SATURDAY'S FIELD SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1552, 23 September 1912, Page 6

SATURDAY'S FIELD SPORTS.

THE RUGBY CUP FINAL HOW THE ATHLETIC TEAP/i BEAT PETONE. THE LEAGUE UNPLEASANTNESS.

"A Good Gol"— No More.. ! All the gaudy English in the dictionary could not make Saturday's cup final better than the plain colonialism: "A good go." The ' contesting teams—Athletic and P.etone—had met twice. Their first match was drawn, and the second resulted in a win for Athletic by 5 points to 3. They arc without doubt the two best teams in tlie city, and no other two would have drawn such a gate. There were at least 6000 people present, and very few, if any, of that concourse were bold enough to hold any decided opinion ae to what the result would be. Tho result was, in fact, doubtful until tho gong clnnged the thirty from the field. The Broom and Saucepan Bricade, Tho weather was unfavourable in every way. Heavy rain fell in the early hours of the morning, and spoilt the ground, a gale arrived later in the day, and while it helped to dry the ground it mado noone feel like patronising the match. Members of tlie Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union did what they could to improve the playing field. Messrs. Hales and Little, with broom, saucepan, and bucket, provided quite an attraction for the early patrons. Both the eweeper and the bailer gave evidence of a sound domestic education. Two Distinct Styles of Play. The mntch was not a bright one, but tli<3 quality,of the play was excellent. Athletic won, and obtained the victory by merit. Tho big city forwards simply battered down the men from (ho suburbs -nothing more, nothing loss. The Athletic , forwards dominated the situation, and Athletic won. If the Petone backs had been the dominant factor, Petone would have won. The struggle finally resolved itself into a desperate battle in tactics. , Finding that they were going under, and that their forwards could not give them the chances they wanted, the Petone backs strove with all their might to force the openings for themselves, and tho powerful forwards of the city team fought with all their great strength and swiftness to defeat this object. They defeated it. This most expert band of spoilers crushed beneath them evory effort of their opponents, whose sole hope was their brilliant backs. That is the story in the main, but there is another side to it. How Daley Lost the Cup. Tho other side concerns a man who, on two occasions, had the result of the championship in the hollow of his hand, and who both times failed to dcifide the matter in bis team's favour. The team is Petono; tho man is Daley.. Tho inside Petone backs played a great game in the face of big odds, but thoy were defeated by their hopeless colleague, Daley, wing-three-quarter. In tho first spell, the inside backs instituted a brilliant passing rush, and got tho leather out to Daley on the wing. Daley streaked past 11. Roberts as though the Athletic wing \tero a side-line flag-pole. He could have-then cut'in-field, and outstripped the full-back, or he might have beaten him with a dash down'tho side-line. He attempted neither. He there ended the chance. To be candid, if Daley had had the heart to try, he would have scored, and scored behind the goal-posts. In the second spell, when M'Kenzio was struggling hard to get tho backs into scoring position, he initiated « movement whicli resulted in Daley getting a pass in a clear field. Daley's pace would have landed him in the place whero the points are. kept if he had simply gone Tight ahead. But again he fought shy of the ordeal, and delivered himself up into tho arms of the nearest Athletic back. So, nnfort\inately, one phase of the affair is tho story of how Daley lost (he cup. The Teams. Tlie teams were as follow:— Athletic: Full-back, J. Gosling; three-, nuarters. H. Roberts, L. M'Donald, D. W. Madden; five-eighths, A. Evens«n, F. C. Atkinson; half-back,E. Roberts; wingforward, J. Cunninghame; pack, .T. W. Murphy. E. Fennessey, W. Levick, A. Wilson. W. Bell; I?. Paton. E. Osborn. Petono: Full-back, G. Parker; threequarters. D. Boydi E. Ryan,'.T. Daley; fivp.pj.orhths. - Itamsden, J. WKunzie; half-back, H. Nunn; wintt-forward, ArrowsTiiith; pack. W. Ready, A. Parker, W. Eynn. S. M'Farlane, H. Parrant, T. Prire, W. Tnnlin. Mr, A. Noilson was referee.

THE.GAME AFOOT. DETAILS FROM START TO END. Petone, with the wind favouring them, gained ground right from the kick-off, and, a minute after the commencement, M'F-axlaue took a place-kick for the goal. From forty yards out ho gave a mighty boost, but the oval fell short. The Pc'tone forwards rushed play back into Athletio's quarters* and, carrying Athletic with them, bustled the ball over the line, where W. Ryan touched down,' and then Arrowsmith fell on it. A try was awarded. M'Farlano's kick at goal failed, retone, 3; Athletic, 0. By hard, solid forward work Athletio drove the suburbanites into a very tight corner, and there they kept them till a sweeping Petoue rush made matters look very awkward for Athletic. To stop Petone, Athletic broke the rules, so M'Farlane had another shot. Ajain he failed. Once 'more the Athletic forwards stove Petone's front in. A clever centre by E. Roberts was as cleverly checked by E. Ryan, who brought off a really grent mark. After an overdose of close forward work, Athletic drew level. "Ranji" Wilson, who had been in the lead all the nfternoon. broke through and kicked. OsIwrn pained possession and streaked over. E. Roberts failed in hip attempt to convert. Athletic. 3; Potonc, 3. \ There, wns no further score, during the spell, but Petone got one chance of showing the quality of thair back nlay, and they tonk the opportunity. From tho centre ,the ball sppd right a'loni the chain of backs to Daley, who outpaced his opponents with a beautiful run. Coming to the full-back Daley centred, and the movement fizzled out, but it was good' while it lusted. Athletic scored almost, immediately the second spell was opened. The city forwards, aided by the wind, got well down into Petone'* twenty-five, and there Paton sent the ball out to H. Roberts, who had a clear course in. Evensen did not goal. Athletic. 6; Petone,'3. For what seemed an age the two vanguards arsued almost right on Petone's line, and Evensen. E. Roberts, and Atkinson had shots at the goal. Roberts'* shot went over, but. could not be counted, os the bnll had in its flight struck tho hand of a Petone player. When Petono managed to get away from tho influence of the Athletic forwards, play.was lively in the extreme. The Petone Iraeks were taking every chance to open the game up. and trying hard to make chances. Athletic were striving despprntelv to keep things close. Ramsden made the run of the day. Receiving the ball from M'Kenzie, he side-stepped the Athletic bunks as though they were wooden men. However, the iibinuitous E. Roberts bohhed up in his path at the lost moment and brought him to earth. M'Kenzie now made numerous Attempts to get the backs from the suburb going, but the Athletic defence was deadly. Petone's Inst chance camo wlion Dnley, who hnd a clear field nhc.id, was given a pass. Daley, however, made no attempt to \\*i> his grout pace. He cut in-field, and fell an ea.«y prey to one of the defenders.

A few momenta later the bell announced that Athletic had successfully defended the title to tho championship. Athletic G points. Petone 3 points. FIFTH CLASS. WELLINGTON-WANGANUI. The Wellington fifth-class representatives defeated Wanganui fifths on No. 2 ground at Athletic Park by 8 points to 0. Mabin and Walters scored trios for Wellington, and MaWn's try was converted. The -game was an exceptionally even one, and v;as fought out very stubbornly. Mabin's try was obtained in the last minute, and up till that time the result was in doubt. Mr. A. Kitto was referee. SIXTH CLASS. The final for the sixth-class championship, between Pelone and' Athletic, which was to have been played prior to the big match, was postponed in order to save the ground. Probably, it will bo played next Saturday. ENTERTAINED. At Scott's, Manners Street, on Saturday evening, the Athletic Club entertained their sixth-class bovs. Several officials were present, including Mr. Ridler (club captain) and the boys champion, Mr. Charles Atkinson, who was farewelled by the boys with hearty cheers on his approaching departure for south. BANKS' MATCH. The annual banks' football match, between teams from the Australian and New Zealand banks, will take place at Athletic Park this afternoon... A considerable amount of interest is being taken in- it, as there .are several : first-clasa Slayers participating, and, providing the ay holds fine, there should be a very fair attendance at the Park to witness this game. In the evening a smoke concert will be held, which promises to bo an unqualified success. ,. The Australian banks will be,represented by the following:— Morison, Coker, Grant, Dewhifst, Smith, Cooke, Day, Gallic, Robinson, Galvin, Reeves, Hanrcn, Redmond, Mn'rtebn, Pead. Emergencies: Haden and Collins. MATCHES ELSE.WHERE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Palmerston North, September 21. In the Rugby senior grade, Western District (16 points) defeated Southern (10 raints). In the junior grade, the Rogers Cup tvos won by Feildirig, who defeated Western District by 13 points to nil. In the third class the Gibbons Cup was won bg Ashhurst against Feilding, the ecoro boing 3 points to nil.