RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 186, 3 May 1920, Page 6

RUGBY

SATURDAY'S CLUB MATCHES

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday saw the commencement of the senior championship' matches, under tho auspices of the Rugby Union. At the Athletic Park, where Pbneke met Oriental, there wub a iarge attendance, tho grandstand bailiff crowded. The contest resulted in a win for Ponolu br eight points to nil. All tho scoring took place in the latter end of the first spell. . The game opened'up in a dull fashion, and did not brighten up until a few minutes before the interval, when Ponelto began to display much dash. After change of ends a further period of interesting play followed, with Oriental in the ascendancy, but it did not last out the whole 6pcll, tho dying stages of tho contest being anything but spectacular.

The early part of the game was marked by a continuous duct between the oppoßine forward packs, and what open play thoro was ' consisted of loose, rambling rushes. Both teams wore very keen, but they wero inclined to be cautioUß, feeling their way ■gradually, in order to get their opponents' measure. Presently a penalty came the way of Poneke, and from tho right wing, Ohristopherson had a fruitless shot at *oal. Poneke came on a'gain, and crossed the line, but the ball was kicked into "no man's land." A long period of colourless play followed; in the course of which Gilchrist attracted attention through his excellent line-kicking, nnd Christopherson made a failure of another attempt to kick a po.al'for Poneke.- JuHt on tho call, of half-time Poneke notched the two tries that secured victory {or them. The first was secured by Christopherson, who touched down at the corner from a passing rush, inaugurated by J. Tilyard to Algar to the scorer.. Kins took tho kick, but the ball went wide of its mark. Almost immediately afterwards the Tilyard family scored Poneke's second and last try. It was a brilliant affair. .T. Tilyard being responsible for tho finishing touches. Ohristopherson converted, making the Bcore eight to nil. At tho start of tho second.half Oriental made the pace a cracker, and an optimistic shot at goal by Capper from about ■the half-way line just fell Bhort of the Poneke posts. Oriental still pressed, Poneke being confined to tlxir own twenty five. On 'one occasion M'Arthur saved nicdv. The pressure was relieved wlien O. Tilyard gathered up the leiither. and passed to Troy. The latter put in a great run, and transferred to M'Arthur, who was swooped down, upon by Capper, who relieved in brilliant style. Oriental, who were now making the game open, returned to tho attack, and several times were within an ace .of scoring. J. and P. Tilyard both figured to pood advantage on the defence, but-their, opponents were not to be denied. An infringement'on the part of tho defenders Baw Capper essay to goal from a relatively easy position, hut the shot missed. Poneke were now hard pressed, and but for the sterline defence offered by their backs disaster would surely have come their way. A likely-looking raid organised by the Tilyards ended '.hi Algar being held up near the line. Pnneko maintained the nresßurc and Oriental lost a pillar of strength in the Bhape of ■Capper, who retired hurt. Iteley took his place. The Oriental forwards now,; put the screw on Poneke. and once more the Beds were on the defensive-. The attacking team's forwards mado numerous openings, but their backs were never orrunl to the occasion, and the game ended —Poneke, 8; Oriental, 0. Mr. Paton was referee.

PETONE (15) V. SELWYN ill). -The Pctonc-Selwyn fixture' was nlpyctl at P"tonc in the presence nf n, large crowd of spectators. ' The Pclwyn team wero without the services, of. tho ronrcsentativn forward J Shearer, nnd there i" no doubt that hie absence from tho flreen van was sorely missed. The game, the ereater' .pnrt of which was -'devoted 1o forward nlav. was intprestimr. and Petone's win waß. well merited.

' Petone plttyine with the wind took the offensive,. anS , wnrc the first to' ecoro. Awarded a penalty outside the Selwyn twenty-five, M. TflcnoUs registered a Food Koal. Petone. 3: Relwvn. 0" The pneiin<» plnv saw tho Petone forwards working well in their opnonohts' territory. Murphy (tho Selwyn full-hncM roiievinT oressure by puntine Tor the line. The hal! fell short, and Hamilton (the Petone wing) marked.. Aeain It. Nichollß was entrusted with the kick, and he made no mistake. Petojic. 6: Selwyn. 0. Tho Selwyn' forwards brightened up somewhat nftor this, and carried nlav' into, the. Petone twenty-five. Strive as they could they failed to.break the defence of the Bine backs,, it. Nieholls, Coles., and ttyan beini* responsible for eome "nod defensive work. Later the Petons hacks' cot' iro.'nir, and a- nnßßine- rush in which Poole.. Corner, Ryan, and Nichollß participated failed, in its objective throunh the'lastnamed play«r beinrr draped out on the line. Prom the ensuins line-out "Gineer" Nicholls secured and 'passed to Corner, who in turn transferred to Pyan'. from whom the leather went to W.: Thomas. The test-narked player, with a neat run. crossed tho line near the corner. NinhoHa's attempt at ?oal failed. Petone. 9j Selwyn, 0. After this 'the' Selwyn pack' cot froino-. and led by S. Shearer. Lomas. and Fleck made several strong attacks on the Blue territory, and had it not been for the pood defensive work'.of M. NichollF and Corner thine* would have cone hard with,Petone. An infringement on,Petonn's part Rave Selwyva chance to open a scoring .account. Shearer took the:kick, hut was unsuccessful. Onee nsrain : the V.luo forwards asserted their superiority. Parker. Price, and Fitzgerald breaking away and carrvins play, into the Green twentyfive. From a disjointed Albert Parker secured, and with a pretty piece of dribhlin? scored an excellent try. No iroal resulted. Pet.one 12: ficwlyn. 0. Half-time, called, shortly afterwards, found Selwyn on the defensive.

In the'second sppll; Selwyn livened up' considerably,. and Pctono. were kept busy defending. . Shortly after resumption Earle, picking un from the loose in Iho Petono twenty-five, registered Selwyn's first -try. Murphy added ihe major points. Petone 12: A'lw.vn, 5. Again tho Selwyn pack carried all before them, and Shearer with a eood: break-away run scored Selwyn's second try. Murphy did not convert. P,etone. 12; Selwyn, 8. The play that followed was. of an up and down nature; and fairly even, both teamß being unlucky in not scoring. Later Petone added a. further Ecore to. their account, the try being rather a peculiar one. Under heavy pressure from a Polwyn forward attack in'the Petone twentyfive, Ryan effected a great save by punting the ball practically three-duarters of the, length of the, field. Murphy (the Grcen_ full-back), over-confident, took his' time in trying to force down, and Hamil-. ton, who hn<t followed up well, dived as' Murphy was.about.to touch down, secured the ball and foil. The referee allowed a try. No goal resumed, Petone. 15: Selwyn, 8. The light' was now failing and just before the conclusion of the came Murphy kicked a penalty-coal. Petone. 15; Selwyn, 11. 'At the call of time Selwyn were defending, and the came ended Petone 15: fielwyn, 11. Mr.Ei Trcgear carried the whiatlo. .

ATHLETIC (16) V. BERHAMPORE (3). The Athletic-Bcrhampore fliture resulted in a win for Athletic by 16 to 3. UNIVERSITY (26), V. WELUNGTON (0). University had an easy victory over Wellington! running up a '.ally of 26 points to. nil. SEASON OPENED Of 6YDNEY. .'. (Rec. May 2,. 5.5 p.m.) , „ , „_ , Sydney, May 1. The football season in all grades opened on Saturday. '•■ Both' as regards number and strength of teams and public attendance, there are indications of a full resumption of ,the pre-war. popularity of the winter game—ProßS Assn.