SATURDAY'S SPORTS.
Bitter winter weather, and football about as exciting as a game of croquet are a dismal combination, but nothing better rewarded the enterprise of some fifteen hundred spectators who attended at tho Athletic Park on Saturday. Dreary as it was, the football produced one surprise and nearly produced another. Wellington defeated Melrose by five points to nil, and Oriental just managed to inflict an eleventh-hour defeat on St. James. Good luck had more to do with it than good management. Oriental were responsible for one of tile poorest exhibitions they have put up for a long time, and St. James also were a long way below form. Tno playing iialds_ were bone-dry, and a steady northerly, driving across them, accounted in part for tho dullness of the ploy. Ue> der these conditions the-ball was as ligut and lively as a toy balloon, and as a consequence. kicks innumerable went astray, and passing work was also seriously interfered with.
I'or a long time the Oricntal-St. James game looked like ending in a draw. Tho honours of play, such as they were, really went to the beaten team, lor on several occasions they missed a score by inches. Hardly a trace of combination or good generalship was shown by either side. -Most" ol' the afternoon waV spent either in scrambling play at one end or the other, or in loose play atj mid-field, which cncouragcd an occasional individual effort, but very seldom led to any interesting developments. The. Oriental forwards showed some promiso in the early stages of the game, but as a rule both vanguards were a mere mob drifting up and down the field with no particular objective. Now and then an individual back or forward started out on a lone-hand effort that set tho spectators mildly cheering, but these exploits were few and far between. Invariably they were poorly supported by the team in which they originated, and, in fact, they hardly seemed to l>elong to tho game at all. As .a wliolo the gamo was wearily dull, and everyon'6 was glad when it, camo to an end.
Never was there such a gamo for lineouts and scrums ns that which Wellington played with Melrose on the No. 2 ground at tho park. Tho strong cross wind tended to carry the ball over the southern bank, and the backs, especially those on tho Melroso side, utterly failed to gauge the strength of' tho wind. Play was therefore almost wholly .confined to the southern side of tho field, and tho forwards had nearly all of it. Tho surprising feature of the game .was that the Wellington men beat Melrose, admittedly a, strong side, from end to end. Tho side won by live points to nil, and might easily, with a 'littlo luck, have won by a great deal more.
CHAMPIONSHIP LADDER. 1 ' B gjf « ■3' a j & < a •so 1o S* *; m a 0 sj ■& 3 a P> £ Athletic 30 9 1 0 110 43 18 I'etono 10 8 1 1 117 GG 17 Oriental .... 10 7 3 0 111 G2 14 Wellington 10 5 4 1 54 59 11 Melrose 10 4 5 '1 08 05 9 Poneko 10 2 7 1 44 123 5 Vic College 10 1 7 2 51 111 4 St. James ... 10 0 8 2 55 126 2
ORIENTAL AND ST. JAMES. AN EASY-GbING ENCOUNTER, Tho opening play was quiet and almost languid. Fivo minutes wero spent in harmless scrambling at tho Oriental end of the field, during which thero was a deal of line-kicking. The' Oriental forwards created the first diversion. Best started an enterprising rush, and dribbled tho ball close up to the St. James goal. Gillesmie took up the running when Best was stopped, and Dingle subsequently made a brisk dash for tho'limS but-both ill turn were grassed. Oriental still persisted in attack, but Heketa eventually managed to force as the ball shot from a scramble on the line, and St. James got out of their difficulty. Plav drifted up and down-field again with little gain io either side, until Heketa raced away from mid-field and got nearly to the corner before ho was collared. It was a fine dn.sh, and pav(kl the way for.a try in tlie corner which was scored immediately afterwards by M'Enirney. Tho kick -failed. St. James, 3; Oriental, 0. The gamo now began to liven up a littlo. Oriental put in' 601110 steady work defending, and then play opened out in mid-field. There were numerous individual dashes at this time, but none of them led to anything, and the play was patchy and aimless. . Just before the spell onded, the Oriental forwards made a fairly determined dash, bill they failed to get home. The second spell had 'hardly started before Heketa lit out from, half-way along the si fie of the field'. This was ono of tlie (lashes that enlivened a\ tired game, but lit led to nothing. Heketa was grassed before ho got to the goal, and St. James were swept down-field as quickly as they Imd advanced in Hckota'6 wako. St. James now spent about ton minutes in tho- neighbourhood of their own goal. AVhen they broko out at last, Young continued tho rush with a speedy dash which carried him close up to the Oriental goal before ho was brought to earth. An exchange of kicks followed, and then from a scrum near , tho line Young got away again. Ho sent tho pass to a forward, who pot. over, but was recalled by the referee. The next event was another change of ends, K.iiiivig leading tho way in a rapid scamper down-field. AVhen collared, ho passed to .Avery, and tho latter reached tho St. James twenty-five before he, in turn, was grassed by Heketa. Play lingered in tho neighbourhood for a long time, scrums and line-kicks following one another in wearisome, succession. Tho Oriental backs at length started a roally clever passing rush—ono of the best things in the game. It was initiated by Little, from whom tho ball passed in turn to Sullivan, Kinvig, and Avery. The lastnamed smartly evaded his pursuers and scored in a good position. Tho kick was chargod down. Oriental, 3; St. James, After moro dull play, Oriental came near to suffering an unexpected reverse. A St. James man mndo a long kick up-field. Shearer, to Whom tho ball was coming, twisted round nnd fell before it reached him. The backs, who were handy, wero taken unawares, and St. James camo through tho broken defence like a torrent.
Berthetsen, a Red forward, all but bustled through and over tile goal-line, but was just driven out at the, corner. From the line-out Oriental contrived to send t'lio ball into safe territory again. St. James were not repelled for long. Within a few minutes they repeated their onset, and oil thivs occasion eamo very near indeed to (jetting; homo. The ball was grounded, under a mixed heap of men, just short of the Oriental line, and when it trickled out Derthetsen jumped over tho line with it, but it slipped from his hands as he fell, and Little instantly forced. Oriental so far had done more than their share of defending, but tlrey still had a shot in the looker. The next St. .Tames rush was' gallantly stemmed by Kinvig, anil immediately afterwards the Oriental forwards went down-field, with the ball at their feet, in ft rush that smashed tho SI;. James defence, and got right home. When the forwards had done their part. Shearer went over tho line to a score, in spito of the efforts of nffeetionately-clinging tacklers to orevent liim. lvinvic failed with tho
ORIENTAL AGAIN LUCKY. SURPRISE WIN FOR WELLINGTON. LEAGUE CONTESTS. NEW ZEALANDERS IN AUSTRALIA. SYNOPSIS OF RESULTS. Oriental 6 St. James 3 Wellington 5 Melrose .0 Petone 19 Poneke 0 Athletic 8 Victoria College 0
PONEKE AND PETONE, .A FAST, OPEN GAME. Petone .easily accounted for Poneke, at letono, on Saturday by 19 points to nil. A distinct feature of the game was the splendid work accomplished by the Petone forwards. Every member of 'tho van was a unit of a combination that was almost irresistible. The following up of a kick often resulted in the opposing back boini' smothered, and tho team placed within striking distance. Spillai;? was easily tho best back 011 1 oneko side. Jlis defensive work was very creditable, and it was mainly through his smartness that the score was not larger. Morris and Algar wero placcd at a disadvantage through the superiority of the opposing pack, but were successful in' rarrying out several good manoeuvres. J. Elliot retired through .an injury t\> his nos?, and was a loss to his team. Tho forwards, were outclassed.
From an interchange of kicks, at the eDinmencemont of plav, Poneke were called upon to defend, bpillano secured and passed to J. Elliot, who kicked to M'KenKie, the latter sending tho leather out by a splendid kick at Poneke goal-line, Algar saved by a well-judged "speculator." Play hovered in tho vicinity of tho halfway post until a rush b,v Po'tono forwards anil a kick by M'l'urlane gained ground. The first score came from a mark by M'Kenzio, MTarlane goaling from (lie twentylivo line. Petone, ;t; Poneke, nil. Prom the kick out Petono pressed, ami Boyd rushed into tile forwards, passed lo Da'll- - to .1. Kvan, who was gratscd. Nunn> |
kick. Oriental, G; St. James, 3. This was tho last incident worth noting. The game ended without further scoring. Mr. J.' Francis was tho referee. WELLINGTON BEAT MELROSE. A DECISIVE VICTORY. This game opened up 'with unsatisfactop- play by the Wellington backs. Duric faiied to return the kick-off and the Yellows' were pressed in their twenty-five until M'Kay kicked into touch from a mark. Wellington then had the Reds defending for a brief spell, but the loose passing, .bad as it was, helped them Up to the Wellington side of half-way again. Tho Yellow forwards, going well as a team, held Melrose with comparative case, and bustled their backs badly. The result was that Melrose were defending steadily for some minutes, quite unable, in spile of occasional failures 011 the part of the Yellow backs, to shake off the persistent forwards. Miller had hard luck when, after breaking awav with the leather at his feet, the erratic bounce of the ball sent it out of his reach. He had only half a dozen yards to go if lie could have picked the ball up. Immediately after this incident Bridge essayed a good pot at goal, but the ball fell under tho bar, and Melrose forced. Apain tho ball fooled a Wellington man. This time it was MacXab, and his luck was almost precisely tho samo as Miller's had been, with tho difference that 110 had a good deal further to go. M'Gregor broke away from about mid-field, and when tackled ■ passed to Mac Nab wlk> handed tho ball on to M'Gregor. The last-named was tackled tell yards from tho line and he sent the ball in amongst a bunch of Wellington men, only to see a splendid opportunity thrown oway by slow play. Miller had an almost certain score, but when ho should have been free to pick up tho ball and dive three feet for tho line, a Melrose player deliberately held liinv back. Tho referee did not see the obstruction. Melrose hooked the ball from tho ensuing scrum, and Marshall was able to clear with w strong kick. Just before the end of the spell the Melrose backs got moving well together in a passing rush, which looked very dangerous until M'Gregor grassed Flack a few feet from the line. The first half ended without any score;
Soon after resuming, Elliffe slid past tho wing of a scrnm on his own side of half way, tapped the ball out of Marshall's reach with his foot, then kicked hard and followed tip. Hp was on the ball in a twinkling, found the defence out of position, and picked the leather- up and scored. Mackay goaled from the touchline, against, a strong wind. Wellington, 5; Melrose, 0. Elliffe made another good break almost immediately ofter the ball was in play again, but the rush'was arrested on the goal-line. From ihere MacNab sent nn easy pass to Durie, and if tho latter had held it ho could not jiavo failed to score, but ho missed the ball badly. Some five minutes later Durie held a similar pass, but this time ho had opposition, and ho was • brought down a couple of feet inside tho line. Wellington were now attacking almost continuously, but on one occasion mistakes by several of their backs in turn nearly let Melrose in. It was a forward rush at the end, and a very brisk ono, but tho ball was kicked into touch-in-goal in the scramble. Wellington were never again in serious danger, and the game ended with the scores: Wellington, 5; Melroso, nil.
Mr. 'A. Kcan was referee. . , ATHLETIC AND COLLEGE, ONLY EIGHT POINTS DIFFERENCE. Although it was a foregone conclusion that Athletic would beat Victoria College at liiramar on Saturday, the champions did not have matters all their own way. When the teams met in the first round, College suffered defeat by 12 points, all scored in the first spell. On Saturday the 'Varsity representatives did better still, and though unable to score, they put up ai capital defence and kept tho Athletic tally down to 8 points, The game was played in a high wind and this spoiled the play to a largo extent. Early in Uie first half, the Athletic backs wera set in motion, but a pretty bout of passing came to ail end when S. Wilson mulled a pass. The College team took advantage of the favour, and were soon attacking near tho Athletic line. Play resolved into a stubborn contest and tho first half seemed about to ond without score, when Evenson gained possession aiid, after a- good run, touched down behind tho posts for Athletic. Roborls kicked an easy goal and the spell ended: Athletic, 5 points; College, nil. Tho second spell recalled the meeting of tho same teams.in the first round of tho championship when the Collojje players more than held their own after the game had been restarted. On Saturday it was same story over ngaiu, for as soon as play was .resumed 1 , Ccllego put forth their best elTorts and gave tho redoubtable Athletic team a great battle. As lias been the case so often before tho finishing touches were always wanting when College gained an opening to score anil the best of their efforts wero fruitless. Killing certainly made several fine runs, but he was always safely tackled by S. Wilson on tho opposing Y 1 ! 1 ?' .^ lcn tto spell was well advanced Athletic set up a determined attack and at an opportuno moment E. Huberts snapped up the ball and dashed over tho lino to score Athletic's second try. The kick at goal proved too difficult for hvenson. Athletic. 8; College, 0. Inime* i? tho drop-out, College attacked in a determined manner, . but the defence never looked in tho least like giving way and the J Vorsity men had to rest content with having played a good came. Mr. W\ Church was referee;
M'Kenzie, and E, Ryan carried the Wl! to Poneke twenty-five, an infringement rfl Moving tho pressure, Petone were sooa back again, and Nunn sent to M'Ksiizio. to W. J. Ryan, to Boyd, to K. Ryan, wild found tho line, From the line-out, M'Keiu zie gained possession, and made a sensai tionnl divo for tho line and scored. M'Fatt lane increased. Petone, S; Poneke, iiili From this out to half-time Ponelte wer4 mostly on tho defensive. Tho next out* standing fenltiro was a- great forward movement headed by Ready, which wa3 carried 011 by M'Farlanc, Nankiville, anil Taplin. This ball trnvellod tho enlira length of the field, and a score was avert* ed by Spillane forcing. A kick by Dan*'' soy wa.s smothered, and J. Elliot and Al< gar looked like scoring. G. Parker savod ( Boyd dashed off with tho ball, and passing, to M'Kenzie, to ,T. Ryan, to Dansi'.y, saw' the last-named get over. Ifc lost the ball, '■ however, beforo grounding it. A littl<j later J. Elliot had hard luck in not scor.; ing. Rushing along on the touch-line, lid' intercepted a pass; the ball was in play, l but his foot was not, and a try was Nunn, by cleverly fooling two opponents, t° Ponelte goal-line, and handed M M lvjiizie, who touched down. No coal resulted.. Petone, 11; Poneke, nil. IV,' tones first score in tho second half wad; gained by A. Parker, who was assisted ill n forward rush by Parrajit and Taplin. M Parian® failed with tho kick. Petone, H; Poneke, nil. Nunn and G. Parker had several attempts at goal from tho' field, with 110 result. M'Kenjiie oentred' from the liiw, and the ball curving over the goal-line, enabled Boyd to ndd to tho'' score. M'Farlane'added the major points. ■ Petone, 19; Ponelte, nil. There was noi. further score, and on account of tho time-' being taken off for minor injuries to play-' ers, darkness was setting in when tlifr wliistlo blew. - ■ Jlr. L. Simpson controlled the game. OTHER MATCHES.
JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP Selwyn defeated St. .Tames by fl points to nil. King. M'Phee, and Lomas were (hi scorers for Sehvyn. Potono beat Oriental by 11 points to 8, Wellington won by default from Ponckor, Third-Class. Petone gained a victory over "Welling* ton Collego by 18 points to 8. lii the match between Athletic and Wel< lington B, tlw former team won by 111 points to G. 'For Athletic. Aekins '.mcl Pool scored tries, and Hugli converted them both. Oriental registered 20 points against Victoria College, nil, The Berhampore-WtHington A match] ended: Borhamporo 6 points, Wellington nil. E. Grover soared "a try, and Pec'' kickcd a penalty goal for tho winuers. Fourth-Class.
Poneko defeated Melroso/by H points, to 10. For Poneke, Troy and Walker! scored tries, and Walker kicked two penalty goals and converted one try. St. James beat Wellington B bv 81-■ points to nil. Tries were obtained for ■ tho winners by Tullctt (8), Scrgent (2), Withey (2),. P. Donaldson, and Malin (1)« l'wo tries vrere converted by Donaldson. Berhamporo defoated Athletic by 15 ' points to 3. Potono defeated by 20 points to nil. 'Fifth-Class. Wellington College'B defeated Johnson*,.' ville (who were jilaying with eight men)' bv 33 points to nil. 'Petojio defeated Poneke by 25 points to.: nil. Marist Bros. Old Boys defeated Selwyn by 8 points to 3. The o'Sulliva.n brother?scored all the points for tho winners, Sixth-Class, Petone defeated Wellington College ttf, 4G points to nil. Athletic defeated Poneko by 9 points, ta 8. The following scored tries for Athleticr Spencer (2), and Cunninghams (1). Fot Poneko, Baker (2); and Christoplttrson converted ono try. IN OTHER CENTRES.
(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) 1 Auckland, Juno 21. Tho weather' conditions were ideal for i Cold sports oil Saturday and there' were ' big attendances' at all games. Tho senior competitions were ■ suspended in order to pit A and B teams against corresponding teams from unions taking part in tho'. country week tournament,i which commenced on Wednesday. Thp Auckland Ai team beat the country A by 30 points to 3. Auckland B beat country B by 28. points to 3. The match Hokianga and tlia junior representatives ended in a draw, : neither team scoring. Christchurch, Jnno 22. The senior championship results werer Albion G, Christchurch nil; Canterbury College 11, Marist Bros. 5; Sydenham 9. Mcrivalo 8; Old Boys G, Linwood 5. Dunedin, June : 21. Rain set in shortly after 1 p.m. and continued for tho greater part of tho uf- ( tornoon, making the football grounds • heavy and greasy. Zingari-Riclmioml (9; noints) beat Kaikorai (8 points); Uiiivcrsiiyi (g) beat Port Chalmers (3); Alhambia (!)» beat Union (3): Pirates (9) beat Dunedin (3). Invercargill, June 22. Senior Rugby matches played on SatJ urday resulted: Athletic 6, Winton 3; In* vercargill 3, Waikiwi 0; Star 19, Sou* thern 0. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Mastcrton, June 22, In tho senior Rugby football matches yesterday' Gladstone defeated Red Stars by 15 points to nil after a stubbornly contested game. Gladstone were stronger than their opponents in all branches or the game. , , At Featherston Carterton defeated United by 15 points to three. As a re< stilt of Saturday's matches, which completed the second round, tho whole of the tour senior teams arc on a level footing, each having scored 8 points. Such a position has never previously been known in the history of Waira-rapa football. In tho junior representative match at Carterton, North defeated South by 14-' points to 12.
WANGANUI DEFEAT MANAWATU. (By Telegraph.—Press Atuoci&tion.) Wanqanui, June 22. Tho second representative match of theseason was played yesterday between Wa-» ngaiiui and Manawatu. A fast and open came resulted in a will for (lie home team by eleven points to nil. Tries were scored by W. Dustin and Temperton, tho for-, nier converting one and kicking a penalty coal. - There was a largo attendance. Tim local ."elector is forwarding tho names o£ W.-Dustin, It. Lealiy, and Tim Leahy, forwards, for consideration when the Now. Zealand team for California is bcinif chosen,
MAORIS VICTORIOUS, BY SIX TO THREE. By TclcernDU-Press Aesocietlon-OonyrleMi Sydney, Juno 22. The Maoris defeated Sydney Metropolitan bv six points to three. The heavy condition of the turf made passing difficult. and Ixith sides went in for dnbbing. Duffy scored for New South Wales, and Trench, after dribbling the ball, picked it up and dashed across for the Maoris. The first spell ended with the ecoro throe all. The only score m the second spell was by Woods, who scored a try for tho Maoris. On tho whole New South Wales did the most of tho attacking, but failed to put tho cli max to their work.
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Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1783, 23 June 1913, Page 6
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3,659SATURDAY'S SPORTS. Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1783, 23 June 1913, Page 6
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