THE RUGBY-GAME

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 260, 22 July 1918, Page 7

THE RUGBY-GAME

SATURDAY'S HATCHES

trentham a defeat TRENTHAM B

Tho decision of tho Management Commiob ot the Wellington Rugby Union i<> tia nstor tho match between the Trentam 4 Ironthani I! tennis to No 1 tii-ound Athletic Park, was thoroughly Jiwtihed, -lor on Saturday these two Jioen competitors provided a gamo which •was at onco interesting and willing from Marl to finish., fortunately tho ground was iu good condition. Tho victory wont to tho As by H points to 3, but tlie ? 3 Siyo a proper perspeclivo o; tho play, for, if anything, tho exhibition put up by tlio B's was somewhat aiure attractivo than that ( f the A's. I Ins may bo accounted for, perhaps, by sho tact that tho B's wet-o extreinolv .Hjixious to win, and left nothing to chanco in their efforts to do so. \t ■times tlio back play of both sides wis gjod but in this department tho work ol the As rear division was cleaner and more spectacular than Thar of tlio B's: Kmart and unerring tackling, however, ivas really tlio secret of iho A's success. J ime after timo a dashing Ye!low onslaught appeared to have every chance of success until the very last''moment, when pound defensive tactics on tho I'art of tlie A's rendered the movement abortive. Both teams contained a sprinkling of former _ New- Zealand representative and provincial players, including .'E. Roberts, Taylor, Glasgow, Hardwick, and Dick Roberts.

from tho kick off tho B's got going .iviitl set a vigorous offensive, tli'o A's being compelled to iorca down. Tho A backs eventually got into action, and a iino run by QokoirefiuUed iu his crossing tho Yellows' line. E. Soberts converted. A's, 5: B.'s, 0. The Blacks soon . found themselves defending hard, and B'a wero awarded a ponalty kick for an infringement in front of tho A's goal. Hardwick took Iho kick and placed tho leather between tho uprights. A's, 5; B's, In the ensuing play somo useful line-kicking by Glasgow was of material iftssislanco to tho Yellows. The A's, however, kept up their pressure, and a nice passing rush between tho backs was witnessed. Tho Yellow reargpard next look charge, anil a sweeping movement initialed by Webb would undoubtedly liave lieen successful but for good tackling o{ tho A's. An opening was made ' by-10. Roberts a fow minutes later, and ft lino passing rush ended in Backer (oucliitig down. K. Roberts took the kick, i". 1° ,m' 1 major points. i no,lis, J. Ihe subsequent play was keen and exciting from time to time, «m he A s vcro attacking hard- as tho cell rang. ■Upon tho resumption of plav the A's forced Iho pace, and E. Boberls broko away but was hold up by Webb. A 'frns kick taken by E, Kobcris just failed to cross Iho bar. After this tho B's viuiguard tried .to create an opening for «,i H t> i A's ' got possession find Tackor galloped away for tlio lino, .lie Has just in tlie net of touching down when lie lost the ball, and a Trentham B player tell on it, thus bringing about " lorce. Some clever and persistent work was performed by 13. Roberts, who finalY - nt u c ?. a V, I)U , fc ,nis neat l.V brought <loivn by Webb when just on the line. A lew minutes later Cloko scored a try for Iho A's, which Roberts did not conV' B ' s > 3 ' Up-and-down play followed until a pretty and irresistib.e nassing rush started by Roberts t<jrnunatcd with Packer touching down be--I'lllll the posts. Thero was no further score and tlie game ended: A's, H: B's, S. Mr. Xed. Venry gave every satisfaction as referee. PONEKE V. ORIENTAL, Playing on No. 2 Athlet'e Park, rcnoke defeated Oriental by 17 points B ;UD <-' was very willing, and both sides struggled hard, but Poneko outclassed llieir opponents in all depart- • ments. At the end of the lirst spell tlie score was 12 to nil for I'oneke, tries for the Tied ;and Blacks being obtained by Morris (2), Christopherson and Morris. In Iho second half it was soon manifest that Oriental had no chance jagainst Poneko, for whom f nil her trie's- were scored by ; 4'W,, Tilyard, Cowio,.. Chris- : topher-son, and King. Jlr. E. Treg&rwas referee. PETONE V. 'VARSITY,; Tho match belween University and peiuno was played at J'etone, and afforded n large number of spectators the ploa.sure of witnessing a fasij .clean, open game. 'Varsity kicked off against I a s-i gui lirceze, and set up a'strong <it- ! tack. Tlie Petone forwards, however, 6Uf.ni removed lflny to tho 'Vai'sifrtv. I lily-live, and within a few 'minutes ■ ot the commencement of the game, Cor- 1 net- scored beneath tho posts, Thomas converting, '\nrsity then brightened" up ' ami presssd -the home team strenuously. After a line passing rush amongst 'the I \ ur-ily backs, Gillespie, with a' brilliant iu u. crossed the I'etono line. Morton converted. The play that ensued . was of o fast, open nature, loth sides : Men-i'.ing their backs freely. Near the . \ arsily hue Nieholls worked the blind ! side of tho scrum, Corner was in the right place, and scored near the flag. , Thomas again converted. 'Varsity then retaliated by Barker getting over under the posls. Morton was successful with the kick. Just before half-time 'Varsity

were awarded a froc-lciclc. and Morton was again successful in piloting the ball over the crossbar. Half-time mw tlio score: 'Varsity, 13; Petono, IK. Tho second half started with some fast play in uiidtiokl, but very soon the l'etone ionvards woro down their lighter opponents, and commenced 'to press heavily. An excellent forward rush by tho l'etone forwards saw "Kruger" Parker cross the lino. 'Varsity were unable lo move from their own twenty-live for tho remainder of the Rame. Petone scored several tries before the call of time, A. Parker, Wade, and Corner being the successful scorers. Thomas converted a number of the trios, and Nicholls kicked a penaltv goal. The filial score was; Petone, 30; 'Varsity, 13. The Petone team gave an exeelleni display of football, a noticeable nature of the game being the brainy work of Nicholls, the Petone half-back. WELLINGTON COLLEGE V. SELWYN. Tho College team continued on' its winning career i" tho senior championship on Saturday, when Selwyn wero defeated by 22 points to 8. Tlio boys got to work early, and led by eleven to nil at haiflime. Two more tries, one of them converted, went on to the slato before Selwyn commenced their scoring account (lil--.i), each side then adding a try apiece before "No side." _ Wellington College's tally consisted of six tries (two converted by A'icliolls), | scored by Davidson (II tries), Smith, Mon- j crielf, and .1. N. -Millard (ono try each). ! Although they 'did not play their firs'. I match until June 1 (and they lost it by a I point), tho 'Wellington College team ! stands fourth on tho championship table, i with only Petoiie, Poneke, and Trentham A in front of thorn. As the senior championship is an open one this season, j the age limit having been abolished, the ; performance of tho College team is a | particularly tine one, as the forward division contains four boys of IS years ! and three of 17, ' ;

Great interest is being taken- in the College's second meeting with 'Varsity at tho Athletic Park nest Saturday. Tho Greens »r;< very keen to avenge their sensational defeat by College (.14 —13) on Juno .S, and tho gamo will be an interesting one. WELLINGTON V. OLD BOYS. Wellington met Old Boys on theDuppa Street Reservo on Saturday, and were victorious by 14 points to 3.' In the first half Chesterton scored a try for Wellington, and Puwer converted. Valentine ended a brilliant run through the Old Boys'_ backs by grounding the ball over the line. Tho major points were not added. Tho play until half-time was of the uninteresting scrum order. On resuming, Carr scored a meritorious try lor Old lii.yi; by some good individual work, Imt Man-is failed with the kick, .the rally of Old Boys was short-lived, Chesterton, shortly afterwards, added three mora points lo Old Boys' debit. Claridgo also got oyer their line. The scores at the-conclusion of the game were Wellington 14, Old Boys 3. llr. J. Haydon relerecd.