RUGBY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2138, 2 May 1914, Page 12

RUGBY.

[Br Lock."]

THE PAUL. OF PETONE. Oil Saturday last Poneko and Petone provided tho. patrons of tho Park witli Rugby of a most exciting kind, and not only was tho game itself highly cxcitiug, but thore was a delighttul element of surprise attached to it. What Rugby follower, except, perhaps, the most ardent Ponekc-ite, reckoned that Poneko would win? On tho previous Saturday they had been overwhelmed by Athletic, and I'etono have, in recunt years, always been one of the big teams. True, tho suburban team took tho field minus several men who have previously been counted among tho best ■ of tho Blues. But against Ponsonby, just before the cup matches commenced, Petone gave the impression that they had a really good forward team, and a good forward team should have carried the day against the light-looking Poneko side. However, when the game got thoroughly into its swing, the Poneke boys were found to have the Blues besieged, and beforo the day closed they had battered down the defence, and crumpled up tho defenders. Playing to Win/ . It was no fiuko \'in. Even when l'oneko led by 6 to nil, few looked to thorn to ran, but even those who were thus blind to tho possibility of Petone's defeat will probably admit that Poneke won all tho way. Once tho city team found that Petono were not invincible, they took heart, and played to win— not merely,to stave off defeat. Throwing asido all sense of Petone's great- : ness. Poneko flung themselves into tho nttack with almost frenzied energy. (First Edwards got over, then <Fisher. Petone were six down, and tho partial peoplo on a scction of the bank went wild. Before tho end of the spell, Petone had a try to their credit, and a few mintues after the opening of tho second spoil they had drawn level with Poneke. But Poneke just persisted in hurling nttack after attack, and at length Tilyard. got over. Then Israel scored, and Petono's chances had clearly vanished. They left the field beaten by 12 to 6. Distributing the Clory. Tho credit of tho victory may be allotted fairly evenly to the PoneKo players. There iro a few exceptions. Israel .dfcserves littlo of tho glory. He seemed to Jose his head repeatedly. Even when lie scored tho try which put the result of the match almost beyond doubt, he had become over-excitod, and got offside beforo gathering in. tho ball. Howover, ho streaked for tho lino in absolutely the best of styles. , ' /Among thoso who aro entitled to special credit aro J. Tilyard, Algar, and Mahoney. Last year Algar gavo great promise, and this season, also, he is, shaping well. He gets through a lot of hard work as a five-eighth, and on Saturday kicked, defended, and Attacked v.-itli great judgment. Tilyard is th» 'more astute player of the two, and it ' was his remarkable jxnrer sf anticipation which resulted' in 'several Petone movements being nipped in tho hud. His try was the v;ork of a top-notcher. iVery few men would have got over in the circumstances, particularly light men like the Poneko back, but Tilyard took the chanco for what it was worth and pressed it for all it was worth— and fortune favoured tho brave. Tho forward of tho day was Mahoney. He was terrific, and in one sense appeared to be playing Petono lone-handed. This, of course, was not so. He was admirably supported by tho rest of the pack, but all tho afternoon he seemed to bo crashing through tho Petono hacks and leading ' furious attacks on the Bluo goal-line. 1 . / " Petone's Bad Tactics. Had it been Petone's lucky day, they would very likely have won on goals. James Ryan was in great kicking form. His'line-finding and screw-kicking were particularly fine, but all .his attempts at goal just failed. He had the chance of scoring twenty points in goals, and ho was not far wide of the mark in his attempts. Yet he scored not a point, whereas there have been other days when he has scarcely missed the posts from a reasonable position. Ryan plaved a sterling defensive game, but ho played the part_ of a defender too long. When his sido'was down, ho should have gone for a win at any cost. It was a case of all or nothing, and, therefore, the policy, of booting for the ; lino was futile. Nunn,' too, might havo risen to tho occasion better, ajid expended all his energies in the direction of launching attacks on Poneke. [Last of the 1905 All-Blacks. .Thero is a certain amount of . interest in tho news that All-Black Steve Casey has decided to retire. It is not clear from what lias been published in south-, ein papers whether he proposes to retiro immediately or play tho season through and ipako it the last. If Casey has lvung up his jersey for ever, E. 15. Booth and A. M'Donald are tho last "of tho great 1905, team left actively in the field in this part of tho Globe. Booth is still chasing inflated leather over Sydney way;, and. is doing well to bo on the nctivo list, for ho is now thirty-fivo. Casey and M'Donald aro younger—cach thirtv-onc.' These three wero Otago representatives in the All-Black team, arid a Dunedin .writer deems the fact •"significant." Just what he means is not apparent, but it may bo inferred that ho is/.alhiding .with feelings of prido to southerners being' in active service while their team-mates now fill tho role of "interested spectator" or "useful official." Howovor, ho has probably overlooked the fact that Casey and M'Donald wero among the youngest. of tho famous team. Cunningham, tho great Auckland lock, was - seven years older than cither of them when, lie went to Britain, and Cunningham played for ■Ancldand last season. Georgo Smith was the elderly person of tho team; the champion hurdler undertook tho big tour at the age of thirty-three l . •' H. J. Mynott, another of the older All-Blacks, played till a couple of seasons ago, by which timo lie was about thirty-six. So there is not necessarily anything reniarkable_about tho staying power of the Otago trio. E. E. Booth's Long Record, Booth's record dates a long way back. ..111. 1896 —eighteen years ago—ho represented Otago. Ho was then onlv seventeen. In 1900, 1901, 1902, and 1904 ho • Wore the Otago colours, and in 1502, : 1901, and 1905 ho was ono of the South .: Island fifteen. Prior to the tour C'asev represented Otago in 3901, and the Smith Island in 1905. In 1901 M'Donold gained his representative cap in Otago. He played for the. combined Otago and Southland team, and for the South Island team that year, and for tho South Island in tho following season. These records do not cover the careers of the players sinoe tho All-Black tour. In' tho tour of Great Britain, Booth scored fivo tries, M'Donald four, and Casey did not cross the line. Cordon Kinvlg's Record. • The projected departure of Gordon Kinvig, tho Oriental captain, for Mel- . bourne, raoane that Wellington is soon to lose ono of its worthiest players. He

| has dono groat service for the Oriental Club and has represented Wellington on no fewer tlian twenty-six occasions. As a Wellington representative he took tho field against Ilorowlienua in 1909; California, 1910; Maori team, 1910; Auckland, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1913; Taranaki, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913; Southland, 1910, 1911, 1913; Otago, 1910, 1911, 1913; Canterbury, 1910. 1911, 1913; Wanganui, 1910 ; New Zealand Universities, 1911; South Island country team, 1912; Wairarapa, 1913, 1913; New Zealand team, 1913. In these games ho scored eight tries, converted eleven tries, kicked one penalty goal, and ont> field goal. So ho has scored 53 points for his province. In addition, Kmvig played in the North Island team in 1911 and 1913. My opinion is that Kinvig was unlucky to miss tho trip to California last year. Ho was at his best last season, but th& trouble is that on such occasions many a good mail has to be left out.

Kinvig came here from Christchurch in 1908. Even at the Boys' High School in the southern city lie showed signs of becoming a first-rate Rugby phtyer. Ho leaves for Melbourne on May 15 to enter the head office there of Messrs. Joseph Pickles and Son.

Passing Flashes. . Tho once-noted player "Brassy" White is taking a hand in the preparation of the Poneko team this season. "Gym." nights find him telling the forwards in very plain language where their faults lie, and what improvement is necessary. James Ryan will not play for Petone in seven-aside tournament to-day. . He is under canvas at Takapau. Poneke should ohange their goalkickor. Walker, the full-back, is too weak a kick. When ho was in the fourth grade Walker's boot (it is said) was dangerous from half-way, but this season's form indicates that the lad has lost his "punch." Mr. D.' Gallagher lias been reappointed solo selector of the Auckland representative team. There is' said to be some doubt of J. O'Leary, tho well-known New Zealand representative, and G. Murray, playing regularly this year for Ponsonby, Auckland. Both, however, played for the club on Easter Saturday at Petone. O'Leary did not como down with tho intention of playing.. He was passing through Wellington at the time of the northerners' visit, and took the field under persuasion. H. Capper, 'the Melrose full-back, was "in his best form on Saturday. Capper plays some splendid defensive games, but lie, nevertheless, fails to inspire one with any great degree of confidence. French, ono of the best forwards in tho Maori team, and a leading West Coast representative, is this year associated with the City Club, Auckland. Although Tilyard played well on Saturday, he appeared to bo very short of training. Oil tho other , hand Algar seemed to be in great condition. Our knock-on rule should, in my opinion, be amended. A player should not be penalised for knocking-on if he catches tho ball before it reaches the ground. Tho present knock-on interpretation which guides Wellington referees frequently worlts oilt most absurdly.

At the seventeenth annual meeting of tho Metropolitan Rugby Union, New South Wales, reference was niado to the visit of the New Zealand University and Maori teams, and the series of matches wero described as providing a fine display of Rugby, with consequent beneficial res'jlts in respect to. assisting in increasing the popularity of the amateur code.

Pineke have a promising- forward in Murpliy, who was standing out of Saturday's match, owing .to an injury received in tho game against Athletic.

Maekay, tho University and Auckland three-quarter,'is being persuaded to postpone his threatened retirement. Wellington has pleasant recollections of Mackay's play.

Three Taranaki players have agreed to throw in their lot with Marist Bros, if they move to Auckland this season.

Downing, the great Auckland forward, is looked upon as a doubtful starter for the Marist Brothers' Club this season. Tho same is said of Carroll, who formerly played in Feilding.

Thero is still 110 certainty as to whether Frank Mitchinson will come to tho city and play this season. Ho is very keen to do so if business permits, and says that ho is feeling very fit. Poneke are still hoping to find , him at the gymnasium some evening.

Ono of tho best Auckland forwards who- is missing this season is Wylie, who'is now at Stanford University, California. ; '