RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1723, 14 April 1913, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

TWO FRIENDLY CLUB MATCHES. Two "friendly" matches were played on athletic Park in the., practice of a small number of enthusiasts on Saturday afternoon. . Poneke met St. James, and Oriental tried conclusions with Wellington. None of the teams were at full strength, . tut in the case of every, one of. them the spectators wero able to get some Idea of the showiug they will make when the 'cup matches are in progress. Oriental, for instance, made it clearly known that they were minus F. Roberts, Kinvig, and M'L'eckl". Poneke, on the other hand, have a much-improved back division. Tilyard, who has been fixed at first five-eighth, while llussell fills tli<s half-back billet, is playing excellently, and tho other backs are shaping far above the average. Young is tile only fitar among St. James; and; Wellington have .not improved on the standard they attained at the tail-end of last season. Grace, apparently, is not going over to Poneke (as was rumoured), for on Saturday he was out again with Wellington. Poneke and St. James, Poneke and St. James played a fairly even game, ! though Poneke's work was' a gdod deal, the battel, Young (St. James« wing-three-quarter)' scored the firSt try of the match from an opening made for him by Utiku. The try was not converted. In the same spell (tho first)'Poneke. drew level, through a brilliant piece of work by Tilyard. RusSell sent tile ball out from the scrum to Tilyard, who Cut in and beat almost the . -whole of the opposition. Near the lino h« passed to Algar, who crossed without difficulty: No Poneke, 3 points; St. James, 3 points. ' Weil on in .the second spell Hoaro got over for St. James, end towards the conclusion Keenoy took the ball over, at his toe, from 30yds. out, end registered Poneke's second try. Result: St. Jatnes, (1 points; Poneke, 6 IKilnts., Oriental and Wellington. Oriental had a good deal of bad luck early in their game with Wellington. Three fine, passing rushes which, should have ended in .tries were nullified through the last men in the chain mulling when they had littlo fist- to s do than take tbeir pases and fall over the line. The Oriental backs did a. very creditable amount of. fairly good passing work, but it all lacked finish; and tho whole rear division did not include a singlo man capable of bringing off a surprise. Wellington played a hard game, but did not work well together. Thp match went to Oriental. whoso six points came from tries by Mofiitt and Murphy. "Wellington did not score.. Result-. Oriental, 6 points; Wellington, nil. llr. A. Kitto controlled the Poneke-Sl. James match; and Mr. A. Simpson was Teffcreo in the Oriental-Wellington game.