RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 194, 15 August 1904, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

AOCKJJAXU DEFEAT THAiVHSS, 15 TO 5.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

Thames. Saturday. The return match between Auckland and ■Thames was play pel at Parawai this afternoon, in the presence of about 1500 spectators. The fact tliat mc local meu had put in more training than usual, unci that Auckland had to supplant those chosen for -iew ;'pa.i an d rep. honours with others, enspectators in the opinion that a much closer ami more interesting game tliau that played in Auckland would ensue, and in this they were not disappointed. Although Auckland secured the majority of points. 15 (live tries.) to 5 (a goal from a try), play was for the first spell ac any rate fast and well contested and interesting, if uor instructive. Young took Kiernau's place as half, and Cunningham acted as lock in the skbseuce of Lewis. The teams lined out as under:—Auckland: Full-back, Phillips; three-quarters, McKenzle, Murray, and Carte w; Renwick; half Young; wings, Doran and W. Tylerforwards, Warbricfc, Sundall, Cu;ininghara. Francis, Ti-ev arthen, Joyce. Thames: Fullback, A. Xowdiek; three-quarters, Thompson, Morgan, and Keating; five-eighths. Winder; hall, Uong-hton; wings. S. Baker and P. Hay-ward; forwards. White. Newland, Dobson. Duulop, Autridge, Hayward, and Clark. Mr Moore acted as referee in a satisfactory manner. Mr Murray. Ancklands selector, was prrsent, and acted as line umpire for the visitors. The game does not call for a lengthy comment. In the first spell Auckland became aggressive immediately after the ball was set in motion, but fast following up ou the part of Thames, and Thompson cutting in neatly, saw the visitors ou the defensive. McKenzie and Carlaw put in a lot of good work, and by Judicious punting find line-kicking gained ground for Auckland. Morgan", Thompson, and Keating got going for the Thtunes. bat good defensive play by Auckland backs was effected. In the subsequent scrums and line-cut play there was very little to pick and choose between the opPosing .teams, but the visitors were hooking neater and handled the ball better than the local meu, though the tackling of the Thames wings and backs nullified Auckland's efforts. The llue-out work was interesting, but Auckland made Hie best use of their opportunities. A formidable rush of Thames forwards, headed by Autridsje and Hayward. saw Auckland's Hue in danger, but Carlaw and McJKenzie wore never out of their places, and serviceable linekicking momentarily relieved the pressure. Thames, however, were not to be denied, and a splendid forward rush took the ball to Auckland's line, 11. Hayward beating the Auckland backs and scoring. Winder was successful with the kick. Thames 5, Auckland niL The Thames backs got In some good work from the kick-off, but Auckland retaliated, and fast following-np by Mcivenzie resulted in the local team being placed on the defensive. Good play by Thompson, Morgan, and Newdick relieved the pressure, and a score for Thames seemed imminent, but Auckland's defence was solid. From a scrum at half-way Young (Auckland) whipped the i>all out to his backs, aud a good run ended in McKr.izie scoring a soft try. No goal resulted. From the kick-off Auckland resumed similar tactics, aud although the game was evenly contested by the forwards, when the ball came out from the scrum the visitors gained ground. Thames forwards put in a lot of good work, particularly in loose, dribbling rushes. From a scrum formed the ball came out to the Auckland backs, and a neut passing run resulted in McKenzie scoring his second try, which was unconverted. Auckland again pressed Thames, aud this time the forwards took a prominent part, with the result that Tyler dashed across the line r<;id scored, No goal resulted, the place-kicking of Auckland being poor. The rest of the game was fairly even to the end of the sp<'ll. when the score was: Auckland S), Thames 5. The second spell saw a decidedly unwelcome change in the quality of the play, the efforts of the backs in passing being perhaps nullified by Improved tackling, and the game was principally confined to the forwards. The scrum work was not of a brilliant nature, but in the loose play both sides put in good work, Doran, Tyler, Sandall, and Francis beiug prominent for Auckland, and Autridge, Hayward, and White being conspicuous on the Thames side. Though Thames put up a splendid defensive light, Auckland had the best of the play, iind if the Thames backs had failed in their defence the probabilities are that the score would have been considerably larger. As it was, McKeiraie, as the result of clever, dashing play, registered his third try for Auckland. No goal again resulted. Towards the end the game grew less interesting. Uninteresting play was relieved by an Auckland rush, which resultPd in Doran bco' , ■" ajrain. No goal resulted, and short!. , *r the game ended —Auckland 15, Th:i ~j. Of the visitors, M< ivenaie piayed by far the best game, being a host in himself. Carlaw aiid Young also put in a lot of good vverk; but .Doran and Tyler had to battle agHinst a good pair in llas'ward and Baker. The forwards all played sound gauios.

For Thames. Thompson, Morgan, ami N-PWdick pluyi'U well. ttu'Lr defensive? work beius most effectual. lloughton as half played his best game for some time. The wlugK put up ;i pin,d performance, whil<> of the forwards Autridge and 1-la'yward were the nick. When thi» result of the British-New Zealand match wan m»de known the teams were retiiruins to the Thaiups;. and huarty cheers were given for the victorious colonials. SECONL>ARY SCHOOLS. Grammar School I. v. King's College 1.-— Graniinar Sebool won by 4-5 points tv nil. Sacred H-enrt I. V. Prince Albert I.— This game was drawn, o poii*u each. Sacred Heart H. ,v. Prince Albert ll.— Sacred 11-eart won by 0 points to nil. St. John's 111. v. King's College lII.— St. Joan's won by 4 points to nil. HBrcred H«trt I. v. Kind's Collie I.— This match was played last Thursday, and was won by Sacred Heart by 11 porn-ts to nil. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. B-ay-field v. Remnera. —This match was drawn, 3 points each. Marist v. Ponsonby.—Marrist Bro+liws won by ID points to 3. Ellerslie, Oiwdrrangta, Well«sley-sitree't, and Nelson-street teajns won theft- matches by default. OLD SC-HOOLBOTS. Onehunga v. Pottsonby.—Onehuaga woo by 6 points to nil. Parnell v. N&wton Bast.—Parnell woa by 8 i;oln.t3 to nil. OTHER MATCHES. ,7. Wiseman, Ltd.. v. Devouport Band. —At LVvonport on Saturday the annarl match between Messrs J. Wiseman, Ltd., aud the Devoiiport Brass Band took place, resulting in a win for the former by 8 points to v. For the winners tries were scored by S-inith and Dewston, Webb converting one try. Kuiumer scored a try and Harper converted for the baud. Mr White rcfereed. Mossey Bros. v. A. & T. Burt & Co.—A mutch between teams represent! n.g Messrs Mussey Bros, aud A. aud T. Burt and Co., played last Saturday, resulted in a win for Massey Bros, by 8 points to 5. Thompson and Williams scored tries, and A. •WannoD converted one try. BuekLand scored "a try, which Taylor converted, for Burt and Co. G. Fraser an-d Skms, Ltd., V. Seagar B^osj.—i\uis mutch was played at Alexandra Park on Saturday, and resulted in ian easy win for O. Fraser and Sons by 24 poiiits to nil. Mr G. Kattexns referred. Fonsouby Cruising Club v. Otahuhu SailIng Club.—After a good game the Ponsonby Cruising Club team won by T points to '6, a goal from the field being secured by Payne and a try by Carlaw for the winners; whilst Hooper scored a try for Otabahu In the eveuing both teams sat down o a dinner in the Masonic Hall, after which an enjoyable smoke concert was held. ONBHONGA V. WA'IUKU. A match, between teams representing Waiuku and Oneiiunga was played at the latter place on Saturday. Waiulcu won by 10 poiuts to 6. Langton and Bright scored tries aud Bennett potted a goal from the field for the visitors. Far the local team G. Riddell atfd W. Mclntosn eacH scored a try- An enjoyable smoke concert was held in the evening in Honour of tie visiters. WHANGAEEI FOOTBALL. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. A town team defeated a country team here on Saturday by 14 points to 8.

COROMANDEL MATCHES. (By Telegraph,—Own Correspondent.) COROAIANBEL. this day. The Conwnandel Rugby Union cup match Kennedy Bny v. C'oromandel. played in | Bates' paddock on Saturday, resulted in a win for Kennedy Bay by 9 points to nil. For the winners tries were obtained by McFike, Gould, and Short. Mr J. Fernandez officiated as referee. A protest has been lodged against Kennedy Bay, who. it is alleged,' played some men from the Mercury Bay team. AUCKLAND JUNIORS AT THAMES. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) THAiIES, this day. 'The Bine Star fifteen (Auckland) played Native Rose 11. on Saturday at Parawai, the former winning by 3 points to nil. Mr O'Connell acted as referee. The Parnell juniors (Auckland) played Hovers juniors, the local team winning by 3 points to nil. Mr Cooper refereed. PAEROA JUNIORS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) PAEROA, this day. The Paeroa West jnniors played the Suhi urbs juniors on Saturday, and a closelycontested game resulted in a draw. This gtves West juniors the cup for this season. The Paeroa schoolboys defeated Waitri school by 13 points to niL 'PAEROA DEFEAT'S KABANGAHA-KE. (By TelegTaph.—Own Correspondent.) PA-E.ROA. this day. Paeroa and Karainrahake teams tri-ed 1 waelusie-ns for the second thne at Ivarangahakc on Saturday afternoon, and Paeroa again won after a hard fought same by 3 points to nil. Sherson. for Paero-a. made a splendid run in the tost minute.of tl*e game and scored a try. The game throughout was fast and'escitiUE, both teams playing good football. Mr F. Ladner refereeed and gave every satisfaction. ASSOCIATION. THE JUNIOR CUP. Corinthians defeated St. .Tobn's on Saturday by one goal to nil, thus winning the junior championship for this season. On Saturday the Corinthinn seniors defeated a team from H.M.s. Psyche by four goals to two; and Tabernacle beat Thistle by two goals to one.