THE RUGBY GAME

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 3, 29 September 1919, Page 7

THE RUGBY GAME

PONEKE WINS CHAMPIONSHIP SENIOR COMPETITION CLOSED By defeating Potone on Saturday Poneke ha'vo won the Wellington Rugby Union's 1919 senior championship. "With the exception of a possible representative match with Wahganui ftfi' the lianfurly Shield, there will bo no further importnnt football fixtures this season, wniph from a financial point of view, line been a very successful one for tho Wellington Rugby Union. ' The race for tho championship between' Petono and Athletic lias been m'ost.exciting, and only one point separates the. two teams. Poneke has compiled 24 points and Athletic 23. PONEKE (32) V. PETONE (3). .Considering the limited railway service, there was a very good attendance of spectators at Petone on Saturday, when the Ponekc-Petoiie fixture was staged: the weather conditions were very favourable, but the match was. not responsiole for much brilliant Rugby. The suburbanites, who were playing without their star back. Corner, injured in the North v. South Island match, seoruod all at sea, and Poneko wore nover really extended. M half-time Poneko were in the lend bv U points to' 3, and by the' time the call of no sides was'sounded they had substantially increased their load. Unanestionnbly the better, teani won, and tho scores just about imiieate tho. Wellington team's margin of superiority. Tho game opened sensationally, I'-oneke forwards attacking from tho jump, and within a'minute of commencement- Iroy annexed tho first try, which Malm failed to convert. Poneke, 3; Petone, 0. Give-and-take play/followed, and a determined effort by Petone ended in Ambler coaling a penalty from a djmeult.anglo. Poneke, 3; Petone, 3. The Tilyards, Algar, nnoiiirArthur were associate.* in several brilliant but spasmodic attacks, but it was left to the forwards to secure the next try, when Troy worked - the .blind sido with pretty effect, and; touched down in the' corner. • Malm tailed to convert.', Poneke, : Gi Petone, 3. Play had hardly recommenct\d before the Poneke pack were down on the suburban line, and Christopherson emerged with tho ball.'ami' scored, near tho corner. Malm failed-.to convert. Poneke, 9; Jetone. 3. Petone visibly weakened at this stafje. Calcinai, on tho Poneke side, then made a clever opening, and the ball passed from him to Algar and.M'Arthur. The latter put, in a great run, crossed the line near the corner, and ran round and scored between tho 'npnßnta-' Christdpherson made no mistake with the kick. Poneke, 1-1; Petone, 3. the spell ended without further score.' . On resumption an attack, instituted by 'Alcar, led to-Calcinai scoring a try, which Christopherson converted. Ponelce, 19 : Petoi.e, 3. Shortly afterwards 11 Arthur crossed the suburban line, and touched down,'but was recalled for oilside play. Play was now of a ragged description, and poor defence work on the part of Petone led to Christopherson again scoring. His try was not converted. Poneke.'22; Petone, 3. After this, Petone made repeated attempts to add to their score. They threw' away .several splendid opportunities, but eventually 4. Parker scored between the. posts. Ambler converted, making the .score: Poneke, 22; Petone, 8. Toncke retaliated. Baker scorinx from a forward Tush, and Christopherson added tho major points. Poneke, 27; Petone, 8. Just on the call of time P. TilvaroJ notched another try for Poneke.-which was converted, and the came ended: Poneke, 32; Petone, 8. Mr. Simpson was. referee. ■

ATHLETIC (25) V. SELWYN (17). i Playing at the Athletic Park,. Athletic defeated Selywn by 25 'points to 17, after a game which was interesting onlr ssasmodicallv. Selwyn possess a good forward division, hut they arc weak in tho backs ixnd this was largely the cause of their defeat. The gams was witnessed bv onlv a comparatively small crowd.. Athletic won .the toss and Selwyn kicked off against the wind. Following a mark by E.-Roberts, 'Selwyn made a splendid attack from m half-way. and a 'force down ■.resulted,-.. This piece of pla> was: most exciting and ; Athletic were lucky in averting a. score going against, them. Shortly afterwards, E. Boberts took a mark near half-way, and had a shot at goal. The kick. was a. splendid i one; and popped short of tho cross-bai. I by onlv a few inches. H. Hall (Athletic half) "Ot "the ball from the loose,' and started the Athletic backs'goimr ; .They were-held uo temjoornnly, but the movement was pressed and P.aton bounced over E. Boberts converted. Athletic, 5- ■Sokvn. 0. A Selwyn rush was headed bv J*. Shearer and kept Athletic busy until H. Hall initiated m attack. 'The ball passed between Hall, L. Boberts, and M'Cnbe, who got over after put'" l ? il ashort, fast ron. E. Boberts failed to convert. Athletic 8; . Selwyn, 0. Later, a mark was taken by Hall and E. Boberts took the kick, but the ball went low. Play shifted to the Selwyn twenty-five, where Hall (forward) followed up fast and scored a smart try. :K Boberts did not.convert. Athletic,- 11; Seiwvn, 0. A very fast run up the line was mado bv Peart, the Selwyn left win?! -.three-quarter, but his career was stopped bv Adams,'and Athletic took charge. 4 Seiwvn player kicked ■ the ball into. Paton's'hands, and the latter slipped in nnd scored somewhat easily. E. Koberts took the kick, but though the shot appeared to-be easy he missed it Athletic, 14; Selwyn. ,0. Half-time.sounded a few minutes Inter. '. " In the second spell Selwyn got the-ball from the scrum'in the Blue twenty-hve, and the backs took part in the prettiest piece of plav seen during the game.- the ball trnvolled' along all the backs, and A; Peart scored. Peart took the kick himself, but the shot went wide. Athletic, 14; Selwyn, 3., A few minutes afterwards Selwyn again got the ball from a scrummage on the Athletic line arid De Clifton touched down. A. Wogan made a poor attempt at converting. Athletic, 14; Selwyn, 6. In the subsequent play, the Blues'broke away and in Selwyn territory,' Adams passed to M Cnbe, who scored. Adams converted. Athletic, 19; Seiwvn, 6.' Athletic were now having things all their - own way, and a great run was made by E. Boberts. The movement • terminated in Bowie getting possession, and touching down. Adamsfailed with the.kick. Athletic. 22; Selwyn, 6. Two minutes later M'Cabe obtained another try, which Adams did not convert. Athletic, 25; Selwyn. 6. De-spite-the big score against them, Selwyn kept pegging away, and a. fine try was scored' by' Marshall. It was not convert-, ed. -Athletic, 25; Selwyn, 9. Peart next made an excellent run down the line, but just whin within striking distance he passed and Baton -intercepted. A hard struggle then took plnce on the goal-line, and before it ended J. Shearer - scored. S. Shearer converted. Athletic, 25; Seiwvn, 14. When piny was in progress at*half-way J. Shearer nicked np the ball, tore down field, and got over before being overhauled. No goal. 'Athletic, 25; Selwyn. 17. Tho game closed without nny further score. Mr. E. Perry was referee.' WELLINGTON (16) V. ORIENTAL (6).

The "wooden spoon", of the Wellington JliiHby "Union's senior competition has ibeen won by the Wellington team, which defeated Oriental on Saturday by '16 points to G. The game was played at Athletic Park as a enrtain-rais'er to the Athletic-Selwyn .mateh. ■ Tries • for the winners' were scored by Doiill, Cooper, Frater, and /Tull. 'Pull converted two of the tries. Owles ■and Fitzgerald obtained tries for Oriental, Mr. R. I'ordyee was referee. HUTT (8) V. UNIVERSITY (3). Hutt defeated University after a very iii'i-res'iiim' "ame by 8 points Jo 3. The match, was a very willing game. For the winners Sullivan scored a try, which Grierson converted, and Stevens kicked a penalty goal. The referuo was Mr. E. Telfcr.

SENIOR CADET TOURNEY. Playing at Pcloue 30th Company (Petune) defeated 33th Company (Jlu'tt) by 20 points to nil. Tries were scored for the winners by Smith (.')), Wilson, Henwood, and Lawrie, one try bein;; converted by Kenwood. Mr. M. Niclmils vvns referee.. JUNIOR MATCHES. No. 21 Cadet Company beat. No. 17 Company In- St points to nil. \ St. Patrick's College beat Banks College by 3 ; S points to nil.

MATCHES ELSEWHERE. MANAWATU REPORTS. By Teloeraph-Hpcclnl Correspondent.' + Palmerston North, September 27. The local football fixtures were advanced «. further stago on Saturday, when competitions were played, on the "sudden death" principle, for tho Abraham Cup (senior grade), and the Rogers Cup (for juniors). ' Western United defeated High School, 19 points.to 3. Pirates (A)-ib'tcnted I'ViUiing, B points to nil. The final will be played,next Saturday between Pirates (A) and Western United. In the final for the Rodgers Cup, Kia Ton (runners up in the chili competition) beat .Pending by,ls points to 5. Although p'oilding hud the advantage both of wind and sun in the first spell, they were hard on /the defensive practicably throughout. At half-time the scores were 5 points to nil in their favour. Thereafter Kia Ton, owing to superior combination, commenced to pile up tho score, and the victory was mi easy one. Tho :ocal football season comes to a close on Saturday next. HAWKE'S BAY. (From Our Special Correspondent.) Dannevirke, September 27. Woodville ami OrmoiulWile arc now <;c(iial for the junior football championship, each having scored 18 points. The Pukehinato Club has won this season's Puketbi football championship, and secures the banner. BAY OF PLENTY BEATS AUCKLAND. By Telfjranli.—l'rea« AssucibtlKii. Auckland, September 27. The Bay:of Plenty Rugby representatives defeated Auckland by 25 points to '18.. The visitors played a fine game. Auckland opened-the scoring, but Bay of Plenty were.leading by 1C to G at halftime. Shortly before time the score was Hi all, but a" try and a potted- goal just on time gave the visitors the game. Por the visitors tries-were scored by Woods, Pattie, and Hutchiugs, and goals wore kicked by Gardener, Rogers (+), and Austin, inci.iiding two penalties and a magnificent pot by Austin. For Auckland, tries were scored by Woolley, M'Cul'lough, Poison, and Billinghani, of which Badelcyconverted 2. .'■ THE RANFURLY SHIELD. WELLINGTON TEAM SELECTIONS. The following players haTe been chosen bv the local Rugby Union Selection Committee to represent Wellington in the Ranfurly Shield match :-Malin, M'Arthur, Algar, Barker,. J. Tilynrd, Corner, Roberts, Calcinai (wing), Elliott, S. Shearer,. Eberhardt, Patoii, Ryan, .J. Shearer, and de Clifton. Emergencies—Backs, P. Tilyard and Aitken; forwards, Baker and Love. RULES uTTHE GAME COMMENT ON NEW ZEALAND ' CRITICISM. (Rec. September 27, 5.5 p.m.) \ London, September 2fi. The "Daily Mail," commenting on the criticism in' New Zealand of the English Rugby Union for not allowing' amendments to" the rules of tho game, emphasises the point that adoption of the amended rules in New Zealand before they had the approval of the International' Board would cause a brench, putting an end to representative contests.—United Service.