FOOTBALL

Otago Witness, Issue 4030, 9 June 1931, Page 46

FOOTBALL

RUGBY.

By

Full Back.

SEVEN-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT. PIRATES WIN SENIOR COMPETITION. Ideal conditions favoured the Otago Rugby Union’s annual seven-a-side tournament, which was played on Carisbrook Ground and Bathgate Park on Wednesday, and despite counter-attractions there was a very good attendance of spectators at both grounds. The A and C Grade competitions were played at Carisbrook, and the preliminary rounds of the B Grade were decided on Bathgate Park in the morning, the winners moving in the afternoon to Carisbrook, where the semi-finals and finals of all grades were played. The majority of the games were fast and sparkling, and Pirates, the winners of the A Grade competition, played consistently good football throughout. Dunedin and Southern, the winners of the B and C Grade sections respectively, also gave good exhibitions of fast, open football, and neither side was afraid to throw the ball al>out. During the afternoon two footballers' relay races and a footballers’ championship were run. Pirates won the senior relay, and Southern the junior. W. Alien (Pirates) taking the championship in 11 3-ssec, which was remarkably good time for the distance (100 yards), considering that he had to run in full football uniform and carry a ball.

SATURDAY’S MATCHES.

DUNEDIN. The grounds were soft for Rugby football matches on Saturday, and only First and Second Grade games were played. In addition, a cold southerly wind helped to make " the conditions unpleasant. The. University teams were not playing, the principal match being that between Pirates and Southern, who drew —3 ah Zingari-Richmond fully extended Ka' korai, who won by IS points to 13. The games resulted as follow: — Pirates .. .. 3 Southern .. .. 3 Taieri 3 Union 0 Kaikorai .. ..18 Zingari 13 Alhambra .. .. 26 Dunedin .... 0

POSITION OF TEAMS

The following table shows the relative positions of the teams engaged in ■ th. senior competition: —

IN OTHER CENTRES AUCKLAND. College Rifles 11, Grafton 8. Ponsonby 9, Grammar G. Technical Old Boys 6, City 6. Marists 3. Manukau 3. Training College 8. University 3. WANGANUI. Pirates 9, Technical Old Boys 9. Marist 6, Kaierau 3. Old Boys 5, Ratana 3. WELLINGTON. Senior A. Eastbourne 17, University 8. Hutt 16. Berhampore 3. Oriental 14, Miramar 14. Athletic 11, Wellington G. Old Boys 20, Marist nil. Poncke 16, Petcne 13. Senior B. St. Patrick’s Old Boys 18, Selwyn 12. Poirua IG, Training College 8. Hutt 11, Johnsonville G. CHRISTCHURCH, Old Boys 14. University 12. Sydenham G, Albion 3. Christchurch 17. Athletic 5. Merivale 33, Linwood 3. THE BEBBINGTON SHIELD. DANNEVIRKE, June G. The first representative match of the season for the Bebbington Shield resulted in a win for Bush, the challengers, who defeated Dannevirke, the holders, by 8 points to 3. The ground was dry and the game was mostly a forward struggle. The first spell was fairly evenly contested. Olliver scored a try for Bush and Reeves converted, and Ellingham a try for Daunevirke. The second, half -generally was in favour of Dannevirke, but towards the end Holland broke away and ran from one end of the field to the other and scored for Bush. HAWKE'S BAY DEFEATS • WAIRARAPA. HASTINGS, June 3. In the first Rugby representative fixture of the season in Napier, Hawke’s Bay defeated Wairarapa by 27 points to 13 in a fast open game at M’Lean Park before an attendance Of about 50(»0 people. The match hrid particular interest as a test of strength of the Hawke’s Bay team. Wairarapa crossed the home team’s line only once, the balance of the visitors’ score being compiled from two penalties and a field goal. Both sets of backs worked together well, but the home side was superior in both divisions. A. E. Cooke once again took the field for Hawke’s Bay, and he played a sterling game, saving many dangerous situations by his splendid line kicking.

WELLINGTON COMPETITION. WELLINGTON, June 3. The Rugby championship games were played here in ideal weather 10-day. Hut< gained a two-point lead by defeating the Wellington Club by 10 points to 3. Both teams had hitherto been unbeaten. Other senior results were:— Poncke 32. University 9. Petone 41, Berhampore 9. Marist 14, Oriental 10. Old Boys 22, Athletic 6. Eastbourne 41, Miramar 9.

TARANAKI DEFEATS WANGANUI. WANGANUI, June 3.

In the first representative Rugby match of the season Taranaki defeated Wauga nui by 17 points to 9. A bright display was provided Wanganui was the bettci team in the first spell, but replacements in the Taranaki backs and a rearrangement of their forwards gave them the honours in the second spell.

AUCKLAND DEFEATS WAIKATO. HAMILTON, June 3.

Auckland secured a narrow victory over Waikato in the first provincial representative match to-day. The weather was fine, but dull. Waikato had the better of the first half, but throughout was handicapped by the faultless hooking of the Auckland forwards. In the second half the Auckland backs handled better, surprising the home side with the rapidity of the attacks. The final score was: — Auckland 22, Waikato 17.

MATCHES TN CANTERBURY. CHRISTCHURCH. June 3. The firet round of the Canterbury Rugby Union Senior Competition was completed to-day in fine weather. Results:— Merivale 47. Sydenham nil. University 13. Christchurch 8. Old Boys 6, Linwood 3. Albion 19, Athletic nil.

REPLACEMENT OF PLAYERS. CHRISTCHURCH, June 3. _ Severe criticism of the action of the New Zealand Rugby Union in writing to the English Union for a ruling on the question of the replacement of injured players instead of deciding the point locally was made nt a meeting of the Management Committee of the Canterbury Union. It was_ decided to write to the New Zealand Union strongly protesting against its action “ The rule concerning replacements was framed in the dark ages, and the present personnel of the English Union could not interpret it better than could New Zealanders," stated Mr A. Thomson. Mr E. Flower: Are they going to send Home for a ruling every time they want one? It is futile and foolish to go cap in hand to the English Union. UNIVERSITY TEST. NEW ZEALAND'S EASY WIN. SYDNEY, June 3. On a dry ground the New Zealand team proved its superiority in all departments of the game, winning the second University Rugby test by 35 points to 21. The visitors led throughout, gaining nine tries against Sydney’s four. Except in the set scrummages, in which Sydney’s three front tow men secured an even share of the ball, all the honours were with the New Zealanders. The visiting forwards excelled in line outs and showed greater opportunism in the loose. Behind the scrum there was no conf .sion. Pryde gave his supports splendid service, and Carter, until he was replaced owing to receiving a minor injury, was most resourceful. Ruru gave his most skilful display of the tour. New Zealand directed frequent attacks from Mackay’s wing, where the Sydney defenders were unable to contend with his powerful fend. Bush was cool and reliable, and was again the most impressive full-back seen-in Sydney for many

years. His sure fielding and long touch finding kicks immensely helped the forwards. Bush’s try was the result of close following up. The outstanding Sydney player was Hemmingway, on the wing, who was always alert, and scored a brilliant final try from midfield, brushing the opposition aside.

The scorers for New Zealand were Diederieh, Carter, Bush, Ewart, Mackay (3), Thomas, and Williams, Bush converting four of the tries. The teams were as follow:—Bush, Mackay, Ruru, Williams, Carter (injured and replaced by Thomas), Ewart, Pryde, Stephen son-W right, M’Curdy, Hodge, Barker, Perkins, Peacock, Diederieh, and King. Sydney.—Bohane, Kennedy, Gibson, M'Mahon, Hemmingway, Simpson, M'Shane, Page, Joyce, 'Morey, Book, Elias, Love, Barry, and Murfitt

A DRAWN GAME. SYDNEY, June G. The New Zealand University team drew with Sydney in the University test. The score was 11 all. The ground was dry and ..fast, and both sides played open Rugby. The home backs were in better individual form and showed more enterprise and dash than in the previous tests. King replaced Stephenson Wright, who was hurt in the first half. King, who suffered a minor injury in the second half, was replaced by Peacock. The captains had pre-agreed to replacements. The first half of the gitme was fairly even, due to the improved form of the Sydney forwards, also to the better de fence of the backs.

Bush opened the scoring with a long jienalty goal, and Ruru was responsible for a brilliant try shortly before the interval.

After the resumption. Gibson and Booth gained tries for Sydney, Hemming-

way converting the latter. The first was the consummation of a three-quarter rush, the New Zealand defenders being outflanked. Booth’s was the result • f a cross kick, leaving the goal line open. Peacock obtained a try from a forward scramble, which Bush converted, regaining the lead for New Zealand. Joyce equalised at the end of a passing -rush by forwards ami backs. Sydney was still attacking in the last five minutes. Bush was again an outstanding figure., and Ruru, who was well marked throughout, was resourceful. The teams were: New Zealand. — Bush, Mackay Thomas, Williams, Ruru, Ewart, Pryde, Stephenson-Wright, Edwards, Barker, M'Veagh, Dixon, Hodge, Perkins, Deiderich. Sydney.—Bohane, Kennedy, Gibson, M'Mahon, Hemmingway, Simpson, M’Shane, Page, Joyce, Morey, Book, Elins, Love, Barry, and Murfitt. VISIT TO TATTERSALL’S CLUB. SYDNEY, June 3. The 'New Zealand University team visited Tattersail’s Club to-day.' They were cordially welcomed and shown over the premises. TOO STRONG FOR OPPONENTS. SYDNEY, June 2. The Telegraph says: “The New South Wales Rugby Union might consider the suggestion that it should field a representative side against the New Zealand Universities’ team. The visitors are a fine side, and thus far have proved vastly superior to their opponents, and the local students’ chances of turning the tables on the New Zealanders are slender."' The paper suggests that the last game of the tour, Combined Universities v. New South Wales, be changed to New Zealand Universities v. New South Wales.

P. W. L. D. Points Flag Pts. F. A. University A 0 — — 116 17 1C Southern 6 4 —- 2 51 9 10 Alhambra 6 4 1 1 82 30 9 Kaikorai 6 4 1 1 91 45 ;) Pirates . . 6 2 o o 68 55 6 Zingari . . 6 Q 3 1 51 57 Taieri . . 6 o 4 —— 29 64 4 Union .. G i £) 20 97 2 Dunedin 6 i 19 123 2 University B 5 — 4 1 36 65 i