RUGBY FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 194, 12 May 1919, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

■ SATURDAY'S CONTESTS ■ BIG WINS FOR PETONE AND ,: . ■ I'ONEKH. ;./■■ ■.■;. There were- some splashes of interesting ■football in the Pctone-Wellington match, played oh Ko. 1 ground, Athletic I'ark, on Saturday afternoon. • Play throughout was generally fnst, but, i\s uonal, Petone's backs were found to be very hard nuts to crack. Potoiie always did possess a good rear.division, and •■thisyear,, they (jive promise of being able to maintain their high reputation in tins respect. Wellington have some excellent material in tho forwards, and -more should be heard of this team as ' the fiCflaon progresses. The Yellows succumbed to Petoiie by 22 points to nil. "'' .Wellington- kicked off, arid' a. forward rush ensued in' Petdne's twenty-fiVo. Potone ■ afterwards attacked, -and Pole nin'rto a. splendid'dash up'the line, but he was thrown out at tho corner. The, Bhle3 wero; awarded a free-kick-, which' Thomas failed to deal with successfully.' Once again Wellington found themselves on tho defensive, ultimately, having 'to seek relief by forcing., A fresh' offensive by Petone was nullified 'through Pearson,' tho Yellow full-back, taking a. mark. Tho Petqiieites camo very near'to scoring,'flip fact of one playe? takiiifj too long to . send, tho ball on to'"Nyhan being responsible for. their failure to do so. The Wellington van l'oiight hard and "changed the venue to' half-way. ' Petone pressed Jinrd, however, mid a. .snappy run by Hamilton, produced the first try of the day. Thomas did/not convert. Petcme, 3; Wellington, 0. For a while the play remained even, some nice (lashes, of passing being witne.?sed_..pn both sides, until Potono set up a, strong forward rush which terminated in Hamilton, who M-lowed-'up fast, gettingover the 'lino. Thomas added the major points*.-- Petone,8; Wellington; 0.- At hnlf-tiine ; Potoho were attacking. . .;..•.■:'■ '"•'.. The -second. spell had -barely opened when-tho Potono backs ■ got-going, and Corner dashed over near- the corner-flog. Thomas was entrusted with the. lack, but hie direction was. not true. Petone, 11; Wellington, 0. Tho Yellows then'became

aggressive, -and Petone. had to defend I hard. , .tlio Wolliiisfton forwards niakins; a great effort to break through. Jlncii play on tlirs line-out ensued, aiid the \, game, lacked lustre; until Wellington attacked hard, and would pwilwMy have- / got through had it not been for Hamilton goiiig down in fine style and'stopping .a (ian-rerousjW-rilirigtoii rush.' Wellington , continued/to keen up their pressure, but . Hill marked wtd relieved .'ilin tension. Shortly after this Wellington lost the ser-: vices of. Conner, wlio received: a sharp •knock over the .kidneys through "coining in contact ' with •' an 'opppnent'a • knee. Petone had flip- advantage in the ensuing play, and Smilie; one. of Hie" suburban front-ranfccrs, made.a great run down \ tho line. It looked fis if he must get across, but Savidcnt overhauled him ami down he eame. This individual episode, on Snijlie's lrnrt placed " Wellington in i . great jconardv, however, and they were comnslled to foreo down. The game nftefwards bec'nme more" open, but Petone maintained their sutieriorify ' and ran their onpon°nts "ofF .t!«-ir feet at times. A pretty pipre .of (Iribblinp enabled A. Parker to 1 add. another try" to' Petono's score.. Hamilton did not convert. Petone. U; Wellington, , 0. Thrie -urns drawing very clase now. and it was evhlont ihat IVelliEgton could not save the situation. They continued to put up 'a plucky fi°-ht, though, and the'vigour if the piny did not slacken a "degree. '■' PetoJio got "fclie ball from a scriini near ■ the eoalline, and Tomer hopped across, scoring a try which ;j\nib]ei: converted. • P<?to7n>, !!): "\\ T elli!i»+on. 0. A ' Ht'tie later Wylio pot-over; but Ambler did-no pood will) the kick. The Ml then■ sonndodvnnd -tho game curled. P«tone: 22: Wel'ington. ft. Dr. Vγ. Crawford, controlled tli»niaMi. and h'»i'd»eipinnsgav-9i)ineh satisfaction to both players and spectators. •

PONEKE (23) V. UNIVERSITY (5). Playing on ?fo. 2 ground, Athletio Park. .Poneke defeated' UniversitT by 23 •points tn; S. Ifnivprsity's tackling was somewhat'- weak; and that.'accpunted in nipasure for'••■tlieir • r»ver?R. In Chrisp'(lifiV'jyofwi 'a splendid, full-back.' who'savpil liis side froni trouble time'and time agaijl. ; .'• ' : ■ University kicked off,- and Poneke immediately Weed the mep. bad a kick Vit'.sjM. but misso-l.' although the Rttompt was fairly easy. University made pome very endpnvoiirs to get thoi" baA= TOinq-. 'And- nf ihfir passing rushes., nlthouph bri«f, werfl pleasinjr ;to ..Jforris nrovpd a fiharp, thorn jn Tlnivpr'ity's side, liowthere.; and evpryv,'bp''e. ■ and ' "-.is always on hand whpn wanted. ,Oill-p.=pi(> mif in n f-ttnt run. nassing flll bis onn"uen'ts, but 'nniveHtyl<i:t the 1-n". i"' , Morris nicked .uo.' Tho latter and'M'Arllnir brnke awav-on their r.ivn. b' ,! : were- held up in. T.li» Knivereity t, V p;i'v. c vp. A ?"'um nn +hf* linp pavß the Rrds the ball, and T.nylor dashed over, scoria" n h? wh'>'i f:hri=(op l u'i"'pn mpvnrtPfl. Pn'npko. 5: TTnivprfity. fl. The Un'.ver=ity pot n»y, anH nlay +nr>ir nlpf» ; u PonoVe tfrritory. Morris' tiring unsucwsfuliv to lpwen the presBiire." The TTnivpr?ity barlrs/irot possession, 'iniiii olp.irod. but Ai'ken made a, fav.ltv i'i--".l-n PcpH. n''d the movement ■K-a-s snoilcd. 'Poneke'set up a lint attwV. but CV.ri^' ipW calmly and kicked to touch. The f""owinjr. piny mie to the fldvantnee.-p{ University, who, for Hie first time during the spell hurled the

Bod and Black combination right down on to their.. own lines. Tho Poneke bucks toe too' nippy, however, ami within n bi'iof period tho University were on the defensive. Od'Arthm , '' made n great attempt to. get\ovev at the corner, but ho was securely hemmed in, and had to let go tlie ball. '.Barker, on tho wing, got well away, and came close to scoring for University, but he was: successfully tackled. • l .

The phy in the second half was practically altinc-sided. mid Poneke piled up tliu puiuts in their favour- Chrisp evoked several outbursts of applause from the spectators for the manner in which some of his stives wcVe eft'eded, and had it not boon for him tlii> score ajtnhist University would undoubtedly have been liij'her, Further tries for P.oiieke were obtainable by Power, Itonche, ' M'Arthur, and Morris. Algar converted ho try scored by Morris—obfaxhicd just before tun dose of the game-ami he also potted/ i, (.(i-.i Alviiit; jviihvnv through the second half University Wot tho upper hand for a while, nnd Barker opened out tho plav, creating an opportunity for Lowe to "score a try,/'to which Jackson. added two Doin'ts, Mr- 11.' Kobsrts was reiereo. ORIENTAL (19) V. OLD BOYS (0).

Soon after opening on Duppa Street Park'. , - Oriental proved tlieir superiority luxl hat Old Buys on Hie deiensive. Kingston got'awny with the ball, and scored, but the try remained unconverted. Oriental, 3;- 01(1 Boys, nil. O.d Boys rallied, and endeavoured to improve the situation, but Kingston secured the ball again, and with.tin open run recorded his. second try. Invin convertetj..jj_O- -The spoil came, without any alteration .-in'the score, ami the second lmlfeaw a-faster gam?, "i.i whl ? h Oneutiil held the advantage. Old Boys cer-h'iiilv-eticl their utmost.ebut then- combination was not sufficient, to combat Oriental's solid forward wort Another . opportkm/ty came Hingston s way, and he. .-again, scored, Papps ■ converting. lli-0 A breach-by the Whites gave Oriental a free-kick," winch Invin made full use of, kicking r beautiful goal. 10-0. . Shortly before, the close of the game'Paulter. came to tho front, ana scored./ T.he.try wne . not; converted, and -.'.the gaino ended with the score 19 tc nil Old Hoys certainly possess excellent material for a strong team, but they luck the necessary. training.. Air. King was the/referee. ATHLETIC (iii)"v. SELWYN (5).

On. the ! Duppa Stroot Park, Athletic found the Selwyi: combination a most difficult proposition, nnd as'the game prn-frr'ea-»ed it could he seen tli.it the merits of the teams we're about equal. Aβ iir their match against Ifniversity, the Athletics excelled An passing, but the'Selwyn tackling broke'up their open work. Ihe Athletic forwards were a heavy combination, but in their opponents they had a rare band of tac-kltrs. Prom the (commencement of play the game-was very even, .and it was not till shortly; before halt-time that any acoro was . recorded. Strenuous ■ efforts were made by Selwyn to ?top the heavy, forward of thei! opponents, but.the latter gradually worked down to Schyyn's goal, nnd Paton succeeded in getting , across.. Byiui converted with ease. Athletic,?; Selwyn, nil. Five minutes after the resumption Hair recorded the second try, whichChurch'converted. 10-0. Sohvyn'-wus easily beating the Blues in the loose, mid (heir taeklinff was worthy nfovery praise. Desmond nnd Geary wero tho most, prominent players-for Selwyn, and Gaylor' was. more than 'h match for Atliletic's best runners. Selwyn's efforts to senro wero most determined, mid they hnd bud hii;k in not making the game r drßw, Tierney iJok a forward paw from a scrum,, anil -was over the line, but was recalled. Heley secured tluv ball from tile , scrum, which followed, and made a good run, but was collared. The Athletic goal was seriously threatened,, but Hall saved the position,, and the play was Boon near the Selwyn line,'but iCnrl nud Tierney counler-attackfd, and with brisk play'gave Desmond the op-portunity-tq score. 'Tieruey converted. ' Selwyn attacked afresh, and Athletic pnt up a fight, during which ■51'CabB BPciired. Hip. ball, and left tho. nntik. on a brilliant m:i. with Gaylor hard; on his heels. M'C'uba soon sunciinibcd lo the Greens' champion tackier, and Alhletid were robbed of n try: The Ramp ended shortly ufte'r with no alteration in the score.- . The Athletic forward work was Hii'imshoul particularly good,. Paton' and H. lij'an being the-:iuo?t promiput players. •. .Mr. ~\\. Simpson was Iho referee.

"Hutt (13) defeated Wrist Old Boys (3). Uci'liuinporc, IG, defeated Petone, (i. Howuril, K-ussell, nnd Hinkliiig scored for Berhampore, Und Shardlow for Potone. University (9) v. Poneke (3). He rim m pure (3) v. Petone (9). ' - ' .' Third Class. Petone defeated Kailway by 15 points to .13. For Petone Glover, E. Smith, and M'Carthy scored tries,. Coles - converting one, and J. Smith potted a, goal. Oriental ((>) v, Johnsonvillo (5). . Wellington (3) v. Selwyn (3). Athletic (30) v. Hutt (nil). ■ Fourth Class. Petone defeated •Berhampore by 8 points lo nil. 'fries were, scored for Potone by Olson and Smith, dne try .beins converted by H. Nankivell. Hutt (13) v. Old Boys (7). The score was made up of two potted goals and a converted .try- to a putted goal and a penally goal. j Se'.wyn (S) v. Wellington (5). " Orinntnl A.(0) v: Banks College (3). Athletic (21) v. Oriental B (nil). . Sf.JU'.CA. (ii) v. Scots College (nil),