RUGBY FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 270, 11 August 1919, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SATURDAY'S MATCHES PETONE BADLY BEATEN. As tho result of Saturday'? Rugby contests Atliletic aro now leading in the championship by 3 point? from loneke, who have gone up from third lo second place on the list, l'etonc are now lying third. Two senior matches were played on Athletic il'iirk, the first game . taknm place at 1.30 o'clock between fcelwyn and Varsity. The collegians appeared to 1)0 somewhat shaken up after their trip to the south, and they did not exhibit their usual vim. Selwyn were victorious by 1.) points to 5. , ... The crowd, which had been fairly numerous during the play in the early (fame, had increased to a'bout 5000 by tlie time the big match between Poneke and Petono began. This match was very disappointing, Petone giving a poor display The fielding of both sides was weak, but Petone were outclassed in nil departments of tlie game, particularly in the backs. Poneke had an easy w, .the suburbanites' being defeated by. 2- points to 3, the latter score representing a goal locked from a mark. Poneke had the support of most of tlio crowd, but much regret was expressed that the Blues had not put np a better tight.

PONEKE (22) V. PETONE (3). Petone, who played with the wind against them, forced the pace from the opening and pinned Poneke to their own 25. Petono were then ■ forced down neta and Malin had a shot at goal from a mark, but he missed. The Poneke backs then got lo work, a rush being instituted by Algar, who sent tho ball on to J. Tilyavd. The latter passed to L' irlß " topherson, who missed, and the ball went "dead." Poneko maintained a slrong pressure for tome time and Slater got over. There was no goal. A few seconds or so after this King obtained Poneko s second try, touching down near the posts, mid Malin converted. Poneke, S; Letono, 0, The M a*d Black forwards were making the pace a ''cracker," lint the Blues managed to hold them. At length Algnr put in a good line kick, which carried play to the corner. Algar afterwards tried to break through, bu.t was held up aiid a -scrum ensued. Ihe play was now dragging a good deal, and the ganio was not marked by any conspicuous incidents. Infringements were fairly frequent, and there was a consequent liberal uso of ilio whistle. Christopherson took a mark near the lino and attempted to oentre, but his kick was curried forward by the wind, and Corner marked. Tlio latter sent tho . ball well up field, and tho Blue backs followed lip in good style. Poneke got tho ball from a scrum, and transferred tlio venue once more to the Petono end. Hero it remained for some time. Suddenly the ball ivas kicked over tho Petono lino, and Christopherson, followed up vory fast, fell on the leather iust. in timo to prevent it being ■forced. Malin hud no luck with, tho kick. Poneke. 11; Petone, 0. Following tlio dropout, tho Poneko backs set up a strong assault, which was not decisive, however, owing to Christopherson missing u somewhat- airkward pass. Corner was later instrumental in relieving the pressure on the Blues, and he got across the half-way line on his own, but was then held up. Pelone were once more thrown on tlio defensive, and the Reds, obtaining possession from a scrum in front of tho Petono goal, had their score brought up lo 14 per medium of M'Arthur, who whipped over at tho corner. Malin's kick at goal failed.

Within a few moments of resumption nfler the half-time interval, J. Tilynrd followed up -a kick which had sent the ball across the Petone line, and ho scored a line try. Malin converted. Poneke, 19; Petone, 0. Tho Blues worked their way to the Poneke end, but the Beds were successful in staving off trouble. There were a few interchanges after this, and the play became a, little more open. Tho Red forwards fought their way to half-way, and the strugglo was keen. Poneko subsequently pressed hard, and .Petono were compelled to force. Tho Reds ■were now having things nil their, own way, and Petono were doing no good for themselves. . Up and down piny followed until tho Petone half, "Doc" Nicholls, took a mark. Ambler was entrusted with tho ltiok, and easily placed tho ball between tlio uprights. Shortly before the whistle sounded "time" Christopherson kicked a penalty goal for Poneke, and the jninie closed with tho score: Poneke, 22: Petone, 11. Mr. L. Simpson was referee.

SELWYN (19) V. 'VARSITY (5). The match between Solwyn and 'Varsity. played before the big match at the Athletic Park, was not a very spectacular affair. Both sides pin.yeU a willing game, however, but tho somewhat heavy stttta' of tho ground wns partly responsible for the niggedness of the exhibition. It was not until well on through tlio fiist spell that .thore was any score, 'Varsity, who had been playing with tho wind behind thorn, being the first to draw blood. Hutchinson broke through after 'Varsity had pressed a. strong attack and scored a try, which Scott converted. Just beforo the close ot' the spe.l M.'Kay, the, Selwyn centre-three-iiuni'ter, got clour from near half-way, and inado un excellent run, whiuli ended in him obtaining a fine try. The attempt at converting was charged down, ami tho epeJ'l closed with the score: 'Varsity, 5: Selwyn, 3.

The initial stages of the second half w&ro marked by a good ileal of play, nlong the line, and Selwyn held the advantage. After a bit of hard plav in front of the 'Varsity lino, Marehall dashed over, and Shea.rer added the major points. Selwyn, S: 'Varsity, 5. Shortly ttfler this, Desmond scorai another try for Selwyn, A. Wogan failing with the kick. Selwyn, 11; 'Varsity, 5. Tho play lx-cnme veiy unintorestiiig after this, until Peart obtained another try for Selwyn. Maisballi's kick went wide. Within less than a minute of the drop-out M'Kay scorcd yet niiother try for tho Green and Blacks, Twomey converting. Selwyn, 19; 'Varsity, 5. This was the filial score of the game. Mr. IT, Roberts wa.s referee. ATHLETIC 14, ORIENTAL, 0. Tho Athletic-Oriental match wasplaved at Nowtown Park at 1.30 p.m." Athletic had all the b;st of the game, and ran out winners by 14 points to nil. Scorers for tho winners were Heley (2), Ryan, and GheS'twman. One try was converted bv Griffin. V POSITION OF TEAMS. Sahirday'n games row the conclusion of tho sei'oml round. Tho positions of tho various teams aro as under;— 15 , a , » Team. a oi M d «o « .q £ ri 2 5 5 Athletic 12 10 1 1 21 Poneko 12 7 1 4 18 Pcfnno ....„ 12 S 3 1 17 Selwyn 12 , r i 5 2 12 'Varsitv 12 4 G 2 Ift Orieniul .... 12 1 10 1 3 Wellington 12 1 10 13 Points Scored. Tram. For. Against. Athletic. 24G fiS Poneke IRII . 40 T'elom. 210 103 Sr.'wyn HI |31 'Varsitv 130 I7G O'-ionl ill :ir. :'r>2 Wellington "i 7 2tS .Till! ior. In a kcenly-cunlrst'i'd game at Lower Uu't.t Rocrr.ilion Ground. Iho local ton ill ilefealed I'done by IS lo 3. For Hutt, Wright nutted it. gecil, Hazelwnoil, ficnge, and Cudby c'liml frirs, Ciriersoii converting one and kicking a. penalty gnnl. I'oinne's score consisted of a try by Parker. By Teienriipb -T s '-":" Uw'n'.r.-i Auckland. A'ir>u=t:'lo. Grammni' Selmtii defeated King's College by 21 to 11. INTER-STATE RUGBY. By Tolerrrnnli- A ian-OomlfrM (Rec. August 10, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney August 9. At Rugby, New South Wales, 30 points, dei'enled Queensland, 13.