Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 200, 30 April 1904, Page 14

Rugby Football.

FOR the third time in four successive seasons the Poneke and Onental senioi' teams have met in the opening match -of the football year in Wellington. Their meeting on Saturday produced a display of football that was quite up to expectations, considering the early stage of the season. The forwards on each side had the bulk of the work to do, and the dashes and loose rushes by the opposing vanguards were full of life and vigour, and excellently done. The men have yet, however, to attain that combination which is mainly gained by playing together. The Orientals had the advantage in hooking the ball, their front-rankers being cleverer than the pair Poneke had in front, but the advantage thus gained was not used to the full extent, the ball coming out of the scrummage very sluggishly to the half-back. Neater work m this direction, which can only be attained by much practice, would make, the Oriental "pack" a formidable combination. Last year's champions were the first to score, through the agency of Abrim, who touched dovra near the posts, after i nice run. Wallace added the extra two points. Then, Highet landed a pretty goal for Oriental from a free lack. Newth scored Poneke's second try before the end of the first half, Rush, with three attempts from a difficult angle, failing to find the uprights. About the middle of the second spell, Wallace, who appeared to be on his knees at the time, was awarded a mark, and Stevens, with an excellent kick fiom a distance of about 40 yards, registered the goal. A few minutes later Taylor touched down for the Reds from a scramble near the corner flag. The game ended with the scores 15 to 3 in Poneke's favour. Amongst the Poneke backs Wallace was easily first, his kicking into touch being a marked feature of his play. Stevens had a lot to do and did it well, Conder and Slater also contributing their fair share. Slattery started well. A small section of the crowd, however, who seem to delight to kick a man when he is down, jeered at him whenever he made a mistake, but failed to give him any praise when he deserved it. A game or two may find the genial "Slat" in his best form, and if he strikes it the laugh will be his way. The Poneke forwards are a fine lot, and shortly will take a lot of beating. Calnan is still one of the best forwards in the city, and Taylor, the ex-South-lander, was very quick on to the opposing backs. Rush proved himself one of the solid grafting variety, and Abrim, Oalbraith, Mcßae, and Sweeney were noticeable many times. A tendency to "vamp," however, was in evidence now and again in the Red vanguard. The Oriental team was greatly handicapped by the absence of Fred Roberts (their skiwper) and Stubbs. Bush has played many better games, but his defensive play was right up to the standard associated with his name. Anderson and Beamish almost reached their opponents' base as the result of two fine passing rushes by the Black and Whites, and both were seen to advantage, the former being very fast Among the forwards, Baskiville (late of the Wellington Club) showed up well en the wing: and the brothers Wylie and Best were much in evidence. I hear the Oriental Club have entered a protest against the match being declared a win for Poneke, on the ground that the referee made many mistakes in law. As the matter will be decided before this is printed, any comment thereon at this stage would be out of place. r • • • The Old Bqvs-Melrose match, played nn the adjoining ground at the Athletic Park to the Oriental -Poneke one, was a ragged sort of affair. The play was fast foi an opening game, and the partisans of both teams were given many anxious times during the hour and a-half's play. There was much of a muchness between the two teams, although the Old Boys were decidedly superior in getting possession of the ball in the scrum. An old feature of their play was noticeable, viz., the want of the finishing touch that culminates in the scoring of

tnes. Time and time again would tl'ey get within measurable distance of then opponents' goal-line when somei limp: would happen to send them back. The Melrose team was a hard one to lecognise, and if it wasn't for the familjar faces of Jack and Geoige Spencer, Adams, Clandge, and Mclnnes, one w ould have felt inclined to doubt sometimes if it was the Meliose team that was on the boards. But, the old dash was there among the forwards even if the players were new to one anothei , and in the loose lushes they were in rare fettle, considenng it was the first match of the season, and harassed the opposing backs considerably. I ventuie the opinion tnat when that new gymnasium is in fur swing the Meh ose forwards will be a powei to be reckoned with m the senior competition. One of the featuies of the game to w hich I early directed attention was <he showing of the two full-backs — Spencer and Buddie. Both did fine work, taking, kicking, and stopping in good btyle. But, on the day's play, Spencer was the better of the two, his kicking generally being more effective than Buddies. "Come" Thompson, at half, and Hodgson, centre thiee-quaiter, played in the Poneke junior team last year. The former played well, though he sails too close to the wind on many occasions, and when the referee is strict is bound to get his team into trouble. The half-back is so easily seen that it always pays him to play the game. Jack Spencer led the Melrose team both as captain and in those rushes m which he is a past master. Of the other forwards, King and Gilchnst (two of last year's juniors), Adams, and Mclnnes impressed me very favourably. The Old Boys badly want a scoring three-quarter. It seems a pity just at this stage, when they were building so much on his assistance, that "Mona" Thomnson should hare been transferred from Wellington to Wanganui, as he would have filled the bill to a nicety. Cleland, Hay, and Dawson were all safe but their play seemed to want the f nish referred to above. Dawson promises well — his taking of the ball and ii nning being very neat, but if he occasionally put in a short kick and follow, it would vary his play, and prove more effective than a run till he is colLi red. Blacklock stood up to his work well behind the scrum, and made some effective passes. A dasih on his own. now and again, though, would relieve the monotony of regulation passes. Dodd and Watkins — how naturally the two names go together — were the

pick of the Old Boys' forwards, their hooking being as clean as ever. In the loose, they were both much in, evidence. Of the otheis, Jordan and Smythe appeared to be working the hardest. The game ended in a win for MeJrose by six points (a penalty goal by Geoi £c Spencer, and a tiy by King) to nil. * * * The third match of the senes was played at Petone, the Wellington Pam beinf the victims of the suburban fifteen by 14 points to ml. Wright {2), Hardham, and McGregor each scored trie*!, McGregor converting one of Them into a try. The game furnished a further proof oi wards. The form of the Petone vanwards. The form of the Petone vanguard showed that they had had several weeks' training, and their front-rank-ers — Driscoll and the good old warhorse, "Bill" King — were in great form. Selwood and Driscoll appeared to be at the head of every rush, and in the solid work Wright and Cross did their ''little bit towards it." The Petone backs kicked splendidly, but otherwise their work was poor, McGregor evidently nursing himself. Barbei and Braid were both good, though the lattei's passes were not accurate enough. Adams, a new player in the Wellington team, was the best back on the ground, his running, tackling, and kicking being of a high order. Scott Wilson, with a bad leg, played full-back the greater part of the game, and did fine defensive work. Mclntyre was off-colour. Gallagher was very prominent among the Wellington forwards, although he showed a lack of the form that was necessary to see him through a hard game. Carey was the pick of the others. The Wellington team had a bit of hard Zuck m the Rvst half of the game. Mclniyre was clear away on one occasion chasiner the ball, when, it struck a hillock on the ground, and rebounded over his head. Had the bounce favoured him, he must have scored. The Petone team lost several chances of scoring through over-eagerness. # • # It is generally conceded that whereever the New Zealand-British team match is played, ample opportunities will have to be given the colony's selected to get considerable practice together, so that they can make their best showing against the visitors. It is not my intention at tlr's stage to advocate where the match should be played, but only to point out the necessity for the New Zealand team going on

lo the field in its best possible form. With the prospective tour of the British Isles in 1905 before them, no stone sLould »c left unturned by the New Zealand Union to put its best team in the field, in the best possible condition, and with a thorough knowledge of each other's methods. * » * "Oily" Riley, who must be included among the veterans at the game, very nearly availing our old friend "Jimmy" Duncan in the time he has been playing the game, is captaining the Ponsonby Club (Auckland) this season. "Harrier" says that, notwithstanding his handicap of "two dinghies behind him," he expects him to materially strengthen the team. Talking of Duncan, I read that he is coaching the Kaikorai team (Dunedin) this year, but, in view of the visit of the Englishmen, it will not take a deal of pressure to get the jersey on him again. Championship matches in Auckland commence on the 7th May. Championship matches commence in Napier to-morrow (Saturday). Peter Menzies is still playing football in Christchurch. He was a veteran a few years ago. Fred Roberts was an absentee from the Oriental team on Saturday, an injury to his knee keeping him off the field. Messrs. C. E. MacCormick and C. Y. Langsford have been re-elected secretary and treasurer of the Auckland Rugby Union. The Wairarapa Rugby Union have decided to send tneir representative team h Wellington on the 3rd June (the Prince of Wales's Birthday). Saturday's matches are . — Wellington v. Melrose, Old Boys v. Oriental, and Athletic v. Petone. The latter team in each instance should win. "Actason" states that from present appearances the Auckland Rueby Union's championship lies between the City, Newtown, and Ponsonby teams. A report that Morry Wood who is now in Auckland, contemplated playing for the Ponsonby Club this season, has 1 een denied by the New Zealand i eprestntative player, who states that he ha" definitely retired from the game. Henry Kelly, so well and favourably known in Wellington as its record representative player, is to be married this week to a Wellington young lady. "Hen" is now permanently stationed in Auckland. Congiatulations. Footballers and others interested in matches played at Petone are reminded that the time of the running of the train on Saturday afternoons has been altered. It now leaves Te Aro at 1.45 and Wellington at 1.55 — not 2.20 and 2.30 as in former seasons. A erood sign ! Tbe treasurer of one of <ur senior clubs told me early m the veek that eleven out of the fifteen compiising his senior team have already paid their subscription for this season. The example is a good one, and many treasurers I know would be pleased if they could unfold the same tale.