RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 206, 20 May 1918, Page 8

RUGBY

PONEKE DEFEAT UNIVERSITY

THE PENALTY FOR BAP

TACKLING

Poueke and University met at Athletio Park on Saturday, and before the match the College fifteen were good favourites, though the reason why w;is rather beyond one's comprehension. In tho act mil' content Poneke won as they liked. University paid the penalty which every team of bad taoklere deserves to pay. As far as tackling was cencerned Univorsity certainly had' a day off.

In tho first tipell Poneke ian up 16 points to nil. Dobson was the iirst to score,, and his try was converted. A whilo later Siater acU.*l another try. Poneke forwards pressed, i,nd Tilyard, in the backs, seeing an opening, whipped over tho lino and notched the third Iry. Morris converted. The Red'e full-back (Anderson) saw an opportunity later ia the speh and distinguished limself by gathering up tho leather and going right through with it. I'oneke, Jβ; "University, nil.

In the second spell Poneko instituted a passing rush, which Christopherson concluded with a meritorious try. Gillespie (University's left wing, three-quarter) was responsible for one of the finest pieces of individual work seen in the match—* run from near halfway, concluded by a try. Poneke, 19; University, 3. M'TajTo'art scored Poneke's next try. Getting the ball in midfield, he easily beat the University backs and scored between the Duly scored a good try at tho comer before the boll rang. The game ended: Poneke, 25; University, 3.

Mr. It. Fordyce was referee.

ATHLETIC (6) V. OLD BOYS (3). On No. 2 ground at Athietio Park, Athletic beat Old Boys by G to 3. Church and Davis scored tries for Athletic and Duff secured a try for Old Boys. Mr. E. Perry 'was referee.

PETONE (30) V. WELLINGTON (9). Playing, at- Petone, Wellington sustained a severe defeat at the hands of Petone, who won by 30 points to 9. At the outset it appeared that Petone would have to exert themselves in order to hold their own. Wellington commenced with plenty of dash and vigour, and kept Petono defending hard. Before the game had been in progress four minutes Wellington had crossed Petone'a line. In the second spell, however, Petone altered their tactics, with the idea of running their opponents off their feet. The change in method of play was successful, Wellington's defensive systea broke down, their organisation became less coheaivo under the strain, nnd, \vith the exception of a few occasions, Petone had things their own way. The game was willing enough; in fact, it must be said that one or two Petone men made it a trifle too willing at times, if not with deliberate intent, at anr rate with sufficient energy to cause remark.

Tho game opened with Wellington playing with the sun in their eyes and tho wind, if anything, against them. Immediately, they surged down into tho Petone twenty-five in an overwhelming onslaught, and in less than four minutes Cliesterman, who throughout played a brilliant i game for Wellington, crossed over at the corner. Phillips failed to convert. Wellington, 3; Petone,_ 0. Petone next took a turn at attacking, and for some time Wellington were kept on the defensive. .Petone did not have matters altogether within their own control, however, and Wellington eventually, were able to 6hift the scene of play to the Petone end. From a scrum in the Petone twenty-five, Wellington got tho ball, and Savident broke away on his own, scoring Wellington's second try. Valentine took the kick, but the ball went just outside tho post«. There were several lively encounters after this, and both sides had narrow escapes. Just prior to the spell ending, Petone. took chargo and after n. keen contest near the Wellington line W. Thomns secured the leather, and forced his yay over. Nieholls was ontrusted with the kick, but his attempt unsuccessful. The epeli ended with the score: Wellington, 6; Petone 3.

After the resumption, Petone set the pace, and it wns anything but a "goslow" policy they Adopted. There was a good _ deal of hard \j-ork right on the Wellington line, but some time elapsed before the defence could be pierced. The game became most interesting, but at last W. Thomas relieved the tension by equalising matters for Petone, and Nicholls iijain was unable to convert. Wellington, 6; Petone, 6. The ensuing play was characterised by occasional passing rushes of some neatness by both sides. Petone never failed to keep up a relentless attack, and in the end their purpose was achieved, for Wellington bocamo unable to hold thorn. The Blues attacked hard, and A. Parker had hard luck in not scoring. The ball rolled over tho line, and Parker galloped after it. He wns just on the point of adding to the Petone score, when a'Wellington player fell on the ball, thus securing a force-down. A scrum provided the means for Petone getting possession, and the Blues were placed in the lead by A. Thomas. Once' more was Nicholls unsuccessful. Petone,' 9; Wellington, fi. Wellington's combination became weaker, and they did not exhibit so much of their former dash. Petone got the ball, and the backs swept down in a pretty passing rush, which ended in A. Parker scoring near the torner without any serious trouble. Nicholls missed the' kick. Petone, 12; Wellington, C. Soon after this the Petone hookers were successful. In a scrum C. Green whislred the ball away cleanly and neatly, and A. Parker added another try. C. Thomas placed the ball nicely between the posts. Petone, 17 j Wellington, 6. Fast open play followed, and Chesterman did quite a deal of useful work for Wellington, who made matters warm for Petone for a whilo. Play came bade to the Wellington end, however, and Petono, getting the ball from a line-out, sent their score up another three points per medium of Hum Taukardl A. Thomas 'converted. Petoue, 22; Wellington, I!. Though the odds were much against Wellington, they made another dotermincd effort to score, and a brief period of faet open play closed in Savident beating W. Thomas and scoring a well-earned try, which was not converted. Petone, 22; Wellington, 9. Towards the closing stages Clem Green got the ball away nicely to the Petone backs, who provided a spectacular passing bout which ended in W. Thomas crossing the Wellington lino at the corner. A. Thomas converted. Petone, 2"; Wellington, 9. Petono then found themselves on the defensive, and several times their line was in danger. Tho Petono backs saved the situation, and a pretty passing rush took place right down the length of the field, the inovement resulting in A. Thomas scoring. No further points wero gained by either sido, and the game ended with tho score: Petone, 30; Wellington, 9. Mr. E. Trcgear was referee. SELWYN (3) v. ORIENTAL (0). Selwyn and Oriental were evenly matched, the final score being: Selwyn, 3j Oriental, 0. The scoro for tho winners was registered by Gill, who kicked a . penalty goal., JUNIOR GRADE. Selwyn defeated Wellington by default. Third Grade. Poneke, 28; Oriental, 3. Fifth Grade. Ponoko, 6; Wellington, 3. WAIIUI? APA C!llAJl PIOiN SHIP OPENED. (Hy Telegraph—Special OoriTspondent.) Masterton, May 19. The championship ltugby football matches were opened at Masterton on Saturday, when Gladstone defeated Red Stare by three points to nil.

SCRUM FORMATION

In the opinion of an experienced footballer and referee, Mr. W. W. Parkineon, of the "Sportsman," the New Zealaud system of eorum formation, as witnessed in matches played in England by troops, has no equal as a match-winning machine. "If the piling up of big 6coree and. the provision of epectacular football bo the end aimed at," said Mr. Parkinson

recently, "then by nil means train your tennis on tins system, kit I. feel strongly that tlio Individual player will suffer, lor when lie leaves school hi" will not bo so good an exponent of tlio same as one who has been (rained nt a school where the ordinary formation i<. in use. Thin is especially the case with resard to forwards. Of eoitrsi', if tin'. Now Zealand formation were adopted hy till club* the objection falls to the ground, hut I am of the opinion that, n.s things nre, the boy from 'a New Zealand system' school. Is io a certain extent handicapped.