RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10277, 12 May 1919, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SATURDAY'S GAMES

ALL-ROUND 'IMPROVEMENT SHOWN. There was a touch of real football weather on Saturday afternoon, when the championship fixtures were 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 timo of the year, consequently a number 01 the players received abrasions to their skin through coming-in contact with It. The injuries received, however, were not of a serious nature, with tho exception of one instance, when Cooper, of tho Wellington team, was injured- in tho back through • colliding with a. Petone plaver, and had to be carried oft the field". There was a'largo attendance, and the exhibition of Rugby waa an improvement on tho 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 I Athletic Park, attracted' most attention. There were some bright features about it, although a number of mistakes were made by each team. Wellington (yellow and black) had tho 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 balJ away : smartly and cleanly, and made a number of good openings tor trie rear division to distinguish themselves. The Wellington team had several alterations in it. De Castro was taken from the forwards to play centre threequarter in plact. of F. Packer, 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 out to Nyhan on the wing, but the latter failed . to. take the ball, ana Savident-booted it,up the field. Play was soon back again. Polo made a dash for the goal line, but. was held j up, and Ambler had a _shot at goal from a penalty kick without success. On several occasions the blues had their efforts nullified by the good, safe play of Pearson, full-back for Wellington. Hamilton made a nice run,; hut he failed to pass to Nyhan early enough, and the import; of this was lost. The' fellows 'rallied,' • and the forwards carried' the ball out of the danger zone. They seldom got tho ball in the scrums, and, considering their superior weight, this should liave been a strong feature of the team. A dash by Bowers and Smylie' for Petone hemmed Wellington. to their goal line, but strenuous forward play removed tho scene of action to half-way,, where Hamilton gained ' possession. He sprinted down the field at a smart

pac'fa,""" TduOub* 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. ' Ho took tho kick at goal, and the ball went wide of tha 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,.,3iy„ following up last, seoured it and scored near tho corner. "Buntefr" Thomas added the major points. The Wellington forwards worked the ball up the field, but -the ground gained was lost immediately the Petono hacks obtained possession. A passing rush, in which Pole Hamilton, and Corner took part, looked' promising, but a had pass spoiled aa otherwise good effort. At half-time play was in neutral territory. ' , &* * n e- commencement of tho second na f of the game Petone made the pace a cracker," and Corner sc.*-ed from a pass he received from Hamilton.' B Thotnaß missed with the kick at goal. , Wellington now made creditable forward efforts,- to equalise matters. Several 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. Ho 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 "Kruger" Parker scoring. Hamilton did not increase the points by his kick at goal. Petono 14, Wellington 0.: Shortly afterwards Corner obtained an easy try which Ambler converted, and "Wylio Rot over from a loose forward rush. The final try was npt converted I by Ambler, and the game ended Potone 22, Wellington 0. Captain Crawford was tho referee. ORIENTAL DEFEAT OLD BOYS.

Considering that the. season is only in its infant stages tho 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 r the advantage and the Old Boys' backs did not get many opportunities to show up. In the first spell the score stood at B—o in favour of Oriental, both tries being secured by Hmgston. 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 tho second half and the rallies of Old Boys wore rather half-hearted. During tho spell Kingston scored again, Papps converting. Irvine kicked a goal from a free-kick, and Poulter secured a try. The game 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. Tho game, which was played at Duppa street, was not very spectacular, but it was always' willing and vigorous. Tho Athletic fifteen comprises older and more experienced players than Selwyn, and in tho close forward play their weight told. The oarly stages were mostly in favour of Athletic, and when the whistle .sounded for half-time the scoro stood at 10—0 in thoir favour. Paton scored the first try, which "WV Ryan converted, and later Hall, the smart half, wriggled through cleverly and scored amid applauso from the little hand of spectators. ■ Church had no trouble in add-

ing the major points. Being up against it at the- start of the second spell, Selwyn set out with a will to make things interesting for Athletic. They haA their opponents doing their best all through the spell and were unlucky that they did not score more than five. These were" got from a try by Desmond, Tierney adding the major points.

Mr L. Simpson controlled the gamo. PONEKE v.- UNIVERSITY...

•This game was more of a scrappy nature than the one on tho 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-the-football field for five years ,displayed some of his old form, while the rest of the backs will form a goad combination' as the season'progresses. A feature of the plav was the sound game played by Chrisp at full-back for University. Chrisp got his;team out of many difficulties, nhd was' more at homo than in the position,ho played on' the previous (Saturday afternoon. Barker displayed a fine turn-of speed, and the game would have been more even had the University forwards been heavier. 'Varsit opened tho proceedings by kicking 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 taMe!<4 'Verity's tackling was not strong, but Poneke wero continually hammering at their door. Chrisp saved well, and Gillespie made a good run, hut ho lost tho ball at a critical moment. Marks, Morris and F. Tilyard were instrumental in removing play from the centre of the ground to .'Varsity line, arid 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' side threw the ball about, but the combination among the hacks' 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. Then Algar scored from a passing'bout, and again Christopherson failed with the kipk at goal. McArthur was the next player to cross the line for Poneke, and Morris, fared ho better with the attempt at.,goal. .Poneke : '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 lino. .Jackson made no mistake with the kick.. ; Poneke. 18, 'Varsity 5. Shortly before I 'the call, of time Morris scored after ft dodgy run. Algar registered a goal, And the gamo. ended;.Poneke,£3; 'Varsity 6V*" 1 -'-' '"' ";' ■''_"»,-;" i«V >•>. Mr H. Roberts, junr., r refer'eed.

JUNIOR RUGBY 'Varsity (S>). v. Poneke (3). Petone (9) v. Berhampore (3). • y THIRD GRADE. Petone (15). v. Railway Battalion-(13). <3) ' vi.-f Sel>Vyn»^3).-*^i'>«.v Athletic (30) v. Hutt (nil). Oriental (6) defeated Johnsonville (5). Clarke, the Oriental half, who played a splendid game, scored two tries just on time. It was a ■ splendid game -with an exciting finish. FOURTH GRADE. / Hutt (13) y. Old Boys (7). Selwyn (8) v. Wellington'®. Oriental: A.(9>.,v. Bunks. jOolloge (8). , Athletic ;:f2l) X Oriental B'/(niU-.5 ■:■' *

Y.Ai.C.A':" (24)''v: Scots FIFTH GRADE Oriental (12) v. Poneke (3). . In a fifth-class fixturo played on Athletic Park, Selwyn beat Berhampore by 16 points to . 11. : ' •■_ SIXTH GRADE. Petone (8) v. Technical. High School •(nil).' . "..'. ...