LEAGUE & LEAGUERS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2145, 11 May 1914, Page 7

LEAGUE & LEAGUERS

! SENIOR GRADE NEWTOWN CLUB'S TALL SCORE. It would seem that those southerly winds so familiar to Wellington football enthusiasts have-already put in an appearance. At intervals on Saturday afternoon rain swept across the city playing fields to the accompaniment of a stiU breeze of tho "freezer" family. This, however, did not tend to chill tho enthusiasm of League, followers nor did it freezo the spirits of the players. A healthy number of spectators were lined up at Ncwtown -Park lo witness the Ncwtown-Athletic tussle. Tho match ended in Newtown. piling up something in % tiio nature of a cricket score. . The ground was heavy, and had it not been for the tricky wind probably the White's score would have been more, imposing. Tho ' Athletic pack was placed at a disadvantage. Five members of the original team were doing service af the "front" at TakaPiiu, ifud this necessitated men new to the League rules filling the gaps. As a result,'that potent factor and invaluable asset, combination, was conspicuously absent. Within tho first fifteen minutes Newtown put ou two tries, and for a while—a short while—galloped over and scuttled tho opposing forwards. Tho gallop, however, soon fizzled out, for Ryan (Athletic) full-back, took the wind out of tho sails of bis opponents, and robbed what brilliant rushes they started of their spnrkle. His fine collaring ''and" judicious" , 'fcickins;. saved somo embarrassing.situations; 'Through bis efforts 1 thei 'Athletic'forwards' managed to inanocuyro .the oval up the field, and'two 'triea'tvero registered in-quick succession. • "Utiku" and Wilsbn- : '-'wero responsible for these,...and they wero both converted. '' Then Athletic's scor-ing-came to a dead'stop, no further addition to the score being, mado throughnut tho remainder of the encounter. Within a few minutes of half-time, Newtown once more came' to life, and rattled oh two more tries with stunning rapidity; ■ Tho. attempts at goal were futile. Murdoch, l<'errisj McArdle and Strickland were responsible for tho. tries up to now, besides having a big share in the "business." Tho spell ended: Newtown, ' 12; Athletic, 10. In the second spell, Newtown had the wind with them, and immediately started play of tho fireworks order, playing havoc with their opponents' attempts to add to their score. In this spell Newtown put on twenty-one points. ' In the earlier part'the Whites' forwards wore engaged in routing tho 'Athletic backs, their play being coloured by pretty passing and taclding on the part of Strickland and Murdoch. Subsequent tries wero scored by Marshall, King, and Murdoch, lhou came a lull, and tho game waß transformed into.a tangle of wild passing and tactics somewhat weird, until tho veteran Spencer accepted an offer to I score, and trotted over the line. Tho defence.'put up by tho raw material was excellent, and Migurs well for their futures in tho games. Strickland converted two tries and kicked a penalty goal. Tho match ended: Newtcwn. 33; Athletic, 10. Mr. Barber was referee. ' , PETONE £ SUBURBS. Potono and Suburbs met on a damp ground at Petono, and though at intervals somo brilliant- play was exhibited, u rather conspicuous feature was tho amount of off-side work shown by both teams. In no small measure this told against Petono in the scoring. Arnold, ior the local men, and Scott and Donaldson for Suburbs mado . their debut under League rules. A few minutes altor tho kick-off Barber started a passing rush for Petone, Whitley, Guthrio, arid Ohilds supporting him, but owing to a rather wiuo> pass, Whitloy missed the bail, which was immediately pounced upon by tho Suburbs' backs, and Russell getting possession, made a splendid run and crossed Petone's line. Suburbs, 3—o. Play was even for about ten minutes, and.then Manning (Suburbs), who luid been doing good work, was compelled lo retire tor a while through receiving a kick. Before he returned Ashton U'etoue) had started a brilliant dribbling rush, and ■carried the ball well into tho enemy's territory, picked it up, and raced over, heating tho Suburbs' full-bask. Three al). Barber, of Petone, who had repeatedly started passing rushes', but unfortunately could not turn them to account, now seized the ball from a scrum near halfway, and by a smart bit of feinting and side-stepping,, got. through tho other sido's rearguard and scored under the goal, Ashton easily converting. Petone, B—3.8 —3. Tho visitors now took things seriously, and made a strong attack, compelling Petono to force. Donaldson lost what appeared to bo a sure try through failing to pass after dodging four opponents, but Campbell was handy and wliipped up tho ball and scored in a good position, Manning converting. Eight points all. Just before half-time Petono made a strong attack, in which Ashton, Barber, and Finlayson were prominent, and Suburbs wero forced. : In the second spell the play was faster, and Ashton mado' a splendid attompt to kick a goal from a mark near halfway, tho hall striking the crossbar. Campbell then kicked n penalty goal, making tho score: Suburbs, 10j Petonp, 8. Tivo moro opportunities were given for Suburbs by penalty kicks, but they were unsuccessful. Manning then followed up a. long, kick, and took the ball over for Suburbs, after a somewhat strenuous efFort. lie converted. Suburbs, 15; Petone, 8. Once more Petono rallied, and tho enemy, being penalised near tho goal, Ashton's kick brought the score to: Suburbs, 15; Potone, 10. The visitors' combination now stood them 'in good 6load ; and tjiough the locals did their, utmost to frustrate their -attacks, scores were addedrapidly, Man-!

3, ning put on a penalty goal, M'Lean a a try, Russell a try (wliish Campbell converted), and on tho call of time Scott n secured another try. Tho same thus io ended: Suburbs, 28 points; l'otone. 10 K points. Mr. C. Murphy was referee.