FOOTBALL. RUGBY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 88, 15 April 1911, Page 14

FOOTBALL. RUGBY.

j (By " Dropkick.") A hot sun shone during the greater part of Saturday afternoon last, and plaj-ers engaged in the 6even-a-side tourney had an exceedingly warm .time of it. The ground was on the hard side, | and a number of players were taking few risks with tackles. Taken all round, the form displayed was poor — in some cases decidedly so. Athletic put a welltrained team in the field and carried off the honours without a single point being debited against them. Oriental got into the final, but they were lucky, as Betone and Poneke showed far better form. With any luck at all, Victoria College would have beaten the Magpies. The students surprised everyone, Ryan, in particular, being noticeable for consistent play. Curtayne also worked hard. In the Athletic ranks Kerr (late of Marlborough) created a good impression, and Ranji Wilson also kept going aU the time. St. James lost to Poneke in the first round, after having the better of the game. The "Jimmies'" display of dribbling was easily the best of the afternoon. Wellington did not seem to understand the seven-a-side game. The Yellow and Blacks lined out in the positions they would take up m a proper game, and, in consequence, disaster came at once, Athletics scoring two tries in quick succession. Carr played a very poor game for Wellington, and wants rousing badly. Petone— mostly Eyans — commenced" well, but went under to Poneke after a strenuous struggle. In the fifth grade, Melrose •struggled home from Athletic by a narrow margin. A number of the boys playing in this competition were well grown for their age. Senior games are to commence on Saturday, and club secretaries now have a fair idea of the personnel of ihe senior teams. The following .will probably represent Victoria College r.Pcananga, Duncan, Hurle (late Wellington), Faire. Ryan, Lomas /late Utago University), Johnston, Brosnahan, Jackson, Curtayne, Dundon, Robertson, Qmllam (Nelson), Morrison, (lately returned from Cambridge University), and Fathers. Brown, an ex-Wanganui rep forward, will also probably .play. College should certainly do much better this season. Athletic will probably be one of the hardest teams to beat as Boxer" M'Donald will , supply the Blue an d Blacks' long-felt want-a tricky five-eighths. Athletic only requue a good scoring wing three-quarter and they will go very close to championship honours. It is rumoured that a wanger from one of the other senior A?cf ■ announce himself as an Athletic player very shortly. Melrose did not shape very convincingly on Saturday last, but I am told they fully expect to extend the strongest clubs. Wellington have lost Clarke, who has. been showing fine form in the practices-, but have gained Christophers, a Southland representative back. Sheehan, an ex-Parnell forward, has also joined, but Poananga and Hekita, whose names were given in at the annual meeting have joined Victoria College and St. James respectively. Bradley has definitely decided to play for Southern. His inclusion will greatly strengthen the Maroons, who also expect to have the services of a prominent Dunedin player shortly. Hutt have disbanded, and no doubt Petone will have the benefit of the services of several of the ex-wearers' of the green and gold. wR?™ 31 *' formerl y of Melrose, and a Wellington Tep. forward, is playing for the Star Club (New Plymouth) this season. " Sni P" Allen, a famous Taranaki nve-eighth of a few years' back, is now resident m Dunedin. Mitchell, of th.c Merivale Club, Christchurch, who found a place in the" last New .Zealand, team, will not, it is said play this season.