RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2127, 20 April 1914, Page 6

RUGBY

OPENING OP THE SEASON

SOME EXCELLENT PLAY

ATHLETICS BRILLIANT BACKS

Synopsis of Results, . Athletic 82 Ponoki.) 3 ■ Oriental 20- Melroso '■ .■ 4 I'otoioo ...... 28 ■ St. James .... 8 Wellington ... !14 University .., II j The contest for the ttugby Chanipieuskip of Wellington began on Saturday afternoon, and tlw day'e play indicates that the- season will produce excellent football. In three out ef tko four of the matches big scores were run. up by tiro winning teams.. In the other match (that between Wellington and University) there was very little separating the teams when the li.ii.al whistle blow. Wellington are reckoned to bo strong tSijs year, eo it is pleasing indeed to find University extending tbotu. Athletic, playing bettor than over, routed Poneko bv 82 points to 3. The champion team played the finest Rugby that has boon seen on the Park hit a club contest for years, and even had Poneke 1»e<» better trained they would not have beoa discredited through being decidedly beaten by such a fifteen, la seasons past tho Athletic pack lias been superb; this year finds tho Blue and Black represented by almost tho same set_ ©f forwards a-iid a back division which may develop into a brilliant scoring eido. 8. Wilson has been moved up to outside five-eighths, and tho threequarter line has been strengthonocl by the addition of G. Heley, whoso play on Saturday suggests that ho will not easily bo eclipsed as a gatherer of tries. lOf course, Athletic will meet stronger teams .than.Poueke during tho season. Mid tho good opinion formed of the Blue backs may have- to be modified somewhat. Poneke were not in as Rood condition as Athletic,' but they put up a tougher fight than tho scares indicate.

. Oriental Fere considered to have an easy match wlien they were drawn to meet Molrose, but tke fact is that i-h© Newt-own team fought tho Magpies to aad only began to go to pieces in the very late stages of the snatch. AV6l].iiigton.and University mot at iow« Hutt, and only threo points separated them at tho call of time. Potono dealt out an. ample defeat to St. James at Petono. More detailed accounts of tlw matches appear below. Th(s ' attendances at tho various grounds were quite satisfactory for the opening of the sea-son.

ATHLETIC ANO PONEKE. 8 OHASIPION TEAM'S GREAT Dig. _ .PLAY, . Atikitic's big score of 32 points -was tho result chiefly of brilliant back play, ior.seme.time afto tlio begip-Bing of play Athletic had to submit to entirely defensive work. Impetuous swoops fey 1 oaeko drove the Mg team into its own twon-ty-fivo, but -all further attacks launched failed to probe tlio solid wall or Biuo defenders, and, aftei the Beds had had their httb fling and let up for , a. breather. Athletic gently r-enwed play to tho vieimty of tho Poneke lifte, and", when opportunity offered, ope-nist} their scoring account. Holey was the tost to cross. Eo got a long pass from Itoberts, who smartly seized an opening offering and gave the wtfigor an easy try. Bsbeyfcs jiHseed tho goal A few minutes later bright .passing by the Athletic ■ backs rosnlted in Heby's scoring again, fioberte goaled, Athletic, 8; Poneke, 6. Roberts.got the next try by bui-sting ; irom tb* tnck, and fooliftg-the opposition. Just after this tie Blanco <rf a' galtop for tho lino was presented to He-ley, wko ran a«-ay- from his pursuers and flashed round behind the posts. Athletic, 16; Ponek<j s 0. Tho passing by the Blue backs was now excellent. There was combination, pace, aecuraey. Against sttcli an attack the finest defence might, lave failed, and Ponoke's defence was not perfect. From halfway Huberts set the Athletic backs going, and tho ball sped from man to raaa ' (forwards helpiag hacks) till at last Madden sprintid over: A. Wilson failed to convert the try. So far the fcacke had done all the scoring, but the AtbJotie pack, out a- path through the oiierny, and swept the oval across the lino under the posts. W. Byan was awarded the try. Boberts ec-ttverted it, and the first spell had yielded Athletics 24 points,.and Poncfeo had failed to score.

, Poneko mado the pace merry when > the second half > opened, and several of i their rushes might have resulted in t tries against a Jess enpabjo defensive side then Athletic: Well on in. the i spell they were awarded a free-kick in . fronii of Athletic's goal, and their fullback- (ti. Waker) realised on the shot. I Athletic, §4; Pojieke, 3. Athletic, who ; may hare been taking tilings a littlo i easy, scored oflh; 8 points in 1 this spell, and at times Pone-ko appeared to ( be . making things fairly lively. The first , try of this spell was iho result of a ; dash frem half-way by Adams stid. Hob-, ' erts. Roberts got the ball in iniu , - [ field, and after a short .run bunged • it out to Adams on the wing. Adams fooled-the first t-at'kfcr, ona,. reining up to the next defender, sent the ball back to-Roberts, who steemL a straight course for the goal-posts with such suddenness that he was never really seriously tackled, S. Wilson kicked, tho goal. Athletic, 29; Ponefcc, 3, Immediately afterwards tho Athletic forwards rushed tho ball, over tlie lino, aiid Ryan touched down m th-D corner. Boberts did not goal. There was no more scoring, ad .the game ended.: Athletic, 32; Poneke, 3. ORIENTAt MO MEtfiOSE. ' TOUGH GAME ON NO. 2 GROUND. On No. 2 ground 'at Athletic; Park tie Orioiital-Me-lrose match was staged. Oriental found that they were.-fifchting a hwder fight than they had looked forward to. Melroso did Hot put- up ail effective attack, but- they maintained a defence wlieh ' took much longer to wear 'down than aH.vono had reckoned oh. The battle raged evenly till half- 1 *aV through the first spell, when Griw-: tal's attack began to make so-ine visible impression. In tho meantime, however, Oriental were four points down, D,: Coshman, the- champion walker, having landed a- field goal. King and Avery scored tries for Oriental late in tho. spell, and Shearer converted Avery's trv. Oriental, 8; Melrosc, 4. 'Melroso cojitiireed tho uphill : fin-lrt valiantly in tho secondspell, bxit Oriental nover for a rsiomcnt ; loolfod like losing. Avery got over from j a. 'passing n»sb When tho gaine was near-1 ing its end, and from thoit on Hie points mmmte'l up rapidly, Sullivan was the. next to cross, Moffit*- follofl-ing, hml tho last- try went to ftearce. Noho of tlto trios Were-converted, and tiro gnmo concluded"'with the scores: Oriental, 20; 4. Mr. W. J, Meredith was refcteo. WELLINCTOM ANO UMIVERSITY. FORMER -HAVBTtVOKY WIN. Wellington had a very lucky ivin from at the Lotci , Hntt Recreation Ground. I" the iirst epcll, slid til} within fifteen mintttes of tho eioso, the Gfe]le"o nwu bad tli© better o£ the gamo, ttwit °WcH-ingtoß, with plenty of <iucouTagemcufc from tho bank, woke- up, and Scared a win by sourteen. points to eleven. Prior to felio fiamo ton flfceted Grace captain, a»d Upia was appointed to fill tlio same position for University, Weflias;toa set the baE ui motioa, .

awl wew» soon dofonding thoir own lino, mainly owing to tlto quick back play of. tlie University Bion, Tlio Vollows bad to force twice to save- thomsclvea. Nearly through tlw spall tuko got over for ''varsity, ami Bennett kicked a rattling goal. Th& Wellington men retaliated, and wJjoii in 'Varsity's territory L. Beard 'broke- away and scored between tiic posts. Bridge, converted; Just h> foro lialf-tinKj a neat passing rush was put in by Shaw, to MelviHo, to Millar, to Bast, and the latter got, tho lino near the corner for University. Bennett failed with the kick, and tho spell cam-o with 'Varsity 8 points and Wellington 5. During the early part of l)u> game Alloy (Wellington) and I Walker (University) entno into collision, and both had to retire. Walter get a nasty cut on the head, while Alley, was ; badly (rut over tlra loft eye. Nurse Bvorctl; rendered first aid, and later ! Alley had threo stitcbes put in ever ! his <wo.

In tho second spoil University treated spectators to come first-class back plfty. Sim, their half, got the ball away tira-o after time, and numerous pas-sing rushes j wore started, From one of these F&irie < scored, making the score 11 to 5, Bennett having failed to kick a goal. It ' looked as it' Wellington were in for a bad beating, for tho University men woto : playing much the better giwno. Tho follows received liberal encouragement from the spectators,- and after Beard had kicked a penalty goal for them. Courtney and' Francis scored in rapid succession. Neither try was converted, and th<? game c-ndod: ; -Wellington, 14; University, li. Mr. A. Kcart was the referee. PETONE AND ST. JAMBS. A FAST AND OPEN GAME, A fast and interesting game was wit* nossed at Petone where the loeal team : was pitted against St. James. On the I'etOHe «ide lour backs and threo {or* I wards w-era new to senior raukj whilo in the St. James team the recruits MB" Wed , three backs wad Jive, forwards. Nevertheless, the av&Vogt; standard'-of play was high. Tho forwards on both eitiea gave a good account of themselves 1 but Petono showed a decided su» periority in back play, for - wiiicit Jas. Kyw and Nunn were very largely re' sponsibie. In tibe opening spell Petono played with a slight advantage of wind. Later <m tho wind died down. When the game began, the -St. J&mes forwards : broke away m an impetuous rush, which boro Petono back nearly to their line. The attack was in full swing when St. James were awarded a penalty and Crowes kicked a goal from just iasido too twenty-five. St. James, 3—o. This happened- three minutes after tlio jpaiiie opened. Petono wore soon again hustled back to the line and for a few minutes their- backs were busy . ui defence. Presentlsh however, tho Fetoiio forwards took cHrgo and swejjit down» field, capably supported by their backs, and Nunn slipped over to the first score for 1113 side. "Petono, 3—3. J. Byan failed with the kick and oleo with the first of two shots at goal from iieaf half-way, kit with tho socojid (from a mark by Rent) 110 Bent tho ball Bafely over. Petono,. (3—3. Soon afterwards Ryan landed another goal from a penalty, Pcytojie, 5—3. From this time forward Petono had all tho best of it. Although St. James eontitiuod to play with vigour nnd dash they were -outclassed in back play .and also in the. Hue-out and in liiic-kiekifog. In a, swift passing rush, started by Ryaiu tke ball passed from tliat player to Wynyard and tiien to Ballon, who got over easily. Petono, 12—3, J\«t before, half-time Parranti a Petono fo-ranrdj had to ro» tiro with a Woken rib. .

Naflkiv-ill-e replaced Pa-rrant ■wfottn play resumed. Tho pace was well main* tained right through Hie game i\nd ■ there was a constant tendency to. open out the* play. Dent, of Peione, wont over tho opposing lino with a number of St. Ja.mes .men by way of ballast. From, the following scrum Nmin. daslied smartly in and 6cored, Byan converted. Petone, 17—3. A feat-u-re of the second s-pell was the fiiie passing wsrtf of the Petoiio backs. In em suclt effort the ball went fro-m Byftn to Wynyard nad Denfihy ( then back to E.yah who "scored , at the corner, but fnited with the kick,' Petono, 20—3. Almost immediately afterwards Deneliy kicked awl followed up, seoured tli'e ball and passed to Arthur Parker who scored between the posts. Ryan goale<j> Petone, 25—8. It was indicated thatSt. Jaw.es wore not -quit© submerged when Griffiths snapped up tlio ball in the Joose, ran right through peteno defence and scared. Minerney converted, St. James, 8—25. Boforo th« game ended Bolt-on scored still another try for Peteae ffofij a passing rusli in which Wynyard was .pronii&mit, llyan jn«i failed with the kick. 'The game e-nded: Petaie, 28: St. James, §. Mr. W. H. Cburcli was the referee, :

MASTEftTOSf SEASON QPENS&. (By SeleErs-ph.—Sowial CtarreEDonSeW,) April 19. The tootbail season was opened here yesterday, when a scratch matoh was ■played between teams representing Red Stars and Gladstone.

DUNGOIN SEASON OPENS* (By Mewapli.—Emm Aseoclatlpn.) aunetjiii, Aprii is. The football season opened' to-day in food weather. Tho "results att>:--taiversity 20 beat Alham-bra 3. Southern 20 beak Duned-in. S, Zuigart 18 bent Pirates 3* Eaiko-rai 16 teat Port Gb-aimejs S. . The "Bally. M" Football Boot, worn by leadiug players. Very light, bloated tees, irith patent inserted -steel spring. Price 1.45, fie. Laws and Manning,, Wellington, Manufacturers and. Solders of iho Patent Rights- for NJ.-Mtt.