FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 307, 24 June 1912, Page 4

FOOTBALL

THE RUGBY GAME. QUEENSLAND v. NEW SOUTH WALES. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 23, 5.5 p.m. Brisbane, June 23. In the Rugby Union match Queensland defeated New South Wales by 18 points to lw. WELLINGTON GAMES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In inter-college Rugby football Wellington College defeated St. Patrick's College by 10 pointß to nil. -Tlit; weather was fine but very cold yesterday afternoon. The senior Rugby games resulted as follows;— Petone beat Wellington by 28 points to nil; Athletic beat Melrose by 3 points to nil, St James beat Poneke by 6 points to 3! Victoria College beat Southern by 18 points to 3. This completes the first round of the championship. Petone leads with 17 points, Oriental If, Athletic 15, Melrose 12, St. James <J, Wellington G, Poneke 6, Victoria College 3 Southern 2. '

STAR (15) v. ROVERS (6). The football public expected a hardfought game to ensue from the meeting of these two keen rivals on Saturday, and although Star won by a comfortable margin the struggle was at times exciting enough to satisfy the most (sanguinary of football enthusiasts. The state of the ground did not favor an open game, and Star, with their superior forwards, took full advantage of this fact to confine the play as much as possible where lay their greatest strength. There were, however, several pieces of nippy back play. The Rover backs, especially, were often very slick, and took a Jot of watching. The game opened in a manner more electrifying than is usual with Saturday games lately, for immediately after the kick-off, Thompson -snapped up and passed to lan Grant, who transferred to Webster, the latter scoring from about half-way. Star were fairly caught napping. Thomson's kick failed. Nerved by this unexpected and successful assault on their goal, the Star vanguard came away with a rush. Dewar, missing the ball, nullified the chance, but the movement "transferred play to half-way, where from a line-out Gleeson secured and Rovers were forced back, till lan Grant relieved with an opportune mark. Give-and-take play followed, Star assaulting vigorously, but off-side play gave Rovers a free kick, which again relieved matters, lteid, at half, was now playing a sterling game, stopping the Black rushes in fine style. The Rover backs were defending gallantly, lan Grant (at centre) frequently proving the salvation of bis side, but the Star vanguard were not to be denied, and, headed by Hawkins and Dewar, came on with rush on rush, forcing their lighter opponents back. At last Dewar snapped up the ball from the ruck and dived over. Hawlcias made no mistake with the kick, which was a fine effort. Star 5, Rovers 3. Rovers now took a hand, and headed by Thomson got away with a good rush, which Clark at fulllback missed badly. Over-kicking spoit the chance, and the Star forwards gained some ground. At half-way Hawkins had a penalty shot, which failed. Packard now «ime through, ball at toe, but was unsupported, and a chance of scoring in the corner was lost. The Rover backs now handled in nippy style. Lan Grant, with a good run, beat Gkrke at full, but Star forced. Give-and-take play concluded the first spell, Darcy Newall's linekicking at full-back saving further scores.

The second spell opened somewhat tamely, a series of endless line-outs and scrums affording little excitement. Star continued their forward and the Rover baeks put up a strenuous defence. Early in the spell a Eover back nearlyscored, but rolled off the ball. From a line-out at half-way Charters put in one of his dribbling rushes. Nowall saved once, but Charters was not to 'be denied, and after a fine effort scored in the corner. Hawkins converted. Star 10, Rovers 3. Rovers now shook things up, and catching Star napping threatened their goal. Gleeson saved. Webster and lan Grant again handled, and gained some ground. From the half-way line a Star forward stopped a rush, and Goudie snapping up set sail, and with a fine iun Unshed through the Rover baeks, scoring between the posts. Hawkins converted the try. Star 15, Rovers 3. Rovers attacked well, endeavoring to open up the game, and their backs took a lot of stopping. Star were short in the back division, and Greatbatch was lamed. Dewar securing passed to Greatbatch, who passed wildly, but the Star vanguard again penned Rovers, till Hawkins, being off-side, gave Rovers relief with a free kick, from which Rovers had a shotwhich failed. Star now penned th« gheen and whites under their goal, where a strenuous struggle ensued, but Rovers were not dead yet, and instituted a passing rush in the back division, lan Grant dashing right up. McAllum saved his side. Star were now penned in their turn, Rovers making a good fight till Stannering relieved them with a good line kick. Give-and-take play ensued, in which lan Grant and Webster made several ineffectual attempts. McAllum relieved, and Newall returned the kick. Lan Grant and his brother took a lot of watching, and nearly scored in the corner. Finally, off-side play by Dewar gave Thompson a penalty sliot, with which he inade no mistake. Star forwards initiated a dangerous rush, which Webster stopped. Rovers rushed, headed by Webster, and McAllum holding too long Rovers had another penalty shot, but could not alter the score, and the struggle ended with the score 15 to 0. Mr. J. Johnson held the. whistle. THE LEAGUE GAME. NEW ZEALANDERS DEFEATED. Received 83, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, June 23. There was an attendance of 28,000 at i tho opening match of the New Zealand j Rugby League's tour aaginst New South | Wales, which the home team won by 27 i points to 8. The teams were as follows: New Zealand.—Full-back. Hargreaves; three-quarters, Gilmour. Bradley, Weston; five-eighths, S. Kelly and Carlaw; half, Barber; forwards, Francis, Dunning, Rukutai, Dervan, Irvine, and 11. Hay ward. New South Wales.—Full-back, Hallet; three-quarters, Broomham, Messenger, Gilbert, Frawley; halves, McKivat and Campbell; forwards, Courtney., Noble, McCue, Pearce, Sullivan, and Cann. ' In the first spell play was of an oven character, but as the New Zealanders only landed after midnight, after a rough trip, the Welshmen's superior condition told at the finish. New South Wales kicltod off, and at once pressed. A passing rush ensued between Courtney. Messenger and Gilbert, from which the latter scored. The try was unconverted. Russelli replaced Broomham, who was injured, and after a free-kick to New Zealand, Russell initiated a passing rush, the ball travelling from Campbell to McCue, and Messenger converted. Towards the end of the first spell, Gilmour dribbled and

then kicked. JJ e raced the Welsh fullback for the ball and scored, also eon* verting the try. New South Wales 9, New Zealand 5, The defence of botfc teams was severely tested. In the second spell the New Zea» landers were overmatched, tries being scored for New South Wales by Russell (:?), : nger, Courtney, and Frawley, two of which Messenger converted. Barber scored a try for New Zealand, which was not converted. The New SoutK Wales backs indulged in much prettj passing and beat the New Zealand backs. 'Hie final try was a splendid piece oJ work. Starting from near their own line, the Welsh backs carried the hall the length of the field against determined tackling, Frawley being tht scorer. Gilbert -and Cann gave the beat ex» hibition. The New Zealand forwards showed great dash, and Monday's game is expected to be more even. Campbell was kicked and had his ankle brok«n in t'he second spell.