RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9610, 15 May 1919, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

The first match of the season was played on the Domain football grounds yesterday, the competing teams being Southern Cross and Rakaia. Unfortunately, the local club was unable to put a full team in the field, the first half of the game being played with only nine players, this number being increased to eleven at half-time. Rakaia was represented by a full team, and the match as a consequence was somewhat "one-sided." The game from start to finish was very ragged, there being a complete absence of anything in the nature of scientifio football, this being due no doubt to the absence of practice. The match was witnessed by a fair sprinkling of spectators.

The teams were as follows:—Rakaia, (black)—C. McKegney, A. Mead, A. W. Morland, J. JBlackley, B. Timmings, A. Watts, L. Shannon, 11. Tatterson, H. Cromie, S. Laraman, It. McLean, J. Cromie, R, Fisher, V. C. McPhail, B. Cook. Southern Cross (Colours)— F. Hanley, A. Potter, E. Clarke, J. Patterson, A. Carroll, T. Body, C. Woods, W. Anderson, W. Patching, W. Smith, J. Cunneen. • Ilakaia kicked off from the eastern end and Anderson returned with a well directed kick, the ball finding the line in the visitors': 25. Following the line out Hanley marked and Anderson had a shot at goal, but the ball fell short. The visitors rushed play to the home team's quarters and Clarke was instrumental in relieving the pressure. A few minutes later Body registered a mark and Anderson's kick at goal went wide. Following give and take play the blacks again set up an attack and after several attempts Fisher scored in a fair position. Laraman failed to add the major points. Shortly after changing over, the visitors again became aggressive and as the outcome of a passing bout McPhail scored near the corner. Laraman's kick at goal was unsuccessful. A few minutes later the attack was repeated and Fisher was enabled to score a try near the uprights, J. Cromie converting. Rakaia 11, Southern Cross 0. In spite of deficiency in numbers, Southern Cross continued to put up a good defence and more than once reached their opponents danger zone, the visitors on one occasion being compelled to force down. Shortly before half-time Shannon secured the leather from a line out and scored behind the posts. Fisher's effort at goal was fruitless. Rakaia 14, Southern Cross 0.

With their team slightly strengthened the home combination played a better game in the opening part of the second spell. At this stage it was of a very mediocre description and waa confined chiefly to neutral quarters. A moment before the whistle sounded change over, MaPhail. .registered an additional try which he failed to convert and the score read Rakaia 17, Southern Cross 0. ' Before time was called McPhail succeeded in notching two more tries, one of which was converted by Cromie, making the final score 25 points to nil in the visitors' favour. Mr D. Friedlander, as referee, was impartial in his decisions.