RUGBY FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10297, 4 June 1919, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

REPRESENTATIVE 'MATCH

WELLINGTON AND PIONEER EATTALION PLAY DRAWN GAME.

~Yesterday afternoon the first Rugby | representative game of the season was | played at Athletic Park, when Weilirigi.oa met a team representing the Pioneer ;Maori) Battalion. Considerable interest was taken in the match, and over aCW spectators, including a number of native* from the Wairarapa and Manawatu districts, wore present. The ground was in good condition, and a north-east breeze ivas blowing. The teams were as fol°n ~ MAORI BATTALION.

Full back, Corporal Edwards; threequarters, Lieutenant Wilkinson, Lieuten ant W. Barclay, Sergeant Ma pan: liveeighths, Sergeant F. Barclay. Sergeant Rogers: halves, Lieutenant Jacobs, Gaptain Vercoe; forwards, Sergeant Carroi. Private Kingston, Captain J. H. .rlitll (captain), Lieutenant Orniond, Corporal firihi, Lieutenant Auhana, Corporal le Urupu. ' WELLINGTON.

Full back, Malin; three-quarters, MoArthur, Corner. Heley; five-eighth;. Jackson, Algar (captain); half. I ollock; forwards, Gair (wing), Bruce, Parker, Beard, Paton, Kent, Ryan Marks. The native team had played severa. matches Against representative tennis . New Zealand before meeting Wellington, and it was anticipated that their eommnarion would be as near perfection as possible. The Wellington team, on the other haud, had loot played together oreviouslv, and it could not be- expect eo that much combination would be shown 'The best that could be said about the Exposition was that the game was an open one. The Maoris, in particular. lirew the ball about with the gieativ ?onSdence. even when defending the'r ! goal-line, but the result was poor. Mimes the ball was thrown in the air, --vident.lv in the hope that it would b> secured by a member of the team, and or •nnnv occasions' an opponent grabbed H and 'immediately turned an attack inlo rlofence. Thero were two oiitstimt;n:< features, however, that might well !>■- ulopt?d bv Wellington players. 'One was the splendid throwing out. of the ball from the touch-line. S»lriom war the ball tossed a few yards into the fi»l of piny, but in (he majority of cases the Maoris threw it straight as an n'Tacross the line of waiting forwards when it was gathered in by n half-back am' the game opened up. The visit in? i™?was much heavier than Wellington both >n the back and forward division". Th" Sacks we,re fleet of foot, but there ivus t><. 'ironeunced cleverness amongst them, Simple opening to seo were thrown ■ way for the want of a little bri-i" .nd of Mi» ?ina poults of Vugbv football. Tho other feature -- 'he "kick high and under tactics' di«--dnyed by tho Maoris. Much ijroupf' was gained by this form of attack, and •>o high was" the ball kicked that «•• mportunify was given the sprinters to be down ■on the catcher almost before it inched his hands. Considcnnsr r.b» "'Vli(-rteo= of the forward enmnared wilh thoso of the natives, Wellington did erepptionallv well in the scrums, while 5" 'he loose nlay they showed eut> B L if not greater, dash, and in footwork they were ilpo superior. The backs taeViori --> " lrms«ed fairly well, with one or two oxI'eßtionn. but several chances to_ «-orr—-|-vera thmwn »iny., Mtv»*rpth»>T '+ "—' ■nnt an exhilarating exhibition. 1 and it was only towards the concluwon of the game Ih.ot the onlookers wero inrere°t<-rl <- ■■■ntrinsinsTri. The scores tire a true indi •:ation 'of the t«»-'ts of each team. THE PLAY.

Wellington was successful in winning ihe toss and defended tho northern goal, with the breeze in their favour. Hal: kicked oft for the natives, and Jackson removed tho scene of action to tire Maoris twenty-Jive by a kick. Some loose play followed, which ended in Wellington forwards making headway by a dribbling rush,'which was nicely stoppc' by N. Barclay, who, with the assistance of Wilkinson, removed play from the danger zone. Tho ' Wellington forwards were soon back again, but an infringement in front of the goal by a Wellington for'ward gave some relief. The attack continued, and Pollock secured a smart mark from a kick made at a rolling ball by Vercoe. Jackson was entrusted with the kick and sent the ball sailing over the crossbar. Wellington 3, Pioneei Battalion 0. From the kick out Hall 'made a fine effort, and was showing good headway when he was grassed by Corner. The ball was transferred to the care ol Rogers, and after W. Barclay, Mapti and Wilkinson had taken part in tho moveiment the latter was pushed "into touch in Wellington's twenty-rive. The local team I was hemmed down near their goal line for a few moments, when McArthur was seen making his way through the opposi tion in great style. He kicked and followed up fast, and Wilkinson saved the situation by finding the touchline with a kick in his own twenty-five. The game was of a ragged nature for five minutes, and the monotony was rolieved-by Algar potting at goal. The ball fell under the bar. The Wellington backs were kicking far too bard, and beyond forcing the natives down no advantage was gained. Pollock,, who was going down to forward rushes gamely, got the ball well away from a scrum, and Algar set sail for the coveted line. When in difficulties he passed to Heley, who ran into the waiting backs and was collared by Mapu. The ball was passed back to. Edwards who boosted it up the field, and Malin, at full-back made a good attempt to pot a goal. Gair made, a creditable dash and passed to Pollock, whoso progress was stopped by Edwards. The result was that the Maoris wero awarded a free kick for Pollock holding the ball too long. Then' McArthur- made an opening, and during a forward rush Gair gained possession. He had practically a clear run over the line, which was five yards away, but ho dropped the ball for the purpose of dribbling it, and lost an easy try. The natives made a determined "rally, which' was initiated through a pass being 'intercepted.' A dribbling rush ensued, all opposition was safely negotiated, and when tho goal-line was reached the easiest of tries was thrown away. It would appear that tho three men who took part in tho rush wero deciding who should take unto himself the credit of scoring, as they had matters all to themselves. The hall was kicked over the line in the meantime and McArthur, coming up fast, kicked it amongst the snectators, much to their amusement. S'rom this to the end of tho first half of

iho. game Wellington was mainly attacking, but the sure tackling, which 10ruinded all players of the Taranaki backs of years ago', prevented the Maoris' line being crossed. Ryan was nearly in on one occasion, and "Kru;»er" Parker slipped when gathering the ball in when he had practically only to fall down in order to score. Edwards, who played a tine defensive game for the Pioneer Battalion, was a tower of strength to his side. lie fielded the ball splendidly and seldom failed to get his kick in. Passing bouts took place between W. Barclay. Rogers, Jacobs, and Wilkinson, but tlu,defence .of Wellington could not be broken' down. THE VISITORS SCORE.

The second half of the game opened wiili a forward movement by Wellington, and a pretty piece of play by Corner, Jackson, lieiey and McArthur reached a promising stage when the last-named was collared and smothered in great style by Wilkinson. Wellington was forced down twice in a few minutes, and shortly afterwards, the local backs fumbled the ball under their own goal posts. Pollock kicked into Jacobs's hands, and h* bounded over the line. Hall missed with an easy kick at goal. Wellington 3, Pioneer Battalion 3. The natives had n habit of playing the man instead of the ball in the loose forward play, and were penalised on a number of occasions on that account. Their forwards were wvidently tiring, and although individual players broke right through the scrums there ,_ was no concerted action. Algai mid Cornel" were associated in the sprint which raised a cheer from tho crowd, as did one by Jacobs, Rogers and Wilkinson, but when no side was sounded play was in the visitors' territory. , Mr L. Simpson was the referee. PUBLIC TRUST v. INSURANCE. A game between teams rexn-esenting the Public Trust and Government Insurance i/ilices was played as a curtain-raiser to uiß principal match. Public Trust i)roved stipenor to tho upholders of the destines of the Insurance Department, and won by 19 points to nil. Tries were -cored by Brown (•_>), Tracy (2), and Gillespie, one being converted by Papps and mother by U.ilespie. Mr J. Mohat controlled the game. RAILWAY v. WANGANUI. • Railway Battalion played Wunganui in a irj.eni.uy gtimo at U imgaiiui, tne lormei wiumug oy zi points to nil. * iIAWKE'S BAi' I.Ea'T WAIRARAPA. Press Association. NAPiJiR, June 3. An inter union Rugov match, Wairarapa v. Uawkes Bay, was played to-da; .n brilliant woathcr in tho presence of tibjut ;iooo spectators. It was a last and fairly open game-and ended in favour of Hawke's B<v by lb poiii,* to 3. Tries were secured for tho >vinnen> by l/aaiia (i.). Clieonaide and Aiitcnen, tnreo of which were converted by Findlay. James scored for Wairarapa. There was not a great deal of difference between thh teams, but the home side mado no ■niatakes when the opening offered. GAMES AT TIMARU

Press Association. TIMARU, June 3. In a . seven-aside, lootball tournament, tho only holiday fixture, there was a very - large attendance. The games wero played in fine but cold weather. Ashburton and Oauiaru were represented, tieraldino won tho senior tourney, Timuru High School Old Boys beins second. Forty-three teams competed.