RUGBY FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 235, 30 June 1919, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

u SATURDAY'S MATCHES DEFEAT PONEKE A GREAT PERFORMANCE

Oue of .the ihqst sun-prising' matches of the .season was 'played at the Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon, when.Athletic.. defeated Poneko iby.(2o points to 17. Considering that Poneke were leading by ■14 points'to nil at half-tme, the victory >vao all - the more astonjshing. Out of their score of 20, Athletic, only obtained ■two., tries, the. reniaindef of the points being- due ;to the fine pace-kicking «i Griffin, the Blue, full-baci, who,- in addition to converting one tfy, kicked four :ot'her goals. It is niwy . years since ; such an exhibition of place-kicking has / been seen at the Park aijd it is safe to I EQy that if Athletic win jthe champion- • ship, in which they aro now leading by I two points- from. Poneke,| their .-position will- be. largely, thp result of- Griffin's fine display on. Saturday. I His incluaon in the team,.'which at iiist was.uiicer- , tain, proved a'-most fortiiinate circum- ' stance for Athletic, arid be thoroughly 'justified his. selection; The ground-was in. excellent' condition .. the/.match, and there was an attendance -of about

7000 spectators. Poneke ll.ad. far the bettor of the game in' the,-first half, and in a. good deal, of the secoiid spell; their backs showing -up to betfer advantage than -those of, Athletic. Both forward divisions were fairly evenlj matched, if .anything the Poneke vanguard ;being the stronger of the two. On collective merit the victory should.havo goie to' Poneke, , and,' as stated above, ■ Athfetio'can at- ', tribute their win to the eicellent .liick- ■ ing of, Griffin. I/; , ; Athletic 'kicked .off with the "sun in . their eyes, but th'o Poneka backs 600n got away, C.. Tilyard creating an opening from' the ruck-.in the Hid and Black .twenty-five. - The-ball was passed' from C. Tilyard to Algar, who ssnt' it .on to M'ArtW. The latter iboltid down' the line, but was. collared when ne-had peno- ! ttated some distance into Jhe 'Athletio twenty-fivo. Close''forward play follow- , cd until W. Ryan got the I ball at Hs toe and dribbled over - the halfway line. Thp Blues were maintaining-Itheir. superiority, when suddenly, the poneke for- . wards dashed in and 1 took possession of the- leather, carrying play right down field-.- • -E. Boberts. then broke, clear, but 3iO;had,not proceeded Very fat before liis progress was -stopped.'' J.- Tilyaid'-iotind the line with-a serviceable kick,- wliich gayo .Poneke .a momentary : ■'<advantage. Ch'esterman was doing' particularly good work for Athletic, land, he Ws-. instrumental in stepping , a. dangerous run on the.part of, Christopherson. :Athletio £et up-' another -attack", brit Porioko got pes-: session. The Blues .were -then pehalisod for ojf-side play on the. part of .Holey, who intercepted a pass ( made by-;ChriS-.lqphoson-to one. of the. Bed: backs; The -. kick,,at' goal ..was entrusted' to "" Chris* tophorson; but ; tho ball went wide of the, po9te.'r Athletic-were'kept hard on the- defensive, the Poneke for-! waxds malting .'-the., paco ■ • very ~ .willing! 'After- a. period , of very • clo^- .Tyork* the Poneke backs .got. into-Action,, and C. Tilyard succeeded . jn scoring . a, welldeserved ' try.. J., Tilyard vfniled to concert. Within' a" .couple of- minutes Calcinai. scored,.a. second try. for . Poneko, dnd 'as Algar did not succeed in adding tho: major points, the soore! read; . Poneke,. 6; Athletic, 0. . Before very long the - Poneke backs were again . "making things lively, aud Algar'.created aii opening which enabled J. Tilyard. t-o get in a Jflear .run down field and score ui'der tho-; . posts.. . ChristopheKon, goaled. Poneke, ..11; Athletic, 0.. Things were looking, very black for lAthletio, 'and' they become' worse.-when Elli.ott (Scored a" further try just before, half-time sounded. This try was obtained in '.ratilier a . peculiar manner.' The ball had been kick'across thd,Athletic -lins,- and'.Griffin, tho full-back, fumbled it somewhat,'when Elliott dashed np. and touched down at tlii) ". 'corner;:' .' Christopherson failed "with . the.lficlc, Pon6ke,\l4; .O.'^ . 'AVitJi. fourteen.':'points. against, them- it ■ appealed ps* . if Athletio' had not a- ghost .of-ii chanco of getting anywhere near tlio Poneke score. . Shortly. after "the - 6pell commenced. Poneke; swarmed down-,.to-wards the Athletic .line.. The ball was kicked' across the line, .and '-Troy, .'who followed up. fast, was handy, and/ drop- ' ped.on.it. _ Malin attempted .to vert, but without success., ' -Poneke, -17'; 'Athletic, 0. Cunningham afterwards initiated a rush, and Poneke were pushed back into; their own territory.' Athletic were awarded a freo kick, and, from this tlieir, first ' score was;.obtained, Griffin landing the ball between the posts with a very fine .shot. . Poneke, 17; Athletic, .'i. The play -now livened up a gooddeal.. and Athletio put-more vim into their., efforts. Loyeridge, got the,ball 'ffom a scrum,. and';a passing, rush fol-. lowed, the'participants being'E. Roberts; Jf'Cabe, and Heley. Tho latter's pace. to]d. and .he got over .near. the -corner. Griffin-converted. Poneke, 17; Athletic, B.Poneke gradually worked their way into the Athletic twenty-five,, but Cunningham suddenly picked up; from , a ' scramble., near half-way, and passed., to E. Koberts. .The ...latter transferred . to Loveridge, who. sent ;the . ball' on- to ll'Cabe. After a short,, dodgy! run, M'Cnbe touched down, sooring a great try. Griffin had no luck with the kick. Poneko, 17; Athletic, 11. The Blues werp now fighting strenuously to win, and_

they left little to chance.. .Griffin had a shot at goal-frpm a mark by AY. Evan,, but tlio attempt was poor. Athletic kept up a strong pressure; and were undoubtedly making- an impression ou their opponents, whose resistance was weakening. K'Cabe received a pass from E. Roberts, and was just within striking distance when he was collared. Poneke woro subsequently awarded a free-kick, which resulted in tlieir gaining a good bit of ground, but Griffin then tried to pot a coal from near half-way. Tho kick was a .very good one, but it missed the uprights. ' Poneke were then penalised for nil infringement, and Griffin kicked a fiho goal. Poneke, 17; Athletic. 14: Poneke "barrackers" were now beginning to. entertain doubts as to the probable result of the match; arid their fears were still further increased when Griffin kicked another'penalty goal from near the half-way line, thus equalising tho score. Thg"re' was nothing particularly brilliant about the ensuing play, which, however, was fairly fast. .At length' Athletic jumped ahead, thanks to. Griffin, wlio kicked a goal from a mark. Athletic, 20; Poneke, 17. Darkness was now descending rapidly, and it became difficult to discern the players. Thoro was no further score by either side, and the game ended in a very, creditable victory for Athletic. Mr. L. Simpson was referee".

WELLINGTON (16) V. UNIVERSITY (8) Wellington achieved their first \ictory for the reason on Saturday at Kilbirnie, when they mot and defeated -University by 16 points to 8 .points. Even though the second round of the senior competition has commenced' Wellington has not yet shown any'evidence.of serious-train-ing, and on the play in Saturday's match the University team shouid have woV University wero weak in tho forwards, but their backs did great work end relieved tho scrappiness of tho play. The. game commenced with tho high wind' in University's favour,. and very little time had elapsed before, their backs displayed'their ability. ■ Aitk'en smartly picked up the ball, ran, and passed to Barker, who in turn passed-to Gillespie, tfie - latter registering the first-try. Scott converted. University, 5; Wellington, nil. Wellington followed uv> shortly after with a try oy M'Donald, Porter converting. ' Wellington; s;;University, 5 Just before the spell- Barker scored for University, but facott failed to- convert. B—s. Upon resuming. Porter made tho scores even by kicking a nioe penalty-goal". B—B. Another, attompt .by tho Game player shortly after went wide, aid following this Wellington began to threaten, the ■University goal. A 6oruin near the Greens line at length gave Prendeville chance which lio made good use l of. and scored. . Porter succeeded with the kick Wellington, 13; University, B.' University followed up ; with-flashes of pretty play, but were unable to break down the defensive, of their'opponents, at length a breach of the . rules., enabled' Porter, to register a fine pknalty-goal. Wellington, 16 j University, . The game ended without any; alteration in the score. Mi;. IL T.. Bailey was the', referee.

. . SELWYN (19) ORIENTAL (0). The senior match played .at, Duppa Street between -Selwyii- urnl Oriental attracted a fair crowd of spectators.- Orientalk'kickg'doff with the wind in tlieir favour. The 'first half'of the game was very even, only one score being registered, this being a try obtained by Gieary. and converted'by 'Marshall. - AVith- tlio wind:at th'eii- backs in the second-.half the Selwyii' combination proved to be too strong for Oriental. The Selwyn team lias some fast runners, and every r..an is a sure tackier, and these faots • led to Oriental's downfall. Tries were scored in tho second half -by H. . Marshall, Wogan, Eiddiford and Brion, one of tlio tries being converted by Marshall, The final! result was-Selwyn,-19; Oriental, 0. Mr. ill. -P. Larway .-had control of the gamei I

"•■/LOWER GRADE RESULTS. • ' ' JUNIOR. | ..Wellington College (29) v. 'University (0). i ;Berl&mppi'e (11) • v. War' Expenses' (0). ' Hutt(l2) v' Poneke (5).. .Maffet ;pld .Boys' (8) v.Petone'(3). . • r • .third. grade.'"' ' ;, 'i'jAjthlßtio'-(6; : vv TCailwiy Battalion V'Bethamp'ove .-(9) a'i f Petnna-(7). I'-Johii6onville (3)' v. Hutt- (0). ' Selnfyn (11) v. Old Boys (3); ' '-'Wellington °(16) v. Ponrua (3). . . •( ■ St. Patrick's College (17) v.. Oriental-.(3), " '{ ' ' FOURTH GRADE, . Welfingtoh-14. (IS) v. Scots College (1G). .' Oriental A (9) v. Mascot (A,, Oriental B (6) v*. Poneko (0). Wellington College (11) v. Hutt (3). Berhampore (14) v. Selwyn (G). Eetone (15) v. Marist, Old Boys (6). Banks College (27) v. Old Boys (9). .' FIFTH. GRADE. . . '■•-Wellington College A-(23). v. Pelone (9), St. Patrick's College -'(9) v; Poneko (G). • - ; ' SIXTH GRADE, Wellington College A (9) v. TeclimohlHigh iScnool. (3), Wellington College B (20) v. Scot's College. (0). ' ' - • ' 'St..-Patrick's College A (22) v.-Hutt (3). Petono won from St' Patrick's College B by ' default.. JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE TEAM ■' ' Messrs. •. S. Danks; W. Fraser, and J. N.iMillard .have selected the following team to.''play against Wairarapa at Ca'rt&i'toh'on Saturday next:— • Pall-tack, Wright (Hutt); three-quar-

ters, Dealy (Marist), Wilson (Borliainpore), Kennedy (Hutt)'; five-eighths, Purrant (Petone), Cleary (Marist); half, Watsou (Berhampore); wing forward, Grierson (Hutt); forwards—hookers, Brown (Poneke), Wylie (Petone); lock, Carroll (Marist); supports, P. Sullivan (Hutt), J. Osborne (Hutt); back row, Burns (University), Watters (Berhampore). Emergency; Back, Muller (Poneke). The following 1 are tho additional emergencies:—Backs, Matheson (Berhainnore), M'Cleary (Marist); forwards, Melrose (Marist), C'owio (Poneke), Cuilby (Hutt). Owing to tho new railway time-table it .is not yet certain whether tho team will be required to leave Wellington at -1.2S p.m. on Friday or 8.5 a.m. on Saturday, and if the Wairarapa Union is unable to arrange to play the match early enough to permit of AVellingtou's return by tho 4.15 p.m. train ou Saturday, in all probability the match will bo postponed until September 6, as a curtainraiser to the senior fixture at Carterton. As things now stand there will be no Monday morning train, and the team could not return to Wellington until late Monday night, unless AVairarapa can arrange to play early on. Saturday. In the meantime junior fixtures for the local championship will lie published as usual to-morrow pending decision of the AY.B.F.U. at Tuesday night's meeting, but if it is decided to go on with the AVairarana match the four junior fixtures will be off on Saturday. Unless tho situation improves later the whole representative programme for the season will be jeopardised. IN THE MANAWATU. RESULTS OP SATURDAY'S CON- . • TESTS. By Telegraph—Special Correspondent. Palmcrston North, June 29. Results of Saturday's football are;— ■ Seniors—High School (13) v. Feilding (8). AVestern United (15) v. Awahuri (5). Pirate A (26) v. Pirate B ',3). Juniors.—Huia (9) v. Awahuri (0). Kin. Toa (9)' v. High School (3). .Tackeytown (14) v. Feilding (5). Ashhurst (6) v. AVes. tern United (5). Third Grade.—High School. (G): v. We - tern United-(0).

In "the Awahuri v. AVestern United senior game a player, who was ordered off the field for rough - playi returned unobserved, and attacked an opponent, Jack Brown, a Western United player, striking him and rendering him uncoil'scions. It took a considerable time t& bring Brown around. Only recently another player ii the Manawalu competition was disqualified for life, for striking a referee, and apparently tho union -« ; ill have to adopt stern measures to' put down rough play in the Manawatu, which is at present rampant. WAIRARAPA. |Ey Telegraph—Special Correspondent. . .- . Mastertorii June 29. In the championship match played: at Carterton yesterday, Gladstone defeated Bed .'Stars, after an exciting struggle, by six points to nil.