SOME CAPITAL RUGBY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1753, 19 May 1913, Page 6

SOME CAPITAL RUGBY.

THE LEAGUE TEAM CHOSEN.

MATCH AT PETONE BEST FOR YEARS.

SYNOPSIS OF RESULTS.. Athletic 13 Melrose ]q Petone 13 Oriental 1'.""'"" S Victoria College 8 St, James 8 Wellington 9 Poneke 5

j "Well done, Melrose!"—a stentorian shout from tho bank, at half-time, just about summed up the prevailing sentiment at Athletic Park on Saturday. Against tho team which stands at the head of the championship ladder, Melrose put up a really gallant fight. Victory against such opponents could scarcely bo looked for, but they throw a hearty wealth of energy into their play that at times seemed to bring victory over even such a tough and seasoned combination as Athletic within their grasp. Both teams applied ".a rush-, ing stylo of fighting" to tho encounter, and in the end the veterans triumphed, as'they liavo a way of doing, but they did it by a very narrow margin. After the blustering gales and pouring rain that liavo been the rulo on recent playing days, the weather of Saturday was a pleasant variation. Bright sunshine illuminated and warmed the Park in tho early afternoon, and it was only in the last half-hour that the air turned chilly. A light northerly was blowing straight across tho ground, and just stirred tho boundary flags. The playing fields were in prime condition.

For some reason—probably, in the main, because of the counter-attraction at Petono—tho weather did not exercise the influence it might have been expected to upon tho "gate." There were no more than about twelve or thirteen hundred spectators. Needless to say, tho AthleticMelroso game was tho principal spectaclo, but a few barrackere turned their attention to tho neighbouring field, where Victoria College and St. James engaged in a contest that ended in a draw. Eight through the opening spell Athlotic and Melrose rnado tho pace warm. Playing with tho sun behind them, Melrose launched ono headlong attack after another, and if Athletic had prepared a plan of operations, it was perforce jettisoned in a man-to-man encounter in which the finer points of the gamo were submerged. It was a day of heavy forward work, and the backs on either side played secondary part, while the men of the vanguards bore tho brunt of successivo rush and grapple. In sheer energy—and in the opening spell there was littlo place for anything elseAthletic wore hardly inferior to their opponents, but Melrose displayed such untiring vigour and determination in attack that, .upon tho whole, they tvell earned tlw lead of two points with which they come to tho end of tho spell. The second spell was less picturesque than its predecessor. It was a long, grim struggle, hardly so rich in rapid movement as tho opefling play, but tense at every moment of its progress. As it developed, Athletic gradually asserted their superiority. In tlio later play the rearguard of the Blues got to work in a style that Melrose never approached, and only wonderfully dogged vigour , and determination enabled the vanquished team to hold its own as well as it did.

MELROSE & ATHLETIC. NARROW MARGIN FOR BLUES. , Athletic played right through the first spell with the sun in their eyes, and at opening quickly felt the weight of tlio battering attack sot up by tho Melrose forwards. E. Roberts stemmed one rush by taking a mark at half-way, but the Melrose pack came on again irresistibly. 'Tho defence was rolled, back, and about four minutes after tho game started D. Sullivan forced his way through and scored at tlio posts. Capper converted easily. (Melrose, 5; Athletic, 0.) Another Melrosxj rush was turned back, thanks mainly'to good saving by tho Athletio rearguard, but in tho hearty tussling which followed at and about half-way Melroso rather more than held their own. Good kicking by the A'fcliletic backs shifted play for a time to the Melroso line, but there was no result from tlio scrambles which followed. A mark gavo Evensen a shot at goal- from tho .side of the . field, but tho kick failed. Better fortune attended a subsequent effort by the Athletic forwards, which culminated in Bell slipping over to a. try after fielding the ball from a scrum. Evensen obtained tho extra points. Athletic, 5; Melrose, 5. The following play was on .fairly even terms for a time. Its principal features were repeated determined rushes by 'the Melrose forwards and cool fielding and kicking by the Athletic backs. In their sudden onsets, Melrose gained a good deal of ground, but much of it was as quickly lost. 11. Sullivan shifted play to the Athlctic corner with a capital kick from a line-out, and in a moment, or two tho Blues were hard at work defending. It was a scoring opportunity for Melrose, but when 'the backs set up a passing rush 11. Marshall hung on too long to tho ball, and was immediately buried under a heap of taeklers. Athletic now swept their opponents' downfield. Melrose mado ono sortie, but Athletic maintained tho pressure, and at the next attempt. ,E. Roberts got safely over. The kick failed. Athletic, 8; Melrose, S. On resuming the Melrose forwards ajjain assaulted and M'Va.v had to force down in a hurry. A tense struggle followed at half-way, from which tho Athletic forwards eventually emerged in a rush that carried theui well insido the danger zone before their progress -was arrested. Melrose retorted with a similar effort, but did not get quito so far. From a serum at half-way Cunningham passed out 1o Madden and the latter raced away in gallant style and was well up to the twentyfive when ho was.grassed. Soon afterwards Melrose had io force, but they were not long in trouble. The next incident was a hurlv-burly. on the Athletic line, which was liot and heavy while it lasted. In racing for the ball, "Ranji" Wilson collided with his own full-biu'lt, and for a moment tho ball lay at anybody's mercv. In tlio cud it was driven out of play, and from the line-out Athletic mado ground down-field. Melrose continued to hammer away, and were quickly back in their old station under the Athlotic goal. This onsent came to grief, liowever. Twomoy sent oiit a pass which hung too long in'tlio air. E. Roberts intercepted neatly, and, though lie had to run back over his own line, managed to get tho ball out of piny near the corner. Still untirod, Melrose came on again, and D. Sullivan continued to cleave n passage through a tight scramble on tho line, and scored a second try. Melrose, 10; Athletic, 8.

The sun hod gono down behind'the hill vrlien the teams returned to 'the field. Athletic from tlve beginning played with greater freedom and letter dash than in the opening spell. In the first minutes of play Melrose were pushed back towards their line. They broke out presently, but it was only to meet n rush of Blue-jerseyed forwards which clovo through their' defence like a wedge. Capper stemmed tho rush, and got the ball away to the line, but Athletic continued to press in attack. The Jtelroso defenco was stubborn, but in tlglit t ecraciblimr Elay unfler their goal tjjey

were "gradually pushed back until Capper socured tlio ball, ran round the wing, and got to half-way Ijeforo he was stopped, ijve minutes oi indecisivo play, with a good deal of line-kicking, followed, and then Mclroso found themselves again jammed in defence. Tlio Athletic backs got away in a lively passing rush, and in spito of some swift Mclroso tackling the effort was driven home. S. Wilson took the pass on the run, ond was grassed just outside tho line. Though tightly held by a couple of Mclroso men. he contrived as he lay to edge tlio ball across the line, and a try v was awarded. There were somo protests from spectators, who held that, the try was invalid. Evensen goaled. Athletic, 18; Melrose,; 10. Athletic followed up with another smashing attack, but S. Wilson, was lvurM out at tlie corner as ho dashed for tho line. From a subsequent scrum. W. Marshall secured tho ball and lifted it downfield into safety. The Athletic backs at 'this stage were quick to soizo opportunities, and Melrose had to strain every nerve to guard tlieir lino. Capper rendered his side good service by leisurely and well-judged kicking, and lie was again in evidence when Melrose, in the last ten minutes of play, strove desperately to regain tho lead tliey had lost. Ho initiated several' attacks,_ but one Was stopped on account of a throw-forward, and another —a forward rush—was foiled by E. Roberts, who obtained a timely mark. Capper had ono shot at goal from a penalty, but tho ball swerved wide of its objective. Tho last minutes of play wcro uninteresting. The game euded: Athletic, 13. Melrose, 10. Mr. L. ■ Simpson was tho referee. PETONE * ORIENTAL. SPLENDID FAST, OPEN GAME. Good football is so seldom seen nowadays that thoso who witnessed the game between Petone and Oriental at Potone on Saturday wero loud in their praises of the splendid struggle that took place. Hard, fast, and fluctuating as it was, too, it was a game which was played in the best of spirit. "Every ounce" was called upon, but there was a distinct absence of. anything like roughness. As Oriental walked on to the field they looked in the pink of/condition. _ the whito-and-black hooped jersoys mating thie team appear heavier than what thov really aro. Petono followed soon after, although it was considerably after 8 o'clock when tho game started. . Nunh was absent from tho Petono ranks, and Ramsden took his place. It is probably years sinco sucli a snlendid open.game was seen (it Petone. Kinvig's line-kicking was superb, and the defence play of Carrad quito a fejturo. Tho Petono fofwards, however, ihnd better staying powers than their opponents, and "legs' triumphed at the finish. On the whole the Petono backs! were a little superior, and when under way were always dangerous.

Oriental- kicked .off, and Pctono were soon attackijigj r <relief coming through nn infringement. M'Konzie kicked at a rolling hall, and.Petone's line was in danger. A forward ijujShtffeTieved the pressure, and M'Kenzic, securing,' kicked out at Oriental's twenty-five.' Line work followed, Little relieving. From a mark by Ready M'Farlano l<id"a v 6hot, but missed. No charge being 6ounded, M'Farlano essayed another • attempt without result, the ball being returned toMialf-way. Kinvig, getting possession, tried a shot at goal, tat the ball rebounded off an opponent into touch. A passim rush, initiated, by Ramsden, placed Oriental's lino in-danger, but J. Ryan nullified the advantage by "mulling." So far Pctono had had the advantage, but a kaleidoscopic change came suddenly, in a rusli of the Oriental forwards, who bustled the ball to tho Petono twenty-five, where, from a scrum, Littlo secured,, badly beat Parrant, passed to Sullivan, ,who in turn transferred to Kinvig, who scored.- It was a pretty piece of play. The, kick, a fairly'easy one, by Kinvig. went wide. Oriental, 3; Petone, nil. Oriental came again, but o(f-sido play by Moffatt enabled Petone to relievo. Pctono lost a good chance through'Boyd failing to take a bad pass, and Littlo caved by sending the "ball back to halfway. Prom a mark by Ramsden, M'Farlane had a shot in Oriental twenty-five, without result, Carrad' returning we'll upfield. Ready marked, and fast 'following up tho kick a scoro seenied certain, but a freo-kick was awarded Oriental through W. Ryan obstructing. An Oriental rush followed, Parker saving by a'"specu-lator"-into touch in his'own twenty-five. From a scrumiLittlo gained' possession, made a dash, passed to M'Leod at the right moment, who in turn handed to Kinvig, tliej last-named galloping over at the corner, pillespic failed to eiilianco tho sccio. Oriental, G; Petone, nil. Play now became very fast. Away went Ramsden at top speed'with the ball, transferring to Dansey wlicn tackled. Tho latter streaked for x tho lino at a greatpace, but, when almost over. the.ball was knocked out of his hands. It was a great effort. M'Kenzic, after somo give-and-take kicking, started a rush which ended on the Oriental line, relief coming through an infringement. Immediately afterwards 13. R-ynn, after drawing all the opposing backs, cleverly centred, to M'Farlano, who had no difficulty in touching down. lie made no mistake with the kick. Oriental, G; Petone, 5. Combined play saw Oriental iij Petono territory, where a kijock-on enabled M'Lcod to mark in a good position. Slicarer took tho kick and sent tho ball between the posts.' Oriental,' 9; Petone, fi. From the kick-out Petone pressed, and B. Ryan potted at goal, the bull just missing tho post. Half-time sounded soon after. In the second half Petone attacked from the start, but a good chance was spoiled by .1. Ryan knbrking-on. A hard kick by Parker forced Oriental. Petono was ,soon knocking again at tho Oriental doflr, but. Carrad saved. IVtono's next, effort was spoiled by Calcinni being off-side In Oriental twent.v-live Hoyd gathered up the leather, passed to M'Konr.io, to K. Kvaii, to 11-insey, who scored. M'Farlano added tlie major points. Petone, 10; Oriental, i). An Oriental rush was saved in the nick of time by Paiker, lloyd ultimately relieving. M'l\en?io kicked up-field, ,T. Ryan secured, and was grassed on tho Oriental line, I'arrant marked from the line-out, and MTarlano's kick at goal vas a splendid one, but. as there was som>\ doubt tho referee declared it a "poster." ' Oriental forwards weie (iting, l.ut continued to put up a good fight, A nitih by Petono saw M'Ueimo ovor the line, tio ball being called back for an ,infringement. p rom a free-kick M'l'arlano increased the score. I'elone, IS, Oriental, t>.

From this out Iho rosult wns now in doubt, oxcopt on one* occasion, when Shearer essayed n shut nt wal, unci fast following up, and the lnullinii of' Mono backs, f.aiv Oriental almost oven Tho Rival ijamo ended I'clono 111, Oriental fl, and thero aro few who witnessfd tlio riuuo, I>o tlu\v siipportors of either team, who woro not highly-pleased with tho meritorious display. Me, '1\ 11, .1 ones whs vpforco, ST. JAMEs'& 30LLEGE, Tho St. .lainos-Vietorn, College match, which was played on j\>. 2 ground, was a dismal nftmr. College lod at: lralf-timo, mid up till then looked lkoly (o win. Tho first try of tho contest v fts ' scored envly. Tlio scorer was Anting, Hie College vintj three-quart >r, win swoop-d down on a bouncing ball and wont crer nt the earner, scoring a most, diflicilt try in great style. Tho next try "for College came .through Paulson (forward)* but. tho opening, <uid nearly nil tlio w<rk for it Was (lono by .T. 1\ l?vnii, wlm mis putting tip a clovcv bal'lo >\t fivo-citfhhs, Board converted. College, 8; St..'.nines, ,0. Just before holf»ti.ne A. Thomas lickcd - a very crcdiUllo. jDcaalty. goal ft. James*,

and at spell time tlio scoro waß: College, 8; St, James, 3. • « The second spoil was even more boresome than the first, Early in this spell M'lnorncy (five-eighth) scored for St. James. Thomas converted, and brought tlio teams level, and as there was no further score, the game ended in a draw, St. James, ?; Victoria College, 8. PONEKE &. WELLINGTON WIN FOR BLACK AND GOLDS. Tho Poneke-Wellington olask occurred on the l'olo Ground at Miramar, and it was exciting all tho timo The play, especially of Poiwke, was not of a high order. Tho Wellington, forwards very soon showed that they were superior in footwork to tho Red and Blacks, and al-' together the livelier side, but for nil that tho first try was scored by Poneke, and' that from a forward rush, which developed into a passing run by the backs. Gardiner was tho linn who touched down, and Morris converted. It was perhaps ton minutes later, Wellington. 6oored thoir " first try. Henderson picked u,p behind, the serum about the lialfway line, passed to Grace, and the latter gave the hall to Lambert, who loped in with the entire Poneke team in pursuit—a very good run, lie failed to improve tho try • Poneke had a lead of two points. Until tho end of tho first spell, and for a great part of the second, Wellington had tho advantage in most of tho play, but failod repeatedly to scoro when nothing else than a score twined possib'e. Once Millar got away'unobserved on a furious dasli, and . lie had the hardest luck in missing a try. A minuto later, however, 'ho picked tlio , ball up in a soramble, threw out smartly to Eliffc, to Grace, and ttio latter scored tlio neatest of trios.. Lambert foiled with tho kick. Wellington, G—s. Abouit five minutes later Lambert, from a free-kick landed a really fine goal. Wellington, 9—5. From this out tho game was mostly Poneko's, Onco a try by Jncpbsen was disallowed because ho had been offside, . and on another occasion Gardiner was unlucky enough to knock on when ho had a try in hand. M;r. J. F. O'Sullivan was irfereo. . OTHER MATCHES. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. Victoria College defeated Poririia by H points to 5. Oriental defeated St. James by 15 points to nil. Melrose wore defeated by Petono 'by 18 points to nil. Selwyu won by default from Poneke. . Third Class. • , St. Patrick's College defeated. Selwyn , by 8 points to G. Hutt drew with Wellington, each Bido, scoring 3 points. Irons scored for Wellington. Petono defeated Victoria College by 9 points to G. • Old Boya were defeated by Berhamporo . by 8 points to nil. M'Guire and Gray scored for tho winners, and Moirs converted ono.' Athlotio defeated Wadcstown by 17 • points to 11. Fourth Class. Hutt wcro easily defeated .by Old Boya by 88 points to nil. Berhamporo defeated Methodist by 25 points to 8. Johnsonvillo drew with Oriental, neither side scoring. Oriontal playod with twelvo men. Fifth Class. Johnsonvillo wero easily defeated by Melrose, tho 6coro being Si points to nil. Petono beat Athlotio by 9 points to C. . .St. Patrick's A boat Selwyn by G pointsto nil. Athletic B wero. defeated by St. Patnok s B team by 9 points to G. Sixth Class. " Tho Petono-Poneke match resulted in o ' win for tho former by 40 poinis to nil, Athlotio defeated St. Patrick's Collem easily by 30 points to nil. - MATCHES ELSEWHERE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.* 1 _ • Wanganui, May 17. ■ There was fine weather to-day for foot- " ball and other games. In the Rugby championship game, Pirates defeated Wanganui by 8 to 3. It was a fast gamo. Wangsnui had the best of matters in tho first spell and scored three points, a tcv by Whittington., The kick failed. In ' • the second half Pirates played with nwro dash, especially towards the end. Temper- • ton fttcared a try, which was not converted; then Gill scored bet-veen the posts. W. Dustiu converting. There was no further scoring. In the junior match, Kaierau scored 18 points, and Pirates G. Chrlstchurr.lv May 17. Tho ohampionship competition is in an interesting 6tago, Canterbury Collera lending Linwoud by half a point, Old Boy 6 being half another point away. Today Albion (G) beat I/inwood (3), Merino (G) boat Old Boys (0), College (19) beat Sydenham (0), and Chnstchurch U4) beat Marists (8)., Dunedln, May 1". Tho Rugby football matches wero played to-day on sloppy grounds, and resulted as follow:—Zingari Richmond 9 points, Dunodin nil; Kaikorai 13 points, Union 5; Southern fl points. Univeristy 3; Port Chalmers 3 points, Alhambra 3 points. Palmerston, May 17. In the senior grade, Feilding (12) defeated Western (5); United (G) beat Oriental (5).

THE CHAMPIONSHIP. J . Cm »t»" "§, I » hi g e ta * if fS '8 u 'o *2 o t C 2* .... .. « & bt Q & fta S Athletic 4 4 0 0 49 19 8 ketone 4 3 0 1 62 24 7 Oriental .} 2 2 0 32 25 4 M cl .r?so 4 2 .2 0 3G 10 4 WclunBTOtt .... i 2 2 0 27 "1 A Victoria College 4 1 1 2 3G 84 4 St. James 4 0 3 1 13 53 1 Poneke 4 0 4 0 8 06 0