RUGBY AT THE PARK.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1414, 15 April 1912, Page 6

RUGBY AT THE PARK.

« THE SEVEN-A-SIDE. PULLED OFF BY ATHLETIC ASOUTHERN DO WELL. MOST OF THE STARS ABSENT. Nothing exceptionally brilliant was noticeable in tho seven-a-side Jiugby tournament at Alhlctic l'ark on Saturday, but in some instances the play rose to a standard that might bo termed good. About 2000 people were present, and the attendance might have been better, but for an unpleasant northerly breezo that I was blowing. The ground was rather harder than is desirable for such a tournament where the limited number of players makes the gnme faster, and in consequence the majority of the players appeared to have had more than enough football as the tournament progressed. A gcod deal of interest was lacking in the contest on account of the absence of such notable players as F. Roberts, K. Roberts, Evensou, Dawson, M'itchitison, and M'Leod. A member of the Wellington team was .1. L. Henrys, who had not played since ho represented the Argentine Republic against an English team at Buenos Ayres two years ago. A feature of the play was the unexpected good showing by the Southern representatives, who got right through to the final, and appeared at one stage to have a chance of defeating the Athletic team. In a lesser degree Molroso also created a surprise, and some of their tackling, in particular, was very gcod. In different games bright individual efforts wera registered by Grace, S, Wilson, Heketa, J. Ryan, J. Wilton, Moifitt, Batty, Cunningham, and others. Several players were injured during the day, but the' only really serious mishap was that which befell Batty (Southern), who was reported to have broken his arm as the result of- a heavy fall in the final. FIRST ROUND. SOUTHER N—WELLINGTON. Southern v. Wellington.—This match resulted in a win for Southern by 6 points to nil, tries being scored by Capper and Batty. Wellington looked like scoring when "the bell rang. Poneke—Selwyn. Poneke A v. Selwyn.—ln this game the Selwyn men made a better showing than was 'generally expected. Far Poneke, unconverted tries were scored by 1 !!. Brewer and J. Elliott, and, for the losers, a try was stored by Buck. Fonuke won by G points to 3. St. James A—Athletic B. St. James A v. Athletic B.—3t James proved much too good for their opponents, and won by !) points to nil. For the winners tries were scored by Moffiitt (2) and King. ! Meirose—Oriental B. Melroso v. Oriental B.—From the kickoff till the close of the play, Melrose held the upper hand, and won by fi points to nil. Tries for the winners were scored by Rivers and J. Marshall. Old Boys—Poneke B. In (ho first spell Bernard scored the first trv for Old Boys. After the change over, Grace and Fordham scored clover tries, both of which wore gc.aled bv Drake. Old Bovs won, l.'l—o. Petone A—Wellington College. Petonc were much too good for Wellington College, and won comfortably by It points lo "nil. Tries were scored by M'Kemv.c (2!, Daly, and Joe Ryan. Athletic A—St. James B. The Blues simply romped over the St. Janic- B team, winning a lively bout by 23 points to 3. Sullivan, Wilton (2), Pa ton, and J. Cunningham scored tfie Athletic tries, and Hills scored the only one obtained for St. James. Petone B—Oriental A. Petone B v. Oriental A.—Oriental d/:d not put a team into the field for this match, which went to Petone. SECOND ROUND. OLD BOYS-ST. JAMES. St. .Tames A v. Old Bays.—This was a fast, interesting game, won by St. .lames by S points In nil. I'or'tlic winners tries were scored by Moiiilt and Heketa, one being converted by Moiiitt. Old Boys were responsible for a couple of good passing rushes, which, however, tlid not produce scores. Southern—Poneke A. To the surprise of most of the spectators Southern proved far and away superior to Poneke's best, and ran up 11 points in the first spell—three tries (one converted), all by Parker. In the second half, Brewer scored a try for Poneke, and just before the bell Capper (Southem) potted a goal cleverly. Southern won by 15 points to 3. Athletic A—Petone B. Athletic A v. Petone B.—The Athletic men proved altogether superior to their opponents and won by 11 points to nil. The score was made up of < lies by J. Cunningham, A. Wilson, Kelly, and .). AVillon. D. Madden converted Wilson's try. Petone A—Melrose. Good spoiling work by Melrose failed to keep the Petone tliers out*, and the Blues scored two tries. The scorers were Daly and M'Kenzie and M:\clavUmc goaled Daly's try. Petone won, S-0. SEMI-FINALS. PETONE A-ATHLET.IC B. In (bis game I'etone may have been at a. slight (ii-alvantage through losing the services of_ Daly, who injured iii> hand in a previous match and was replaced bv K. Uyan. Thcro was not much lo c!io-:-e hcltvren the tram*. but Athletic eventually wan by (i points to 5. Tries were scored for the winners by J. Cunningham and S, Wilson, while ior the losers \Y. Ryan stored a try, which .Mael'arlane converted. (•anthem—St. James A. St. J:\mes were tir-t to score, and their supporters were jubilant. The game was not over u« il turned out. for Southern put mi a -tubburn defence to the hurricane rushes of SI. James's hicks and torwards and finally >cored a couple of tries in onick succession themselves. Batl.v was the scorer on each occasion. The 'game ended: South:™, I!; St. James, :l. FINAL ROUND. ATIIUTIC A lii:.\T SOI'THEI'X. The teams which tr.ok the field for the final were: Athietie A-Keliy, U. l'aton, .I. Cunningliam, L). Madden, j. Wilton. A. Wilson. and S. Wilson. Soul hern—Campbell, IV.'ry. Batty, l'urkev. Kusscll, Capper, and Mortcnscu (replacing Johnson, injured), After a coup!-; of minutes' play

Southern started a strong attack and .carried play over the opposing line, where Batty was injured and had to retire. When play was resumed Southern again attacked, but just when they looked liko scoring Kelly broke away for Athletic and passed to l'aton. Tho latter transferred to S. Wilson, who scored after a long run. The kick at goal failed. From this stage onwards Athletic held their opponents safely. A. Wilson scored a try, converted by D. Madden, and tho latter scored a try, converted by .T. Cunningham. The game thus ended in favour of Athletic by 13 points to nil. FIFTH CLASS. WELLINGTON COLLEGE WINS. Wellington Collego entered a team for tho fifth class tournament, which was immensely superior to the other seven (earns ill tho contest. Some of the College team were big lwys; they were all well-endowed with Rugby qualities; they worked excellently together; they had plenty of dash, triekiness, and speed; and, with one exception, they had the courage and determination to go slap-bang through with a thing. 11l all of their three games they put up big scores, and nothing was scored against them. Melrose, the runners-lip, got into the final by defeating .Southern after a tough struggle. Tho results were as follow :— l irst Round.—Wellington College heat Fetonc by 11 to 0; Poneke beat Waiwelu by II to (I; Southern l)eat Oriental bv 3 to 0; and Melrose beat St. James by «'to 0. Semi-Final.—Wellington College beat Poneke by 11 to 0; and Melrose beat Southern by 6 to 0. Final.—Wellington College beat Melros« bv 17 to 0. The personnel of the winning team was: H. llindmarsli (captain). A. L. Flux, L. A. Beard, F. Hanson, H. Mathewson, C. Davis, and —. Staples. Tho Jlelroso team were: J. Grav (captain), A. Scott, N. Walters, R, Palmer, Viatson. H. Miles, and W. Garrett. In tho filial, Beard and Mathewson scored two tries each, and Hanson on« try, for College. Hindmarsh converted on< of the tries. PLAY ELSEWHERE. I (By Telegraph.—Presa Association,) Christcliurch, April 13. The only football fixture to-day was S benefit match in aid of the improvement fund of Lancaster Park. Tho match was between tho High School Old Boys and Albion. Old Boys defeated Albion by 1G points to 5. Grade matches commence next Saturday. IRELAND DEFEATS WALES. ' (liec. April 15, 0.20 a.m.) i London, April H. In tho Association football match botveen, Ireland and Wales, tho Irish were victorious by three goals to two. AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE MATCHES. By Telegraph—l'rcss Association-Copyright (Rec. April 1!, 5.5 p.m.) „„ . , Sydney, April It, The Australasian Rugby League football team, which recently visited England, in two matches yesterday defeated (he Metropolis by 27 points lo 0 points, and llunior District by 22 points to 5 points.