RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 125, 2 July 1914, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

TOWN v. COUNTRY. HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS' GAME. ;A rather interesting game of Rugby was played in the North Park yesterday afternoon between teams representing Town and Country Old Boys of the Christchurch Boys' High School. There was a fair attendance at the match, which proved rather an exciting one in the closing stages. It was a struggle between the Town' backs and Country forwards, the former including several of the' Old Boys' Senior Fifteen. Both teams were short, Town having 14 and Country 13. Playing with the wind at their, backs, Country started off vigorously in attack, Jamieson finding touch well dawn near the Town goal-line. From a scrum Country heeled out cleanly, but the backs' attempt at passing went awry. Boag grabbed the ball smartly and lined, at halfway. A. Deans broke away, only to be tackled by Hickmott. In a scramble the ball came out to Crawshaw, whose pass to Taylor was slightly forward. Crawshaw was putting in some tricky work, and after a passing bout in, conjunction with Burn and Otley he was nearly over. Town were having decidedly the best of the deal, the backs getting away several times. The tackling, however, was particularly solid, while D. Deans, J. Chamberlain, and Heslop were kicking well. From another passing rush Hickmott raced away, but A. Chamberlain brought him down with a lovely tackle. It was, however, only a matter of time before Town would get a try, and it was a sensational one when it came. Jn the Country twenty - five Boag took the ball from Taylc, and, cutting in brilliantly, threaded his way over the line through a completely I bewildered opposition. Crawshaw failed [to convert. Town 3, Country nil. [ A big kick and a strong run by D. Deans put his side in an advantageous position, but Hickmott ran well and kicked across, where the white forwards, following fast, took the ball right across the Country line, two force-downs coming in quick succession. Play then was carried down to midfield by the Country forwards, Livingstone aud Jamieson showing up prominently, A placer near the halfway line by D. Deans fell short. ToWn were penned up for a time, but gradually worked free, Country being compelled to force again. Then came Country's turn to score. D. Deans dashed away strongly, and when near the posts passed to A. Deans, who, though dropping the pass, kicked over the line. Crawshaw and Guthrie failed to force, and .Heslop touched down. The kick failed. Country 3, Town 3. Immediately after another strong forward onslaught ended in A. Chamberlain scoring. Heslop converted. Country 8, Town 3. Then came a smart bit of play by the Town backs. In the Country twenty-five Otley pieked up and gave to Crawshaw. Boag, getting it from Taylor, cut in beautifully, and, though tackled, managed to transfer to Allardyee, who scored. Crawshaw converted, and the scores read: Town Country 8. Half-time sounded soon after.

Second Spell. It was generally anticipated that with the wind behind them the Town backs would start piling on the points. They started off very well, but the Country forwards then began to assert themselves. By strong dribbling they got within striking distance, Jamieson being pulled down only inches off, and Boag relieved. A bit of pretty combined work between Taylor and Young ended in the latter going over, but the line umpire's ilag was up. After a long period of uninteresting play Young scored a try, Avhich Guthrie converted. Town 13, Country 8. This was fol- j lowed a few minutes later by Boag running round between the posts and converting his own try. Town .18, Country .S.

Town were now leading by' a sudstantial margin, and it looked as if all was over bar the shouting. But the Country men were not yet done. D. Deans penetrated deep into the enemy 's territory, and Sime, who had followed up well, got over. Deans failed to enhance, though his kick was a good one. Country had evidently taken a fresh lease of life, and it was not long before B. Chamberlain scored wide out. Jamieson failed. Town 18, Country 14. The complexion of the game had now undergone an entire' change, the Country forwards taking everything before them. Amid wild enthusiasm Coe scored for Country, and when Sime converted Country were in the lead, 19 —18. Emboldened by their success Country kept at it, and this time it was Heslop '3 turn to cross. Country 22, Town 18. •But two minutes were left for play, and again Fortune's wheel made another turn. The pace of the preceding quarter of an hour had told its tale on the Country forwards, several of whom were hanging out distress signals. At halfway the ever-ready Crawshaw got possession, thence on to Taylor and Boag, the last-named registering his third try under the posts. Crawshaw sent the ball squarely over the bar, and the whistle went for time with the tallies standing:— Town .. .. ...... 23 Country " .. .... .. 22 Referee: Mr T. W. Reece. FIFTH GRADE MATCHES. The Canterbury Rugby Union's fifth grade matches for next Saturday have been rearranged. They will now be as follow:—Telegraph v. Sydenham, Lancaster Park, South Ground, 1.30 p.m.; Western v. Waltham-Marists, Lancaster Park, West Ground, 1.30 p.m.; Lyttelton v. Northern, Linwood Park, 1.30 p.m.; Eastern, a bye. SCHOOLS' MATCHES. Yesterday afternoon the Technical College Rugby football team beat West Christchurch District High School by 22 points to nil. M. Woods scored three tries, L. W. Mehrtens two, and A. Drayton one; E. Bohan and A. Boon each converted a try. The Liowood School team beat Sydenham School by 10 points to nil. Sim and Bailey scored a try apiece, and Orchard potted a goal. ALL BLACKS DEFEATED. " Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 1. Fifteen of the All Black representatives, who are to visit Australia, played

a Wellington fifteen at the Athletic Park to-day, and were defeated by 19 points to 14 after a fast and open game. The New Zealand team was not up to its full strength. The backs gave a fine : exposition, and their passing was really a feature of the game. BUGBY nsr AMERICA. ' Press Association. • , vli WELLINGTON, July 3. * The New Zealand Rugby Union today received the following letter from 'Mr R. P. Merrett, Controller of tin* University of California:—"l have your letter of April 17, which I hay© read with much pleasure. Your enclosure has caused some amazement, f I trust you already know that the statement that the University of California •has any thought of returning to the American game is entirely without foundation. The cable despatched referred to the University of Southern California. They have returned to. the American game because their neighhours, Pomona, Occidental, etc., were their best and nearest competitors.. I trust the matter will be put right before the public of Australia and NewZealand. " EEFEEEES TROUBLES. WELLINGTON, July 1. ' For a long time dissatisfaction has existed in the ranks of local Rugby referees over their appointment to senior fixtures by the Appointment Board. They have an association nearly a quarter of a century old, which hasfrequently claimed from the union power to select the referees they think fit for senior fixtures. This the union has not been prepared to concede. The matter culminated this evening, when a deputation from the Referees' As-, sociation waited upon the Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union with reference to the question. The deputation-asked-that the selection of* referees should .be entrusted to the association, or, in the alternative, that the personnel of the board should be altered by the removal of the union's present representative. The latter request formed the main basis of the discussion. The deputation practically gave the union to understand that if the demands were not acceded! to there " would be a strike of referees and the dissolution of their association. After hearing the deputation the union resolved not to accede to the rerequests. A special meeting of the association is being convened to discuss the union's attitude.