RUGBY FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 300, 15 September 1919, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

ATHLETIC (9) V. SELWYN (4).

REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES

WELLINGTON 18, MANAWATUI4

A representative toll between : the .Wellington Bteam and Manawatu wns played at the Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon. The Wellington' team won by 18-points to 14, after a very dull game. Wellington 'were lucky to win, for. they' played very poorly. They seemed to take their opponents too easily, nn attitude which uad nothing to support it! . On the play, Manawatu were the -better team. They had the best of the scrifms, arid in both back and rear divisions they did better than Wellington. Had it not been for Malin potting a goal early in the game and the good 'kicking of Ambler, Manawatu would, have won. > ■ ■■ ... -Wellington won the-toss,- And Manawatu kicked off. from a line-out tho visitors swooped li'nto the -Wellington half, where «• scrum' was ordered. Ambler took a kick from a.mark by, Scott, and Seoker failed • to, receive. Thore were several skirmishes on :,tlie line; when suddenly: tho- Manawatu forwards broke clear, but a forward pass was eont to Carroll, and Manawatu were penalised. Tho Wellington forwards kept.the visitors on the defensive, when Bramwell got the ball. Ho 'kicked into the field to open up the play, and Msllin received. There was no one at hand',, .to tackle Malin,. so ho had a pot at goal. ■ The shot was a beautiful one, and' the ball went between the uprights. Wellington, 4; Manawatu, 0. : Shortly : afterwards, Manawatu. were penalised for offplay, and Ambler added another 3 points to tho Wellington' score. 1 Wellington, 7; Manawatu, 0. Manawatu took a turn at attacking, and their forwards pTesse'd Wellington back' to their own twenty-five. •: A bad.kick by Andrews; gave Wellington au opportunity, and of .this the vanguard took advantage, forcing. Manawatu to "retire -up field. Wellington got the, bull. from a scrum, but Scott. fumbled it v badly, and Mana-watu-.relieved the'pressure. Wellington were certainly not playing a § very vigpr.ous game, and' they soon paid for their inertness. ■ Manawatu got* the ball on the linMut.'and a'short, loose rush ended in Ingram scoring.' J. Stewart converted. Wellington,.?; Manawatu, 5. Once' inore Wellington were '. in'.- much danger, for tho' visitors swarined down .field in a body, and' Wellington had to force! The Manawatu'backs set up a strong rush, which was stopped bv Love grassing Carroll. Wellington, again .invaded \ Manawatu territory and .the ball was kicked over the Manawatu line. .Two 'or. three Manawatu players tried to : .fall on it, but were not smart enough. Love and Baker weTe following up fast, and the last-named scored.. Ambler foiled with.'the kick. Wellington, 10;. Mana.watu} 5.- Aitken was conspicuous in.'a short, dodgy Tun, in which he was well supported. . A score looked likely, 'but, Ingram secured and, kicked well downfield, saving the .situation. In the subsequent play Baker created an opening in the visitors' and Aitken scored a somewhat easy try, which Ambler converted. Wellington, 15; Mana.watu,- 5.- .There was-nothing, yef.v interesting about the .following jplay until- Jie Wellington backs, took part m ft rush from their <Swn territory.. to well into the, Manawatu, twenty-five. Wellington wero going nicely when Diednck jumped into the breach arid kicked tho ball into touch just as. P. Tilyard.was' about to receive a ' pass;. . The venue, changed to the'Wellington-twenty-five, and up-and-down play followed: Just before , halftime sounded H. Stew-art. broke away,, but 'when almost within striking distance he was thrown out of bounds." ' '■ " After resumption, Malin effected a good 'stive by ticking to. touch and front tho line-out Wellington got the ball. The backs set up a passing rush,' but they soon lost possession. The attack was continued, however, and Seeker forced before Ambler, who followed ,- up fast, could drop on the balL The-visitors aftorwards attaoked/hard nndillwv. scor-ed'''-per medium of Mullins.-'- J.- Stewart had no luck with the. kiok.- Wellington, 15; Manawatu, 8; .'Wellington then, livened up, and Ambler put in a great run. He charged down a kick, picked up tlie ball from the bounce, and Tan,.on to the Manawatu line. As ho was touch down-.he was collared by Seeker. Ambler could not get the ball on to the ground and'a scrum was ordered. Mana : watu secured :relief, and nothing exciting occurred until Tilyard initiated an offensive movement. He was supported by Aitken, but the attack Vas staved ott near 'the Manawatu goal line. A lew interchanges up and down the line, and the play became a little more interestin". Manawatu 'made a- bold bid to ■score and Seeker tried to. pot but.the shot went wide. I'inally the Manawatu' backs got going alter a struggle in the Wellington twenty-five, and Andrews touched down at the corner. J. Stewart took the. kick, but was unsuccessful. Wellington, 15Manawatu 11. At'this stage Jackson retired injured, find Austin went on to fill ,the vacancy. M'Kay went up to second five-eighth, and Austin took. Ins place on ft®* l "*; Manawatu were given a f^kicWor oif-side play by Scott, and J. -Stewart kicked a good goal. AVellington. 15, Manawatu, 14. A few minutes later, Malin took a\ free-kick for Wellington and landed the ball safely over tho bar. Wellington, 18; Manawatu, 14. there was no further score before time sounded. ,Mr. H. Paton was referee. .

A "curtain-raiser" to tlic lepresentatiye match was played between AtMetic- and Rehvyn fifth-class teams. Athletic are tho winners of the fifth-class champion-, ship, hut during the course of the competition Selwyn met them only once, .when the game was drawn. Last Saturday s match was a challenge contest, tuul A tilletic won by 9 points to 4-. Tries were scored for the winners by MTSlwam (?) and Carey-i Butland potted a goal for Se.lwyn. *

RANFURLY SHIELD . EASY WIN FOR WELLINGTON. ' By Telegraph—Press Association. ' . Christchurch, September 13. The Ranfmty Shield match Wellington v. Canterbury was played on'the show grounds in tho presence of nhout 6000 spectators. The day was fine with n. light breeze, but the ground was slightly greasy after rain during the week. A good game ended ill favour of Wellington by -3 points to 9. The visitors 'backs were irainenstfiy superior, and had Canterbury in trouble all through. "Wellington Kicked oil against the sun and bree7.e, and a good Canterbury movement was ioiled by Algar, who snapped up tho ball ana found the lino. AVelhngton nttae.kea • vigorous;y, Brosnahnn relieving*. His kick was marked by Chi'isp, and Green had iv fruitless shot at. goal. Canterbury swept down-field, and a force saved Wellington. Looso forward j&y of an exciting nature followed in the visitors' 25. From'a scrum the Canterbury bucks got going, Clirisp grassing Mullins on the line. From a ninrk by Burson inside tho- 25, Davis landed a goal for Canterbury. The offensive by Canterbury was.changed to defensive, and from a mark by Roberts, Green equalised tlife scores. Mixed backslid forward play saw Canterbury with the advantage, but the visitors came away, and a. knock-on robbed them .of n good 'opportunity. Sparks' nnd Paterson. headed the Canterbury forwards in n ereat'assault pn .Wellington's goal; Algar inst robbing Cunimingg of a try. The prettiest piece of; play of the gnmo followed From a scrum at half-way Roberts sent a very high pass to Corner.' The latter jumped and got it, and set sail for the line, boi'.ig grassed within inches of it The next few minutes wero anxious ones for Canterbury. .Wellington penning, them up and threatening danger timo and again. A penalty .ultimately gave •relief, but Wellington were not to be firmed and from a scramble S Sblearer scoiml and Gr'een converted. Within two minutes Wellington were over again As The result of passing between Roberts Corner, Tilyard, and Barker, the last named scorod nnd Green converted A Canterbury passing rush brok" down, mul Wellington swarmed down the held. A penalty kick sent them back, but Roberts picked up from the loose and sent on to Algar. Algar was well tacried, but his captnrer lot him go, and he touched down "under tho posts. Tilyard converted. Corner looked like scoring a moment lator, but lost the ball, and tt'Leod initiated a Canterbury movement,