ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1169, 3 July 1911, Page 6

ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.

ST. JAMES RIGHT ON TOP. PETONE WELL BEATEN ON HOME GROUND. SHOCK TACTICS AT THE PARK.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS, Poneke 6 Oriental 3 St. James 19 Potone II .Wellington 6 Old Boys 3 Southern 31 . College 3 Athletic . 10 Melrose 0

. Brawn rather than tactics marked the better games on Saturday. What other was to be looked for? Icy days and piping rain had been the order of the week, and the littlo pools on the ground soon became quags. It was a day for forwards fo plug in.

At tho park something like four thousand spectators assembled to watch Poncke and Oriental scramble for supremacy in the mud, and the less important match on tho other ground was hardly looked at. The White and Red disturbance was, in some respects, a battle royal. It had breathing spaces, but they were the inevitable amid such hard effort Mostly tho forwards bore down on the foe in lumps,, and individual brilliancy was given little chance. Occasional rearguard dashes of an orderly kind were unimportant variations from the main feature —the hustling packs—and, save 'in Hie caso of the solitary t'ry which, Oriental scored, led to nothing effective' In the opening spell the White and Black forwards earned what laurels were lying around, and thev roughed out the opportunity which their backs improved to a score. Poncke, in this spell, were manifestly outclassed. „ ~ , The prominent feature of the second spcll-a tight and protracted rough and tumble on the Oriental line—was interesting to those who like that kind of play. Many don't. Hut, on the whole, Oriental were'sorely haltered, while Poncke seemed to find refreshment in inflicting it. Tho Keds conducted tho. game m this fashion—sledge-hammer forward work— and, as it was just tho day and the ground for it, thev profited accordingly. . The Hon. J. A. Millar was among tho spectators who viewed the matck._ Manv hard knocks were given ana taken .in excellent spirit during ,the afternoon, and there were two casualties that ranked as somewhat serious. Chapman (Poncke) had his uoso broken early in tho first spell, and was replaced by Trice. In tho neighbouring match Dongas, of the \ ictoria College ■ team, splintered his right collar-bone.

CHAMPIONSHIP LADDER. The outcome of Saturday's games gives St. James a clear lead of four points m tho race for the championship. Pe-tono, Oriental, and Athletic aro now running neck and neck for second place, with 1 oncko one point in rear. The order oi teams and their position in respect of other details are shown in the following table: - . <2 ..2-™ ■jg _. _ j; JS JS g g "ft St. James- ;UlOl »■ ™ ™ 2 !> petorio n- s 3 0 13s 73 n Oriental -U 8 3 0' 162 47 1G Athletic 11 8 3 0 103. .39. 16 Toneko 11 7 3 1 136 55 15 Southern 11 ' <!■ 5 I) 82:67.12 Melrose 11 3 8 0 73 101 0 Old Bovs „ 11 18 2 49 US i Wellington H 18 2 38 155 4 Victoria College 11 010 1 38 223 1 ST. JAMES V. PETONE. BOTH BACKS AND FORWARDS SHONE. About ono thousand people viewed tho contest betweon St. James and tho homo team at Pctone. The ground was in good order, considering .preceding weather. Though they opened play with the sun in their eyes, Petone set up a hot attack. Cook retaliated with a brilliant run, which carried him right up to the Tetone full-back. By the latter ho was neatly grassed. Forward rushes ensued, in which tho visitors had the'best of it. Once Cook essayed a jump alter tho Asher style, and was brought down heavily. In 'a sprint, down .field H. Roberts passed most of the Petone team, and transferred to Du Blois, who mado a good run and dropped over at the comer. Clarke failed to convert. St. James 3; Petone, 11. Du Blois had to retire, and his place was taken by Hope. From tho kick -the St. James forwards put up a great onslaught, and Petone had to force twice At a third St. James's attempt Mooro started a counter-stroke, which was taken over by Aston nnd M'Farlane, but a clever mark by H. Roberts checked them. The Blues attacked again, but Roberts found touch at half-way. Play hovered in this quarter for a while. Eventually Ramsden secured from a ruck. From his hands the ball passed to M'Kcnzic,. Miller, Orson, and Daley. The last-named ran in unopposed. It was the prettiest try seen at Petone for years. M'Farlane failed with the kick. Half-time sounded with equal'scores. ■ Tho second spell was fast and clever, and witnessed some rapid scoring. At an early stage Ramsden secured from a scrum, 'and the backs started away in great stvle. It ended in Daley scoring his second try. Petone, G, St. James 3. On resuming, the visiting forwards worked as one man, nnd wore tho Blues down, until Moffit scrambled over. Thomas missed the goal. St. James G, Pctono 6. Immediately afterwards St. James came at it againj and Wright got over easily. E Roberts added the major points. St. James 11, Pctone G. Another rush by the visiting forwards enabled Hill to touch down, and Roberts goalcd. St. James IG, Petone G. The light was now failing fast, but it was light enough for Daley to streak along the line nnd pass to M'lnrlane. who in turn sent the ball to Boyd. The la.stna.med beat three men and scored. M'Farlane converted. Pctone 11, St. James IG. Just before the call of tune St James took nlay un-field once again, and Moffit notched his second try. No goal was kicked. St. James 19, Petono.ll. Mr. Atkinson was referee.

PONEKE-ORIENTAL. HEAVY FORWAKD PLUG IN THE MUD. Oriental kicked off, playing towards the stand, mid tho rearguard almost at onco slipped- forward in attack like hounds unleashed. It was a bracing opening, but Jlnthcson proved a weak link, iiml the movement collapsed, llio -torwards took up the running at a rattling Knit, and pressed matters so briskly Unit Poncke were shortlv compelled lo lorce. Kesnming hostilities, in a spirit of enterprise, Poncke now began to force the fighting on their own account. A long kick bv Walshc sent the hall out.at the Oriental twenty-five. .'Tram the tlittxrout. tlie, Poncke backs battled forward until Kellv was forced out close up lo tin- line. Just afterwards Oriental were penalised, and Walshc kiek,.-d n goal at a difficult ansle. Poncke, :l; Oriental, 0. In the middle' part of the spell (ho Oriental forwards were at their best. Heavy massed rushes, with M'Bean often in the lead, kept the Ueds rather more than busv in defence. After a snlendid resistance-, however, thoy had lvoken out of durance with clever dribbling, when a halt was called on account of I'm accident to Chapman, already mentioned. When play resumed, the Oriental pack again iwre down, and this limo is was a scoring effort. Neatly fielded by ' M'Lcod, at tho critical moment, the ball was swung out to Kiuvig. The latter effected a dean' transfer to Matheson, who got safely orer the line, Akers failed iu tho

shot at goal. Oriental, 3; Ponek* .3. Oriental still made the pace, ai*l the forwards attacked ropeate'dlv, while Po. neke, outclassed for tho timo'bomg, staved oft trouble by resorting to long, distance sko s for the' line. Oriental had tho best of a fruitless struggle until the spell was nearly over and then, 110 doubt'to their surprise, sustained a severe reverse.' 'A smart bit of M< 3. ! n . co " of tho Oriental pack, enabled Mitchinson to start on a lone 11111 down the field. From his hands tho ball passed out towards tho right-wing', lor tho moment no harm was done, but from a following scrumi the ball was kicked across tho face of the goal. Before the defenders had gathered their wits, Mitchinson had cleverly taken a mark in front of the posts, and Walsho had an easy job with tho* kick. Poneko, 6; Oriental, 3. ■."•:;'

An encouraging roar graced the opening of the second spell, and' the Poncko | forwards seemed to regard ■it as • their [ own particular ovation . Within a few minutes they had Oriental jammed lard, and fast on their line. For a,.qunrtcr ot' I nn hour or so backs and forwards wero locked in a heaving ma« that seldom opened ior more than a moment or two. Passes, which wero attempted;,to men separated from the thrower by only "a few i'eet, were intercepted en.nmttyaiid kicks that projected the ball over any distance worth mentioning wero extraordinarily few. ■ Players wero left on-tho ground in tangled heaps, that: look a, lot of undoing. The ball was visible only at odd moments. For the 'most part it was buried deep beneath a mass of heaving bodies and labouring legs and feet. Poncke were more at homo than their opponents in. this hot and. heavy work, but, though Oriental wero smothered as an attacking force, thev wero inflexible in defence, and held "their lino bravely. No fewer than eight scrums had formed and dissolved fit disorder liofore a kick from a penalty supplied Oriental with a way out. Naturally tho gamo slowed somewhat when tho stiff bailie on tho Oriental lino had once terminated. A period of indecisive kicking followed, and then the Oriental backs, from an , opening mado by Little (halfback), attempted to.open up the play. Tho attempt almost instantly collapsed. Mud-scrambling'by tho forwards in midfield followed, and then tho Poncko backs tried their hand at a passing rush. The., effort, started by Jlifchinson, was. well engineered, and was only just stopped in, the. nick'of time at the Oriental corner. The White and Blocks wero now evidently a spent team. Though they were, attacking in tho.Poneke twenty-five when time was called they had decidedly tho worst of it during tho latter part of the spell. No addition was-made, to the scoring of the first spell. Poneko,. G; Oriental, 3. ' Mr. ■ L. Simpson was referee. SOUTHERN-COLLEGE. THE REDS IN SCORING FORM. Southern attacked from the commence ment, and, in the first few minutes,-L. Campbell, bad two unsuccessful shots-at goal. Bradley presently saw an opening, dashed through, and passed out, but 'M'Donald (on the wing) failed to hold tho leather, and a certain try was lost. Shortly afterwards, however, 'W. Houlihan Bot across, and. Bradley converted. Southern, 5; College, nil. Bradley, following up a high kick, took the ball on the full, and set out down tho centre of the field, with two hacks supporting., him. He eventually sent the leather on to E. Houlihan, who ran in near tho posts. Southern, 8; College, nil. College livened up in the forward work, and had Southern on tho defenco for quite a long, spell, during which Salmond scored. Southern, 8; College, 3. Southern, however, added six points.before half-time. Bradley mado a fine opening, nnd sent the ball out among tho rearguard.. . It was booted across tho,line, and Cunningham made an amusingly desperate sprint, and touched down—alas, he was a street olt'-sidol Also he had robbed the (ram of a try. Play bad scarcely commenced again when M'Donald received a long-pnss, and ran in. Bradley converted. Then Bradley gathered in the oval at midficld, and ran through the drowsy collegians with ridiculous simplicity. Southern, H; College, 3. In tho second spell-Southern had matters all their own way. W.. Houlihan scored, and E. Houlihan converted. South- • ern, 19. Bradley ran in near tho posts, and Capper missed an easy kick; Southern,' 22. Then Johnson scored, and again Capper missed. Southern, 25. Bradley scored twice more, and the gamo ended: Southern, 31; College, 3. In the first spell Duncan, of the College team, received an injury to his collar* bone, and was taken off tho field.

ATHLETIC-MELROSE. BOTH PACKS IN GOOD FETTLE. The Athlotic-Melroso match dovelpped into a very willing battle, but without any sensational incidents, unless the goalkiokirie of Evenson can bo placed in that category. The gnmo was played at Mini; mar. ~, , • i The first spell was without any special incident, consisting chiefly of a heavy encounter between the- two lots pf lorwiardfl. Once, half-way through theRaine, Sim Wilson got possession and set his backs in motion, but, when almost over, Athletic gave offence, and a •freekick was awarded against them. Melrose were now putting the greater dash, into their forward play, but the better tactics of Athletic held them more or ess on the defence. Both sides were line-kicking well. ■■ The second spell opened with nice passing rushesbvtheAthleticbacks, but each time the Melrose forwards simnly heaved the play back again. M'Donald, the Athletic back, repeatedly cut in. and mado openings. The same presently beeaiuo very willimj ou the Reds' line, and then E. 'M'Donald, getting hold of the hall; dropped across, and scored Athletic'? first try. Evenson mado a. 'beautiful kick. s—o. Ten minutes afterwards Evenson, w.ho was playing sound football, not coins, and nlav was taken by M'Ponald and-"Ranji" Wilson to-the Reds' goalline. Here a scrum resulted,, and then the übiquitous "Ranii" forced his way over. Ajain Evenson renoated his magnificent goal-kicking achievement. 10—A Melrose now went at the Blues' In urent style, but the .hitter's rc.u defence ~wastoo sound. Both teams seemed In ere.it fettle, and the play moved oulcklv over tbe CTOiind—lieintT nvstlv. though.' in Jf-lroee nmrfnrt. No further result.d. and Athletic won by 10 points to nil. Mr. Bell was referee. WELLINGTON-OLD BOYS, SURPRISE WIN FOR FORMER. Although Wellington drew' with Old Boys in the first round, few followers of football would havo ventured to Highest that I lie former team would have proved victorious when lhe teams met in tho second round. Ruth, however, was (ho result of the match played between the teams at Karori on Saturday. Play was for tho most part of a ragjje'd description. The Old Boys backs, with tho exception of Dawson, played wretchedly. Dawson made several smart runs,.but was unable to get past tho opposing wing. turecKiuarter (LaniDcrt), who, with Brideo,

playtfd » usofnl dofonsivo game. Old Boys QUMittl tht> scoring with a try, which was notched by Poolo at the end of n loose rush. Brake's kick was charged down. Old Hoys, 3. Wellington, nil. Five minutos lata, Dawson, securing the ball al half-way, made a. capital run down tho lino, and was just grassed a few yards from tho line by Lnmberi. Old. Boya wero having all tho best of the same until near half time, when Bridge headed a scoring movement for Wellington and transferred to Munro. Tho lattor made a dash'for tho line, and-kicked across field as ho was tackled. The ball travelled about for a minute or two in a looso scramble, and was then secured by Hunt, who passed to Carr. Tho last-named sent it infield again, to-Hunt, and tho centre-throe-quarter, after: beating' a couple of men, dropped tho ball to his toe. dribbled across tha : line, and scored. Lambert's kick was unsuccessful. Wellington, 3; Old Boys, 3. This was the score at halftime.

Wellington secured a lead early in the second half. They' were attacking in front of Old Boys', goal, and the latter team's full-back (Drake) gave a weak kick in front. Munro attempted to mark, and was charged by an opponent off-side, so that Wellington had cither to bo allowed the mark or awarded a penalty. Bridge licked a goal. Wellington, G; Old Boys,3. Old Boys now tried hard to equalise the score, but they had no chanco of doing go, and Wellington really should have poored two ■ fine tries. Features' of Wellington's play in this half w'-o good runs by Carr and C. Irons, ono good pass- 1 ing. rush among tho backs,, and capital line-kicking-by Bridge, In general tho play of the winnersr.was not by any means of a high class,' but.ft.-was superior to thai-of tho.opposing team. Mr; Thompson was referee. MINOR .CITY' ENGAGEMENTS. : : . . ' JUNIOR GRADE. 'Athletic (2-i) defeated Foneke (3)._ For the • winners,' Price, O'Leary, Hutchinson (2), Madden, Wilton, Poole, and Woodcock scored tries>' ; For the losers, the only scorer was Wilkins. Selwyn (30) beat Victoria College (3). Por tho winners-Gordon (3), Roberts (3); Sullivan, and Warner scored trios, and Walker converted two and Mulhano one. Sievewright. scored a try for Victoria College. ■' J.'- 1 : ' . St. John's beat Oriental by Sis points to nil, the. scorers being Mitchell and Enting; a tryecack. - . , Petone defeated Wellington by 8 points to 6. The girne was stubbornly contested. Wellington were on ton in tho first Bpell, hut after half-timo Petone had tho npper hand; In the first spell.lorns and A'bcrcvorabie-7scored unconverted tries for Wellington, and Kelly scored for Petone. Whitley converted. In the second spell .■Whitley kicked a goal from a. mark. .;' :: " Third Class,/ • Petone ?>'dre«- with -Selwyn, each team scoring 3"points. ,„,,. ' ''". . Wellington beat Athletic by 18 points ' " .' Fourth Class. Wellington were defeated by Petone by 21 .points to nil. _.' , , ~ Oriental' "A defeated Waiwetu by 14 point? t0.6. . JNTER-'VARSITY MATCH. NEW ZEALAND, 15; SYDNEY, 10. By'TelcerftpWPrt'ss Association—CopyrlcM ':,'.. (Rep. July. 2, 5.5 p.m.) ■•..-;: ;• Sydney, July 1. Tr.eMntor-'Vafsity Engby football match resulted: New Zealand, 15; Sydney, 10., The weather was fine; but cold, and the attendance, about fivo thousand.. : The'-first half saw dull and straggling play; ; with occasional good forward rushes. The backs on both sides showed n want of'combination. The term ended, Sydney, s;'New Zealand; S. ... On resuming,- the . New Zealand backs' attacked' strongly, and ': soon_ had -their heavier.' opponent? in difficulties, and reversed positions. For New Zealand Faire (2), Quilliam (2), and Curtayne scored tries. None was converted, the kicks \>oing mostly, angle shots. . INTER UNION. '.:, AUCKLAND ' BACKS.' ; IBy ' Tclesra'Dh—Prese Association!* ■ V •' "' Auckland, 'July 2. The 1 inter-union programme of/.the Auckland.Rugby Union was commenced yesterday;-when matches weia played against tho Thames and Northern Wairoa representatives. The former game- was played at the Thames.the Auckland team not being up_ to full strength: The local men were' overwhelmed.-in'the first five minutes by the dash' of the Auckland backs, ' and' ten points-were scored against them at once, br.t. after that, their. pack got to work; and they had the best of the remaining play, the game finally ending in Auckland's favour by 13 points to 3. Tries were- scored for , Auckland -by M'Grogor and Wilkes, Fitzgerald converting, both, and kicking a penalty goal. H. Hayward scored for Thames.

Tho.Auckland B.team,■ which included several ■ representative >-players, . beat' Northern Wairoa at Alexandra Park by 20 points to 6. For Auckland tries wore scored by -O'Luary (2), Barclay (2), and treacles and Macky,- one being converted by Harper. '..-,.■

MATCHES ELSEWHERE. ' (By Telegraph.-Special Corrosnondent.). ■ . Palmcrston North, July 1. The following are the results of matches •' played hero to-day iu line weather:— - Oroua Sub-union, 8 points (tries by Taylor, and ■ Shannon, . one converted - by - 1 Reeves) beat Athletic (nil), the premier Manawativ team, after a good. game. Other results: Kia.Toa (17 points) beat Palmerston (8 points). Junior: Palmerston North (5) beat Old Boys (3). Kia Toa. won by default from Athletic. Third class: High School (8) beat Kia Toa (nil); Athletic (15) beat Old Boys (3). , ; . Fourth class: Athletic (20) beat High School. (3). feilding and Kia Toa drew, there being no score. . Carterton, July 2. Tl> 3 concluding round of the Wairarapa Benicr championship was commenced yesterday, in splendid wcathor. Both senior games were played in Masterton before a large attendance. Interest centred on tho Ilea Star aUd Gladstone; match, which ended.in a draw after an exciting game. Kcse scored a try for Bed Star, and Mason lacked a penalty goal,for Gladstone. On the adjoining ground Carterton defeated Mastorto-n by 18 points to 3. .Barry, Bond,, and N. M'Kenzie scored tries, and H. M'Kenzie put on threo .penalty goals. For Carterton, Igguldcn scored a try. Masterton junior results:—Grey town (5) beat Liberals (nil); Dalefield (13) beat Carterton (6); Bed Star (12) beat Masterton (nil). Third Class: Carterton (24) beat Dalefield (nil); Bed Star (3) beat Masterton (nil). Wanganui, July 1. A junior Eugby Union match was played to-day—College versus Waverley —and-resulted in a win for the College by 1 ,. 22 points to 8. The Pirates defeated Kaierau by 22 to 8. In tho senior matchea Kaierau defeated Old. Boys by 8 to 5. "Wanganui beat Bastern by 18. to nil}. . ''■''•■■ Nolso.n, July 1. 'A fine display' of football was given to-day in the match Nelson College v. Old Boys—the _ teams lending for the senior competition. Hard, clean football was the order of the day, and. the tackling of the College boys was particularly brilliant. Nelson College'won by 3 to nil—a score, by Aluir. rßy Telegraph.—Press Association.! Christchurch, July l. The Canterbury Eugby Union's competitions were continued this afternoon in fine weather though, as the result of rain and frosts, tho grounds were somewhat greasy. Christchurch defeated Sydenham after an even gamo by 8 points to i. Albion easily boat Linwood by 26 points to nil, and Merivalq had no difficulty in defeating Marists by 30 points to 3. The mid-term vacation, and the absence of several of their best players in Australia, left Canterbury College unnblo to raiso a team, and they defaulted to Old Boys. The annual match between Wellington, and Christchurch Telegraph Messengers wivs played to-day in fine weather, Wellington winning by 11 points to 3. Anderson, Molloy, and Marshall scored. Marshall converted one try. Briggs scored for the losers. ~ Dunedin, July 1. Football matches wero continued to-day in fine weather. University sustained their first reverse of the season, being

beaten by Dunedin by 11 points to 3. Zingari Richmond (8 points) beat Alhambra (nil). Southern 00 beat Taieri Rovers (nil). Kaikorai (32) beat Union (nil). Pirates (11) beat Fort Chalmers (6). LEAGUE FOOTBALL. DOMINION MEN AT BRISBANE. By Tckcrapli—Press Associatlon-Oopyrizht (Rec. July 2, 5.5 p.m.) Brisbane, July 1. There was fine weather to-day for the match between the New Zealand Northern Union team and the Queensland representatives. The attendance was estimated to number 6000. . In the opening stages of the game the play favoured Queensland, as the New Zea'landers were lacking combination and wero kept defending. After the first ten minutes tho New Kealanderc played into form, and towards the close of tho first fialf showed splendid combination, their passing and dribbling rushes completely beating tho Quoenslanders. An infringement of the rules lost tho visitors several tries. In the second half play was very fast, exciting, and free, from roughness. New Zealand scored two tries in quick succession, as the result of brilliant combined play. The last quarter of an hour was very "even, both sides showing great combination. .. ■

E. Ashor's knee- gave way, and. T. Cotterell replaced him. At half-time the scores were: Kew Zealand, 13; Queensland, 3. Tries were scored, for New Zealand by C. Dunning (2), and Savoury (1). G. Seagc-r converted ono trv, and also kicked a goal from the field.

The final score was: Kew Zealand, 24; Queensland, 13. Dunning (2) and Savoury. Woodward, and Francis (1 each) scored tries for Mew Zealand, Scagcr converting three of them, and also kicking a goal from the field.

WANGANUI DEFEATS TARANAKI. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Wanganui, July 1. Tho representative Northern League match, Taranaki versus Wanganni, was played in Cook's Gardens to-day in fine weather. There was a largo attendance. A splendid game resulted in a win for Wanganui by 19 points to 8. Taranaki was the first to score—a goal from a mark. Then Lambert secured a' fine try for Wanganui. T. Prideaux, converting a penalty try to Taranaki, evened up scores for half time. Taranaki scored a try early in the second spell. Thereafter Wanganui had the best of matters, Callagnau, Morgan, and Mitchell scoring tries, ono of which T. Prideaux converted. Thfl'g2me was very fast and interesting.