RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 248, 14 July 1919, Page 7

RUGBY

PETONE DEFEAT ATHLETIC RAIN AND MUD SPOIL -PLAY :'."' The drizzling rain and high wind did not prevent sonio two thousand spectators from attending the Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon to witness the match between Potone nnd Athletic. The ground was in • a very sorry condition, and its slippery nature denied the players the opportunity to-bring into play the skill and-combination which would •undoubtedly have ensued had the weather'b'eon fine. As it was, both-'tenma did,their utmost to overcome difficulties and'make the gamo as interesting ns possible, and-in this direction they met with some degree of success.' Every attempt bv the backs to open play up was foiled b"y the slippery nature of the ground, andnaturally enough much Wild kioldng. ensued. The ieather, too, ,was -very, greasy, and was most difficult to handle, but' every now and then there weresnatohes of bright individual .play. Even.though the suburban team won t>y's points to 3, it would not bo quite fair to say.that they were, the better tk'ri, -.Given a fine day, '-.with' a good firm ground, tho decision would, possibly go to Athletics. However, .Petone are.to be congratulated.upon,their win. ,: Tlay: opened with tho wind.in Ath-. letics'' favour, and steady battling ensued in'mid-field for about ten minutes, when the Blues brought the leather into .their opponents' twenty-five, and the suburban team were compolled to force down. The kick from the twenty-five, yards line fell into Griffin's hands, but he failed -to. do anything with an opportunity # to' score, Tackling'well, Athletic maintained play in Potone's area, and soon _ Cunningham' and Paton got to work in an effort whioh culminated in the latter scoring amidst .applause... Griffin failed with the kick. Athletic, 3; Petone, nil. •Petono barrackers how began 'to make themselves heard, and as play moved into :the Blues' area the cries of,"Go. it, Petone!" were,loud and Jong,," After soma willing .-but. uneventful play . Nicholls secured tho.ball from a wrum near the .Athletics' ■ twenty-five.. .Then followed a most perfect exhibition of com-, bination by'tho,lacks..Nicholls was well away beforo the.Hlues.sorted.themselves out, and he passed to Corner, who passed to-Pole, and on went the leather to Thomas.and Hamilton, but the- fleety backs of tho Blues, checked this' pretty movement, and play was ouco again in mid-field. -The Petone barrackers,' who ■ere in the majority, cheered themselves .loarse at .this 1 piece of play, and wero :Id with enthusiasm. - Another' great -:h by Petono, was prettily stayed by sterman, wb,o found tho line. The • 5 came with tho-Blues, in. the Petone

r -'on resumption Petoiio,took 'full adnil -J-ge of. the wind/ which was increasV; strength, and eoon had,their.op-. >'S doing hard defensive work. A ,ji ' J/rash resulted in; Athletics having tOifOi-* down, and another great, effort by Peioilo was saved by Helej\ Play was dingeiWusly sear the Athletics' goal, and ■bv.t'foJ (4e nippy play of the-Blue backs havo- undoubtedly scored. Their strength kept Athletics very busy, nnd'Cjhtiftn caved.a dangerous situation. From't!"*'iiinß-out the leather came racing • along with tho. Blacks' threatening to scc-Te. Church rondo an effort to check, but slipped 'and .-fell.. Heley, however, picked ths ball up and saved. Amb|erliada shot at a penalty: goal at this stago but without success. Play was now confine* to Athletics' ■ twonty-five,; and another breach by the Blues gave Ambler a chance, which ho missed badly. The Potono forwards, however, followed up, and Athletic were compelled to force. Griffin found tho lino well mp," but- Petone got away from the line-out, enabling Nicholls to J'eturn play into ' the Blues' twenty-five lagajn. '■ A scrum followed, and- offside play gave Petone ' another free kick, which Ajnbler again failed to put to good- use. Griffin' centred the ball, anfl-Chureh "got-away, passing- to Hcley, .who'made' a' great run''before-"he: -wa;.; collared; ' The lliacfetheriput on'a great spurt,'and brought the play back in Athletics' tweniy-five, where' a gi'Pafe sernmbh took place.'Love broko through the rough and tumble-and'fell over the' Blues' Hue, amidst a terrific outburst of cheering. Ambler converted-.' Petone, 5; Athletic, S. "dtiak to'it, Petone!" came the cry, and the-Blues'we're up against a'stiffening attack. J'. Shanahan.brought the leather into the Blues' twenty-five, it' Cunningham returned, . and Petone's goal was threatened; Ambler, however, saved tlra position, arid in mid-field play Heley caught the. leather and riiride a great run, which failed because he was not supported. Athletics again attacked, but Hill reversed the situation, and the Blues forced, love was unfortunate in missing Another opnorthnitv to score, and tho game ended wi'th the play in the Bines' twenty-nvo. Mr. Tregear controlled the ga.mo..

• UNIVERSITY 29, ORIENTAL 6." The University-Oriental match was played at Duppa Street before a handful .of spectators. The ground was in a t sodden condition, and this, combined with the.'strong,,northerly wind- that swept across the ground, prevented anything, in the way'of, interesting- play. Several time 3 tlio University backs' got going, but it was only momentarily. Oriental, though defeated by n big.margin, were very unlucky on several occasions. For the winners scores were secured by Barker (3), .Aitkcn (3), and Tracy, whilst Jackson converted two and Scott added the major points to a like number.. For Oriental, .Devine and Gnir got the ball over the chalk mark together, and Allen secured.the.other.try. Mr. A.-Smart was referee. ..PONEKE : WIN BY DEFAULT. •■■ Gwing to 'tho Wellington team not belli? able to turn out in full strength, teke won by'default the match set ri.to be played at Lyall Bay. ..'!■• • Junior Grade.' . . '•"ijington College 39. War Expenses 0. "V 6, Marist Old Boys 3. , : woi( from Petone by deOil'eke won'from Petone by default.' j.'' Third Grade, • : Athletic 9, Wellington 0. Jomsonville G, Btrhninp'ore' o.' fcelwyn H, Petone 31. • (ha Boys 18.■ Hntt-3. Oriental 9, Porirua 3. ','; ' ' Fourth Grade, j-elwyn 26, OrientaKß 3. .Mono (18) defeated Scots College (3). , tljirt won. by default from Poneke, ■ Fifth' Grade. , Petone easily defeated Hutt by "1 runts to m . Owing to Hie wet weather tuo Petone team wore forced toplay two pinners by Clarke, Laurio, Childs, JVan--n-ell Usiiiar, .Golde, and Pawson. Mr •->.. Gates .was referee. ' .. ' • Sixth Grade.' .flhWlft..«J" W We '^ Rton Tcch - In furtherance of Hhe new scheme of cadet. traininsr and the introduction of games.instead of infantry drill, it Is in tended.to play a number of Rugbv g „ m c.s ■b tween: the respective cadet compamcx -It-.is ejected that th W will take place towardsMlie- end of the'present £c ? SI