RUGBY FIREWORKS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 224, 19 June 1944, Page 6

RUGBY FIREWORKS

Army Again Sparkles

-ATHLETIC WELL BEATEN The second round of the Wellington Ruby Union's Jubilee Cup competition opened in sensational fashion at Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon. For the second Saturday in succession it was the vastly improved Army team which supplied the fireworks. Though they were [lilted against the leaders, Athletic, Army, with a stiff northerly wind behind them, launched such a fierce attack trom the opening whistle that they roused the lull-', crowd to enthusiasm by putting on lb points in 12 minutes. And lor the second Saturday in succession it vias Morriso , the Armv full-back, who dominated the 'lav His gigantic punting with the wind drove Athletic back on to HMr goa - linc repeatedly, and he once again shuutd uncanny anticipation in judging the run of play. lie started off by opening the scoring with a penalty goal, and next came up to join in the passing to score a brilliant try between the posts, which he converted. Army kept up the pressiire/ and a bright movement by their backs saw Davis score in a handy position Morrison going close with h*s attempt to convert. Army were back at once on tne Sand a neat rearguard movement ended' in Fitt scoring near the posts, for Morrison to add the extra PMnte, and Army were 16 points up in 1- minutes. Athletic’s first score came from a heady bit of strategy by Tindiil. "'hen Athletic Were awarded a penalty near the Army Hue Tindiil punted into the wind, and in a scramble over the line the b o"“c® of the ball favoured Vanstone, who faded to improve his own try. But Morrison was still dodging about the held looking for openings and it was not long before he put. over a neat field goal, and a little latter landed another penalty goal. The Interval came with Army leadin D -3 3, 17 of Army’s points having been scored by Morrison. With the wind behind them It was expected that Athletic would make up a good deal of the leeway in the second half, S but Army defended valiantly, and all attempts bv Roberts to break through the centre were met by solid tackling The best Athletic could manage was a penalty goal by Jamieson, and a try by Gulniven, which was improved by Jamie son, leaving Army victorious in a spectacular gam© by 23 points to 11. 1 J A. Wilson made a most efficient referee. In a hard-fought game on Prince of Wales Park, Poneke-Oriental were hard put to it to beat the “uch improved Wellington fifteen 14-13. Wellington led 8-3 in the first spell with the wind behind them but the combined team levelled the scores when ntfokham scored a try which Vaughan converted. Keeping up the pres sure, Poneke-Oriental drew ahead when Humpherson scored two tries in Quick succession. Church was in sparkling behind the Wellington pack £ ™d his two tries were particularly clever. efforts. The players In the Marlst Brothers Old Boys-Hutt match on the Hutt Recreation Ground failed badly to harness th® hl ” e northly wind to advantage, and the game "sUgM home U by £ a U try and a penalty kicking by Alexander, the tallback, enabled Wellington College Old Boys to beat Petone at Petone by 10 points to 5. Alexander scored all the points to his side, landing a ne %t J 0 ° n a ’ had kicking two penalty goals. I et s n ? na <f to be satisfied with a try scored by STaetrer which was converted by Abbott. Old Bo?s owed their victory to sound ‘“tatbe Hardham Cup competition Navy maintained their unbeaten record by beat ing Miramar 19-0 at Athletic Park Ihe Miramar team showed improved form m holdtag the winners to five tries, two ot which were converted. . In the best display of Rugby i ** Maidstone Park this season Upper Hutt beat Seatoun (Army) 10-». Tb e wi nners scored four tries and a penalty goal to two tries and a penalty goal. bright Training College maintained the hrignt form they have been showing by outplaying Eastbourne 17-13 at Eastbourne., Ihe budding teachers scored four tries one ot which was improved, and a penalty goa , to three tries, one of which was converted. Wine were also recorded by Johnsonville, University, and No. 2 Port Depot. Following are the results:— Jubilee Cup.

Army 23 (tries by Morrison, Davis and Fitt two of which were converted by Morrison, who also kicked a field goal and two penalty goals) beat Athletic 11 9, rl ? s Vanstone and Guineven, one of which vzas converted bv Jamieson, who also kicked a Pe^X E 14 (tries by Sutton Hookham, and Humpherson 2 one of w ch was converted bj- 1 aughan) beat ton 13 (tries by Church 2, both of which were converted by Paterson, who kicked a penalty goal). Wellington College Old Boys 10 (a field goal and two penalty goals by Alexander) beat Petone 5 (a try by S. Jaeger, which was converted by Abbott). ■Marlst Brothers’ Old Boys 6 (a try ny Rahuriri and a penalty goal by Stanaway) beat Hutt 3 (a penalty gohl by L. Bllgh). Hardham Cup. Navy 19 (tries by Topi, Rutledge Jones, Bennett, and Greatbach, two of which were converted bv Barry) beat Miramar 0. Training College 17 (tries by Fox, Ingram, Palmer and Colquhoun, one of which was converted by Welch, who also kicked a penalty goal) beat E<ist'bourne 13 (tries bv Baurifber, Fisher and Sanson, tw 0 ot w'hich were converted by Dellabarca). Upper Hutt 15 (tries by Dalton, Whiteman, Edwards ami Stott, and a penalty goal by Hammond) beat Seatoun (Army) 9 (tries by Grigg and Morice and a penalty goal by Iliekiing). Jdhneonvllle 19 (tries by Cowley, Barren, A. Masterton and Mather, two or which were converted by Mcßride, aiid a penalty goal by Powell) beat Athletic B 0University 7 ( a try by Lewis and a field goal bv Ryder) beat Air Force 0. No. 2 Port Depot 3 (a try by Davison) beat Hutt B 0. Lower Grades.

The number of unbeaten teams in the lower grades was reduced from 11 to seven as a result of Saturday’s games. Onslow remains undefeated in the junior grade and is the co-lgader with Wellington (one less), which has played one game more. In the third first division Marist Bros. Old Boys (unbeaten) retained its lead of two points from Hott (one loss). Two hitherto unbeaten teams in Training College and Silverstream were narrowly deleateu. Borirua took the lead in the third second division by a 6-0 win against the previous co-leader, Eastbourne. Athletic, Hutt and Petone A are still unbeaten in the fourth grade and Petone In the fifth first division, but in the second division the leaders and unbeaten side, Hutt, sustained its nrst reverse at the hands of Onslow. Results:— Junior.— Wellington 21, Onslow (Army) 3; Varsity 6. W.C.0.8. 6: St. Patrick s 0.8. 6 Petone 3; Mangaroa 30, Oriental 6, Onslow 3, Karori 0: Seatoun 8, Navy 0, Talta 6. Marist Bros. 0.8. 3. Junior. Army 15. Base Camp 8. Third I,— Wellington 5, Siiverstream 0, St. Patrick’s Colleges, Air Force BO; Onental 21. Poneke 8; Varsity 25, Seatoun 3, Marist Bros. 0.8. 8, Training College 6, Hutt 17, Wellington College 12. JohnioLVliTu! Itah-ersite B;’’Wellington ton beat St. Patrick’s 0.8. ._ Fourth Grade —St. Patrick’s 0.8. 8, East bourne 6: Marist 18. Poneke 3: beatrnm 8, Oriental 3; Wellington 6. IV .C 0.8. 4, Petone A 17, Onslow 0; Athletic —. Miramar 0; Hutt 21, Petone B 0. ~ Fifth I.—Hutt 10. Porirua 8; Athletic J. Wellington 0: Petone 12, Upper Hutt 0. Fifth ll.—Johnsonville 8, Poneke 8. Onslow 14. Hutt 9: Athletic 9. I etone 0.

BULLER BEATS COAST (By Telegraph.—Press Asfiociutiou.) WESTPORT. June 18In a good open game on a fairly ground. Buller yesterday afternoon beat West Coast. 8-u, in the iirst of the home and homo Rugby matches of- the season. Tries were scored by A. Cummings and O. Sniallholme for Buller. A. Dunn converting one try. and R. Birchfield scored a try for West Coast which was converted by land bom. The Buller backs, specially in the first snell had a feast of tlie ball from <>. Ormam Buller hooker, who has lost none of the arts of the game, though I'e £» been a Rugby, League and Soccer ropre sentativo from well buck in the war years.