SATURDAY'S FIELDS SPORTS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2157, 25 May 1914, Page 6

SATURDAY'S FIELDS SPORTS

RUGBY CHAMPIONS!!?. THB ATHLETIC & WMGTON TEAMS i ifiE Wto,' OEIENTAL & PETONE BEATEE REPORTS OF ASSOCIATION & tEAGEE MATCHES SYNOPSIS OF RESULTS. AthleTO 14 Oriental , 3 PeneN 1T Unlvorsity *~ , ' 3 Welflnston 15 p e t qri!s , ,!!!!!"!!!" ft Melrose M st, Jamos...,. ...U." .'.'..l' 0

Athfttft-Orlental Rivalry. Favoured by a fino afternooa, the wjgi'y football matches attracted a bte crowd of spectators to Athteiic I'ark ml Saturday afteraon. The heavy rains during the week had left tlw ground fa a _sedaen condition, and the slippery going &ns(d; tho play to bo somewhat erratic. Still both games were sternly contested, and there wore sufficient wight flashes to Keep up the interest ot the publ lc . The .pfniMpat fetwe was that between Athletic and Oriental, on iNo, 1 ground. Both teams had \v<Mi tnc-ir pr-eviows matches this scfrsaiij, a»d the keen rivalry, that has bug existed between the chihs wa? expected to be « material factor in. providing a hard and eseitmg game* The Ofiont*! chaiwee were considered to be quite good when Athletic took the field without tkii' usttal half (E. Roberts), but it was soon, evident thatj,' even with this disadvantage, _ Athletic were t3» ..superior <»m----bmation, both forwards afid basks. Before tiie game had been in progress very long tlw Bhies (Athletic) had a lead o.f elwen points, and alter that tire elemoiit of escitoment was wantrjig.

firelsss Athietie Forwartls. Eloquent expression was given to tiie scoring jjotrcrs of Oriental "in. the first wo, watches, this season, when they registered more points than, any othcj team. On Saturday, however ) they wore against, a jack of hard, tireless forwards, who were always oti the ball, and a'set' of. backs who wero.smmd in defence— sa smxia. that their line tvas not crossed successfully. Oriental tried repeafedl,v to-open out tlte -aaino, but their ttwn mistakes and the.Braes' vigorous methods robbed the customary effective attack of thft . Magpies of rmich of its sting. Several good pacing rushes were started, but they quickly" fadad away before tke spoiling tictits of tlio Ath* letie. forwards. Scoring oMftrtuuitiee were lost on both sides, but .that was no doubt- duo to the greasy state of the ball, which, hoffe-vei'. Was well handled for the.most part, 'there were, stages of tie game when .Orieatai appeared to be more, than WHing their own, birt judging the pky right through the margin of eleven points in favour of Athletic seemed to be. a fair reward far their superiority.

Ordered Off. ' At times some of the .players introduced more thsft ordinary -vigour into their eflerts., s.nd there ttwe seversl. ih» terruptioas in the game owing to minor mishaps,. Carwid. the, Oriental fullback, hatl to retire, .injured, in tiie first spell. Shaw took hi? piece at ftv]-l, and Oou-ie. cprriiag 6ft ift Shaw's place at wffig--three*<ju'a.rtef. In the dosiilg stages of the mAtch one- of the 0-.ri<m* int forwards (Pojme) was heavily clia,fgcd by J, Smith after the referee's wKistle had sounded for a- mark. Tho incident brought forth an ant-hurst of hoot-ing, and the referee promptly of<3ered Smith elf the field. Pojieko in Form. Poaeke showed capital form in their match against University, piaj'cd en Ko. 2 ground at Athletie Vatk. Vinvej'sity opened with great dash, and actually ■rfifiistcre'd first try following a"'splendid passing rusk.. The University backs, hsweverj failed to ■keep up their, -early standard, and in tha second half -especially sho-wod faulty Approciafiian o : f their chances. Bpneke, ■oa the other hand, improved bs tho. game progressed, and oil oceasiffns w4ro placing first-class footbaiU Otfter Senior Games. ■ After having eKpeHettced a long run of flefcats at tho hands of Petene, thrwigh a period of years, the WeMi-ftg-ton senier fifteen Managed to gain a lo.tig-'Orercl-ue victory over the suhurbau team on Saturday. The result is a» iHttstration of tho changing forttiiio of clubs, On tho Polo Groaudj at Slirania-r, Mclrose proved miieh too good for tho St. James representatives, CHAMPIONSHIP LADDER. *? . '■ • a ic M p S if ft ' 3 a -p h • e.Atretic ......... 3, 3 0 0 57 9 6 Welliijßten „. 3 3 0 0 3? 22 6 : Oriental 3 2 10 $2' 18 4 Ponoke. 8 2 1 0 32 41 4 Petoiie 3 1 2 0 42 33 2 MelroSe 3 1 2 0 §B 30 2 University 3 .0" 3 0 17 48 0 , St. James * 3 0 3 0 S 76 0 ATHLETIC & ORIENTAL, COMFORTABLE WIN JOE THE BLUES. The, Oriental and Athletic teams thnt took tto M<l fln Satttrdpy were both as »» the piiwied prograTHtne. Athletic W6ll the toss, afed decided to defend tlio western goal, Oriental havifig to face a ta-Sitalising sun, Scaa after t-htt eemmeireetnerrt. Athletics were attacking j and presently S, Wilson, gaining pov , l s-ession -near midfie.ld, made a- neat run boforo passing to Holey, <m tho firyhtwme.._ The latter attempted to cMit-ro, out kicked with poor Judgment, aiid found tho detid-baH -area.' Follhwiug ■ the dwp-out, Oriental worked Up to tlw: Athletic territory, iijtd were there awarded a free-ldck, Irat Bonne failed to place the goal. Oriental mauajred to koftp -up tho attack for minutes. ijßt evciifcijrtlly tho Blue forwards cfcared tlieir liMo. niid Jccp-t the bail movimt sijitil it was ripht down a't tlw O-fwntaJ twxjiity-fivo. 'Hero, S. AVi.lEon elHined in ftenj his position at fiveeighths, and, picking up the bill, rnii in fashion, beat sevwral oppou- [ « v nts. aH-d tmtejicd do«-it bdiind '' t.li<? '■nosts. Evensort emsi-Jj*'converted. Atltlotic, S pints j . Oriental, nil, SotH after tiro Idok-e-ii-t, a .pft-ssihg.-rush started atnoiiji the Mlilaie foi'warda, ths 'ball travelling from Bell to to G. Os-bofiio, afid an to J. &tnfirag': liarfi.. TJio last-tonted sent, a pass ta: Tle'kvi', \viio J)ftd a rT-lcai , opßhiftg to scare.. bit the fnnil*W ttio ball, and ft wciit into .-taiieh. Play: hail BcarceLv fc.een .set;. ?n rootfah agnjii liofot-e A. Wflsoii dfibbled, the tte line, cuabliiig E, Osbofho to snore-Athle-tjc'g second try. Es-ejiloß's iids ( a faihipfr, the bail striking the f nosts. AthleUe, 8 J Oriental.- nil. It j was about this time tliat the Oriental « full-back <Ca.rrad) wfts injured, n.-mj] hfld 1 io retire, Wlthiii a .fow minutes, c Oriental were conipolkd to fo-f-ce- to c avoid further trouble, hut tho AtMfitic « score was fnrtJicr. anginofltcd per in-e- t dittm of n goal kfelcfShy Evoiison, frwi-i in a mark by J. Cunningbam. Athletic, | u

11l OHtifttai, nil. Subseqttc-ivHyj prtental mana-Rca to shift tho jbcciw of battle tp tteir opponeiiis' line., and for quite a long time the JJIu.BS had to busily dfjfond, bui the attack was ne\w pressed right Mom, afttj lialf-tini.o wts called without further scoro.

1/ijrly in Mio second half, the Oriental ■fwffa-raa played with grest dash and veseivcd nn.ieh help from fto fino lh»-, K|ckaig of Shaw, who was .playing sptai* didly iii full-bsck. They «« e still Mtable to pierce the Athletic dcfeivee, and iyora later driven back te their aw.il ! line. Then ffw.n a scrim the bull Cnnitt ieiifc to dip AtJitettc half and or. it passed tu J. Cunningljani, S'. Wilsoij, Evouso.i), Adnms, aiid Mad.ften. The liistiiamod el.os.efl n prettj pi.cfo of play by gaining a ti'y iie,w the eorlvor ffiig,'T.l.{o kwk at goal failed. Athletic, W; Olioft■tal? .ii.il. Great attempts wore niaclo Ijy Oriental to reduce the deficit, and on several oceasisfts ih.cy weftfc dangerously dose to scoring, but, as often, they ivere rushed hack to their own Bive a.n'ij placed eji the iefoitsive. Their nrost tiotiecaWe effiorta wefo when Mofei, with only five .yards to go for the i.iiie, gave a weak pass iv.hi.cli.' Jst'Leod lOftitl invpossihle to accept and wheji St'Leod, after, a siiiijrt run, , tWiisfefrod to Pearte, who k:noi?:ked on white crossIng iiito tho scoriiig area. $lie "Mos;-. pres'" only score was a pehatty goaJ. .kieted b} , Shaw late intho gam'e. Wh*n ilo-side Wfts called tho points Were: Athlotk, 1J; Orjcuta-l, 3. Mr. t. Simp- . sou Vid control of tio match.

P-dN-EKI 4, UNIVERSITY. SMAJt-T DISPLAY 3Y'IM tln-ivMsitf wo.it the tos§ agsingfc Pimeke, and : hai rea-soivablo ljd]Mj ,ol winning the .gnme, bat were decisively beaten in tho second sjwl, Sliortly ter the start Univeratty wore avrai-dod ii free-kiek within caty range, but Beard failed io ten this -to advaittage. Before long, however, Sim jnan.igcd to got t-lio bail an-iiy to his backs.' and, Ryan, after making » fine opening, tran&ferWd t-Q Walker, and on the ball went to Faire; \yhft scored! after a gnad 25.yards' run. •Beard's .shut at -goal \vn« unsiieressfvrl. tlniversity 3., Peiioke 3). iii-rcoftragod by this -lead, the University wen played at great pace, hut their efforts lacked .cohesion, and, iit the -e»d of fn'c niinijtcs, they ha : <J drifted from attek to defence. A iPoncke. forward Hish earned "piny to Sic JJnivci'sity lino, mid Tilysrf, snapping up tlw l.Paihci'i swerveel in and sc-gred a- siritpie tcy, irtueh (sardi-iwr Jailed to iiiii?f.6v<!. I*ojß;feiP'3, University«). There was n? fwrtiier scw« in tire first lirtlf.

Punekc opened tha -second spell with , a good bo-ut of passing a-mtmg the backs and then the forwards, headed by Malioiicy, earned the ball -over the line, , . where Titprcl and M'TflggiM divwl for it, t-ho latter Scoring, G.-iu-wjn.er lacked ian -easy goal, JVnete 8, Uhivarsity 3. ttivc-aiid-ta-b pTrty .followed -until abtiiit haU-AV-ay through the spell., ivlici Ppneko showed mirked superioriiy. Tlioii-ithird try -cam's as the rcsirit-of omart -work bv- Fisher, -svlio fcicked dssvii tt> the opposing thwe-qua-rter, iurf.wJwn the bifll-wiks fiiiiTblcd., gained pessessidh aga-iiii and scored' an -uncoiiVei'ted try. Poiiek-e, 11; tJiiiversity, 3, Shortly after Algn-r pic-ked *bts ball up in tlw loose, ami , after -a jieo.d straight mil stm* a.erisp pass to Tilvard, s'ho, aitei boffig tlrro*» tovii, ro&d over tfe Ike and scored. ■ Gar-chiicr iii-rssed n i'a-ir-ly easily shot a goal. 14; tiiiiverstty, 3, The rejiminrjer of the game was -ail. in favour of Poneke, ai-id a. -far* ther -toy was scorc-d hy Algar, after a capital rim, Tljo kick at Was too dimeWt for ©ardiiior. I'h.e ganie entled: Poneke, 17 j thiiversity, 3. ' Jtr, A. -0-Kit-to 'had charge of tiie- whistle.

MELROSE & ST f AAMES, HCGLkOW WIN FOR JJELBOSE. JlpLcose mot mid defeated St. ja.njt* by 22 points to nil at jj,i.r.am;uv As the ssoro indicates, the winners had dseided'iy tlto best of the gfliuo, :but frequent iiilYiiigenieiits prevented tiieiil from' doubling tjieir total. Although neither tcani piavecl. good Ihtgbj , ) 'tlio -backs "wetfo nevertheless Biuck in evidence.. After starting, .Moirosc m> taeked strSftufta-sly, frith ftfr wssnlt thai Moore- get over, fntt Capper foiled with fell* ]mk. iffiniodiately lofhwiiifi ' this Mfrkeso *ei'6 *ivardflfi a lioc-kiek, iiftd Oappo-r kicked ;i. .good goul , . -Give-ami* tali* play folle«:ed. St. James tixkhig » ten attekiitg,'tat eventually TwolAey. (Melrose) rcceft'fid it pass from sl-sirsbali, aftd after a smart rirw Stored. At; ftatfitinio the score was—J'Wjfoise, 0 .points; St. Jaracs, nil- ' On piny being resu-wed., aMroso cfiU' tinned to make"matters lively, and )ii«soiitlr they tforo a frco-kick, Capper liting snccessfnl wMi ilw shot. Sorno niinßtbs later Mttdio sec'ired tl'.d bali and scored, €apj;oi' siiceossfiiiry eon* VMtiiig *c try. I'KV »<»*' ocsante ()fkli, Mid St. James pssitjoid to attitck, intt ttitbfltjt success, the defelica of this. Melroso hacts proving wo Strtnif! tor fte-m. Just before time was called J'nti ■tersen secaffcd tte ball, and starting from imlfway, pat in a gcod tifu a«d got ■over. Caprier added tte i.«HJ«f.r pniivt's, And tte game etesrd \vit! : i 7iWrttsi> vie terions by 22 prints to .nit. Mr.'- R, T Bailey was refeMo. PETONE AND WEUMMCtOM. GOOB BXHiBITtOS GIVEN. About 700' spectators witnessed all in* ■tM'BStiiig eneciiftter between I'rtonc o.nd WeHiugtsii, at Petotte. the .suburban team keenly fdt tho sbse.iice tt'f Jaitics Ryb.il, Ecady, and Bslton, a-Jt'iousU Wynjard,, Bc»net«sy, aivd Hmdmarsh, Hv.)to took their places, did rem.WkaWy , well, At>. tho ca-mnifencenidftt it looted fls if IVtonc were "oi.it to win," far they invaded tji.<? wrcmy's ttrritory at ail early stauo, liVvt ware pfclialistd or tiro goal-lino, tho kfek G.*a-W .found the li.iijj near Pfeton.o's twoiity-fiye., aiid. front ttre po'teiw pave their ftppqntftts another ffee-liiek, Board malring ait tinsiirfccssftrl attempt at goal. War a fov! , - tmliute ewn pUy wiis exhibited, flird tlien ewvvft .i passing rusit, ifl wbieh wan, Jes. Hvan,. and NV.vii,Vi\T'd w.eW gaiitp: -iv.ell .when Boiii-d tiitoceivtod riithov c'prorly, and scored first hiood for -Wwiiigten oiiiid npJflniiso, Drakft ■cojivßrthij. j s—o. On tesflffiitng, Pet-dire mwv than held tlittr ■QK-μ i» the Bciiiins, tljo i).:i] : l (•oniing oirt to Itioifl flij'ee tiiues oitf of ! every i'onf, and Nlnjii, wild VMS a t<i\vef [of streivgih t-o liis sidfc, rispratedly ob» i tiiiirpfl possession, unci fcveeef ijf',* Iniis : np.p.artjilly \aekc& Siippftft, 'Hie 4a:ni.6 presently becafiio oxce&dingly fast/jt-nd

but for twelve, minutes or so neither side gained nnich ground. Then from a scrum near Wellington's twenty-live, Nunn whipped up tho bull-and.'running past several of tho i enemy, placed tho ball behind tho posts amid loud applauso. To tho surprise of tho spectators, howover, ho was penalised for off-sido play. Tho majority of tlio onlookers ovidently disagreed with the refereo's ruling, and voiced tkoir opinions with no uncertain sound, but, nevertheless, Wellington was awarded a free-kick, and half-time found tho scoro still, Wellington, 5-0. ' ' Un resuming, Petone attacked well. JM'Farlano following up a long kick, and scoring, but his kick was unsuccessful. Wellington, 5; Petone, 3. l'acker now secured the leather from Grace, and scored for tho visitors, Drake converting. Wellington, 10; Petone, 3. The Petone forwards now camo with a dribbling rush, headed by Tnncrcd, but wero stopped by Bridge, tho Wellington fullback. Shortly afterwards Courtenay, getting the ball from a scrum, crossed Petone's line, and a very presentablo exhibition of Rugby concluded with the score reading: Wellington, 13 points; Pctono, 3 points. Petono then rallied and M'Farlano onco more forced his way over the Wellington line, and his attempt at goa(- being successful tho scoro camo-up to Wellington 13, Petone 8. Mr. Evenson was referee.

JUNIOR MATCHES. Athletic juniors, plaving with twelve •men, defeated Wellington ,by 14 points to 8. For Athletic Woodcock nnd Luoni scored tries, 'Hugh converting both. Hugh also potted a goal. Selwyn defeated St. James by 25 to nil. Flack (3), Batcholor (2), Williamson, and Galvin scored tries. M'Donalcl converted two of the tries. ' / THE MAORIS. "Spectator" writes:—As a constant follower of tho good old game, I would suggest to tho selectors of tho Wellington Rugby Football Union tlio following representative team to meet, the Maoris on Juno 3 next:—Full-back,' H. Capper (iMclroso); three-quarters, M'Taggarfc (Poncke), P. J. Byatt (University), H. M'Leod (Oriental); five-eighths, Tilyard (Poneke), Beard (Wellington); half, Niinn (Potone); forwards, wing, Shearer (Oriental); hookors, Francis (Wellington), Kyne (Oriental); lock, Brown (Wellington); "Ranji" Wilson (Athletic), Mahony (Poneko), Osborne (Athlotic), and Miller (Wellington). The above players have showntho best fornv this season.. Tho diminutive, but vigorous, Shearer, must displace Cunningham on tho whig, and ITTaggart is the best three-quarter eeen out this season." ' .

MATCHES ELSEWHERE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) • Auckland, May 24. Tho Rugby Union's senior championships on Saturday resulted as follow:— University (8 points) boot City (s),Marist Brothers (9 points) beat • Collego Rifles-(6), Ponsonby (22 points) beat Parnell (3). ' * ' Christchiirch, May 23. Christchurch (7 points) v. Old Boys '(6); Merivale (10 points) v. 'Varsity (3); Linwood (6 points) v. Albion (nil); Sydenham (8 points) r. Mamt Bros. (5).. Dunetlin, May 23. Rugby football results:—University (38 points) beat Pirates (nil); Zingari Richmond (5 points) beat Southern (3); Dunedin (G points) beat Union (3); Alhanibra (3 points) beat Port Chalmers (nil). _■■'■■■ (By Telegraph.—Special. OoiroeDondenU Palmerston, May 23. Tho season opened to-day. Western (10 points) defeated Oriental (nil). Feilding and United played a drawn ganie, no SCO}*. ;,.,.y, ~.1,','..;',"?:',' ,:v Mastorton, May 24. ■ Rugby championship matches were commenced hero.yesterday,- .with the grounds in muddy condition. In tho senior grade, Rod Star somewhat expectodly defeated Cartorton by 6 points to nil. In the junior division, Carterton heat Red Star by 6 points to nil. Pahlatua, May 24. Tho Bush Rugby Union fixtures commenced on Saturday. Konini (9) defeated Mansatainoka .(nil); Nireaha and Hamua. played a drawn game, no score. Junior competition:—Konini (3) v. Ballance. (3); Maiigatainoka forfeited to Pahiatii.a. The first round of matches under tbc Puketoi Sub-Union wcro concluded. Pukehinau defeated Pongaroa by six points to nil. Pukehinau are leading for tho Puketoi championship.

LEAGUE & LEAGUERS

. THE GRADE GAMES SUBURBS AND NEWTOWN. 'After the week's sopping rain it was only to bo expected that the ground at Petono would bo anything t but at its best, but, despite that, ' players came'through tho ordeal with credit. Tho New town-Suburbs combat, however, was anything but an edifying display of football. In fact, good football and that which graced tho Hutt Park on Saturday wero sadly estranged. Tho gamo resolved itself into an argumentative rencontre, ceaseless babbla being tho ascendant feature. Tho refereo (Mr. Brico) warned three or four players, and finally a Nowtown player had to quit tho field. : Tho first spoil opened mildly, but it gradually grow wild as tho combatants wanned. Sorums werb tho . order of things for somo time, and then the ball would bo the centres of attraction- at either end of tho field in turn. Tims tho plnyers whiled away the timo for tho first twenty, minutes, and then a change camo. Parker scored Suburbs' first try, and Campbell converted. The score remained unaltered for the remainder of ,tho spell. : The second spell differed' littlo from tho fint, that is, as far as tho standard of play -went. A bad spirit prevailed, and tho gamo grew more unlike football as it progressed. A number of players wero warned here, and, as mentioned, ono of them was compelled to Totiro to tho pavilion at the mandate of the referee. Play oscillated up and down, but Suburbs wero to scoro yet another try. Campbell broko away from somewhere, and after waltzing round tho Nowtown backs, glided over tho line. Ho took , tho kick"; and executed tho prettiest work of tho day—a beautiful goal. From this on till within one nlimito of timo both teams indulged iii n. style- of play peculiar to thomsolves. Just on the call of timo Murdoch scored Nowtown's onlj; try, Strickland converting. Tho gamo en(]e<l: Suburbs 10, Nowtown 5. Mr. Erico was referee. PETONE—ATHLETIC. Pet-ono had an easy task afc Hutt Park against Athletic, who played shorthanded throughout tho game. Glading scored for Petone after a sharp sprint, in which ho beat three of tho enemy, and Ashton converted. Pctoiio, s—o. Four minutes after Ashton dribbed well into Atlilctic'e quarters, seized tho leather and bounded over. Potone, B—o. Finliiyson was tho next scorer, and Ashton converting, tho score was raised to Potono 13—0. Barber then took a hand, and added 3 more points for Petono, and Whitloy immediately followed B uit. This was converted, and the scoro read Pctono 21—0. Athletic, who had made tho best of a hopeless task, now .rallied, and Wilson, running from halfway, put up their only scoro, which was unconverted, and tho gan;» ended—Petonc, 21 points; Athletic, 3 points. Mr. C. Murphy was referee. OTHER CENTRES. • (By TelciraDti.—Pru?3 Association! Auohland, Muy 24. • The Northern union senior matches resulted as follow:—City (16 points) beat

Noffton (nil), North Slioro (14 points boat Grnfton (2); Ponsonby (13 points) beat Otahuhu (•!).

Christchurch, ilay 23. In the League games to-day, Linwood (10 points) defeated Addingtnn (b>). Sydenham (30 points) boat St. Albans (6).