KOTOKU4, Saturday. The third round of the "Kotorua Rugby Union's ehanipiousbip opened to-day, wuen the two leading teams. Jiahukura and WaiKite (ivho were eveu, four points each), met. The game was a forward one throughout. During the first spell Waikite did most of tbe attacking, but the superiority of tue ilahukura backs frustrated the attempts at scoring. in the second half the piay was of an even nature, but Waikite's hne forwards showed to greater advantage. Just before close of time, from a scrum near Kahukura's line, Mtßae got possession, ajid, feinting, potted a splendid goaL 'i'a.e whistle sounded "no aide" immediately afterwards, leaving Waikita winners by four points to nil.

In the Whaka v. City match, the former won by eight points to nil. The latter played four men short.

In the junior competition City defeated Arawa by eight points to three.

HAMILTON V. LOWER WAIKATO

Hamilton v. Lower Watkato was played at Taupiri on Saturday, and resulted in a win for Waikato by six points to three. Powell played a splendid game at full-back. Tbe Hamilton team was consiWrably weakened by the absence of Coote and Hughes. Richardson was the' best back on Che. ground, and made a brilliant run from midfield, and was well clear of opposition when he fell, and lost a certain try. Trips were scored by McCauley ancl Haddon for Watkato, and CoQiurst for Hamilton. Jlr. E. Williamson gave every satisfaction as referee.

REPRESENTATIVE MATCH AT PAEROA.

PAEROA, Saturday. The football match played at Paeroa this afternoon between the Paeroa and Karangahake junior representatives resulted in a win for the Paeroa team by 11 points to 5. For Paeroa tries were obtained by Rollerson, Patterson, and Edwards. The lastnamed converted one try. For Karangahake Mathieson scored a try, from which Gibbons kicked a goal. Mr. J. Johnson was referee.

THAMES FOOTBALL.

THAMES, Saturday. The match between City and Suburbs today attracted great interest, as the result of tltU match practically decided the senior competition. The game was fast and interesting. In the first spell Suburbs were penalised, and H. Hayward kitked a fine goal for City. Suburbs' forwards attacked, and from the line out play Floyd smartly crossed the line. The try was not converted. Towards the close of the game Houghtou was penalised for obstruction, and Uayward again placed a goal to City's credit. No further score taking place. City won by six points to three. Mr. F. La&ner gave every satisfaction as referee.

The following team has been selected to play ior the Thames Uulon in the match against the Goldfields Union at Waihi on Saturday nest: Full-back, Newdfck; threequarters, E. Hay-ward, Snowling, and McC.'ollum; five-eighths, Keating; half-back, Dovell; wing-forwards, F. Hay ward and Moran; forwards. Smith. McKeown, Clarke, Duhlop, Dengate, H. Hayward, Autridgo. Emergencies, Kitchen and Molloy.

GOLDFIELDT3 UNION MATCH.

WAIHI, Saturday. The Waihi and Waitekauri Uugby Union representatives played a combined team from Karangahake, Paeroa, aurl Piako, with the object of giving Mr J. McGregor an opportunity of selecting a team to represent the Goldflelds Union against Auckland. The former played under maroon colours, and the latter blue and white. The game proved rather interesting from the start, and from the scrum shortly after the kick off, W. Darby secured and passed to Mac Donald, to Skillen, to S. Darby, who ran well up the field, and passed to W. Darby, who sent on to Bramble, the latter scoring in a good position. Ski Den failed with the kick. (Maroons, 3; Bine and Whites, nil.) From a loose rush Field picked up the ball and passed U> MaeDormld. to Skillen, the latter being puslsed out in the blue and whites' twenty-five. Shortly after Skillen had a shot at goal, the ball falling short. Royal relieved hie side by kicking out. The bell sounded with the score Waihi-Waikino, 3; Paeroa-Piako-Karaiigahake, nil.

Mr McGregor, who was present on the field, then picked A and B teams to play in the second spell, but the latter eventually proved the better combination. From the kick-off the maroons attacked, and RleUitt picking up smartly, found the line well up the field. The B team came away, and from a loose rneh on A's line, Morton scored. Sorensen failed with the kick. (B team, 3; A team, nil.) w. Darby secured the ball, and after beating a couple of men, sent on to Forster, who ran well up the field. Darby again secured, and after a good run was brought flown in the blue ana whites' twenfy-five. From a penalty iDnfty.(A team) kicked a goal, mating the scores 3 an. Maroons attacked

strongly from the kick-off, and Skillen securing, sent on to Rlckitt The latter in a good position. Dufty failed wra the kick. (Maroon, 6; Bine and wnite, 3.) From a loose rush, S. Darby (B team) mapped up, and kicked to Dufty, who found the line near centre. The B team broke away, and reached Dufty, who saved with a timely kick. From the line W. Darby secured, and after a good run, sent on to McDonald, to Skillen. the latter being brought down a few yards from the blue and whites' line. The B team rallied, Shaw secured the ball from a scrum on the •maroons' line, but lost possession when a try seemed certain. T. Ryan was handy, and snapping up, scored in a'good position. Royal converted, the game thus ending in a victory for B's by S to 6. Mr F. Arns controlled the game in a satisfactory manner. The selector then picked the following team to represent the Goldflelds against Thames:—Fullback, Dufty; three-quarters, S. Darby, Poudrill, Forster; fire-eighths, McDonnell; halfback, W. Darby; wing forwards, Sileock, Warner; forwards, O'Neill, Corbett, Hamilton, Dare, Capill, Young, Rukutaia. Emergencies: Skilien (back), Field and Miller (forwards).

In the Waihi Union cup competition today Mataura IL won from City 11. by default, and Mataura 111. beat City 111. by 14 points (five tries, one converted) to nil.

SOUTHERN MATCHES.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. The following are the result of matches played in Wellington to-day: Poneke (6) beat St. James' (3), Melrose (34) beat Old. Boys flO), Oriental (35) beat Victoria College (10). CHRISTCHTJRCH, Saturday. The senior football matches were continned to-day, with the following results: Sydneham (6) beat Christchurch (5), Old Boys (16) beat Linwood (3), Ivierivale (14) beat Canterbury College (11). DBNED-IN, Safcnrday. Below are given the results of matches played: University (19) beat Southern (7), Pirates (6) beat Dunedin (2), Union (5), bea"; Kaikorai (3), Port (6) drew with Al&ambra (6), Zingari (3) beat Taieri (0). Iβ the Uni-versity-Southern match Kinaley, a Southern player, had an arm injured (supposed to be broken).

WELLINGTON V. NEW ZEALAND.

(By Telegraph.— Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. The following team has been selected to represent the Wellington province against the New Zealand team to tour Australia: Full-back, Barber (Wellington); three-quar-ters, Ryan (Wellington), Wrigley "Walrarapa). Abbott (\Tanganui); five-eighths, O'Leary (Wairarapa) and Clear? (Wellington); half-back, Thomson (Wanganui); wingforward, E. McNae (Manawatu); forwards, Lviiseott (Wanganui), Wilson, Gilchnst, Cross, Wright, Byrne, Lile (Wellington). The inatca Is to be played next Saturday.

RUGBY IN AMERICA.

CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. An interested spectator at Lancaster Park this afternoon was Professor David Starr Jordan, president of Leland-Stanford Junior University, California, where Kugby football has recently been established in placo of the more strenuous and dangerous Au-.ericau game.

Professor Jordan was recently in Sydney, where he saw some of the leading club teams play. Talking to a reporter after the game to-day, he said that it seemed to him the New Zealanders stayed better than the players in New South Wales. In comparing N°w Zealand and American players, he said that onepoint that impressed nim was the general excellence of the kicking. In au American team all the kicking devolved on two players, one of them being an understudy to the star performer.

When President Wheeler, of the University of Californita, and Professor Jordan put a:i embargo on the American game, and Kugby football was first established, the American students were inclined to class it :is too gentle a pastime; bnt esperlence" had taught them that there -was plenty of room for hard knocks.

The ("alifornians would be prepared to send a team to New Zealand ac soon as they considered they were sufficiently experienced, but they would like tirst to have a vis.it from a New Zealand or Australian team.

NEW SOUTH WALES V. QUEENSLAND.

(By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright.) BRISBANE, June 29. The football match between New South Wales and Queensland resulted in a win for the former to-day by 18 points to 3.