THE RUGBY GAME

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 204, 24 May 1920, Page 6

THE RUGBY GAME

SATURDAY'S MATCHES ATHLETIC ROMP OVER PETONE Beautiful weather favoured the Wellington Rugby Union's competitions on Saturday afternoon. About mid-day there was a promise of bad conditions, but a south-west breeze which sprang up dissipated the cEufls, and a; better aiternoon could hardly have been looked far. ATHLETIC (23) V. PETONE (5).

At the Athletic Park thcro was a largo attendance of spectators to witness tho Athletic-Petone fixture, which resulted in a victory by the former team of 23 points to 5. Such a result was never expected, for, on previous occasions when these two doughty teams have met, tho scores usually haye been clobc. Shortly after the start, however, it was fairly apparent that .Athletic had their opponents thinking. J'etone were outclassed, and the Blue and Blacks simply routed them". Tlio suburbanites did not scoro until within five minutes of the cloee of the game. On appearances thero> was nothing much to pick and choose between the two teams, but when it came to actual crossing of swords it was manifest that Petone were tho weaker side. Athletic had a. decided advantage in the forwards, who were moro than, a match for tho opposing vanguard, and the Blue and Black backs were cleaner in their passing work. They combined together better than the suburbanites. Had E. Ryan been absent from the Petone team it is pretty certain that the Athletic score would have been greater than it was. More than once he saved his side in critical phases of the play. Tho game was a h;lrd, willing struggle throughout, and "oloser action" was the order of tho day.; From the spectacular point of view it was not uninteresting, and there were some nice flashes of dribbling and passing. In the first spell, M'Carle.v, th» Athletic winger, received a Bevcre knock over the left eye, and had to retire, and Albert Parker, ono of tho Petone forwards, suffered-a broken rib. Forsyth replaced M'Carlpy, and Price went on in place of Parker. A feature of the game was the magnificent play of E. Roberts, who partnered with Byrne in five-eighths position. Roberts was in excellent form, nnrl he was ever present where there was work to be done. He would appear from nowhere and save a dangerous situation with a timely and well-.iudged kick to the lino, and when scores wero registered it waß his work that was generally responsible for tliem. Eoberts played brilliant, clever, and pretty football. Thompson, tho Athletic full-back, also played a fine game, and his splendid line-kicking often responsible for bursts of applause. ]f, Ryan, in the forward division, was always prominent 'in the Athletic offensives, and more than once Paton and "Ran.ii" Wilpnn did Borne neat dribbling. About half-an-hour elapsed after the commencement of the gamo before there was any score. The play had been of an up-arid-down description, and often exciting. Then camo a , dashing forward rush on the part of tlio homo team, and from the ruck in the Petono twenty-flvo M'Oabe picked up tho' ball and scored. Adams had no luck with tho kick. Atliletio, 3; Petone, 0. Soon after this Byrne obtained a try for Athletic, from which no goal resulted, and beforo half-time Blackmore had increased the Blue and Black score to 9, per medium of a try after a .nice bout of passing. The second spell opened less rigorously than the first, but tho pace soon warmed up. The first score in this -pell enmo from a mark by Roberts, who, took the kick himself and goalcd. A pretty Petone rearguard, movement followed tlrs score and the Slues oame closo to scoring. The excitement was intenso, but tho situation was relieved by W. Ryan, who broke away up the line w'th tho ball at his.toe. Tthis timo Petone, were beginning to feel the effects of tho pressure which had been exerted upon thom and tho crumbling process set in. Byrne scored again for Athletic from tho ruck in the Petono twentyfive, and this try was converted by Roberts. Athletic, 17; Petone, 0. Fast following up bv Adaniß, and clever work, on the part of Roborts, enabled the Blue and Blackß to scoro once more.. Forsyth dashing over and touching down behind tl J e posts. Roberts's kick was sucoesslul. Athlotio, 20; Petone, 0. Petono attacked hard, but- Blackmore saved, . and play shifted to half-wav. Suddenly, M'Cabo broke away on tho line, with Roborts in close attendance, and the latter, receiving the hall from M'Cabo, Wit on the finishing touches to the sortie. Adams had no luck with the kick. Athletic, 23: Petone, 0. It wan now gettinff late, and it seemed as if Petono would not break their duck, nut within five minutes of the cloae of the gamo, the Blues attacked ftong v and Smith scored a try which M. Nicholls converted. Athlctic, 23; Petone, 5. Mr. T. H. Jones was refereo.

PONEKE (16) V. BERHAMPORE (0).

Ponelto and Bcrliamporo met at Duppa Street, and the game proved a good thing for the former, tho final score neins _16 points to nil. Ponekc wore far superior in tho backs, but the Berhampore forwards played with vim and dash, and were constantly/carrying the ball forward with short, sharp rushes. With a little more combination and a good set of backs Berhampore would go ft long way. Inn Blues commenced tho attack, and carried play into Poneke's twouty-flve; The l.eds, playing against a slight wind, howaver, eoon recovered, and loose play in nudfleld followed. The Beds rot going, and a back passing rußh ■ carried the, play to within a few yards of the Blues goal, but a sure try ivas lost through a ltea player cutting in. However, J. Tilyard got over a few moments later, and Kins converted, l'oneke. 5; Berhampore, 0. Shortly after, Berhampore were awarded a free kick close to tho Reds' goal, but Morrison missed. ll'Arthur was responsible for defeatine a. brilliant. Bluo forward rush, and tho first half ended. At the beginning of tho second lia f the Blues wero again awarded a free kick, and Morrison oi'ain failed. Loose, up-and-down plav followed, and from a. forward rush by Sla-ter, Troy and Elliott, tho last-named scored. King converted. Poneke, 10; Berhampore, 0. Shortly after, King scored from tho blind tide of i scruip- He took the lack, but failed to convert. Cray, who was playing a rattling good gamp for the Blues, intercepted a pasß, and worked play into the Beds' twenty-five, i,„t the Beds soon took the olteußivc, and from a muddle M'Arthur scorcd. King failed to convert. Poneke, 16; Borhampore, 0. The rest of the play was uninteresting, and no further pointß were added.

SELWYN (30) V. WELLINCTON (0). The Selwyn-Wolli'ngton fixture, decided at l'etone, resulted in something in the nature of a "walk-over" victory for Selwyn. Occasionally the Wellington forward division Bhowed signs of giving trouble, and ■•tvd they received tho riecessary support from their rearguard Selwyn'a victory would not havo been such an easy one. The Selwyn pack-prominent among whom were the brothers Shearer, Wogan, and Be Clifton—were seldom found wanting. Tho work of the Green back division as a whole was good. At the °l° se . the first spell Selwyn had registered. 19 points, while Wellington had not opened up a scoring account. In the second half Selwyn further increased their score by 11 points. Tries for the winners were scoured by Wogan (21, S. Shearer (2), pla ck. Peat, and Peacock. S. Shearer converted two tries and kicked a- penalty coal. Mr. G. Bradley controlled tho game.

OTHER GAMES. Jnnior. Petone Old Boyß by 10 points t0 ' 6 ' Third Class A. ' Miramar defeated Porirua, by 8 points Ilenrv converted ono try. Kcne scoreu for Porirua, n Selwyn defeated Petone by 16 points to nil ' Fourth Class. ' Petone defeated Athletic by 9 points to nil. Tries for the winners were secured by Huntor (2), and EifTe. Fifth Class. Petone (8) defeated Athletici (5). For the winners Edwards and P. Wilson soored trieß, one of which was converted by T OlrLTlt Banks Collceo (13) defeated Porirua 'nil). Sixth Class. Petone won from Ilutt by default. Poneko defeated Selwyn by 15 points to nil For Poneke tries were scored by Rubbcll, Wiles (2), liaws, and Davis, MATCHES IN THE WAIRARAPA. Bpecial fiorrcspondent. Masterton, March 22. Following are tho results, of. Ilugby matches played in the Wairarapa on At Masterton: Masterton (7) defeated Gladstone (nil). At Carterton: Carterton (14) defeated Liberal (nil). Junior.-Grewtown (15) defeated Rod ..tar (5); Martinborough (3) defeated Master'"Third 1 '" Grade.—Masterton Boys' High Boliool (9) defeated Masterton (nil). In many cases, especially in Masterton, the matches were marred by heavy showTho representative match between Hawko's Bay and "a Wairarapa. team (whloh was to hdvo been playoa at Has-

terton) -will bo played at Hastings on June J. The Kawke's Bay learn will return the visit later in the soason. MARLBOROUGH DEFEAT NELSON. By Telegraph—Press Association, Blenheim, May Z2. In an inter-provincial Rugby match Marlborough (17) defeated Nelson (3). The game waß a quiet 0110. marred by a high wind, Marlborough held the advantage practically all througli, scoring five tries, only ouo ot which was converted.