RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 277, 12 August 1918, Page 8

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

PONEKE DEFEAT PETONE

COMPETITION NOT YET

DECIDED

Contrary to expectations Ponoke defeated Petone at the Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon, thus leaving the result of tho 1918 championship.competition still in doubt. The position with regard to the game was that Petone would havo won the championship had they defeated or even drawn with Poneke, but the latter team having come off victorious a final match becomes necessary, as both teams are now level with two losses apiece during the season. Poneke won the game by 9 to 6. I'Yoin n. spectacular point of viow' tho match was somewhat disappointing. There wa3 not a great deal of back play; iu fact, it was only on very rare occasions that Petone were ablo to get their rear division in action properlv. Poneke were perhaps a little bonder than tho Petone team, and this gave them some advantage. The gamewas strenuously contested, though, and it was not until well into the second spell that anvone could be absolutely confident that the Pied and Blacks were going to come out on top. Tho game was played on the representative field, north and south, and tho ground was in fairly good condition, but a little muddy in patches. Poneke kicked off with the sun in their eyes. Petone forwards set up a sirone attack, and carried tho play into the Bed and Blacks* twenty-live. *In subsequent play an opening created by Morris placed Petone in jeopardy, but tho Blue forwards were handy, and Tanered and A. Parker did good' defensive work. A good deal of line-out play was witnessed after this, and Poneke, getting the best of the tussles which resulted, the Blues were • compelled to seek refuge in a. force-down. Morris had a shot at kicking a penalty j goal, but was unsuccessful. W. Thomas \ took a kick from a mark by Hagan, and ; only just missed drawing first blood for I Petone. What appeared to be a likely-j looking opportunity for the Blues was , marred by A. Parker clinging to the ball j instead of letting it out. Poneke's van- '. guard got clear, but V, r . Thomas saved j the situation by picking up end finding . the line. A little later Petone had. to force down. A brenk-away by Christoplicrsou was the next item of interest, but a scrum was ordered on the line. The Red and Black hookers got possession, and Pollock sent the ball on to MTaggvt, who easily crossed over and touched do,wn. Morris failed to convert. Poneke, 3; Petono, 0.. A little later, when the play became very keen, Dobson got the bail from tho ruck and scored Poneke's second try. Morris did not convert. Poneke, 6; Petone, 0. The'Poneke forwards were playing a great game, and they swept Petono right down the field. Morris was penalised in play near the Blue line, however, and Petono were thus enabled to recover a good deal of lost ground. The Blues assumed the offensive, and Christopherson saved by kicking into touch. A nice passing rush then took place, in which Nic.holls, Corner, and Hamilton participated, but Petone's luck was out, and the movement was nega-. tivei Nicholls, tho Petono half, was prominent at this stage, and made several valiant efforts to open out tho play. A dribbling rush by the Poneke forwards made matters awkward for the Blues, who were awarded a penalty kick, thus relieving the pressure. Half-time sounded with the scoro: Poneke, G; Petone, 0. After the resumption A. Thomas took a penalty kick for Petone, but missed. The game now became very hard, and willing. Poneke were placed on their defence, and from the mush in front of the goal the Blues got the ball, and Nyhan scored an easy try. Thomas mado a very fine attempt to convert, but tho ball' unfortunately struck ono of the uprights. Ponoke, 6; Petone, 3. Petone were now making the pace very warm, and Poneke had' to force down. Tho lied and Black forwards' got the upper hand, however, and hid hard luck-» in not' scoring. Tilyard put in some useful work for Poneke, and was instrumental in his side obtaining some good advantages. Play was stopped.for a while owinsf to A'. Parker being incapacitated, but ho afterwards resumed. Poneko wera penalised, but W. Thomas did no good with the kick. A pass from Tilyard was leccivcd by Christopherson, who made a great run on his own and scored a very good trv. Marks failed with tho kick. Poneke,'9; Petone, 3. A. Parker was again hurt, and had to be taken off the field, suffering from slight concussion. Poneke vigorously attacked, and Morris tried to cross oyer at tho corner, but was held up when within an ace of success. The Blues obtained possession, and Nicholls sent the ball on to Tanered. who was close at hand and was successful in creating an opening. Petone managed to keep tho ball, and Hamilton passed to TV. Thomas, who got across. Tho try remained unconverted. There was no 'furthor scoro, and the game ended with Potone attacking in the Poneke twentv-five. Result: Poneke, !); Petone, G. Mr. L. Simpson was rcfereo.

SELWYN V. WELLINGTON. Played <n tho Duppa Street ground, Sehvvn bad an easy win by 23 to nil over' Wellington. The game brought out some good play from both teams, but Selwyn was by far the stronger combination. For toe winners Hoskins scored thwß tries «.nd Wilson, Wogan, and Foster one each. Jell kicked a penalty goal, and Pcgley converted a try. Ballantyne, the scorer for Wellington, kicked a penalty goal. Mr. H. M'Girr was referee.

UNIVERSITY AND OLD BOYS. After an uninteresting game University defeated Old Boys by lli points to 'J. Tries for tho winners wero secured by Scott, Barker, Pope, and Martin-Smith, two of which were converted by Scott. Clapcott potted a goal for Old Boys.

ORIENTAL AND TRENTHAM B. Oriental and Trentham B met on New. town Park, and the match resulted in favour of the former by ton points to six points. Each side scored two tries, but, while Oriental converted both theirs, '.lirentham failed in each instance to add tho major points. For tho winners Haines and Griffiths scored tries, which were converted by Mann and Irvine. C'outts and Bates scored Trentham's tries. Mr. Bradley was referee. Third Class. Selwyn (18 points) t. 9t. Patrick's College (16 points). Fifth Class. Berhamporo defeated Hul't by 11 points to li. Tries for the winners were obtained by Archer, Barker, and Cousins. Greig converted one try. Berhamporo now have a lead of six clear points for tho championship. Selwyn, 8; Athletic, G. At Duppa Street Scots Collego defeated Poneko by 17 points to nil. Welch scored three tries, Gibson one, and Scott one, which he converted. CANTERBURY V. OTAGO. By Telegraph—Press Association Christchurch, August 10 The Cantorbury and Otago representative football teams met on the showgrounds to-day, tho home team winning by 11 points to 8. The weather was very fino overhead and there was no wind, but tho ground was very heavy—in places a quagmire. Tho attendance* was about three thousand, and the gate takings X 203. Soon after tho kick off some smart marks wero snapped up by Otago, and from one Campbell had a shot at goal, the ball striking the cross-bar. Canterbury were kept busy defending and forced down twice. Then the homo team took up the offensive for a time, but s. fiorco Otago forward rush carried tho ball to the Red line, where M'Lood saved. Later on, at tho half-wny, Mullins made an opening, and a forward rush, led by E. Ciunmings, carried tho ball on to Otago's lino. Gray picked up and feinted his way over. Tench converted. Canterbury, 5; Otago, 0. Soon aflerwardß Henry ran round tho field and scored a second time for Canterbury. No goal resulted. Canterbury, 8; Otago, 0. Early in the second half Zimmerman scored after a fino passing rush by the Canterbury backs. Canterbury, 11; Otago, 0. After a good deal of play up and down the ground the strenuous work of the Otago forwards told, and a rush ,ended in Patrick forcing his way over. Campbell failed with tho kick at goal

Canterbury, 11; Otago, 3. The Blues kept up tlio pressure 1 , and a miskick by M'Leod let Glengarry over. Campbell kicked a fine goal. Canterbury, 11; Otngo, 8. Shortly afterwards the game ended with Canterbury on the attncit. Otago were somowhat unlucky to lose as thev threw away several good opportunities, .particularly in tho first spell. REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS The following players have been selected to do battle in the representative matches on Saturday next, and aro requested to attend tho Poneke gymnasium at Itataitai to-night at 7.30:— V. AUCKLAND (AT AUCKLAND). Valentine (Wellington!, Scott (University), Porter (Old Boys), and Thomas (Petone); Corner (Petone) and Morris (Poneke); Nicholls (Petonp); Arthur and Albert Parker and Tancretl (Petone), Eberhvdt (Oriental), Marks (Poneke), Trov (Poneke), Scott (Petone). P. Tilyard (Poneke) is rover. Emergencies: Baok—Hamilton (Petone); forward—Corliss (Athletic). If there aro defections from the team, Nyhau (Petone.) becomes emergency back, and Bowe (Poneke) emergency forward. V. WAIRARAPA (AT CARTERTON). Malin (Ponoko), Savident (Wellington), Ch -istopherson (Poneke), M'Cabe (Athletic), Ridings (Oriental), Aitken (Umvereity). Pollock (Poneke), Dobson (Poneke), Poulter (Oriental), Dickens (Petone), Emerson (Old Boys), Thomas (Petone), Martin-Smith (University), Carr (Old Boys), Dovonport (Wellington), wing. Shannhan (Petone), emergency forward.