RUGBY OPENS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2116, 6 April 1914, Page 6

RUGBY OPENS.

GOOD FORM & A GOOD CROWD. TWO SENIOR CAMES. An interesting preliminary to the Wellington Rugby championship contest of M 4 drew well over "00!! peoples to tlm Athcllic Park on Sntimlay nfturnomi, The matches staged were Oriental v. Poneko, anil Athletic v. Mc-lrnso, Short spells were $kiyed, and very good form was shown. One of tho chief things <rf interest to followers of tho game was the composition of the teams, 'I'ho personnel, was as follows: Athletic.—Full-b-ack, I', Aitken ; three-quarter, 0. Heley, 'Adams, S. Wilson; live-eighths, JE. Roberts, D. Madden; half, J. Robinson; wing-for-.. ward, J. CanuiughaMo; pack, 15. Smith, J. Osborne, A. Wilson, \V. Ryan, W. It, Patnn, E. Osborne, Melrose.—Full-back, H. Capper;: three-quarters, A. Peterson, M. Houlihan, W. Hedges; fivtsfiighths, 0. HnHiwell, Greeks; halt, J. M'Morron; wing. • forward. P. Jones; pack, W. Sullivan, 0. Spearman, J. Barber, A. Gilchrist, W. Walters, A. Miller, W. .Johnson. Oriental.—Fallback, C. Carrad; three-quarters, G. Owles, G. Kinvig, G. Pcarce; five-eighths, N. Avery, T. o'iSnllivan; half, C. M'Combrie; wing- ! forward, C, Gaif; pack, G. King, 8. Chapman, G. Ilickscn, 'J?. Bines, J.' Moifitfc, Porry, L. Hill. Ponoko.—Full-back, Spillanc; three-' quarters, C. Tilyard., J. Morris, EdWards ; five-eighths, Algar, I. Izraei; lialf._ J. Tilyard; wiiig-fsrward, J. O'Brien; pack, Jacobsen, Keys, Murphy, .Kocney, Mahotiey, Hedges, Shorw 00(1.

Some of tho backs we-ro changed about a littki during tins progress of the games, and it was clear that a certain amount of experimenting was being dosfi. Athletic, 42; Melrose, Nil. Last year's champions, Athletic, wore 111 far tho best- condition, and they piled up 42 points against Jlelrose—27 of these in the second spell. At halftime, Athletic had three converted tries to their credit. Two of the tries wer-o got by Adams, and Madden scored tho other. E. Roberts converted Adams's tries, and Maddesrs was c(.diverted tjv H, Pat-mi. The second spell had scarcely started ero Madden da-shed over, Adams eoflwrted. Cunninghame got tho Mst try, ail-d Madden goaled. Roberts fooled tho opposition, and ran in under the posts, and tho oxtia points were added by Robinson, 'tries were Coming along so frequently How that almost everyone was being,{liven a shot iit goal, and, wh«n A. Wilson hurled tiims-slf across the, lino, W. 801 l raised a laugh by missing an easy shot at the posts. Roberts scored the nest tivo tries, and A. Wilson and W. Ryan failed to convert thorn. The last try, a v«ry clever one, fell to g. Wilson, and this time ,J. Cunninghams missed the bar, So' tho game -ended iii Athlet-ic's favour hy 43 points to nil, Mr. W> J. Meredith was referee;

; Oriental, 115 Ponehe, 3. Tho Oriontal-Ponoko match was rather keenly, contested, Oriental, who, on tho whole, had the best of matters, and played somewhat tho better football, won by 11 to 3, though Po-nekc might -easily have gained the day had' they not lacked that all-important thing called; "finish." Avery, who mad© several particularly good runs, got over for Oriental in tho first half, and Kinvig goaled. Bines scored another try before half-time, and in tho sccond-ha-lf Avery ran through again. Morris scored Poiwke's three pa-tots—a pen-alty-goal. Mr. L. -Simpson was referee. ~ 'ills* proceeds of the matches will ho divided, among tho clubs, and devoted to their gymnasium funds.