RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10277, 12 May 1919, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SATURDAY'S GAMES

ALL-ROUND IMPROVEMENT SHOWN.

There was a touch of real football weather on Saturday afternoon, when the championship fixtures wero continued. A south breeze was blowing with some nippiness in it, but the ground was badly in need of rain. it was exceptionally hard for this time of the year, consequently a number ot the players received abrasions to their dtin through coming in <»? to ?* ™* h it • The injuries received, however, were not of a serious nature, with the exception of one instance, when Cooper, of the Wellington team, was injured m the back through colliding with a Xetone player, and had .to be carried oh the field. There was a large attendance, and the exhibition of Rugby was an improvement on the previous week. It is not yet up to last season s standard, but the progress has been rapid, and within a week or two keen and scientific play should bo*in evidence. ' PETONE V. WELLINGTON.

This game, which was fought out on No 1 Athletic Park, attracted most attention. There were some bright features abou* it, although a number of mistakes wero made by each team. Wellington (yellow and. black) had the advantage in weight m the forward division, while Petone. (blue) showed superiority in back play. Nicholls, the Petone half-back, was unable to play on account of injuries he received on Saturday week, and Shanahan, who filled his position behind the pack, did good work. He got the ball away smartly and cleanly, and made a number of good openings for the rear division to distinguish' themselves. The Wellington team had several alterations in it. De Castro was taken from the forwards to play threequarter in place ot Jb\ Packet, and Coulter, another forward, played second five-eighth. Wellington kicked off and Petone assumed, the attack by a forward rush. A short passing bout by Pole and Hamilton followed. Hamilton passed put to Nyhan on tho wing> but the latter failed to take the ball, and Savident booted it up tho field. Play was soon back again. Pole made a dash for tho goal line, but was held up, and Ambler had a 6hot at goal from a penalty kick without success. Oik several occasions the blues had their efforts nullified by the" good, safe play of Pearson, full-back for Wellington. Hamilton made a nice run, but ho failed to pass 'to .Nyhan early enough, and the import of this was lost. • The yellows rallied, and the forwards carried the ball out of tho danger zone. They seldom got tho ball in the scrums, and, considering

their superior weight, this should liave

been a strong feature of tho team. A dash by Bowers and Smylie for Petone hemmed Wellington to their goal line, i but strenuous forward play removed I the scene of action to half-way, where J Hamilton gained --possession. .He sprinted down the field at a smart paco, but his pass to Nyhan was too late. Aspinall intercepted the pass, got well away, but was overhauled by Corner. Petone put on the pressure again, and Thomas got across. He took tho kick at goal, and the ball went wide of the posts. Aftei this reverse Wellington held their own for a while until the blue .forwards dashed down the field in a body with the ball at toe. The ball was kicked by Hamilton, who, by - following up fast, secured it and scored near the corner. "Buntefr" Thomas added the major points. The Wellington forwards worked the ball up the field, but the ground gained was lost immediately the Petone backs obtained possession. A passing rush, in which Pole Hamilton, and Corner took part, looked promising, but a bad pass spoiled an otherwise good effort. At half-time play was in neutral territory. r, u? * h .e commen cement of the second half of the game Petone made the pace a 'cracker," and Corner soA-ed from a pass he received from Hamilton. B. Thomas missed with the kick at goal". Wellington now made creditable forward efforts to equaliso matters. Seve- | ral times the forwards reached their opponents' goal-line, but the backs were not equal to the occasion. Hill, at full back for Petone, was called upon more than once, and successfully did what was required of him. H© did a sprint on one occasion and nearly scored, while Smylie showed considerable speed for a forward. It was evident the Wellington forwards could not maintain their dash without more support, and a dribbling rush by Petone ended in "Kxuger" Parker scoring. Hamilton did not increase the points by his kick at goal. \ Petone 14, Wellington 0. Shortly afterwards Corner obtained an easy try which Ambler converted, and Wylie got over from- a loose forward rush. The final try was not converted by Ambler, and the game endpd Petone. 22, Wellington 0. Captain Crawford was the referee. OMENTAL DEFEAT OLD BOYS.

Considering that the season is only in its infant stages the game between Oriental and Old Boys, played at Duppa street, provided spectators with fairly good sport. Unfortunately Old Boys could not compare with their opponents as regards weight, and this deficiency militated against the chances of the younger side. The Oriental forwards always had the advantage and the Old Boys' backs did not get many opportunities to show up. In f"he first spell tho scoro stood at B—o in favour of Oriental, both tries being secured by Hingston. The second try was converted by Irvine, who also played a particularly good game in the field. Oriental had mostly the best of matters in the second half and the rallies of Old Boys were rather half-hearted. During the spell Hingston scored again, Papps converting. Irvine kloked a goal from a free-kick, and Poulter scoured n try. fhe gamo ended: Oriental 19. Old Boys 0. Mr J. S. King was referee. ATHLETIC BEAT SELWYN.

Although Athletic accounted for Selwyn, the latter put up a surprisingly good fight. The game, which was played at Duppn, street, was not very spectaoular, but It was always willing and vigorous. Tho Athletic fifteen comprises older and moro experienced players than Selwyn, and in tho closo forward play their weight told. Tho early stages wero mostly in favour of Athletic, and when the whistle sounded for half-time the scoro stood at 10—0 in their favour. Pnton scored the first try, which W. Ryan converted, and later Hall, the smart half, wriggled through cleverly and scored amid applause from the little band of spectators. Church had no trouble in add-

ing the major .points. Being up against it at the start of tho second spell, Sel-V,-xn set out with a will to make things interesting for Athletic. They had their opponents doing their best all through the spell and wero unlucky that they did not score moro than five. These were got from a try by Desmond, Tierney adding the major points. Mr L. Simpson controlled the game. PONEKE v. UNIVERSITY.

This game was moro of a scrappy nature than the one on the adjoining ground. It was open and fast enough, but the members of each team had not apparently become conversant with each other's play yet. Poneke had tho heaviest forwards, a fact that gave their ' backs a distinct advantage. McArthur., who has been off tho football Held for five years /displayed some of his old form, while the rest of tho backs will form a good combination as the season progresses. A feature of the play was the sound game played by Ohrisp at full-back for University. Chrisp got his team out of many difficulties, and was more at homo than in the position ho played on the previous Saturday afternoon. Barker displayed a fino turn of speed, and the game would have been more oven had the University forwards been heavier. 'Varsit opened the proceedings by kickinir off, and Poneke were first to attack? Morris had a kick at goal from an easy position, but was not successful. Aitkin made an opening after a sprint, but his pass was wild. This allowed Morris to turn the laVlc'Mf 'Varity's tackling was not strong, but Poneke wero continually hammering at their door. Chrisp saved well, and Gillespie made a good run, but he lost the ball at a critical moment. Marks, Morris and F. Tilyard wore instrumental in removing play from the centre of the .ground to 'Varsity line, and a smart run by Morris ended in him being pushed into touch at the corner. The ball was hardly in play again before Taylor scrambled over for Poneke. Christopherson added the major points with the kick at goal. There was no further score during the first. half of the game, which was practically all'in favour of Poneke.

The second half was even more open than the first. Each sido threw the ball about, but the combination among the backs was not pronounced. A forward rush by Poneke (red) resulted in Power obtaining a try. Christopherson was entrusted with the kick, but his effort was resultless. Poneke 8, 'Varsity .0. .TheriAlgai--scored from a passing ;b6ut, and again Christopherson failed with tho Kick at goal. McArthur was the next player to cross the line for Poneke, and Morris fared no better with tho attempt at goal. Poneke 14, 'Varsity 0. During a subsequent attack by the reds Algar potted a goal. The greens, putting a deal of vim into their play, had'a turn at attacking, and from an opening made by Barker Lowe grounded the ball over the line. ! Jackson made no mistake with the kick. Poneke 18, 'Varsity.' 5*.. Shortly before. the call.: of., .time jlorris., scored'; after a dodiry run. Algar registered a goal, and the game ended: Poneke 23, "Varsity 5. Air H. Roberts, junr., refereed.

JUNIOR RUGBY 'Varsity (9) v. Poneke (3). Petone (9) v. Berhampore (3). '' -THIRD GRADE. ■■■■ .; Petone (io) v. R-ailway Battalion (13).' Wellington (3) v. Selwyn (3). Athletic (80) v. Hutt (nil). Oriental (6; defeated Johnsonvillo (5). Clarke, the Oriental half, who played a splendid gamo, scored two tries just on time. It was a splendid game with an exciting finish. FOURTH GRADE. Hutt (13) v. Old Boys (7). Selwyn (8) v. (5); Oriental -A, (.0,)" v. Banks.. College "(8)7 Athletic (21) v Oriental; B (ml).* - '■ i'.M.O.A. (24) v. Soots College (nil). FIFTH GRADE Oriental (12) v. Poneke (3). In a fifth-class fixture played .on Athletic Park, Selwyn beat Berham-' pore by 16 points to 11. SIXTH GRADE.

Petone (8) v. Technical High School (nil).