RUGBY TEST MATCH

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2206, 20 July 1914, Page 6

RUGBY TEST MATCH

Championship Ladder. •si S3 M Cb - ' ■ s S'« » =•' - 0, .■ "' P J CU O Athletic' ...... 10 fl. 1, 175 41. 18 Wellington ... 10 '8 2 109 65 16 Petone 10 7 3 185 60 14 Poneke ......... 10 5 5 101" 96 10 Oriental '. 10'4 6 97' 95 8 'University ... 10 4 6 r 61 87 8 Melrose ' 10 3 7 48 124 6 St.. James . ... 10 0 1() .19 227 0 "•'ORIENTAL AND WELLINGTON. ;■; ■';•_ A StOW GAME. ''"The turf at Athletic Park was in great condition for a; fast'game on Saturday,.' but neither •Wellington l nor Oriental.-were capable Of grasping the opportunity. They gave one of the slowest exhibitions of the game seen this ■season" It was, however, a closely-, fought match,. and there was a certain amount:of doubt as to 'the result to :.within a few minutes of the finish. Wel 7 lington won by 11 to 3, and'theyideserved the. victory; but, nevertheless, luck- favoured them. Wellington were , Uicky i inasmuch .as', it was little more, than ill-fortune which'kept Oriental .out on several occasions. • The OrientaLforwards did exceptionally well against the solid Wellington vanguard,'and for the greater.,part of the game more'than held their own. The Oriental ."backs were hot a good combination, ant l ., this defect resulted' in the breakdown 'of the team -The several baoks who were playing fairly well covered up the signs of weakness in a-.general. way until chances to score came the way of the team, a.nd then, the weaker links in the chain snapped l3nce or twice, however, the luck was against them... Wellington played to their backs more than they have done-in other games.; and the experiment did not have any disastrous effects. Only one try came as the reI suit of 'back, play, but the .impression created was-that Wellington can afford to let its /rearguard out occasionallv. Several Wellington backs played parti- | cnlarly vrell —Alloy, Packer, and M'Ken,zio Parker got two tries—both of them in excellent style. The first was' a lucky one, and came' through bad play by.an iOriental'back rather than through goad' ;Work- by Packer. .Oriental were, attacking- at tho'time, but bungling bv one of the Black ..and Whites. M Packer clean through, and, running;- straight .from' his own twenty-five, he distanced his pursuers and scored a sensational 'try. 'Drake.landed a fine goal, and Wellington -were in the lead by 5 to nil. ;Oriental,"who 'at the commencement of :the game had, been robbed of a; try through the man with tho ball hist goinjr put before grounding the leather, ■ attacked frequently, but their only score camo from 0 penalty goal by Avery. Before- half-time Packer scored again. This time it was an'exceptionallv fine ti-v. Alley snapped, the ball brilliantly Off the toes of tho opposing forwards, and passed out to Rtpco. who sent the v oyal nn tn Packer, and the winger, cnt- • ting in like a .flash, flew past a weak atteffiiit at tackling, and raced round behirid'the goal-posts. Strange to sn.y, Drake missed the easy shot. So, the second soell was entered upfln wTEh Wellington leading by 8. to 3. Oriental spent most of the'spell goiiif very closo to reducing this lead, but Wellington's forwards wem beating thera badly at the finish, and diirmg one of tho Yellow rushes Drake got over. What seemed a fair try was disallowed, but a few ■ minutes later the forwards ivero hack ■ attain, 1 and' Houston (the half)'scored. Wellington, therefore, won by 11 to 3. The match was controlled' by Mr. R. Evensen. UNIVERSITY & ATHLETIC. '", CHAMPIONS DEFEATED. • To the astonishment of the spectators at'Petone, and probably in the city as well, Athletic were . defeated on the Petone ground by University, and judging by the cheering.of those who' witnessed . the splendid display of Rugby the victory was exceedingly popular. In the first half University had the advantage, of a. strong wind, and it was thought that after half-time Athletic would romp over their opponents. But ■ though. they' strove their utmost the combination of the University team, which was a treat to see, proved to their hitherto unbeaten foes' the uncertainty that attends a leading team at all times. Athletic carried the ball into University's tweiityrfivo from the kick-off, and • for some considerable time play ' was even, until the latter team were forced twice. Suddenly Sim pounced upon the leather, and passed along the line to East, who raced for the line, beating several opponents, and finally sidestepped full-back and crossed Athletic's line amidst tremendous applause; Ryan converted. University; 5; Athletic, 0. The Athletic forwards then'made a gallant attempt to rout the enemy, and bore down the field with a powerful rush, and hovered perilously near the University goal.' But play was soon taken to the other end of the field, where Ryan made two attempts and Bennett one at goal,, but without success.- Luke, however, managed to pass to Sim just-at the night • moment, and ■the # latter scored tlie second try for University. Ryan converted. University. 10; Athletic, 0. .In the second spell. University, encouraged by the enthusiastic oheering of the onlookers, took up the attack with Bpirit, but Athletic, evidently realising tho true position of affairs, and having the wind in their favour, warded it oif, and gradually'dribbled the ball towards tthoir opponents' goal, where Paton, whipping it up, dashed over. The kick was unsuccessful. University, 10; Athletic, 3. From then onward tho contest became as keen as has been exhibited for years on this ground. The Athletic rearguard appeared to be tho weak spot, but the forwards worked with-great combination. At one stage tho latter rushed tho leather near to the University line, and the spectators literally held, their breath, _but when a timely kick from a University back reversed the. position cheor after cheer rose from the bank, the spectators being worked up to a tremendous state of excitement. The gallant defence of the victors, which was tested by every conceivable tactic by the .champions, was irresistible, and Athletic failed to add to their score, the Rame ending: University, 10; Athletic 3. A feature of the "r-niitest was the . .royal cheering of tho .University team

ALL-BLACKS JUST BEAT AUSTRALIA ; DEFEAT OF ATHLETIC ~ LEAGUE, HOCKEY, & SOCCER REPORTS RUCBY SYNOPSIS. Wellington n Oriental 3 .' Petone 44 S t. Jamos ....; 0 Unlvorsity 10 Athletic /. 3 Poneho 11 Melrose e

off the field by enthusiasts. Mr. A'. C. Kitto was the referee. . PETONE AND ST. JAMES. A HUGE SCORE. i' Petone ran all over St. JameS, and piled up 44 points. 26 of which were scored in the first. spell. Tries] were scored by E. Ryan (2), M'Farlarie (2), Udy, M'Ewan, Dent, Lindsay, ,'Hindmarsh, and E. Price.' M'Fariane ''converted 5 tries, and Joo Ryan potted a goal. Mr. W. J. Meredith was referee. A STRENUOUS CAME. Poneke defeated Melrose by 11 points to 6 at Miramar, after a -particularly strenuous and very willing game. Tho contest would have ended in a draw, had not Poneke'scored just before the call of time. Both' teams were without their full strength.- ■ ■" ( Soon after the kick off, during a .scramble near Poneke's goal-line, Dayies hopped in and scored whilst'Gilchrist 'ay on the. field, temporarily injured. Houlihan failed to convert. 3—o. Poneke retaliated ahd brought play to the Melrose.line. Algar secured the ball from Fisher, who was tackled, and passed to M'Tageart, who scored between the posts.. Tilyard failed with the. kick.- 3—3. Play came back to Poneke's twenty-five,■:■ and Melrose were awarded a free-kick, which enabled Houlihan to : double Melrose's ■ score. o—3. Following this, Poneke's backs did some brilliant'passing; and Fisher; who was in fine'form, annexed a try for tho Reds. Gardner failed with the kick. 6—6. At. half-time Melrose were threatening a further score.: A feature of the' second spelljwas the roueh play. A number of players were cautioned by the referee, and several were temporarily injured. The referee apparently did his best under the circumstances. The spectators encroached on the line, arid the referee stopped the game once or twice to order them back,' For some time Poneke were superior, but.their efforts . were of no avail, till just before the call !of time, a bright passing rush by the Poneke backs ended,in- Edwards scoring. Gardner converted; 11—6. Mr. L. Simpson was referee. IN OTHER CENTRES. , , (Br ;Tel«rrapii.—Proas <MociattOT.) Auckland, July 19. The. second;round of the Auckland Rugby. Football Union's, senior . grade championship was concluded'on Saturday. . City beat Marist Brothers by 6 points to 3; Ponsonby beat College Rifles by 17 to 3./ The championship points are':—University, 14; City, 14: Ponsonby, 11; Marist Brothers' Old Boys, 7; College Rifles, 4. University and City will play off for the championship probably nest Saturday. Christchurch, .July 18. Old Boys 8, Christchurch, 6; • Mcrivale 11, Linwood 5; Albion'l6, Sydenham 0; 'Varsity 12, Marist 10. Dunedih, July 19. University; 30, Dunedin nil; Kaikorai 20, Pirates nil;' Zingari 25, Alhamr b*a 3; Southern 14, Port Chalmers 3. Palmerston Northl July 18. The Manawatu representatives drew with Bush Union, the score being 3 points each. 'By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent... Masterton, July 19.. Senior:—Red Star were defeated by Carterton by 3to nil. The game practically decides the championship, giving Carterton a two-point lead. United defeated Gladstone by 12 to 8. Junior :~Red. Star defeated Martinborough by 3to nil. United forfeited to Dalefield. Carterton beat Gladstone by 5 to 3.