SATURDAY'S RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 264, 4 August 1919, Page 9

SATURDAY'S RUGBY

ATHLETICS MAINTAIN LEAD

VICTORY OVER UNIVERSITY T )K Another round of tho senior fixtures _ J .,'fas concluded on Saturday, leaving Ath-. '"otic in tho lead for the championship, '.jpo leading team has played cloven j matches, won nine, lost ono, and drawn fjlO. .Tho principal fixture on Saturday was . ,;£o Athletic-University match on : Athi y;tic Park, and in spite of the doubtful * feather conditions about five thousand jppectatora witnessed the gamo. Ths , ground was in a very slippery state. _ t .-' Tho champion team took the field in t .6plendid- condition, and nevor onco did they havo cause for alarm. In the case .' of tho University team their forwards 'wero weak, whilst their backs wero ex. cecdingly strong: They nevertheless put up a splendid fight, and it was not for tiie want of barruckers that ttiey lost the match. '■ • University won the toss and played with the wind against them. Athletic followed up tho kick-off and from a Bcrum which followed later, Paton secured tho ball' 1 and was smartly £ cross the line. Griffin failed with the kick. Athletic, 3; University, nil. Athletio 'Kept-play in the Greens' 25, and from a line-out E. Roberts grasped the leather . and made an opening, but Crisp effected n pretty save and found tho lino well up University followed up and Espiner mado a splendid break away from a ■ rough and tumble, which opened the way , for the Green backs \to display their 'combination. Scott secured the ball, 'passed to Jackson and on went the leather 'to Barker and Gillespie, the latter being within an aco'.of scoring when he was collared. Urged on by the crowd University maintained their stand and again ficott took the leather, and' tho same combination, with fiio addition of Aitken, gavo Tracer tho chance to score. Scott converted amidst wild enthusiasm. Athletic, 3; -University, 5. Athletic .made the'game fast after this, and set up a strong attack, which endod in Chester, man scoring. Griffin failed -with tho' kick. • Athletic, 6; University, 5. University made' thoi game willing and brought play into mid-field when tne Atiiletic backs got away with the ball, E. Roberts making the opening. Ho., pass< ed to L. Roberts who in turn delivered ' » very difficult pass for Chesternian to take, but the latter took the ball'and had hard luck to be stayed by the excellent tackling of Crisp.' Athletio couiined play to the Greens' 25; and Bowie opened tne play 'up and, assisted by L' Roberts- and Church, E. Roberts scored. He also converted. ' Athletic, 11; University 5. The Greens niado it willing and brought play into the. Athletics' areawhere ■ Jackson did some very smart work, which Crisp followed up with a fine kiok into Athlelic's 25. Tho defending backs, however, soon returned' the leather and Heley dribbled.the ball up field. - Tracey endeavoured to tackle, him and he at. last kicked the. leather over :and Crisp.' fell on- it and saved the situation. Fast interestjii" play that followed was pretty. to watch. Athletio backs main.tained play in the Greens -area and tarring a rough and tumble Cheiterman secured the ball from E.- Roberto, and scored. • E. Roberts" converted with ease. Athletic, 16; University, 5. During the struggle which culminated in this try '. M'Carlie received .\n injury to his knee and was carried 'off the field. - With tho gap in their ranks Athletic renewed the uttaok, But Gillespie bruiiffht the play back into tho Blues'. 25, where from a ' serum Athletics broke away and a hara battle'ensued in -the southern corner ol the Ureens' area. Heley took the ball from the pack and.scored. Griffin tailed to convert. Athletic, 19; University, 6 A pretty combined efiort by tho Greon backs ■ followed, the participators being Jackson, Aitken, Barker and Gillespie. A little later the Athletio backs once again broke away from midneld. Church distinguished' himself with a great run and passed to Ches ennau who either knocked the ball with ins elbow or knee and caught it again as it bounced' forward. Ho got over tho line, but the referee gave a scrum five yards out which . was followed W'-Tvluie-out almost On tho coal line. The Greens tint up a nard fight and, a breach by Athletic relieved tne situation. . . „•_',,' ' Tho Greens opened play m the second btoU amidst cheering from the spectators and they attacked with groat vigour. Griffiir saved the .first- onslaught, but in the following rush Brosnan 'got over. Scott failed with tho kick. Athletic. 19. 'University, 8. . Again ■ the Green • backs asserted themselves,, but without result. The -Miotic" torwards were now doing excellent work. Crisp made- a neat save and very fast play ensued• secured from a line-out, and kept Athletic very busy for a cousideraole time. 15. Roberts' tried to play the ball as he lay on the ground, and.this breach gavo Jackson the chance for a penally goal,but ho missed. Holey secured • lh» 'leather and mado along run but slipped as ho was tackled by BandeU.- Athlete their brightened up and brought play-into the Greens' area, ivhere Hall open*i play up suddenly and passed to E. Roberts who passed to -L. Roberts and thence tj. Helov who got a clear run.and scored between the posts. E. Roberts converted. Athletic, 24; University, 8., . Up and down field play ensued in which there was much indiscriminate kicking, but the gamo never dragged, riie Greens made good use of their backs who were rarely found wanting when (lie opportunity offered. . Jackson picked Ilia leather up after a scrum and set tne Aitken, Barker, and Gillespie combination moving. . Gillespie had a good chance but he was well brought do* . bv Griffin. Heley intercepted a pass and opened a henry attack by tho AthleUcbacks, and tho Greens were compelled to force. Tho-Blues kept their opponents busy and play was maintained in the Greens' area. As tho game drew near the end tho University harrackers urged their representatives on, and Aitken broke away with the ball, but, Hetoy soon had his man. Back came the Ser to the Greens' 25, and + from a scramble, with barely a minute to go L. Roberts secured the ball and. J««d » Chesternian who scored. Griffin faded with tho kick, and the game ended Athletic 27, University 8. Mr. Geo. Bradley controlled the game.

PETONE 28 v. ORIENTAL Nil. This match was played at Petone and attracted a fair number of the public. Tho ground was in quite good condition considering the past heavy and continu, ous rain. Petono completely outdated their opponouts, who, despite occasional exhibitions of good play, were unable to score. Petone had not been playing very long before they drew first blood, Pole scoring a good try. The attempt lo convert failed. Petone, 3; Oriental, nil. Soon afterwards some pretty passing betweon Pole, Hamilton, and W. Thomas enabled the last-named to score. Ambler mado no mistake with the kick. ■; Petone, 8; Oriental, nil. The second spoil rad not long commenced before Thomas again got over, Ambler's kick this time, however, proved abortive. Petone, 11; Oriental, nil. A good run by Parker again carried play to Oriental's 25 aud Parker scored. Thomas's attempt to convert failed. Petono, 14; Oriental, .nil. A few minutes later Petone were awardeda free kick, and Ambler piloted the ball betwoen the posts. Potone, 17; Oriental, nil. Oriental livened up and carried play to Petone's 25, but Petono saved. From a freo kick awarded Oriental, Bberhardt essayed a kick at goal, but the attempt failed. Soon after TV. Thomas scored two tries in quick succession, tho second try being converted by Corner. Petono, 25; Oriental, nil. Just on call of timo B. Thomas got over at tho cornei and the game ended: Petone, 28; Oriental, nil. Mr. E. Tregear was referee.

SELWYN 43 V. WELLINGTON 3. The match botweon Selv/yn and Wellington, which was played at Lower Hutt, was very one-sided, Selwyn putting up a score of 43 against Wellington's 3. Mr. A. M'Bcan was referee.

IN THE WAIRARAPA. (By Telegraph-Special Reporter.) Masterton; August 3. Matches in the Wairaropa district on Saturday resitted as follow:Seuiorl—Playing at Grcytown—Bed Star defeated Feat'horstou Cam]) by 17 points to 5. Playing at Carterton—Gladstone defeated Carterton by 24 points to 3 Junior—Vt Greytown-Greytown defeated Gladstone by 25 to 3. At llnrtinboro,i„h_Mar(:inlx>rourh defeated E«d Star by 3 to nil. Daleflold defeated Liberals

bv. 23 to 3, and Pukio defeated Carterton, both matches being played at Carterton. PALMERSTON GAMES. (By TeJcgraph.-Spocial Correspondent.) Palmerston North, August 3. In Saturday's football games at Palmerston, Hiiia, who were loading for the senior championship by two points, wore beaten by Western United. The game, which was very hotly contested, resulted iu a, win for -United by 13 points to 11, thus placing them on an 'equal footing with their opponents. Other games played wero: Junior—Kia Ton 2 v. Western United 0, Huia 33 v. ITitch School 9. Awahuri defaulted to Jackeytown. Tho Palmerston North High School football team and a fifteen from Wanganui Technical School met on the showgrounds in li match which resulted in a victory for the* local boys, and was productive of some fine football. In tho first spell, High School played with tho wind and what sun there was against them. The teams proved to ho very evenly matched, and at half-time no score had been registered. In tho second spell tho superiority of the High School was made manifest, and they scored 16 points to their opponents' G. The scorers for the winners were: Cumberworth, Crnbb, Stockwell, and Qlendining. Johnson and Hodder each converted ono try. For 'Wanganui Ricdale scored a try, and Pine kicked-a beautiful penalty goal.

HAWKE'S BAY TOURING TEAM. By Telegraph—Precs Aisociatioii. Auckland, August 2. The Hawke's Bay Rugby louring, team was prevented bv bad weather from arriving till to-night. It remains here till Saturday next, and then plays it niatoh with Auckland, as.previously arranged. BULLER DEFEAT REEFTON. by Teleprauii.—Preys Association. Westport, August 2. The first inter-union football match played at Westport since the war, cientua,ted to-day, when the Bnllor met and defeated Rcefton by eight points to r.ii. Tries were scored by Ta'nnerhill and ■Friend, one of which Griffiths concerted. A.I.F. DEFEAT AUSTRALIA. (Roc August 3, 5.5.p.m.) Sydney, August 2. Tho A.LF. Rugby team defeated Au* tralia by 22 points to 6,—Press Assn. INTER-COLLEGIATE CONTEST. CHRIST'S COLLEGE DEFEAT DUNE- ' DIN HIGH SCHOOL. By Telogranh—Press Association. , Timaru, August' 2. Owing to the railway' restrictions the Rugby match Christ's College v. Dunedin High School was played hero to-day, the ■teams each travelling half-way by cars. The weather was lino and the ground in good order. The average weights of tho teams were: Christchurch, 10st. 111b.; Dunedin, lOst. Experts thought tho game was- not a nisi-raia exhibition of Rugby. Four spells wero played. In the first spell Cowlishaw and Richmond scored'tries for College. In the- second spell Averill scored between the posls ana Cowlishaw converted. ■ In the third spell Dickinson-kicked a penalty for Dunedm and Averill scored a try and converted it himself-for College. In the fourth spell Dickenson scored a penalty, ■ We .final score .being: Christchurch, 14; Dunedin, li.' Air. J. O'Leary was referee. Violets that are flowering well may be

NEW ZEALAND TEAM IN SOUTH AFRICA (Rec. August 1, 0.5 a.m.) •■ Cape' Town, August 29. Tho New Zealanders beat tho Southwestern Districts at Oudtshorn by 23 points to nil. The New Zealanders beat Eastern Province at Port' Eliwi'beth by 15 point's to' nil.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.