RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1098, 10 April 1911, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

SEVEN-A-SIDE GAMES.

DOUBLE VICTORY FOR ATHLETIC.

SOME FLEET CONTESTS.

Twenty games of football in a single afternoon—that was the fare served out at the Athletic Park on Saturday. Attracted by this liberal inducement, close on two thousand spectators assembled to witness the events of the day. Brilliant sun shono during the greater part of the afternoon, and the footballers had a warm time of it. The ground was in capital condition, but baked exceedingly hard as a good many players found to their cost before the day was out. That fleet, open work which usually marks seven-a-side struggles was maintained in most of tho senior games, but there were exceptions. Pcneke B;and Melroso conducted their game on tho lines of a closo scramble, a kind of irregular scrimmage. An open field lay enticingly around them, but tho dogged ones kicked ami. shoved in a tight bVtiieh, apparently blind to a spacious f round which was gaping for better work, lore brilliant play, however, was not wanting. Indeed, as has been said, it was the rule in most of tho senior games, and reached its height in. the opening phase of the. senior final, a game of which sonio details are given below. Athletic had tho distinction of emerging victors in both the senior and fifth-grade contests. It will to noted That the senior team went right through the tournament without laving a' single point registered against them. The fifth-grade victors all but equalled this achiovement. "The single try scored against them by Melros* in the final tussle was the only item figuring on the debit side of their scoring account.

A sum of about .£SO was taken at the gate, and, when expenses have been met, the . insurance fund-will benefit to the tune of about AMO.

Save in tho case of the senior final game, a force-down counted one point again=t the team forcing. Two spells of seven minutes each were played, with a spill'of one minute at the time of changing ends. The undermentioned referees officiated in the senior and in the fifthgrade games:—Messrs. Martin, Church, Klines, Jones, Newman, Ingram, Fordyce, Simpson, Neilson, Stantlcn, Card, Meredith, and Evensen. Mr. Fordyce was referee in the senior final game. Other senior games resulted as follow-.— SYNOPSIS OF RESULTS. THE PRELIMINARY GAMES. Old Boys, G; Southern, 0. Oriental, 11; Southern B, 0. Wellington College, 13; Athletic B, 1. Victoria College, B;.Selwyn, 0. ■Athletic-A, 10; Wellington, 0. Melrose, 1; Poneke B, 0. Poneke A, 5; St, James A, 3. Petone, 18; St. James B. 0.

Second Round. Oriental, 0; Old Boys, 0. ■ , . ' Victoria College, 1C; Wellington College, 1. Athletic A, 11; Melrose, 0. Poneko. A, .8; Petone, .3. . Semi-finals. Oriental, 6; Victoria College, 0. Athletic, 11; Poneke A, 0. Final. . Athletic, G; Oriental, 0. THE PLAY. ; .THE SENIOR SEMI-FINALS. . In the semi-final's" Oriental were pitted against Victoria College, and Athletic against Poneko A. A good many eyes turned to the ground on which Poneke and Athletic tried conclusions for the first time since the championship match of last season, in which, a dramatic incident occurred that has 6inco attained considerable notoriety. The play was brisk, but clean. Athletic at once -assorted themselves, '.and- swept rapidly down on the Poneko line. • S. SVilson got nearly over, but was stopped and had to pass to his brother "Banji." The latter crossed tho lino midway bobvcen the posts and the' corner; and ran along to ground the ball behind the posts. Ho was hotly pursued, and tackled just as he attained his goal. The'ball slipped out between his legs as .he enrae to the ground, but it had been' grounded and the score was awarded. Tho kick though easy failed. In tho play that followed both sides tackled well, but Athletic did most' of the attacking, and scored a harvest of noints. Wilson scored another try, and "two were scored by Evensen. One try was converted. The game ended: Athletic, 14. Poneke, 0. Oriental and Victoria College, both good teams, had a lively tussle. At the opening, College attacked with' vigour, and there was a sharp struggle close up to tho Oriental line. •' The ball was freely tossed about, and only a steady defence and smart tackling averted disaster. An infringement by one of the attackers at length supplied Oriental with a way out, of which they were quick to take advantage. The change of ends inaugurated a corresponding change of roles. Playing now with the s-un behind them, Oriental took up the attack, and developed it so successfully that they twice • crossed the College line, scoring on, each occasion. Tho men who obtained tries were Tyrrell and M'Bain. No goals were kicked. Tho game ended; Oriental, C; College, Q.

The Senior Final. The teams which contested the senior final were as follow:— Athletic: Evenson, Cunningham, Kerr, Wilson (2), Greeks, and Bell. Oriental: M'Bain, I'yle, Perry, Stubbs, Tyrrell, Patterson, and Chant When the game commenced the sun had already gone down behind the hill at tho back ,of the park, so that neither team had any advantage of light. After a minute or so of indecisive play, each party feeling the other's strength, Athletic swept down on tho Oriental- line in a dashing attack. The attacking backs came- on in line-abreast, moving with beautiful precision, and the movement was crowned with almost immediate success. "Ranji" Wilson was tackled close to the line, but gave a clean pass to Evensen on the wing, and the latter slipped over and scowl. The Oriental backs worked well to stop this onslaught, but they were out-classed. The kick failed. Athletic repeated the attack immediately afterwards, and Wilson and Evensen again made the final dash. This time, however, no score Ttsulted. Evensen was tackled as he crossed tho line, and the ball rose as it left his hands. ' The try had been averted" by. the narrowest margin. When play resumed, Oriental , got away to halfway, with the ball at toe, but Athletic Huicklv recovered a dominant position. In the fag-end of the first spell, and during the greater part of the second, the came slowed down considerably. Athloti.-. played "safety," and Oriental seemed incapable of taking the offensive. Just before the call of time Athletic livened up a»ain, and onco more swept down on tho fine. .Taking a pass (as in his two previous scoring attempts) from "Ranji" Wilson, Evensen dashed forward, and grounded the ball beyond the line. The shot at goal again failed, and the game ended without further scenng.—Athletic <r-0-

Following aro detailed results in the fifth-grade tournament:~ Preliminary Games. Potone, 9; St. James, 3. Melrose, 13; l'onoke, 0. Wellington College, 5; St. Patrick's College, 0. Athletic, 19; Sehvyn, 0. Second Round. Melrose, 3; Petone, 1. Athletic, 8; Wellington College, 0. Final. Athletic, G; Melrosc, 3.