OUR SPORTS SUMMARY

New Zealand Tablet, 11 August 1921, Page 32

OUR SPORTS SUMMARY

[To ensure insertion without delay, notes intended for this page should reach us not later than Tuesday morning of each week.]

DUNEDIN.

St. Patrick’s Harriers held their usual run on last Saturday afternoon, when there was a full muster. The pack, under Capt. Morris, starting from Musselburgh, followed the road round Tahuna Park and thence to Tomahawk lagoon. After indulging in a game of football a fast run home through the snow (then falling thickly) was made, several of the younger members keeping well to the fore.

WELLINGTON.

The Marist senior Rugby team was defeated on last Saturday week by Oriental by 8 to nil, the match being played in the rain.

Owing to the Canterbury v. Wellington match for the Brown Shield taking place on Saturday week, no local Soccer games were played.

In the senior grade of the primary schools’ competition last week, Marist Brothers (Newtown, Wellington) defeated Seatoun Public School by 7 goals to nil. The school team in the junior grade also won its game, defeating Haitaitai Public School by 5 goals to nil.

• In the Saturday competitions Marist Brothers (Newtown) sixth grade defeated Thorndon Marist Brothers by 1 to nil, while the seventh grade, which played Thorndon Club, won by 10 to nil. The Bth grade team also kept the colors flying, defeating Seatoun Club by 4 goals to nil.

The Rugby football team, too, upheld the school flag, winning the Senior B School Championship, the final game being played against Petone West Public School, which was defeated by 20 points to nil.

The annual Rugby football match, St. Patrick’s College v. Wellington College, was played on the Athletic Park, Wellington, on Saturday, July 30. St. Patrick’s (Blue and White) was represented by the following: Backs: C. Clemens, L. Aldridge, P. Kennedy, F. McFarland, M. James, R. Blake, L. Pothan; wing forward: L. Day; forwards: A. Keane, M. Keogh, A. J. Burnes, 0. White, G. Hales, J. Barry, R. O’Regan. Drizzling rain up to the time of starting made the ground heavy and the ball greasy and difficult to handle. St. Patrick’s won the toss and played with the wind slightly in their favor. Almost the whole of the first spell was played in the Wellington twenty-five, the Blacks forcing on fiveor six occasions. From the beginning the Blue forwards and backs showed excellent combination and completely outclassed their opponents. Aldridge, St. Patrick’s speedy wing, fell three times on the lino after tricky runs. A little later Blake ran from near half-way and was tackled close to the line. After a long series of attacks, Pothan got the ball away to James on the blind side, and the latter, running strongly, beat the Black centre and transferred to McPailand on the right wing. This player dashed between the opposing wing and full back and scored a pretty t»y amid great applause. O’Regan failed to convert the heavy jjiall. In the second spell, the chief feature was the scientific play of the Blue forwards. Realising that their best defence was attack, the Blues managed to keep the play ; in their opponents’ half most of the time. In the scrums, the lino out, the loose, St. Patrick’s vanguard showed marked superiority. Time after time they reached the Black line by powerful rushes. Wellington put up a solid defence in this spell as in the first. Several tries were 'lost owing to the difficulty of handling the greasy ball. About half-way through the spell, Wellington booted well down the field and Miller, the Black wing, racing for the ball, made for the Blue line. He was brought down by Kennedy two yards from the line by a spectacular tackle. I he Blue captain ran from the centre at top pace, and ; by a diving side tackle prevented a certain score. Aided by James the Blues cleared their line. Except on this occasion, Wellington were rarely dangerous. The line . kicking of O'Regan, Kennedy, and Clemens earned loud

applause. The game ended without further score. The boys of St. Patrick’s entered the enclosure and carried off Kennedy and his victorious team.

In the opinion of Rugby critics the St. Patrick’s forwards gave a brilliant exhibition; their packing, hooking, heeling, dribbling, and screwing were all scientific and heady. Their opponents’ attack was never serious in the face of this pack. Old boys of the college consider that this was one of the finest forward divisions put in the field for many years. The backs are as brilliant as the forwards, but on the day they had fewer opportunities. The team showed perfect combination between forwards and backs. In addition to the backs already .mentioned, Pothan played one of his-greatest games. Clemens at full back was always safe and reliable. Kennedy proved an excellent captain.

At the conclusion of the game, Mr. Darroch, on behalf of the Wellington College old boys officially congratulated the team. It was an epoch marking game, for since 1908, owing to fewer numbers and in some cases to hard luck, St. Patrick’s had not won any of the 'nine games which were played. In all, the rival colleges have played 37 games since 1885: St. Patrick’s has won 18, Wellington 17, and two were drawn.

NAPIER.

The card tournament, played on July 19 between the Di uids and Hibernians (writes our own correspondent), resulted in another victory for the latter. The Vigor Brown Shield therefore remains in their hands.