SATURDAY'S SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1747, 12 May 1913, Page 6

SATURDAY'S SPORTS.

FULL REPORTS AND FIGURES. GAMES SPOILT BY RAIN. PETONE BEAT MELROSE IN THE MUD. SYNOPSIS OF RESULTS, Petono 11 Melrose 0 Wellington 3 Victoria College Q Oriental 20 St. James 12 Athletic beat Poncke by default.

Ceaseless rain, sodden turf, and a slimy ball spoiled the football games on Saturday afternoon for both players and spectators. It was almost time for tho senior matches to commence when the rain began to fall heavily, and postponement was out of tho question, for by that time tli? lookers-on and the players had congregated at the appointed grounds. There wero 15U0 spectators at the Athletic Park, and the "gale" was £70. At the Park, Petoue and Melrose were matched, and on previous performances this season the game should have been a lively, interesting exhibition of at least fairly good football. But tho impression most of the spectators took home with them was of a restless, formless bunch of steaming players, begrimed almost beyond recognition, all seen through tho haze of heavy rain. Indeed at tho end of tho game it u;as impossible to seo tho ball at a distance of tlic length of the field. Good football was out of tho question, except for the first fifteen minutes of play, before the water had soaked tho surface and make it of the consistency of ooze. Petono made tho most of thoso few minutes. Their forwards attacked with frenzied vigour, and quite overwhelmed the usually stubborn Melrose pack. Their eagerness was most marked when they were within striking distance, and Mei-' rose wero repeatedly saved by good luck. Petono showed their real superiority in three passing bouts, in all ol which the pace was really smart, tlie'posilion of the men, and their giving and taking of the ball perfect. Jt was from ono of these runs, perhaps tho best of ti)e three, that E. L'yan iiiiisliad up a brilliant swerving run by scoring bahind tlie posLs. lie must have passed at least four men, any one of whom would liavo been sale to bring him dov;u if lie had been within reach, but not a single hand touched him. Having regard to tlio stalo of the ground, tho run was ono of tho best over seen on tho l'ark.

After this score, which was improved to five puints, Price scored an almost equally clever try by dribbling the bull alone past the Alelrose full-back and beating him in the race lor it over the line, l'rice kept his liead perfectly, and showed rare judgment and coolness at a critical time. The third try was attributable to the greasy slato of tho ground ami ball rather than to any effort on the 'part of the scorer. Tho .Melrose men, as always, played a losing game with grim determination and tireless energy. Although* overwhelmed early in the game, they had their 10vengo very otten later by holding tho Dark" Blues down on the I'ctoue line for long periods, but they lacked always that finish which makes a side dangerous oil attack. In any case the weather and tho mud ukulo the match ridiculous as a trial between the two teams. Wellington' and ■•••'Victoria Collego Imd the hardest of battles oil the Number Two Ground at the Park, and both fides had a fair sharo of attack and defence right throughout the match. Wellington eventually snatched a Victory at the iloventh hour by scoring a try. St. James put up a much better fight than was expected of them against Oriental, at Jliramar. At half-time the scores were St. James 12, Oriental 11, but Oriental added nine points in tho s<>cond spell, wliilo the lied and Whites did not improve I heir score. Early in this spell a useful St. James forward, Kustage, retired from tho field, hurt, and his leam had to finish the match a man short. It was while they wcro thus handicapped that Oriental added the winning nine points.

PETONE & MELROSE. . GRIM STRUGGLE IN THE Ml'D. No advantage came to, cither side from the kick-oft' by Melrose, but the Petono men wero the first to look like attacking. A passing run was initiated l>.v Nunu, to M'Kcnzie, to E. Ryan, and if Ryan had been able to keep foot-hold, the movement might .have been dangerous. He fell, however, and his pass to Bond flew wide, and but for a clever and plucky save bv E. Ryan Melrose forwards would have been away. The Red and Blues gradually pressed the Blues down. until a beautiful passing liout wadset going_ on Potono's twenty-five line by Xuiin, M'Kenzie, Ramsden, E. Ryan, and Boyd. Tho ball was handled with delightful precision bv every man, and the pace was really good. Boyd was left with only Capper, the Mclroso full-back, to beat, but the latter proved equal to the occasion. Melrose again, drove the Dark Blues down to their line, and it was only by kicking tho ball well over the line ami dead that M'h'enzie saved. Pctono got out of this difficulty by good footwork forward, and good kicking by M'lvenzie, until a penalty was allowed to them forty yards in front of goal. The kick was' followed well, and W. Marshall was bustled oft' tho ball, so that tho Dark Blues had Melroso in a tight corner. The end of tho attack was that Boyd chased the ball hard over ihe line, but just failed to reach the ball before it hit tho stand. Melrose were for a time completely overwhelmed by the remarkably good foot-work of Petone forwards, and had several very narrow escapes. Finally M'lCenzie set oft on a brilliant run. mid sent on to Ramsdin, to E. Ryan, all receiving perfectly and going tad- Ryan swerved cleverly, and ended up a brilliant movement by scoring behind the posts. M'Farlano goaled. Pctono, 5; Melrose, nil. Melrose forwards played up rather belter after this reverse, and held Petono in their own twenty-five for quite a spell, until a too-hord kick allowed G. Parker to force. Melrose were pushed right back to tlieir line ng.iin, and were repeatedly in trouble, when Sullivan burst away from tho ruck, bustled M'lvenzio, and the ru-h went: on to the full-back, Parker. The latter was beaten for the ball, but M'Kon--7,i0 got in (lie way again, ami (ho only result: of the phenomenal dash was tint an unwise Melrose man kicked the ball dead. After the drop out Melrr.se went up-field again with a helter-skelter forward rush, bowling over the Pelone mrn like ninepins, but Parker, playing very deep at full, saved well. Marshall had a splendid opening in front of geal, but he failed to hold the ball, and lost a certain try. Shortly afterwards Capp:-r had bis second unsuccessful shot at goal. Again, after five minute' pla.v on their own side of half-way. Petone attacked, and two splendid saves by Capper were all that prevented t.linn scoring. Finally the Park lUnes burst through, and Price, illibblintr cleverly past Capper, scored between Ihe posts. M'Farlano mis.-ed with Ihe greasy ball. Pctono S—fl. When tile second spell opivird, tho turf was very'greasy, and tiio ball even more so, factors which suited the tactics of Ihe Melrose forwards—to use the feet only. Their forwards, workings splendidly a* a pack, drove 'the Petono men repeatedly for lengths of (he field, the only Pel one back who w;n beinsr troublesome to them being M'Keuzie. Five minutes after opening th'sy broke loose with the ball at toe from tho twenty-five line, but Tlansey beat Sullivan in'l.lie race for the ball, and the force let the lVtone (pen out. Petone . scored their next try ten minutes later. : They hud Melrose on tlieir.lino defending, and an injudicious kick into open lie'd allowed Boyd to slide over near tho corner. M'Farlano mi«ed an impo'siblo ; shot. Petone 11—0. From this old the | game was indescribably dull, a mere mud scramble, mostly in favour of Petone. | I Mr. Fordyco was referco

COLLEGE & WELLINGTON.

HARD ENOUGH "GO." The early stages of the encounter be* . tween Wellington ami Victoria Collcgo . found Wellington on (lie defensive, but College were quickly repulsed anil wero • kept for a lons time holding the cuoiny i at bay. Momentarily on the attack Vic- > toria College endeavoured to score by • giving T. Beard a shot at goal, lint tho ox-Wellington College boy failed witli tho ■ kick, Wellington soon resumed the upper hand. They crowed the line, but 110 ; try was allowed. At half-time neither sida had scored though there had been scv. < eral very "near things." Wellington resumed Die attack imrne- • diately tho second spoil was commenced, j and 'Lambert had two shots from penal- ; tics, but neither wa< successful. Collcgo ( swept Wellington before them and took play rioht to the line, but there they , wero held up • for a considerable time until T, Beard had a penalty shot at tho goal, whicli went very wide. College re- ' sullied attack right away and went ! Ihi'ontfli Wellington's defence and across | the line, but there a force saved the situ- - ation. A lout; kick by Lambert was mulled by a Victoria College back and tho Wellington "followors-iip" carried tho • oval to clos9 upon tho College line. .After t a while Enting <aved very cleverly. Wei- J lington's forwards and Lambert's kicking , were responsible for Collepo onco ntraia , being put on the defensive. College rot'tho < leather l clear of (heir line, bit Welling- < lon's backs relumed with a passing rush : which was wound up by Durie, who" mado ; a fine bid for a score, but was brought ■ down five yards off his goal, tloso forward play ensued, and from a scramble a couple of yards out Miller got over and scored tlio only try of the match. Lambert failed with Hie kick at coal, and tho cranio therefore ended: Wellington, V College, 0

3RIENTAL & ST, JAMES. I "MAGPIES" WIN: GOOD GAME, Conditions at the Polo.Ground, Miramar, were better than at most football fields on Saturday and the match between Oriental and St. James was full of interest lo the small crowd of enthusiasts who watched tho play from tho line. St. James, who showed much improved form, led by one point at half-time, but subsequently lost the services of ono of their men through an injury and Oriental eventually won by a margin of 8 points. St. James opened their scoring account early in the match, Young, who played brilliantly at stages of tho game, scoring an unconverted try. A little later, A. Thomas kicked a penalty goal and brought iho St. James scoro to G points. Oriental were also in scoring mood, and on the "magpies'" behalf Shearer and Perrv scored tries, ono being converted by Kinvig. The scores then read: Oriental, 8 points; St. James, G. Th* next move was a try for Oriental by Kinvig. Dingle failed with the kick.' Oriental, 11,' St. James, 6. The "magpies'" advantage was not long maintained, for Young scored two tries for St. James in quick suecession. Thomas failed with the kick in each case, but. the scores at half-time read: St. James, 12j Oriental, 11. •• Soon after the resumption of plav, F.usk age, a St. James forward, received a' knock on the lino-out and had to be carried off the field, his injuries including a gash over the eye. With only fourteen men on Hie field, St. James had to submit to additions to tho Oriental score in (he shape of tries by M'Lcod, jWurpliy, and Carrad. In all three instances,tho kick at goal was not successful, the scores being: Oriental, 20; St. James, 12. In the succeeding play, St. James had all the better of the argument and on at least two occasions Young was undoubtedly unfortunate in not scoring after splendid efforts under difficult conditions. Right up till the finish, however, there Has no further score, the whistle sounding with St. James oil the attack, and llle points reading: Oriental, 20; St, James. 12. Sir. W. J. Meredith was referee.

PONEKE DEFAULT. Athletic, who wore to have met Ponoke on the Petone gropnd, won tho match by default, Poneko having: been unable to muster a team. JUNIOR GRADE. Wellington defeated Oriental by 9 points to 8. For the winners Martin nhd Jlurlo scored tries, and Dwyer kicked a penaltygoal. I'm 1 the losers, Little and Owles scored tries, 0110 of which was converted by Carniichael. 'Pctono beat St. James by 5 points to 3. THIRD-CLASS. Wellington beat Jobnsonvillo by IS points to nil. Athletic, and Sclwyn played a drawn game, scoring six points each. Berhnmporo (17) bcat.Y.M.C.A. (0). ■Wellington 13 beat Johnsouville by 13 points to nil. , . ■ Wellington A bad an easy win over \ ICtoria College by 3(1 points to nil _ Oriental defeated Petone by 9 points to nil. N. Avery, Boyle, and Chapman bcored for Oriental. FOURTH-CLASS. St. James drew with Wellington, 0 points each. . , , ■ Mclroso boat ITult by 35 points to 3. A thiol ic (3) drew with Pelone (3). The Oriental-Wellington 13 match, at Relburno Park, was stopped by tbe groundsman at half-time, the scores tlion being: Oriental, 12; Wclliugtou Ij> 0. . MATCHES ELSEWHERE. (])y Telegraph.—l'res* Association.} Palniciston N._, 10. In the senior grade competition lust' evn beat United by 9 points to J: (By- Telegraph.—Spccial Correspondent.) Mastcrton, May 11. fiirM.w (Mf v. MnHinljorough (0); OarHo, /A) v. United O). Juniors—Rod.vj|.ir (M) V. Cartel ton-M i Ualefield (SO) v. i- •< i /d) Kcil Star 19) v. CarJeHon(«hV Carterton o£i» v. Palefield (11).