RUGBY FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1932, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SATURDAY’S RESULTS; Westland sub-union, boss defeated by excelsior. The defeat of Ross by Excelsior on Saturday places these teams level in the senior competition, each having won four matches, and lost one. The game was full of interest and attracted a large attendance, including a large contingent of Ross supporters. Ou the adjoining ground at Cass Square Kiwi defeated Rimu in a match which contained little of Interest. POSITION' OF THE TEAMS. *

SENIORS. Excalslori 22, Ross 8. Kiwi 6, Rlmu 0. JUNIORS. School 6, Kiwi 3. EXCELSIORS V. ROSS. This senior game was played on Cass Square under perfect conditions, «nd resulted in a win for Excelsiors by 22 points (tries by Davidson (8) Schroder and Staines, and a penalty’ goal by Davidson and conversions by Hughes and Davidson) to 8 points (Dies by Mitchell and Wright, Jones converting one). The teams lined out as follows: Excelsiors' Mitchell, Schroder, Staines, Nightingale, Muir, W. Hughes, Davidson, L. Hughes, Freitas, M. Kelly, Eager, B. Kelly, Gugich, Palmer, King. Ross.—G. Mason, .7. Ablespri, C. Thiele, Mitchell, J. Mason, Parker, Herring, Martin, Bridgeman, Upjohn. W. ’ Jones, J. Wright, 0. Wright, J. Jones and Sando. The game opened with a red rush from the first scrum, Davidson letting his backs away, hub Muir missed the last pass, and hard kicking sent the hall over the Ross line, a force resulting. Tlie Excelsior backs attacked, from the kick out and from a scrum near the line Hughes missed a hard pass and knocked on. From the resulting scrum a few yards from the line, Davidson secured and dodged over to score. Hughes shot at goal struck the upright and bounded back into,; play.— 3-0.

Sando kicked oft'-and Muir speculated and the Ross Forwards broke away in a loose rush, Martin and Jones b®ing in the van. Freitas- stopped the rush and kicked out near the line. From a loose scramble, following a line

out, Davidson potted under the posts but the ball diet not.rise. Wright, and empe ftWuy and the Ross forwards looked dangerous till Hughes ' stopped the rush in the red quarters. There was a chance ol'. scoring, when Davidspn missed taking a pass and Muir speculat'd, successfully . enough to get out of trouble. Freitas was penalised rilofi jhandling, a dead ball and •Ttlien Martin, Jones and Upjohn carried play to Excelsior quarters. Mitchell returned the play to the centre •where the bounce beat G. Mason badly and let Excelsior forwards away, hut a bad knock on by Hughes Jet down the attack. Boss forwards who' showed to great advantage in .tile loose rushes, took play back, the re r ] defence being badly beaten, but Sclioder got a lucky possession an.] kicking high followed up to stop the return. A bout; of Excelsior passing gained no ground. The "ball came back across the field to Schroder who failed to centre. Another scrum saw Davidson get the ball in front of the coal but Gugich got offside. The kick came tp Freitas who found the line with a hefty boot. Excelsior backs were handling but dropped passes at critical points and'spoiled the advantage, and the tackling by Ross proved sound. A Ross rush saw Davidson sna- up a pass dropped by Ableson and he sent it on to Schroder who knocked on. The play went to the Ross line where Herring marked at r . critical tirno and found the line near the 2-5 flag. Ross won the next scrum, but the

ball weDt back to the sijpum and Davidson secured. A sweet passing run saw five bacl's handle. Schroder scoring a nice tr v at the finish of the movement. Hughes’ sho’t at goal missed. but a charge was disallowed and another kick had no better result.— 6—o Rlav then settled at the centre till a hard kick up the centre was finely taken by the Revs full back. Mason, who fenncl the line well down. Sando then headed n nice loose rush, (• Wright, and Jones being in the lead. The red forwards at once returned tlie rush and phn- swung to the Ross line whew it eon tinned us half time was called. The second sped saw an Excelsior rush to the Idle, whole Schroder missed his pass, but firm an ensuing scrum Ross, wee penalised within easy ranee and Davidson kicked a penalty goal. 9-0. E.vee’siors continued to attack and Davidson passed out smartly to Hughes who was, .si >a v flv taken bv Thiele, and AVi-igl’t rod Martin broke through. Wright picked up but was brought down and the ball went out at the pent re. Rack the pine wen( to +he Ross line, and following a line out, Davidson picked up and do'dr-ed pver fpr ; a try. This he converted hine-rif. -I'f - 0 Following t>~ kick off Mitchell broke away and kicked, following the ball to the line. From a scrum Davidson ndskickyd and the bail! went to Mitchell

who went over the adjacent line to sc oi'e near the corner. Jones converted with a fine long kick that hung low. 5—14.

The next incident was a fine mark by Thiele, but following b's kick, the Excelsiors rushed ffhe ball to the liue where a penalty' for offside by Gugich gave relief. Then Ross forwards again broke through and a loose scramble took play the length of the field, but Herring kicked too lntrd and a force resulted. C. Wright, -Mason and Thiele carried on play but Hughes stopped tlio rush, but Mitchell came into the picture again, till Guguch broke through near ffhe-.line, and then the ball went through several hands to Staines who scored in a handy position. Hughes goaled 19 —J>. From a line near the centre Kelly broke, away nicely but a penalty for Ross gave relict and the bald went to Excel'-ior 25.

Several interchanges .of long kicks followed till Hughes lound the line. A passing run saw Hughes cut in but Thiele stopped libii well and the play was in the visitors’ 25, when Able son mis-lticked and nearly let the reds away, but G. Mason sent the play back to the centre. A 100 t* rush by Ross forwards saw play in Excelsior 25 where a free kick to Roes saw Jones just miss to find film the posts. Pray was willing in Excelsior quarters, but a fine break through by Kelly and ft hard kick saw the ball go to the -Ross line, where from a scrum near the posts Davidson again dodged over. He failed with the easiest of kicks. 22—5. Ross at onc e attacked and a forward rush saw the homo full back beaten, but with two men over the line they failed to get to the W!|l and whftt appeared to he ft certain try went as (ray, Fob lowing o lino out Ross were awarded a free kick near the line but took a scvuqi, from which J, Wright got pm,session and crossed the line to scoit. Joints’ kick went a couple of fret wide. 8—22.

The play for the few remaining minutes was fairly even, and when time was called was at the Excelsior (lag, Excelsiors being victorious by 22 to 8. JExctl-iors, who fielded-'a heavy forward team,’ had the assistance of Freitas tor the first time this season. Jn the tight they had a little the advantage, while: the backs made the play open, and though they failed to complete the movements on many occasions gave som e excellent displays that woti a score. In the loo>e the forwards did not hold their own so well, and at times they got considerably rattled. Generally the tacking was good, and handling of high kicks good. Ross forwards put a great fight. In the' open rushes they d’lone to great advantage and continually gained ground. In the tight they almost held their opponents, but there seemed to. be a lack of cohesion with their backs: Th e backs individually for the most part did well, but there was a failure to get the ball' away from the scrum, arid they had not the open chances their opponents. Their defence was solid except that at. times there was a distinct failure to get to the passing runs, which often broke down by mis. take", though the tackling Radi was solid.

The game was an interesting one fo watch. It was full of incident, and the scene changed rapidly. The score hardly shows tliie result of the play. A much closer score sheet,- would have been a better criterion.

Mr A. Qutbush proved an efficient referee and Hjokl full control of the game.

KIWI 6, RIMU 0. This matdli wag- in direct contrast to that played on the other ground, in that'," while the latter was full of incident, the former, was not of an inspiring nature. Ragged play pi’edomin, ated the whole match which was devoted to loos© forward rushes, individual efforts among the backs, a largo number of scrums and line kicking.

Neither team was on its game, which was disappointing, as each side this reason has given ample evidence that it- can rise to the occasion and play a good game, enthusing a little sparkle into their movements. The bai’l was certainly thrown about «no’ugh, but with little ava’i, the various movements by each, side lacking finish, few of them even looking like culminating in success. No score had been registered at half time and it was not until the end that Kiwi assumed the lead, the final score being a fair indication of the match. For the winners F. West scored, while Hamilton kicked a penalty. There was little to pick and choose between the respective players; although, Groweott and lng-tfs, perhaps, were more conspicuous for Rimu. Morgan, at full Lack for Kiwi, was called o'-> for a fair amount of work, and came through the match well.

SCHOOL V. KIWI. This junior fixture played at 1.30 p.m., provided an iiii.crcet.ug game. 'Pt<> n'nr w"s fairly level. Kiwi having the better of the fir-t hall, their forwards giving an advantage, and the efforts of the School team to open out the p'ay were frustrated. Kiwi had several opportunities to score and in one instance Bell got over the line, but the ball was shaken out of ids pcs-ses-mn before th.” could u«*t it down. In the first spoil Olsen scored a try and i,n (he second half Sr hoc,' levelled rhe position," Douglas scor.ng a try. end sbcvtlv before the call' ol time following a .schoo’ rush, Stapleton was p?nali'sed in front of his goal lor hanging on to the ball alter being tackled, and Adamson kicked a neat goal, bringing •School score ! > 6 points, to thiee po:n( J , and this -core was not altered. School winning a hard fought game in which the honours wer t . fairly even. Mr D. iHeenan was referee.

NOTES. Alter the junior game was concluded, a player belonging to the losing team, came along to a Sub-Union official, and stated his team would not play again under the referee in question. . The decision of the referee that caused the player’s ire, in which a penalty of a-• free kick was given for lying on the ball, was in the opinion of the writer, and of several others well a file to judge, who had a perfectly clear view of the happening—a perfectly round and correct one. The p'ayer penalised, when stopping a rush, was tackled and brought down in Iront of his goal, and • apparently took the chance,” with four opponents in close, attendance, and in good scoring position, of hanging on, instead of letting the ball go. The whistle went and the penalty, a free kick was given, and as a goal .was kicked from the penalty, it had tlie effect of giving the side (,r the succo-'slul kicker a lead 1 hat., ijic.illl a win. To blam e the referee -ftfi this instance was entirely wrong, (lie. lairt lay with the player, who should have accepted the decision without comment, in the proper Rugby sp'rit. GREY-MOUTII GAMES. In the senior game Stars heat o>b<l-•) by 6to nil, and United beat Blake town by 24 to 0. IN OTHER CENTRES. (By Teltgraph-~Per Frets Association l AUCKLAND, June U-To-day's Rugby results—Varsity 3, Rcmgonby 0; Grammar 9, Old Boys 8; College Rifles 8, Grafton 3; Manakau 3 Training 00-Mege 0. DUNEDIN, June 11. To-day's Rugby results—Southern 29, Union 0 ; Dunedin I*7, Varsity 0 ; Alhambra 6, Pirates 5 ; Varsity 5, Ta'ori 3 ; Kaikorai 20, Ziugar 1 ’ 0. CHRISTCHURCH. June 11. To-day’s Rugby resuilG-ty-hM-'tchnrcb 11. Morivale'o ;• Sydenham 22. Old Boys 10; At hletic 13, Lin wood 13; Varsity 18, Albion 13. WELLINGTON, June 11. To-day’s Rugby results—Eastbourne 15, I’etone 9; Poneke 25, Berhampore 3; Hutt 17, Wellington 12; Athletic 11, Oriental 9; Old Boys 14, Miramar 5 ; Maris t 5, Varsity 0. ALL BLACKS V. WELLINGTON. THE TEAMS SELECTED.

WELLINGTON, June 12. The following team has been selected to represent New Zealand in the special match against Wellington on Wednesday :—Full back, Collins, threequarters, Williams, Caughey, BullockDouglas; five-eighths, Pollock, Lilhurne; half-back, Kilby; forwards, Jessep, Palmer, Hore, Barry, Purdue, Steere, Max, Solomon. Some of the All Black players are not available for Wednesday's game, including Hart, who .injured his shoulder in club football at Christchurch on Saturday. «« Mr J. Millard has chosen the following players to train in view of seActing th e Wellington team; Backs ; CressweM (Wellington!; Hamilton (Eastbourne), MacDonald /Moidst), Pa ,r e (Wellington), Killeen |(Hutt), Neal (Poneke), Tindall (Athletic), O'Connor (St. Pat's Old Boys).

Forwards: Quaid (Poneke), Lambonrno (l’etone), Diodrieh (University). Martin (Petone). McPherson (Poneke). J. Wilson (Hiitt) f Stone (Poneke). Reid (Petone). Bvdder (Wellington CollegeOld Boys), Biggar (Oriental), ' Stiver (Marist). N.S.AV. TEAM V. ALL BLACKS. SYDNEY, Juno 12. The Rugby Union ha« selected the following New South Wales team for the opening match against the All Blacks on June 2-s: —Ross, White, Towers, Pauling, Grace, Kennedy, (one to be omitted): King. MaiVoim (captain), Cevutt I ', Morton, O’Donne 1 !, Love. Bland. Jucld, London, Martel, Hodgson (one to be omitted).

The championship points are: — W. L. D. for Air. Ross 4 1 —. <34 33 "8 Excelsior 4 1 — 80 20 8 Kiwi 3 - — *26 15 6 Rivals 1 3 — 22 28 2 Rimu 0 5 — 14 80 —