ATHLETIC BEATS ORIENTAL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10603, 31 May 1920, Page 7

ATHLETIC BEATS ORIENTAL

'AN EVEN GAMEKeen was the expectancy and even the odda that attended the principal Rugby attraction in last Saturday’s draw—Oriental versus Athletic at Athletic Pari. The game started with Oriental playing' with a strong wind blowing from north to south,, but in the opening few minutes this advantage was apparently offset, by the superior weight of Athletic, who soon toroed play into their opponents’ twenty-live. Oriental put up a sturdy defence, however, and the goal line .was only approached for a serum W left nejd. Athletic picked up well, and earned well across in front of the posts; Byrne gfot possession and hopped, round near the corner to register Athletic s fires try, Roberts failed with the kickThis was the signal for retaliation from the easterners!! who, following up a long kick downfield, had a shot at goal as the reward of a. mark, but the ball narrowly missed its objective. Athletio’s second, try followed shortly after the new kick-off; after a short rough and tumble m ■ midfield, the leather was kicked put diagonally to- ■ wards the left corner post: it was followod up, secured, and forced just over the line by Roberts. The wind proved too muoli for the shot ah goal* taken by Adams- Oriental, not to be denied, again made the running end were not long in carrying the scrum just under Athletic's posts; from a mel&e close op the line Hanson, playing half, broke out from the rough and iw* got over. Avery converted. Athletic 6, Oriental 5. . The easterners maintained their stand at thoir opponents end. and a line kick on to the east corner made things hopeful for them, but Wilson saved* the situation from, the line-out by carrying the ball and .the black-wuh whites before him, forcing play back out of danger. For several minutes before the half-time whistle interrupted play Oriental was stdl making the paoeTkeeping the ball well in their favour, hut the Athletic .effort was a united one. and no further pomts were UNPRODUCTIVE SECOND HAI/P. With the resumption, Athletic opened the game out mpre. Mdtfie ball was kept moving rapidly. Securing from the loose, Byrne headed across and around field for homo, but the opposition threatened too strongly, and he was forced .to release to a near attendant, who mulled, and allowed the leather to touch out. the blueo and blacks continued the pressure and a series of thick scrummages ensued; several minutes of rougn-and-tumble, more tiring to the players than interesting to the grandstand, occurred; T*forf breakaway occurred; hb© forwards got possession, but rumbled; Ranji Wilson was bandy, however, and looked like a scorer, but he was whistled off-aide, and the effort went for nothing. ' fTbe enthusiaem of the spectators waa allowed an opportunity to bo fanned into flame by a breakaway by Oriental, but Athletic punted high close on the lino, and the wind saved the situation. The black uud while stripes again bit out strongly against the wind,, but- again the danger witn which they threatened their opponents was averted -by a long lino kick. From an easy position right in front of goal, Roberta had a pot at goal, but the ball flew Jow and to the left. Just as the sun went down Oriental gathered for a final daah up-field; the chances looked rosy, and, backed by loud encouragement from the barrackera, they found the aide-line twenty yards from the end of the field. The tbfow-out gave Athletic the advantage, however, and back scampered the game downfield again. Oriental’s saving tactics frustrated the final onslaughts made upon them, and an evenly-contested game ended as it had stood- at halftime: Athletic ® Oriental ...1 5 Mr L. A. Simpson refereed the match.