ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1184, 20 July 1911, Page 7

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

RUGBY. THE KOHN SHIELD. Between five and six hundred spectators assembled at tho Athletic Park yesterday to view the sccond in the scries of Ramos for tho Eohn Shield. The competing teams .were . Christchurch and Auckland. Auckland, though they played wit h the sua in their eyes, had the best, of play in the opening spoil, and frequently confined Christchurch to their own territory. In attack, some of the Auckland backs made a nippy individual dash «t times, but failed to work in concert. The weight of the southern pack enabled them to gain ground now and then, but the team was feeblo in attack. The first score came at the end of a series of untidy scrambles on the Christchurch line, in which both attackers and defenders fumbled badly and lost, chances innumerable. Kirkwood set a period to this sort of thing by breaking away, on the wing, to a runawayf*x>re.. Hall goaled. Christchurch, 0. Indecisive play in midfield followed. The . Christchurch " forwards began at length to force a passage Upfield. :It seemed unlikely that they would penetrate the Auckland defence, but lack came their way just before the spell onded. Beacham, the Auckland full-back, fumbled' a return, ' and a Christchurch rush drove the leather over the line. Beacham and another back clashed in an attempt to'force, and Hayward dropped to an easy. try. Whifctington converted. Tho spell ended with score equal: Christchurch, 5; Auckland, 6.

Play in the sccond spell developed early into a series of light forward rushes on the Christchurch line. Webb at length nipped up the ball as it came from a scrum, and clipped over to an easy try. The kitik failed. Auckland, 8; Christchurch, 5; Christchurch found no way out of their troubles, and Anderson soon afterwards scored again for Auckland. Webb converted with a beautiful kick from near the side-line. Auckland, 13; Christchurch, 5.' Christchurch now made an excursion into [Auckland territory. Auckland, because- they were tired, or asleep, or something, allowed their defence to be driven right in. Disgraceful fumbling by the Auckland backs enabled Mitchell to walk in and score under the posts. Whittingtcci added the extra points. Christchurch, 10; Auckland, 13. The play that followed was lively, but' led to no scoring result until Rodgers, after a considerable interval, broke away from a . mid-field sdamble, and ran round behind the posts. The kick, by Webb, was charged down. Auckland, .16; Christchurch, 10. By way of a closing incident. M'Gregor started off from his own goal-line, outdistanced all opponents, • and scored beneath the Christehurch posts.. Hs then converted his own try. The game ended; Auckland, 21; Clvris.tchurcl).' Ift. Mr. Geo. Howe was the referee. Having beaten Christchurch and drawn with Wellington, Auckland retain the Kohn Shield for another year. To-day Wellington and Christchurch will play ft "friendly game." 'SMOKE CONCERT. A smoke concert was held at The Tiffin Kooms last, evening. There was a big gathering, over .which Dr. Newman presided. There were also present City Councillors Fletchcr, Smith, Hindmarsh, end Fitzserald, and -Messrs. S. Richard-son,-,M. Cable, and G. ,E. James, of the tramways staff. When presenting the Shield to Auckland, Dr. Newman congratulated the winners. expressed' pleasure at being able to hand it.to .thfim, and said that the only greater "pleasure which lie could liave ha'd would 'have been that 'of presenting it to Wellington.' : Mr. E. H. Minifio (secretary of tho Wellington' .Tramways' Union), when proposing "Tho Rugby Union and Referees,", said .that hs-sincerely'hoped that' the Wellington Rugby Union and tho like unions., m' other places ..rwrould'foster game' by encouraging the tramway i unions. ■

There were other-toasts-and a number of entertainment items. RUGBY UNION COMMITTEE. The weekly, mooting of the Management Committee of- the Wellington Rugby Union was held last evening. Those present'were: Messrs. S. S. Brown (chairman), E. Little, W. F. Eornig, W. Perry, and F. W. Hardhaw. The Melrose Club notified that owing to ■ the departuro of players they -would be compelled to withdraw- from the junior and fourth-class contests.. ■ Mr. F. M. B. Fisher wroto that notwithstanding the liberality of the Municipal Corporation, there was' still vrork to'bo dono in the matter of recreation grounds. '<£10,675- had- been spent' on Duppa Street,. »£ 12,831 on Anderson Park, and <£8688 at Ivolburne. Lying between the Brooklyn tram-line anrl the Ohiro Road Tr'as-.an'area of Town Belt, which could be.converted into a fine ground at % a very reasonable cost. It would bo TTithin.".easy' reach' of a . congested part of- the city and the • Brooklyn suburb. It would also bo a boon to thousands of children who attended I'hn Brooklyn Mitchelltown, Willis Street, Ghuznee Street and Mount Cook Schools. It would al<=o ! relieve .the strain .upon the. Basin Reserve. Ho asked that tho union join a ideputation to wait,upon the City Council.—Mr. W. Perry ira-s appointed to represent the union on tho deputation The Bush Union asked if the return match Wellington B v. Bush Union court be played this year. The match : could be played at Fahintua.-Considera- ' tion of. the matter was deferred. Only four teams having entered for the Saturday morning school competitionsthe, project, having found little favour with the masters—it was decided' to abandon the 'competitions this year. AUCKLAND'S PROGRAMME. Iliy Telegraph.—Press Association.) ~ Auckland, July 19. Owing to the suggested dates of tho Auckland Unions tour not suiting somo of the southern unions, tho committee decided this evening to place the following amended programme before the affected centres :-l'la-y Canterbury at ChristchurCh on September 2; play Otago at Dunedin on September 6; play Wellington at Weilington on September 9; play Tnranaki at .New Plymouth on September 34. Tho application of tho Marlborourh Union for a Eanfurly Shield match was declined with regret owing to the bi> re P"=M;tative P r °B l ' ! >mme this season. Iho Poverty Bay Union wrote regarding their shield match, stating that they were applying to tho New Zealand Union for a date. . • •

>.M hß «. se t cr^ ary of the Auckland Union said that there must be some misuuderBtanfling on the part of tho Poverty.Bar ?l?|. c Anckland had not Tcfu'sed a Shield°date tfSUift, Baa{a * NEW ZEALAND RUGBY LEAGUE TOUK. By Telegraph—Press Assoelation-Oopyriehi CR'ec. July 19, D.15 p.m.) Sydney, July 19 The New Zealand Eugby League football team, which has been on tour in Australia, is returning to tho Dominion by the Wimmcra, which sailed this afternoon for Auckland. .