THE RUGBY FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 142, 15 June 1908, Page 6

THE RUGBY FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

WINS FOR CITY, PARNELL, AND NORTH SHORE.

The first round of the A.R.U. championships was concluded on Saturday afternoon in fine weather. The attendance was fair. The match between City and University, which was played on No. 1 ground, was won by the former by 27 points to nil, a score which, had all the chances offered been taken, would have been much larger. The game was a very poor exhibition, and the light put up by the 'Varsity team was very disappointing. Parnell beat Grafton by 16 to nil, after a scrambling game, in which the form shown by both sides was only moderate. At North Shore the home team triumphed over Newton by 14 points to 3. Very little interest was ?hown in the game, the junior match North Shore v. City detracting from it considerably. Throughout the play ,lacked life or dash, and, although Shore gained the victory by a substantial margin, the points do not indicate the difference in the teams. ( . .._,. f §___i The folowing table shows the positions of the clubs:—

UOTVERSITY v. CITY. University won the toss, and chose the Western goal, having a strong breeze behind them, Seeling kicking off for City at ten minutes past three. Wilson returned to the half-way. City were the first to settle to their work, and a passing run, Stewart to little to K. Magee to S. Magee to Kean to Deianey back to Little saw the latter lose the ball on the line and a touch in goal resulted within two minutes of the kick-off. Play was fairly even for a time till faulty handling by Kean let University in, but they failed to take advantage of their chances, and the City forwardfe, headed by Seeling, removed play to the 'Varsity 25. A passing run, K. Magee to S. Magee to Deianey, further threatened them, the latter being shoved into touch near the line. 'Varsity gradually removed the danger, Wilkes heading a rush which took play to flal* way. 'Varsity were holding their own in the scrum, and heeling quickly a passing run, A. Gray to W. Gray to Wilson, the latter kicked high, but Lowrie returned to half way, where from a free kick awarded against City, Hunt had a shot at goal which went wide, and City forced, which they were compelled to db immediately afterwards, as the result of a forward rush. City forwards now livened ■up, and with a forward rush took .play down the field, Wilson saving and kicking to Little, who, after making a beautiful run, kicked across to Dervan, who made a strong run, being stopped just on the line. Herring, following up fast, put on the finishing touches, and scored after 25 minutes' play. S. Magee failed at goal. City, 3; University, nil. Play was uninteresting for some time, but eventually the ball was heeled cleanly from a. scrum in the 'Varsity 25, and Stewart working the blind side, sent out to R. Magee to Little. The latter badly heat Howarth, and scored between the posts. R. Magee converted. City, S: University, nil. City were having much the best of the game; hut several scores were thrown away by faulty handling, Kean especially failing to take the ball on several occasions. Their efforts were at last rewarded, and a passing forward rush, Herring to Maguire to Waddel, the latter dashed across and scored. R. Magee failed at goal. City, 11; University, nil. The spell ended without further score. Play had not started very long in the second spell before the City forwards made a strong rush, and, Wilson mulling the take, allowed Kean to score an easy try, R. Magee converting. (City 16, 'Varsity nil.) This reverse woke 'Varsity up, and Wilson, kicking high, a score seemed imminent, but Lawry saved cleverly. 'Varsity still kept up the attack, and Bamford got across, but was called back for off-side, a free kick giving City relief. The red and blacks now took a hand, and 'Varsity were hard pushed to keep them out, but the wild play of the City backs threw away chance after chance, otherwise a big score would have been registered. The game devldped into a scramble till 'Varsity rallied, and a passing rush, started by Wilson to Wilkes to Levien to Bamford to Robinson, livened matters up a little, but the effort was a short-lived one, and City soon beat them back. After a lot of loose play, Seeling whipped up and dashed across, scoring the fifth try. R. Magee failed at goal. (City 19, 'Varsity nil.) 'Varsity were now a badly beaten team, and Cdty were running right over them, the next score being secured by S. Magee, who' followed up a kick of his own, and scored between the posts. R. Magee converted. (City 24, "Varsity nil.) City v/ere not yet contented, and R. Magee further added to his score, after a tricky run. S. Magee failed at goal, and the gome ended:— ' City 27 'Varsity nil PARNELL V. GRAFTON.

W. D. ponsonby 6 0 City 5 1 University 2 2 North Shore .... 2 3 iParnell 2 4 Grafton 1 4 Newton 1 5 D. 0 0 1 0 1 0 Pts. Pts. For. Agst. 144 15 106 31 24 67 22 59 31 47 19 78 35 95